THIRD-PERIOD PAIR HELP AMERICANS TO EXHIBITION WIN

PENTICTON, B.C. ' Max McCormick and Garrett Allen scored third-period goals as the United States handedCanada West its second exhibition loss in as many nights, scoring a 5-3 win on Saturday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre.

The Americans earned the win despite spotting Canada West a 2-0 lead just 6:29 in ' both Canadian goalscame off the stick of Grayson Downing ' and allowing a game-tying goal from Joey Laleggia in the final minuteof the second period.Trailing by a pair despite outshooting the Canadian side 13-8 in the first period, the two-time defendinggold medallists got goals from Jimmy Mullin, Cason Hohmann and Seth Ambroz in a span of 9:23 to turn atwo-goal deficit into a one-goal advantage before Laleggia snapped a shot past netminder Zane Gothberg with 24 seconds left in the middle frame.

The U.S. came out firing in the third period, peppering goaltender Matt Krahn with 17 shots and taking a4-3 advantage on McCormick's power-play marker at 6:44. Allen rounded out the scoring with an insurancemarker midway through the frame, poking the rebound of a Mullin shot past Krahn.Ambroz and Mullin finished with a goal and an assist apiece, while Jordan Schmaltz chipped in with twohelpers. Reed Linaker had two assists for the Canadians, who dropped their exhibition opener 7-2 to Canada East on Friday night.

Both teams open the 2010 World Junior A Challenge on Monday ' the U.S. faces Canada East in the early contest (4 p.m. PT), while Canada West takes on Switzerland in the late game (7:30 p.m. PT).