Team USA earned a grade-A chance near the midway mark of the opening frame. Cole McKinney (Lake Forest, Ill.) sent a perfect stretch pass through the neutral zone to a streaking Will Horcoff (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.). He made a move in front and his backhand shot got through netminder Rorke Applebee, but bounced off the post and out. 

Just over a minute later, a similar play happened as Garrett Lindberg (Moorhead, Minn.) found Will Belle (Minnetonka, Minn.) behind the defense, but his shot was blockered away by Applebee. 

With 7:10 to play, Lake State broke the ice as Luke Levandowski converted in front after a Team USA defensive-zone turnover to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. 

The visitors doubled the advantage early in the middle frame as Reagan Milburn potted a second-chance opportunity in the crease just after the expiration of a power play. 

NTDP newcomer Mason Moe (Eden Prairie, Minn.) looked to answer quickly as he broke in alone for a chance, but his shot rang off the short-side post as Team USA remained without a score. 

John Herrington made it three in a row for the Lakers as his point shot bounced off a USA defender and by Joey Slavick (Westland, Mich.) at 7:32. 

With six minutes to play in the period, Milburn picked up his second score of the evening, redirecting a shot in front on the power play to make it a 4-0 contest.