HALIFAX - The United States needed every bit of its quick start to survive a scare from an opportunistic German team.

Zach Parise's power play goal with 8:56 remaining in the third period was the winner as the Americans held on for a 6-4 qualifying round victory over Germany at the IIHF world hockey championship Thursday.

The U.S appeared to have the game in hand when they scored three times in the opening 2:52 of the first period, but Germany refused to go away, gradually chipping away at the American lead.

Germany tied things at 4-4 early in the third, forcing Parise to come through on the power play. The New Jersey Devils sniper took the puck at the side of the goal and roofed it over Germany netminder Dimitrij Patzold.

The Americans iced the victory when Dustin Brown scored into an empty net with 1:36 remaining.

"We kind of let them hang around. We