Earlier, I posted a video package from TSN that had all the goals. This one is more detail oriented. It includes the full highlights of Team USA’s 3-1 gold medal win over defending champ Sweden in the U20 #WJC2013 at Ufa, Russia.

Rocco Grimaldi picked an opportune time to snap out of his drought, scoring his first two goals including the gold clincher during the second period. The Red Wings’ prospect snuck a turnaround shot that squeaked past Swedish goalie Niklas Lundstrom tying the game 1-1. Earlier in the contest, Grimaldi had a golden opportunity but hit the post. This time, he caught a break when his shot went off Lundstrom’s goalie stick and in. He deserved it.

Sweden got on the board first when Filip Sandberg got to a loose puck in front and went top shelf on American netminder John Gibson. It was a power play goal. A rarity against a well coached team from first-year man Phil Housley. Team USA permitted only three PPG’s the whole tournament. Their clutch penalty killing was a big part of the team’s success. Sandberg took advantage of a bounce to put his team up 1:09 into the second period. Rickard Rackell drew the only assist.

Team USA showed their resilience by fighting back. They continued to attack Sweden with an aggressive cycle that produced chances. Lundstrom stood tall, finishing with 31 saves. It was two gritty plays that decided a closely fought championship game in USA’s favor. Grimaldi hustled to a puck behind the net and came out from below the left circle and fired through Lundstrom. Defenseman Pat Sieloff and forward Vince Trochek netted assists on the tying marker. In particular, Trocheck played a strong game, scoring into a vacated net to seal it.

On another strong forecheck, Grimaldi notched his second. With Sweden about to clear the zone, a pinching Jacob Trouba kept the puck in and took a shot from the right point that caromed off Grimaldi past a surprised Lundstrom. The Swede backstop immediately protested, believing it wasn’t legal. However, there was nothing conclusive that could’ve reversed the call on the ice. It looked to go off Grimaldi’s shoulder and in. Plus his stick was not high. Call it a scrappy player being in the right place at the right time. His second from Troupa came 2:46 after he tied the score with 9:33 left in the second.

Undeterred, Sweden continued to attack with their cycle generating some dangerous chances around Gibson’s net. Perhaps his biggest save was off a Swedish shorthanded bid. After a teammate gave away the puck, he flat out robbed William Karlsson. There were other sparklers but that was the biggest save of the game. If Karlsson scores there, it’s tied 2-2 and momentum completely shifts to the Swedes, who still came on thanks to a huge penalty kill.

One Swede who was extremely scary all night was forward Victor Arvidsson. He generated a couple of quality chances but was denied by Gibson, including on a tricky wrap around. Arvidsson’s a shifty skater with good offensive instincts who’s ’13 Draft eligible. The lone goal scorer Sandberg had seven shots and was always around the net.

With his team nursing a one-goal lead in the third, Gibson delivered again turning away semifinal hero Sebastian Collberg with a reflex save. Collberg was Sweden’s leading scorer in the tournament. Team captain Filip Forsberg only had one shot but it was a tough one with Gibson patiently staying with the Caps’ prospect to get a piece of it.

Team USA never stopped pushing forward. They made Lundstrom work. Grimaldi’s line was really good down low. The top unit of Johnny Gaudreau, J.T. Miller and Jim Vesey didn’t score but buzzed. The speedy Gaudreau drew a penalty and also nearly set up a goal with a smart pass that gave a teammate a mini-break. Miller combined with Trochek to finish Sweden in the waning moments. The Ranger ’11 first round pick blocked a shot and then pushed the puck ahead for Trochek, who wrapped it up with an empty netter at 19:44, touching off a celebration at the USA bench.

Trouba was very active all game and blueliners Jake McCabe, Seth Jones and Connor Murphy were solid overall. They were part of the deepest D in the WJC with Housley giving shifts to Shayne Gostisbehere. Combined with the best goalie in tournament MVP John Gibson and detail oriented forwards who played the classic North American style, Team USA proved to be the toughest team. That included key role guys such as Devils’ prospect Blake Pietila, who teamed with undrafted Cornell man Cole Bardreau to form a potent checking duo who Housley trusted in shorthanded situations. The depth showed off with Riley Barber, Tyler Biggs and Sean Kuraly all having good games.

While Grimaldi, Trochek, Trouba and Gibson were the stars in their gold medal victory, everyone played their part. A credit to the job Housley did behind the bench.

This year’s club probably wasn’t as talented as the ’03 or ’10 squads due to inexperience. But when we look back on America’s third U20 World Junior Championship gold medal, names like Jones, Ryan Hartman and Alex Galchenyuk will be included along with Gibson, Trouba, McCabe, Gaudreau and Miller. The team will be remembered for their tremendous heart. From losing two of their first three to running the table against Slovakia, Czech Republic, Canada and Sweden. They never allowed more than three goals in any game. A total T-E-A-M effort.