Much like last year’s gold medal game, Team Canada couldn’t hold a pair of two-goal leads against the United States on Friday at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship.

Moose Jaw Warriors captain Brett Howden, head coach Tim Hunter and Canada lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Americans in the first ever world junior outdoor game at New Era Field.

Cale Makar of the University of Massachusetts and Kelowna Rockets forward Dillon Dube scored power play goals in the first period to give Canada an early 2-0 lead.

The United States struck back late in the second period when Portland Winterhawks forward Kieffer Bellows potted a power play goal. However, Canada was able to answer right back only 1:12 later as Sault Ste. Marie forward Boris Katchouk made it 3-1 heading into the third.

Two goals only 34 seconds apart early in the third period from Scott Perunovich and Brady Tkachuk evened the score up at 3-3.

Neither team could breakthrough the rest of the way in the third or in overtime.

Canada was stopped on all four of their shootout attempts, while Bellows and Tkachuk scored for the Americans to give them the win.

Everett Silvertips goalie Carter Hart turned away 33 shots in the loss, while Canada managed just 25 shots on the U.S. net.

The loss drops Canada’s record to 2-0-1-0. They can still lock-up top spot in Pool A with a regulation win over Denmark on Saturday at 7 p.m.

In other action at the World Juniors on Friday, Russia skated to a 5-2 win over Belarus.

Coming up on Saturday, the Czech Republic faces Belarus at 11 a.m., Sweden faces Switzerland at 1 p.m. and Slovakia goes up against Finland at 3 p.m.