OTTAWA — The preliminary round wrapped up on New Year’s Eve with the two biggest games of the tournament so far here in Ottawa, with both Canada-USA and Sweden-Czechia deciding first place in the two groups.

Undisciplined play cost Canada a shot at finishing atop the Group A standings at the world junior championship. Power play goals by Cole Hutson, Danny Nelson and Cole Eiserman, plus an empty-netter from captain Ryan Leonard gave the US a 4-1 victory over the home team on New Year’s Eve in front of 18,

Canada was in big trouble on an important night. It was New Year’s Eve at the 2009 world junior hockey championship. The United States had jumped out to a 3-0 lead not even 13 minutes into the first period. That’s when John Tavares took over and dragged his country back into the fight.

Danny Nelson scored the eventual game-winner in the third period and Trey Augustine made 38 saves, leading the United States to a 4-1 win over Canada and into the top spot in Group A at the world juni