Team USA got a much better start to this year's IIHF World Championships than last year's by beating Austria 5-1, and the Thrashers did a good job of getting noticed.

Mark Stuart has been named captain of Team USA. He managed 4 penalty minutes in the second period, and finished the game with 14:46 of ice time and a +/- of +1.

Blake Wheeler is playing on what will probably be team USA's top line.  He got team USA's second goal from a wide angle late in the first period.  He finished the morning/night with 20:05 of ice time, a +1 rating, two shots on goal, and 2 penalty minutes.

 Tim Stapleton was Tim Stapleton.  Always in the right place, creating great odd man rushes with his speed, winning battles on the boards, and completely unable to hit the side of a barn.  His line was called an energy line by the commentators, but comparing any line with Tim Stapleton to the Greek Gods is comical.  Both of Timmy's shots on goal came in two on ones, and he finished the game with a +/- of 0 and 11:44 of ice time.

Aside from Wheeler's goal in the first and Timmy's two on ones that resulted in beautiful rebounds that no one put home, our Thrashers were the most notable when Wheeler got a roughing penalty for a small post whistle scrum he wasn't involved in.  42 seconds later, Stuart was in the box for a puck over the glass.  Team USA managed to bail them out by killing off both penalties.

Game Box Score