MARTIN SCORES TWICE, BUT CANADA FALLS IN SHOOTOUT

JASON LA ROSE

CALGARY, Alta. – Coalton Martin (Six Nations, Ont.) had a pair of goals, including the game-tying marker late in the third period, but Canada’s National Sledge Development Team dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the United States on Thursday afternoon.

The Canadians have lost the first two in the three-game series, after a 3-0 defeat in Wednesday’s opener.

Martin got the scoring started late in the first period, converting a feed from Rob Armstrong (Mississauga, Ont.) in close for the Canadians’ first goal of the series.

The U.S. needed just 3:32 of the second period to pull even; Jack Wallace scored his second goal in as many games, beating Canadian netminder Jonathan Derry (West Pine Ridge, Man.) from just inside the blue-line.

Wallace struck again early in the third, this time on an American power play, snapping a shot from the high slot up and over Derry just 1:56 into the final frame to give the U.S. its first lead at 2-1.

The Canadians buzzed around American goaltender Bo Reichenbach in the dying minutes, and were rewarded when Martin redirected home a centering feed from Mathieu Trudeau (Candiac, Que.) on a Team Canada man advantage with just 64 seconds to go and Derry on the bench for an extra attacker.

Both teams had chances in overtime, including a partial breakaway for Armstrong and a save by Derry that bounced off the top of the net, but the extra period solved nothing.

In the shootout, after the first three shooters missed, Chandler Couture calmly beat Derry high to the blocker side to give the U.S. the advantage.

After Martin fired wide on his attempt, Wallace tucked his shot around Derry to give the Americans the win.

The U.S. finished with a 19-16 edge in shots on goal in regulation and overtime.

The two teams will wrap up the series Friday afternoon, with puck drop set for 1:30 p.m. MT.