AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin
May perhaps 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 although Samuel Montembeault had a robust overall performance 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 1st time due to the fact 2021. Canada and Finland have gotten to know each and every other very properly in gold medal matches at this tournament in current years, facing off in each and every of the previous 3 championship games — like final year when the Finns edged the Canadians four-three in overtime.
Study: Group Canada seeking to get back on prime of the podium at IIHF Planet Championship
Canada’s Samuel Blais, second from left, celebrates with teammates just after scoring his side’s second target through the quarterfinal match among Canada and Finland at the ice hockey planet championship in Tampere, Finland, Thursday, May perhaps 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Canada’s penalty kill went to operate early in the 1st period and effectively killed off a Tyler Myers interference contact, enabling only 1 Finnish shot. Just just after the penalty expired, Jake Neighbours had Canada’s 1st very good scoring likelihood, ripping a 1-time shot into the pad of netminder Emil Larmi.
Quinn opened the scoring 7:12 into the 1st. Soon after obtaining about a Finnish defender, Quinn swiftly fired a low shot that fooled Larmi, providing Canada a 1- benefit.
Montembeault was named for delay of game later in the period and was kept busy through 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-1 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 prior to he could get a very good shot off. Quickly just after, the Finns entered the zone on a two-on-1 but Kakko couldn’t fire a shot due to a sliding Canadian defenseman. Late in the period it was Kakko once more who created a good feed to Kasperi Kapanen on yet another two-on-1, forcing Montembeault to make a massive 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, acquiring 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 among 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, producing it a four-1 final.
Group Canada sophisticated to the quarterfinals just 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.