MCKEE AND PAULS SCORE TWO GOALS EACH, U.S. BLANKS JAPAN TO STAY PERFECT

CALGARY, Alta. – Kevin McKee scored twice and added an assist and Josh Pauls had two goals of his own as the United States hammered Japan 8-0 Monday night at the 2012 World Sledge Hockey Challenge.

The victory means the U.S. and Canada sit atop the preliminary round standings with identical 2-0 records and sets up a first-place showdown between the North American rivals on Wednesday night at the Markin MacPhail Centre (7 p.m. MT).

Nikko Landeros, Rico Roman, Greg Shaw and Adam Page had the other goals for the Americans, whose goal total doubled the number of shots on goal for the Japanese – the U.S. held a 28-4 advantage on the shot clock.

Alexi Salamone and Josh Sweeney also had multiple-point outings in the win, picking up two assists apiece.

Pauls opened the scoring for the Americans just shy of the seven-minute of the first period, kicking off a three-goals-in-two-minutes-eighteen-seconds spurt that provided the defending world champions with all the offence they would need.

Jen Yung Lee earned the shutout in the U.S. goal, making just four saves, while Mitsuru Nagase went the distance between the pipes for the Japanese, finishing with 20 stops.

Japan closes out its preliminary round against Norway on Wednesday afternoon (noon MT), with both teams looking for their first victories.

Penalties:
10:42 JPN 98 Yoshihiro Shioya (Teeing)

Penalties:
06:40 JPN 96 Masaharu Kumagai (Roughing)
12:27 USA 20 Adam Page (Teeing)

Penalties:
None