Preview: Both Team Canada and Team Finland need to win to advance to the finals against Team USA who already qualified for the finals. Jordan Binnington gets his 3rd start in a row for Team Canada.
Team Canada jumps to a lead early in period 1…
Binnington comes up with 2 big saves early in 2 high shots…shooting high on purpose???
Connor McDavid gets Canada on the scoreboard first just over 4 minutes into the game with a wrist through a screen. Less than a minute later, Nathan McKinnon fires one over the stick and under the blocker on a breakaway. 2-0 on four shots—two goals in 46 seconds in the first 5 minutes of the game. Brayden Point makes it 3-0 with 6:58 left in the period.
Canada finishes the period with 11 shots to five for Finland. The score is 3-0.
Canada extends the lead in period 2…
McKinnon gets his 2nd goal of the game at 5:03 of the period on a feed from Sidney Crosby…and a goalie change for Finland…4-0…4 goals on 13 shots.
Binnington has stopped all 17 shots against…Canada with 20 shots through the end of 2…4-0.
A late push by Finland…Canada survives the 3rd period…
Finland gets on the board with 6:47 left in the game…a shot from just inside the faceoff circle beats Binnington to the stick side off the far post and in. Finland’s 20th shot on goal. 4-1.
With over 4:40 remaining, Finland pulls the goalie and goes six on 5…with all 6 being forwards…needing to win the game to advance. With 1:40 left, Finland gets a shot through the 5-hole from the slot, and it’s 4 to 2. And they make it a 1 goal game with 1:17 left…2 goals in 23 seconds…6 on five, and the Finland player is left all alone and beats Binnington high over the blocker.
Canada scores an empty net goal to get the 2-goal lead back on a shot by Sidney Crosby. The game ends with quite a busy last 2 minutes…5 to 3 Canada…Binnington saved 23 of 26 shots. Canada with 28 shots on goal and they advance to the finals on Thursday vs Team USA.
Colton Parayko was solid on defense, finishing with 1 shot on goal and a +1 for the game.