AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
Might 25, 2023
Group Canada has sophisticated to the semifinals of the 2023 IIHF Planet Championship in Finland.
Jack Quinn, Sammy Blais, Michael Carcone and Tyler Toffoli scored though Samuel Montembeault had a robust efficiency in net to push Canada to a four-1 win more than co-host Finland in quarterfinal action on Thursday. The victory advances Group Canada into Saturday’s semifinals exactly where they’ll play Latvia.
Canada is seeking to win gold at the men’s worlds for the very first time because 2021. Canada and Finland have gotten to know each and every other rather effectively in gold medal matches at this tournament in current years, facing off in each and every of the previous 3 championship games — which includes final year when the Finns edged the Canadians four-three in overtime.
Study: Group Canada seeking to get back on leading of the podium at IIHF Planet Championship
Canada’s Samuel Blais, second from left, celebrates with teammates right after scoring his side’s second purpose in the course of the quarterfinal match amongst Canada and Finland at the ice hockey planet championship in Tampere, Finland, Thursday, Might 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Canada’s penalty kill went to perform early in the very first period and effectively killed off a Tyler Myers interference contact, permitting only a single Finnish shot. Just right after the penalty expired, Jake Neighbours had Canada’s very first very good scoring likelihood, ripping a a single-time shot into the pad of netminder Emil Larmi.
Quinn opened the scoring 7:12 into the very first. Following finding about a Finnish defender, Quinn promptly fired a low shot that fooled Larmi, providing Canada a 1- benefit.
Montembeault was referred to as for delay of game later in the period and was kept busy in the course of the penalty kill as Finland pressed for the equalizer. The Canadian goaltender stopped all ten shots he faced in the opening frame.
Blais gave Canada a two- lead ten:45 into the second period. The Canadians entered the zone on a 3-on-a single with Neighbours setting up Blais for a higher shot that beat Larmi.
A handful of minutes later, Finland’s Kaapo Kakko had a breakaway but ran out of area ahead of he could get a very good shot off. Quickly right after, the Finns entered the zone on a two-on-a single but Kakko couldn’t fire a shot due to a sliding Canadian defenseman. Late in the period it was Kakko once again who created a good feed to Kasperi Kapanen on a further two-on-a single, forcing Montembeault to make a major pad cease.
Just two:54 into the third period, Carcone scored to make it three- for Group Canada. Mackenzie Weegar created a good pass from inside the circle, discovering a wide open Carcone who ripped a shot previous Larmi to extend Canada’s lead.
With their goaltender pulled and three:08 remaining in regulation time, Teemu Hartikainen jammed a bouncing puck amongst Montembeault and the post to get Finland inside two. Any threat of a Finnish comeback ended with two:18 remaining when Toffoli scored into the open net, creating it a four-1 final.
Group Canada sophisticated to the quarterfinals right after putting second in Group B in preliminary round play, winning 5 of their seven games. Canada fell three-two in a shootout to Norway and three-two in regulation to Switzerland. The Swiss completed atop Group B but had been upset in their quarterfinal matchup against Germany, falling three-1.
Saturday’s other semifinal will function the Germans taking on the United States. The gold and bronze medal games take location on Sunday. All remaining games will be played at Nokia Arena in Finland and will be broadcast by TSN.