Ufa, Russia (Sports Network) - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ryan Strome scored first-period goals and goaltender Malcolm Subban took over from there to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory over the United States in Group B play at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Subban, selected by the Boston Bruins with the 24th overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, made 36 saves for the Canadians, who will face Russia on Monday for first place in the group and a bye into the semifinals.
Jacob Trouba scored the lone goal for the Americans in the third period and John Gibson stopped 30 shots in defeat. The U.S. will face Slovakia on Monday and needs a victory to reach the quarterfinals.
Trouba scored midway through the third period to pull the United States within one, but the Americans took a few penalties in the third to stem the momentum. Nugent-Hopkins was whistled off for holding with 1:38 remaining and the U.S. pulled Gibson for an extra attacker, but could not net the equalizer.
Nugent-Hopkins, a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie last year with Edmonton, gave Canada the early lead just over seven minutes into the game and Strome made it 2-0 with 5:16 left in the opening period.
