HELSINKI, Finland – Erik Johnson (Bloomington, Minn./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Minnesota) scored twice to lead the U.S. Men's National Team to a 5-3 win vs. Austria today at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship at Hartwall Arena. Team USA (1-0-0-0, W-OTW-OTL-L) trailed by two goals early on but used a four-goal second period to seize control of the game.
"We got off to a tough start but rebounded well," said Joe Sacco, head coach of the 2013 U.S. Men's National Team. "Overall, I thought both teams played a pretty good first game. It's obviously nice to get that first win under our belt and we'll spend tonight looking at how we can be better against Latvia tomorrow night."
Austria jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals at 4:58 and 5:38 of the opening period.
Team USA halved its deficit thanks to a power-play goal by David Moss (Livonia, Mich./Phoenix Coyotes/Univ. of Michigan) at 10:02. Moss tucked in the rebound off a point shot by Justin Faulk (South St. Paul, Minn./Carolina Hurricanes/Univ. of Minnesota Duluth).
Just over a minute into the second period, goaltender Ben Bishop (Denver, Colo./Tampa Bay Lightning/Univ. of Maine) made a save on Thomas Vanek's breakaway attempt to keep the Austrian lead at 2-1.
"That was a turning point in the game," said Sacco. "If he doesn't make that save we're down by a couple of goals and it's a tougher hole to get out of."
Two minutes later, Johnson knotted the game at 2-2 with a one-timer from the center point. Nick Bjugstad(Minneapolis, Minn./Florida Panthers/Univ. of Minnesota) provided the primary feed after holding the puck in at the blue line.
Tim Stapleton (La Grange, Ill./Dynamo Minsk/Univ. of Minnesota Duluth) put the U.S. ahead for good at 9:31. Team USA cycled the puck along the right side and created a wide-open rebound opportunity that Stapleton buried from the low slot.
The U.S. capitalized on a three-on-two rush at 10:57, expanding its lead to 4-2. Aaron Palushaj (Livonia, Mich./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Michigan) snapped a low shot into the net following a cross-ice pass by Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn./Hamilton Bulldogs/Univ. of North Dakota).
Team USA's four-goal run was stopped at 13:21 when Austria converted on a breakaway chance.
Johnson reestablished the two-goal lead on USA's second power-play goal of the day. Jamie McBain (Edina, Minn./Carolina Hurricanes/Univ. of Wisconsin) faked a shot and fed Johnson in the left circle for a one-time blast.
Team USA's defense limited Austria to two shots on goal in the third period to seal the victory.
Bishop made 18 saves to collect his first career win for Team USA. Austria's Bernhard Starkbaum stopped 24 shots.
For game highlights, click here. For comments from select U.S. players, click here.
Team USA's next game is tomorrow vs. Latvia. Faceoff is 8:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m. EDT). NBC Sports Live Extra will stream the game live in the United States. NBC Sports Network will televise the game on delay at 1:15 a.m. EDT on May 6.
Scoring By Period
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| AUT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| USA | 1 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
First Period – Scoring: 1, AUT, Latusa (Hundertpfund), 4:58; 2, AUT, Welser (Iberer), 5:38; 3, USA, Moss (Faulk, Stastny), 10:02 (pp). Penalties: AUT, Baumgartner (slashing), 9:49; USA, Thompson (high-sticking), 15:23; AUT, Herburger (holding), 18:06.
Second Period – Scoring: 4, USA, Johnson (Bjugstad, Kristo), 3:38; 5, USA, Stapleton (LeBlanc, Faulk), 9:31; 6, USA, Palushaj (Kristo, Bjugstad), 10:57; 7, AUT, Schuller (Peintner, Lukas), 13:21; 8, USA, Johnson (McBain, LeBlanc), 18:32 (pp). Penalties: AUT, Hundertpfund (high-sticking), 17:14.
Third Period – Scoring: none. Penalties: none.
