Adam Papin/MDN Team Canada goaltender Adam Kingsmill watches as Team USA Declan Farmer’s (16) shot goes past him for a goal during the first period of the teams’ matchup on Friday in Minot.

U.S. National Sled Hockey Team head coach David Hoff knew his team had a strong power play unit, and the unit’s strength was on full display in the team’s 4-1 victory over Team Canada at the Maysa Arena on Friday night.

“If you look at the skill we have on our power play, it’s pretty lethal,” said Hoff. “If we get on the power play with good enough chances, we’re gonna get a goal or two here or there, so that part was good for sure.”

Josh Misiewicz, Noah Grove and Brody Royball all scored power play goals for the U.S. National Team and Declan Farmer added an even strength goal in the first period. Team Canada’s lone goal of the game also came on the power play with Tyler McGregor scoring midway through the second period.

Even with the win, Hoff saw plenty of things that Team USA can improve before the series finale this afternoon.

“If we could be a little more disciplined there, and just be a little more aggressive defensively, I think we could have cleaned some things up a bit tonight,” said Hoff. “I didn’t think we were quite aggressive enough. Probably took a few too many penalties and that made it a little bit hard on ourselves having to kill a bit in some situations.”

Farmer opened the scoring for Team USA with 6:33 left in the first period, assisted by Malik Jones and Evan Nichols. It expanded its lead two-minutes into the second period when Misiewicz found the back of the net on the power play.

Team Canada’s lone goal of the game came two-and-a-half minutes later when Liam Hickey connected with McGregor on the power play after Roybal was sent to the penalty box for roughing.

It rarely took Team USA long to score when it went on the power play, and Grove’s goal was no exception as he scored just 26 seconds into a Tyrone Henry interference penalty. Royball added the final goal off assists from Farmer and Jack Wallace.

The U.S. National Sled Hockey Team outshot Team Canada 24-11, with goalie Griffin Lamarre finishing with 10 saves. Adam Kingsmill allowed four goals and finished with 20 saves for Team Canada in the loss. The two teams will face-off at 3:30 p.m. today in the series finale.

The U.S. Women’s Development Sled Hockey Team wasted little time in knocking off Team Canada, scoring five first-period goals on its way to a 7-0 win. The home team outshot their northern neighbors 29-2 in the contest.

Kelsey Diclaudio recorded a hat trick, scoring the opening goal just 33 seconds into the game. She then added two more goals in the third period in the win, Catherine Faherty and Erica McKee each scored twice in the first period for Team USA.

Maggie Manning allowed five goals in net for Team Canada during the first period, before being pulled for Jessie Gregory. Gregory managed a shutout in the second period before allowing two goals in the third.

Gabby Graves-Wake and Hope Magelky combined for the shutout in goal for Team USA.

The two teams will conclude the series when they face-off at 12:30 p.m. today at the Maysa Arena.