US beats France 4-2 at ice hockey worlds to take group lead

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US Bobby Butler celebrates with Drew LeBlank, after scoring to take the score to 2-0, during a preliminary round game USA vs France of the IIHF International Ice Hockey World Championship in Helsinki, Finland, on May 11, 2013. (AP Photo / LEHTIKUVA, Markku Ulander) FINLAND OUT - NO SALES

HELSINKI – The United States beat France 4-2 Saturday to take the lead in its group at the ice hockey world championships.

Stephen Gionta and Bobby Butler gave the Americans a 2-0 lead in the first period, and captain Paul Stastny and David Moss added goals in the third.

Kevin Hecquefeuille made it 2-1 for France in the second period and Yorick Treille added a late goal.

American goaltender Ben Bishop had 15 saves, including a couple of key stops to keep his team ahead early in the third. Cristobal Huet had 32 saves for France.

In Stockholm, Switzerland took the lead in the other group with a 4-1 victory over Denmark. Switzerland has 14 points from five games, one one point ahead of Canada.

Luca Cunti, Ryan Gardner, Reto Suri and Nino Niederreiter scored for Switzerland.

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