Shots by Period
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1
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2
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3
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Total
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|---|
| AUT | 12 | 7 | 2 | 21 |
| USA | 9 | 14 | 6 | 29 |
| | | | |
| Goaltender (SH/SV) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| AUT, Starkbaum, L, 60:00 | 9/8 | 14/10 | 6/6 | 29/24 |
| USA, Bishop, W, 60:00 | 12/10 | 7/6 | 2/2 | 21/18 |
Power Play: AUT 0-1; USA, 2-3
Penalties: AUT 3-6; USA, 1-2
Team USA 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship ScheduleMay 3-19 • Helsinki, Finland & Stockholm, Sweden
| Date | Opponent | NBC Sports Network Broadcast (EDT) | Live Streaming |
| Sat., May 4 | Austria | W, 5-3 | NBCSports.com |
| Sun., May 5 | Latvia | 1:15 a.m. (Delay) | NBCSports.com |
| Tues., May 7 | Russia | 1:15 p.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Wed., May 8 | Finland | 1:15 p.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Sat., May 11 | France | 5:15 a.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Sun., May 12 | Germany | 10:45 a.m. (Delay) | NBCSports.com |
| Tues., May 14 | Slovakia | 5:15 a.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Thurs., May 16 | Quarterfinals | 6:00 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
2:30 p.m. | TBD |
| Sat., May 18 | Semifinals | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 19 | Bronze-Medal Game | TBD | TBD |
| Gold-Medal Game | TBD | TBD |
NOTES: Team USA won its opening game of an IIHF Men's World Championship for the eighth time in nine years ... The U.S. improves to 11-0-0-2 (W-OTW-OTL-L) in the all-time series vs. Austria ... Team USA's captain is Paul Stastny, while the alternate captains are Matt Carle and Nate Thompson ... Twenty-one of the 23 members of Team USA played U.S. college hockey ... Nine of the 23 players announced are products of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, including Matt Carle, Justin Faulk, John Gibson, Stephen Gionta, Matt Hunwick, Erik Johnson, Danny Kristo, Jamie McBain and Jacob Trouba ... Ten NHL teams are represented on the roster, including the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets ... Joe Sacco is the head coach of the 2013 U.S. National Men's Team. Tim Army, Danton Cole and Phil Housley are serving as assistant coaches ... The 2013 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Members include NHL general managers Stan Bowman (Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile(Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida) and NHL scouts Brian Burke (Anaheim) and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh) ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams.
U.S. Men's National Team Downs Latvia, 4-1,
at 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship
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| Bishop Stops Two Breakaways, Team USA Scores Twice on Power Play in Win |
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HELSINKI, Finland – The U.S. Men's National Team used a pair of power play goals, solid goaltending from Ben Bishop (Denver, Colo./Tampa Bay Lightning/Univ. of Maine), including stops on two breakaways, and a dominant third period on the way to a 4-1 win in preliminary-round play vs. Latvia here tonight at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship.
"It was a tough game," said Joe Sacco, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Team. "I give our guys credit. They battled hard. We had solid goaltending and got better as the game wore on. It's difficult to win in this tournament. We've been able to come away with victories in our first two games and we'll look forward to a day off before we face Russia on Tuesday."
Bishop stopped all five shots he faced in the opening 20 minutes, including a breakaway with just less than 5:00 left in the stanza. The U.S. had a couple of late scoring chances by Bobby Butler (Marlborough, Mass./Nashville Predators/Univ. of New Hampshire) and Drew LeBlanc (Hermantown, Minn./Chicago Blackhawks/St. Cloud State Univ.), but was unable to convert.
Latvia claimed a 1-0 lead 1:11 into the second stanza, tallying just :02 after its power play opportunity expired. The U.S. tied the game a minute later thanks to Tim Stapleton (La Grange, Ill./Dynamo Minsk/Univ. of Minnesota Duluth). Bobby Butler got a shot to the net and followed his rebound, knocking the puck to Stapleton who scored the equalizer.
David Moss (Livonia, Mich./Phoenix Coyotes/Univ. of Michigan) gave Team USA a 2-1 lead just more than 2:00 later on the power play. Paul Stastny (St. Louis, Mo./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Denver) found Moss parked at the right post in front of Latvian goaltender Edgars Masalskis. Moss pulled the puck across his body and tucked it inside the far post for the score.
Latvia nearly evened the game early in the third period, however, Bishop stopped Martins Cupulis' breakaway attempt. The U.S. extended its lead to 3-1 at 10:55 when Bobby Butler struck on the power play. Erik Johnson(Bloomington, Minn./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Minnesota) fed Stapleton in the high slot and Stastny wristed it hard toward the net before Butler deposited the rebound.
Matt Hunwick (Warren, Mich./Colorado Avalanche/Univ. of Michigan) provided an insurance goal less than 90 seconds later when he took a pass from Stastny at the left point and blasted a slapshot to the near side to beat Masalskis at 12:21.
Bishop made 19 saves to collect the win for Team USA. Masalskis stopped 22 shots for Latvia in the loss.
Team USA's will face Russia on Tuesday (May 7) with faceoff set for 8:15 p.m. local time (1:15 p.m. EDT). The game will be shown live on the NBC Sports Network and NBC Sports Live Extra will stream the game live online in the United States.
Scoring By Period
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| USA | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| LAT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
First Period – Scoring: None. Penalties: LAT, Pujacs (elbowing), 5:13; USA, Smith (delaying the game), 9:29; USA, Stastny (hooking), 19:09.
