US tops Kazakhstan

Team USA looked good on Thursday in their 4-1 victory over the overmatched Kazakhstan team.

John Grahame was replaced in goal by Rick DiPietro, who was apparently pitching a fit about Grahame's #1 status. He looked good, but he only faced 12 shots.

Kazakhstan was too busy taking penalties to mount any serious offensive threats. They had ten minor penalties to only five for the United States. However, the USA was only able to convert two of the ten power play chances. Both of those came in the first frame.

Carolina Hurricanes representatives Doug Weight and Erik Cole each had one assist, and both looked really good out there. Poor Keith Tkachuk had about seventy million great chances, but he just couldn't find the net. He looked very good as well.

With three points, USA finds themselves in second place of group B. The going is going to get really tough from here on out. On Saturday, the boys play Slovakia. Sunday, they will play Sweden, and on Tuesday they'll finish up round-robin play against Russia.

Speaking of Sweden, how strange is it to see the Sedins out there without Anson Carter?