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BUFFALO, NY (WBEN)- Rocco Grimaldi picked the right time to have his best game of the world junior championships.Grimaldi scored twice in the second period Saturday as the USA beat defending champion Sweden 3-1 to win a gold medal for the first time since 2010.
The Florida Panthers prospect had conceded he had been struggling in the tournament and had been benched at one point. But in the second period, he fought off a check behind the net, skated toward the side of the net and fired a shot than banked in off Niklas Lundstrom at 7:42 to tie the game 1-1.
Less than three minutes later, he was in front of the net when Jacob Trouba's shot deflected in off him. Vince Trocheck scored an empty-net with 16.7 seconds left. Anaheim Ducks prospect John Gibson (26 saves) was strong again in net and was named top goalie and MVP of the tournament.