Second Period – Scoring: 1, LAT, Kulda (Sprukts, Darzins), 1:11; 2, USA, Stapleton (B. Butler), 2:11; 3, USA, Moss (Stastny, Trouba), 4:21 (pp). Penalties: LAT, Stals (slashing), 3:10; USA, McBain (slashing), 5:16; LAT, Sprukts (interference); 6:05; USA, Faulk (holding), 12:11; LAT, Jekimovs (interference), 14:42; USA, Moss (double minor, high-sticking), 14:56.
Third Period – Scoring: 4, USA, B. Butler (Stapleton, Johnson), 10:55 (pp); 5, USA, Hunwick (Stastny, Smith), 12:21. Penalties: LAT, Sirokovs (elbowing), 10:02; LAT, Jass (high-sticking), 15:14; LAT, Stals (holding), 19:53.
Shots by Period
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
Total
|
|---|
| USA | 4 | 8 | 14 | 26 |
| LAT | 5 | 12 | 3 | 20 |
| | | | |
| Goaltender (SH/SV) | 1 | 2 | 3 | Total |
| USA, Bishop, W, 60:00 | 5/5 | 12/11 | 3/3 | 20/19 |
| LAT, Masalskis, L, 60:00 | 4/4 | 8/6 | 14/12 | 26/22 |
Power Play: USA 2-7; LAT, 0-6
Penalties: USA, 6-12; LAT, 7-14
Team USA 2013 IIHF Men's World Championship ScheduleMay 3-19 • Helsinki, Finland & Stockholm, Sweden
| Date | Opponent | NBC Sports Network Broadcast (EDT) | Live Streaming |
| Sat., May 4 | Austria | W, 5-3 | NBCSports.com |
| Sun., May 5 | Latvia | W, 4-1 | NBCSports.com |
| Tues., May 7 | Russia | 1:15 p.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Wed., May 8 | Finland | 1:15 p.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Sat., May 11 | France | 5:15 a.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Sun., May 12 | Germany | 10:45 a.m. (Delay) | NBCSports.com |
| Tues., May 14 | Slovakia | 5:15 a.m. | NBCSports.com |
| Thurs., May 16 | Quarterfinals | 6:00 a.m.
8:45 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
2:30 p.m. | TBD |
| Sat., May 18 | Semifinals | TBD | TBD |
| Sun., May 19 | Bronze-Medal Game | TBD | TBD |
| Gold-Medal Game | TBD | TBD |
NOTES: The U.S. has started the IIHF Men's World Championship with wins in its first two games for the eighth time in the last nine years ... Netminder Ben Bishop was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... Team USA's captain isPaul Stastny, while the alternate captains are Matt Carle and Nate Thompson ... Twenty-one of the 23 members of Team USA played U.S. college hockey ... Nine of the 23 players announced are products of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, including Matt Carle, Justin Faulk, John Gibson, Stephen Gionta, Matt Hunwick, Erik Johnson, Danny Kristo, Jamie McBain and Jacob Trouba ... Ten NHL teams are represented on the roster, including the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets ... Joe Sacco is the head coach of the 2013 U.S. National Men's Team. Tim Army, Danton Cole and Phil Housley are serving as assistant coaches ... The 2013 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Members include NHL general managers Stan Bowman (Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile(Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida) and NHL scouts Brian Burke (Anaheim) and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh) ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams.
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The first adhesive postage stamps went on sale in Great Britain on this date in 1840.
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Video: Previewing the 2013 CFL Draft.
Follow live with the CFL.ca Draft Tracker.
Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca.
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The Kentucky Derby was Saturday. [If you DVR'd it and haven't watched it yet, I don't want to spoil it. I'll only say it was won by a horse.]
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Tampa, FL. — Check out the photos from Day Two of rookie mini-camp.
Read the rest here.
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The mechanical refrigerator was patented by Dr. John Gorrie on this date in 1851.
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Denver, CO. -- A big first inning was the perfect antidote for a Rays squad that had been ailing on the road. The team's short-staffed bench benefited from building an immediate lead and adding to it throughout the afternoon as Tampa Bay defeated Colorado, 8-3, on Sunday to take the three-game series.
Read the rest here.
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Thirsty music festivalgoers in South Africa this summer may be able to get beer instantly delivered to them with drones. During the OppiKoppi Music Festival, attendees can order beers from their phones to be delivered to the event's campsite. The beer-equipped drones will swoop down and deliver beer via parachute to the appropriate customer.
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San Francisco, CA. -- To those at AT&T Park for any of the 180 consecutive sellouts, or who have watched the Giants win nine one-run games already this season: As loud and dramatic and thrilling and crazy as it repeatedly gets, that is when the Giants find calm.
