BUFFALO, NY- Russia and Sweden waged a spirited battle this afternoon as the teams needed a shootout to settle one spot in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Junior Championship Finals. Russia got one goal in the shootout from Denis Golubev winning goaltender Dmitri Shikin stonewalled Sweden and the Russians moved on to the finals. It will be Russia’s first trip to the finals since 2007. They last won in 2003 when a young Alex Ovechkin led them to the title.
In the second semi-final, Canada out classed the US National Team 4-1 before a large crowd of mostly Canadian fans. Team Canada got off to a blazing start and the USA never recovered from the first period onslaught they faced.
The two winners of today’s semi-finals will meet Wednesday night at HSBC Arena in the Gold Medal Championship game starting at 7:30 PM. The game will be broadcast in the United States on the NHL Network and in Canada on TSN. The Gold Medal Game will be preceded by the fight for the Bronze Medal between Sweden and Team USA at 3:30PM.
Russia-4, Finland-3 (Shootout)
Russia surprised the hockey world here in Buffalo with a come from behind win over the favored Swedes in the first semi-final game of the evening. On the brink of having to play in the Relegation Round the Russians turned it around with four straight wins that sent them into the gold medal game.
Russia jumped out to a 2-0 lead before Sweden halved the lead late in period two. Sweden tied the game and then took a 3-2 lead in period three which they held until just over a minute remained in regulation time. The Russians did not quit and came back and tied the game 3-3 with less than 1:30 left in regulation time. Their comeback mirrored their effort in ousting Finland in the Quarter-Finals when they also scored late to tie the game and won in overtime.
Russia struck first at 6:37 of period one as Vladimir Tarasenko beat Swedish net minder Robin Lehner. It was the first of two odd goals by the Russians. A seemingly harmless shot from a sharp angle beat Lehner as he left just enough room between himself and the pipe for the shot to squeeze into the net. The old adage that there is no such thing as a bad shot came true for a 1-0 lead.
The second Russian goal was also a little strange. Lehner and his two defensemen may not have heard the loud “no icing” call made by the responsible linesmen on a potential icing call on Russia. Anticipating a stoppage of play the Swedes relaxed. The Russians didn’t however and Russian forward Stanislav Bocharov beat both Swedish defensemen to the puck behind the net. Lehner was left alone and in came Golubev who one-timed Bocharov’s centering pass and buried a wrist shot high over Lehner for a 2-0 lead.
Sweden used a power play to cut the lead in half at 17:59 of the second period. A tripping call, the second penalty of the game against the Russians provided the opening. Defenseman Adam Larsson used a quick snapshot about ten feet out in the slot to solve Shikin. Larsson ended the game with a goal and two assists. The 2-1 Russian lead held going into the third stanza.
Sweden tied the game 1:20 into period three as Calle Jarnkrok got a tip in from Larsson to even the score at 2-2. The tie held up until a slashing penalty to Russian defensemen Dmitri Orlov in his offensive zone late in period three gave the Swedes a power play. They cashed in when Patrick Cehlin rifled a shot from the point that eluded a screened Shikin. The Swedes appeared to be on their way to the finals up 3-2 with only 3:19 left in regulation.
However, with 1:27 remaining on the clock Sergei Kalinin got his first goal of the tournament in a wild scramble in front of the net. The 3-3 tie sent the game into sudden death overtime.
Shikin who had already made a number of great saves in regulation and ended up with 49 saves in the game rose to the occasion both in O/T and in the shootout. First he made five saves in O/T while Russia managed only one shot on goal in the extra time. Next Shikin stopped all three Swedish players in the shootout as Golubev beat Lehner for the 4-3 win.
Canada-4, USA-1
Canada rode the emotion of a big pro Canada crowd to score on their second shot of the game. A mad scramble in front of USA goaltender Jack Campbell produced the game’s first goal at 2:28 of the opening period. Campbell made the first save on Cody Eakin from point blank range on his right side but left his feet to do so. Canada’s Curtis Hamilton was there for the rebound and poked it home.
The first period featured a number of big hits especially by Canada who tried to slow down the faster skating American team. Canada dominated the first period territorial as they had real jump in their steps all period long.
The domination paid off when Canada scored again at 13:54 with an odd man rush as Quinton Howden scored on a tic tac toe play. Brett Connolly and Erik Gudbranson provided the transition passes to set up his score right at the mouth of the goal.
Canada outshot the US 12-5 and skated into the first intermission with the 2-0 lead. The play in the neutral zone by Canada hemmed in the Americans and prevented them from getting shots on what was expected to be a soft spot for Canada their goaltending. Only one of the five US shots was a legitimate scoring chance in the opening period.
Canada’s starting goalie disproved the conventional wisdom that goaltending was suspect as he came up big throughout period two. While he held the US off the scoreboard a two man advantage on two back to back USA penalties gave Canada chance to extend their lead. Their third goal came with just under 40 seconds left in the two man advantage as Calle Johansen smacked in a rebound on a Ryan Ellis shot. The third goal came on the 19th Canadian shot on goal.
The 3-0 score for all intents and purposes ended the contest. While the game was not finished it was over as the US balloon deflated. Campbell continued to play well but the Canadian pressure simply overwhelmed his defense. In the second half of period two for example he withstood a series of point blank uncontested shots by Team Canada. He would make the initial save but the defense was unable to clear the rebounds. Somehow the pucks stayed out of the net.
Period three saw the teams’ trade goals in an otherwise anticlimactic period. Team Canada picked up a fourth goal as Calvin de Haan sprung Zack Kassian around the US defense with a nice pass. Campbell couldn’t stop the one on one attempt by Kassian.
The USA finally cashed in on a power play. Chris Brown got a rebound with assists going to Jeremy Morin and Nick Leddy. The lone USA goal came at 9:37 of the final period. Team Canada after a dominating performance tonight move on to play the Russians who they beat in Preliminary Round 6-3.
Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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