BRATISLAVA, April 30 (Reuters) - The young United States squad began their ice hockey world championship with a 5-1 victory over Austria on Saturday, while Finland enjoyed a revenge win against Denmark with the same score.Chris Kreider, drafted by the New York Rangers and
named best player of Saturday's match, celebrated his 20th birthday with the opening goal for the U.S. after 14 minutes. Blake Wheeler advanced the lead to 2-0 four minutes later.
Austria failed to take advantage of a five-on-three power play in the second period, but shot a contact goal one minute later as Marco Pewal punished the Americans' inability to convert several chances.
Yan Stastny, son of former National Hockey League (NHL) and Slovakian player Peter Stastny, took the U.S. to 3-1 in the 39th minute and strikes by Kevin Shattenkirk and Craig Smith in the third period finished off the Group C victory in the eastern Slovakian town of Kosice.
"We are satisfied; two more matches (in the group) are ahead of us and we have to play better in these next matches," Stastny told reporters.
In Bratislava, Jarkko Immonen put Finland ahead 16 minutes into the Group D game against Denmark on the second day of the championship.
Juhamatti Aaltonen, in the second period, and Antti Pihlstrom, Janne Niskala and Tuomo Ruutu in the third, completed Finland's revenge for an opening defeat by Denmark in last year's tournament in Germany.
named best player of Saturday's match, celebrated his 20th birthday with the opening goal for the U.S. after 14 minutes. Blake Wheeler advanced the lead to 2-0 four minutes later.
Austria failed to take advantage of a five-on-three power play in the second period, but shot a contact goal one minute later as Marco Pewal punished the Americans' inability to convert several chances.
Yan Stastny, son of former National Hockey League (NHL) and Slovakian player Peter Stastny, took the U.S. to 3-1 in the 39th minute and strikes by Kevin Shattenkirk and Craig Smith in the third period finished off the Group C victory in the eastern Slovakian town of Kosice.
"We are satisfied; two more matches (in the group) are ahead of us and we have to play better in these next matches," Stastny told reporters.
In Bratislava, Jarkko Immonen put Finland ahead 16 minutes into the Group D game against Denmark on the second day of the championship.
Juhamatti Aaltonen, in the second period, and Antti Pihlstrom, Janne Niskala and Tuomo Ruutu in the third, completed Finland's revenge for an opening defeat by Denmark in last year's tournament in Germany.
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