PORTLAND – Jon Sim of the Utah Grizzlies scored the first goal of the game and the game-winner as Canada defeated PlanetUSA 10-7 Monday in the Dodge American Hockey League All-Star Classic.
Darren Haydar of the Milwaukee Admirals and Charlie Stephens of the Hershey Bears also notched two goals for Canada.
Manchester Monarchs standout defenseman Joe Corvo scored twice for PlanetUSA.
With one goal and two assists, Canada’s John Slaney, who plays for the Philadelphia Phantoms, set an All-Star record for total points over four appearances.
The victory is Canada’s sixth out of nine played since the All-Star Classic was revived in its current format, which matches the AHL’s best Canadian-born players against those born elsewhere. Fourteen of PlanetUSA’s 20-man squad were born in the United States.
PlanetUSA took a 3-2 lead in the first period. After Sim scored at 1:03, PlanetUSA ran off three straight goals, by Corvo, Springfield’s Jeff Taffe and Grand Rapids’ Mark Mowers, before Wilkes-Barre Scranton’s Ross Lupaschuk connected for Canada.
Both teams tallied four times in the second period. Haydar, Justin Papineau of Worcester, Jason Ward of Hamilton and Stephens scored for Canada, while PlanetUSA got goals from Corvo, Hamilton’s Mike Komisarek, Portland’s Peter Ferraro and Providence’s Andy Hilbert.
Entering the third period trailing 7-6, Canada rallied for four to win. After Slaney tied the game at 8:53, Sim netted the game-winner at 12:09 and Haydar and Stephens added insurance goals in the final two minutes.
The contest was marked by fast skating, precise passing and little physical contact. Only three penalties were called by referee Dave Hansen.
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