Read the rest here.
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Linus Yale patented the clock-type lock on this date in 1851.
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You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as watching the A/C guy on his return trip to your house, isn't it?
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Today in Elvis History
1956 - Elvis Presley's first engagement in Las Vegas ended. The two-week run began on April 23.
1957 - Elvis Presley began doing costume fittings, makeup tests and dance rehearsals for the film "Jailhouse Rock."
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Arkansas became the ninth state to secede from the Union on this date in 1861.
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Today in Beatles History:
1964 - "Around The Beatles" aired on ITV.
1977 - The album "Beatles at the Hollywood Bowl" was released in the U.K.
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The latest hilarious receipt to go viral comes courtesy of Vancouver's rabid hockey fans. A picture of the receipt, posted to Reddit Saturday shows what happens in Canada when a hockey game gets too close to call. The receipt, originally for one large pizza for pick-up with extra chicken, was cancelled out and turned into a delivery because "canucks have tied game, [customer] cannot leave house to pickup."
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Today in Sports History:
1903 - The Chicago White Sox committed 12 errors against the Detroit Tigers.
1915 - Babe Ruth hit his first major league home run while playing for the Boston Red Sox. The game was also his pitching debut.
1921 - The American Soccer League was formed.
1925 - Ty Cobb hit his 5th homerun in only 2 games. The feat tied Cap Anson's record in 1884.
1929 - The American League announced that it would discontinue the MVP award.
1934 - The Boston Red Sox hit a record of four consecutive triples.
1946 - The New York Yankees became the first major league baseball team to travel by plane.
1954 - British runner Roger Banister broke the four minute mile.
1973 - The New England Whalers beat the Winnipeg Jets in the first WHA championship.
1992 - Anthony Young (New York Mets) began a losing streak of 26 games.
1995 - The Classic Sports Network began on cable TV.
1997 - The NHL's Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes.
1997 - Rick Pitino became the head coach of the Boston Celtics.
2004 - It was announced that "Spider-Man 2" ads would not appear on bases in major league games during games from June 11-13. The advertising plan had been announced the previous day.
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If you think that Early Earth, without industrial pollutants from humankind whatsoever, smelled fresh and natural, you'd be in for a rude and stinky surprise. Scientists have determined that billions of years ago, Earth smelled like rotten eggs.
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TALLADEGA, Ala.-- The delicious irony of Regan Smith's victory in Saturday's Aaron's 312 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway wasn't lost on the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.
With a push from teammate Kasey Kahne, Smith roared out of the pack during the final 400 yards of a green-white-checkered-flag finish and won a race decided when NASCAR called the seventh and final caution an instant before the four cars battling for the win crossed the finish line.
Read the rest here.
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Iron Man 3 flew past opening weekend box office expectations by bringing in more than $175 million Friday-Sunday. In less than two weeks Iron Man 3 has hauled in over $680 million, including over a half-billion dollars overseas.
... Opening Friday: Peeples and The Great Gatsby.
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TALLADEGA, Ala. -- In the type of stunning victory that has typified racing at Talladega Superspeedway since its inception, David Ragan led an extraordinary 1-2 finish for Front Row Motorsports, which had never won a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race before Sunday.
Read the rest here.
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Bob Hope gave his first USO show at California's March Field on this date in 1941.
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Sao Paulo, Brazil -- James Hinchcliffe led the final 300 yards of the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300 presented by Nestle, which is all that was necessary.
Hinchcliffe overtook Takuma Sato in the final turn of the final lap to win by .3463 of a second, preventing A.J. Foyt Racing from earning consecutive victories for the first time since 1998 (Kenny Brack at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Pike Peak International Raceway).
Read the rest here.
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U.S. Senator John Fitzgerald Kennedy was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his book "Profiles in Courage" on this date in 1957.
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Coming Up:
Tonight --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:10pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 10:15pm EDT
Tuesday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:10pm EDT
NAHL Playoff Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild vs Fairbanks Ice Dogs 10:05pm EDT (If necessary)
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 10:15pm EDT
Wednesday--
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Philadelphia Phillies 3:45pm EDT
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:10pm EDT
Thursday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Toronto Blue Jays 7:10pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves 10:15pm EDT
Friday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs San Diego Padres 7:10pm EDT
Nascar Nationwide Series -- VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway 7:30pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves 10:15pm EDT
Saturday --
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves 4:05pm EDT
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs San Diego Padres 6:10pm EDT
Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway 6:45pm EDT
Sunday --
MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs San Diego Padres 1:40pm EDT
MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Atlanta Braves 4:05pm EDT
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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!
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