Surprise! Canada to meet U.S. in final
Locals down game Finland 5-3, while Americans rout Russians 9-0 in semis
Team Canada is going back to the IIHF world championship final, although they had more than a few heartbeats racing at the Sandman Centre Sunday night on their way to getting there.
The tournament’s host side eked out a 5-3 win over Finland in one semifinal before a crowd of 4,007 at the Sandman. They’ll meet the Americans for gold for the 17th straight worlds Monday here (7:30 p.m.).
The U.S., the two-time reigning tournament champions, punched their ticket to the finale earlier Sunday thanks to a 9-0 romp over Russia.
Canada’s tight win was in part due to the Finns’ trap-happy, stifling style and the goaltending of Meeri Raisanen. It was also due to the fact that Canada was sloppy for extended stretches. They had trouble stringing passes together.
The most dangerous line in the first half was likely Bailey Bram, Sarah Davis and Blayre Turnbull, which is supposed to be Canada’s No. 4 unit.
Natalie Spooner had a hat trick for Canada, while Turnbull and Meghan Agosta added the other markers. Spooner and Agosta, part of Canada’s first line with Marie-Philip Poulin, had both come into the night looking for their first goals of the tournament.
Saana Valkama, Michelle Karvinen and Saila Saari replied for Finland.
Raisanen made 34 saves. Charline Labonte stopped 16 shots in the Canada net.
Saari scored with 33 seconds remaining to give Finland some late hope at 5-3. Spooner tallied into an empty with 2:17 left to put Canada up three goals.
Turnbull had scored into an empty net with Finland on a power play with 3:04 left to make it 4-2. Finland had started pulling the goalie in favour of an extra attacker with about eight minutes to go in the frame, but it was surprising to see them do it with a power play and a one-goal deficit.
Karvinen scored on a power play and with Raisanen on the bench with 4:18 to go to cut Canada’s lead to 3-2. Karvinen had an easy tap-in off the left post on a backdoor play.
Spooner tallied on a short-handed breakaway at 14:22 of the third period, beating Raisanen on a deke to the backhand, to give Canada a 3-1 lead.
Raisanen stopped Agosta on a breakaway at 0:35 of the second period and Jenner on another at 12:47. Agosta, who, like Spooner, has gotten plenty of chances this week but had seemed snakebit until Sunday, slid a puck past Raisanen from in tight with 2:31 to go in the middle stanza to give Canada a 2-1 lead.
The Finns had a glorious chance to take their second lead of the first period, but Labonte was alert on a cheeky redirection by Michelle Karvinen and used her left pad to send the puck away at 13:29.
Canada tied the score at 1-1 at 12:40 of the first period on a power play, Natalie Spooner tipping home a point shot form Brigette Lacquette.
The lone game Canada has lost in this tournament was on opening night, when they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Americans.
Against the Russians, Hilary Knight had two goals and two assists for the victors. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson counted two goals and one assist in the winning cause, while twin sister Monique Lamoureux produced three helpers. Also for the Americans, Kelli Stack supplied a pair of goals and Megan Bozek put up one goal and two assists.
The Americans and the Canadians have met in the 16 previous world championship gold-medal games, with Canada winning 10. The Americans have captured five of the past six going into Monday, including the last two in a row.