The U.S. National Junior Team didn't necessarily get the start they wanted at the World Junior Championship, but they did get the result. A 5-2 win over Latvia wasn't necessarily as convincing as the scoreline suggested, but the U.S. managed to get the three points for the regulation win.

The U.S. and Latvia were scoreless after the first period when neither team found the back of the net. An uneven start to the period saw the Americans reeling a bit as the underdog Latvians showed they were not going to get pushed around.

Jimmy Snuggerud (STL) broke the deadlock just 24 seconds into the middle period as he shoved home a loos puck from point-blank range. Latvia answered back, however, with as Anri Ravinskis scored on a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal that left the American defenders' heads spinning. 

The two teams traded goals again in the second half of the period as Sean Behrens (COL) scored on a one-timer at the halfway point of the second. Just over five minutes later, Latvia defenseman Niks Fenenko offered the reply to make it 2-2 as he caught USA goalie Trey Augustine leaning the wrong way through a screen.

The third period was a different story, however. The U.S. scored three unanswered, first on a rush and high-skill finish from Chaz Lucius (WPG) to make it 3-2. Red Savage (DET) followed that up with a net-front goal and captain Luke Hughes (NJD) had a seeing-eye shot deflect off the post and in to make it 5-2.

That was enough to secure the three points for a regulation win and start the tournament off on a winning note.

Behrens, Savage and Dylan Duke (TBL) each had two points with the former two each scoring a goal and an assist and Duke pocketing two helpers. Behrens was named the U.S. Player of the Game for his efforts as he also logged more ice time than any U.S. defenseman in the third period with 7:30 of ice time to help Team USA secure the win.

Augustine finished the game with 15 saves.

The U.S. will get a day off before resuming tournament action against Slovakia Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Note: FloHockey prospects analyst Chris Peters is en route to the World Juniors and will be providing on-site coverage starting Tuesday.