Finns win 6-5 QF thriller
By Andrew Podnieks |
28 APR 2022
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
Joakim Kemell scored 28 seconds into overtime to give Finland a 6-5 win against Canada in the first quarter-finals in Kaufbeuren today to earn a spot in the semi-finals and send last year's gold medallists packing.
Suomi will now have to wait until end of day to see who they’ll play because all QF winners will be ranked prior to determining the penultimate games for Saturday.
The goal came on the first shift of a 10:00 OT featuring 3-on-3. Canadian Adam Fantilli entered the Finland zone and dropped the puck to Connor Bedard, but the pass was intercepted by Kemell who skated in alone and roofed a shot over the glove of Reid Dyck.
"I saw Connor was going to take a drop pass," Kemell explained, "so I just read the play and got the puck and skated away. I just did what I could. Today was a good day!"
Canada led 5-3 with less than five minutes left in the third period, but as had been the case against Czechia a weak penalty kill proved their undoing. The Finns tied it with two power-play goals, their third and fourth power-play goals of the game. Canada allowed a staggering nine goals against while down a man in their last two games.
Canada led in this game 1-0, 2-1, 4-2, and 5-3 and couldn't hold on for the victory.
"We played very well," Kemell added. "I think it was our best game so far. They have some really good players who are so skilful and can score from everywhere. We had to take their space away. It was a big test. We practise the power play a lot--it's our biggest weapon."
"We took some undisciplined penalties," conceded Canada's coach Nolan Baumgartner, "and just like that it's in the back of our net. You never know when a big play is going to happen, and it happened to us a few times tonight. Still, our players did a great job here. We're proud of them. I hope they'll learn from the experience and take those lessons home for the future."
Indeed, Canada took the only four penalties in the last half of the third period, and that was their undoing.
"They're hard on pucks and transition really quickly, but we have to learn to be more disciplined," suggested Bedard, the 16-year-old team captain.
Suomi will now have to wait until end of day to see who they’ll play because all QF winners will be ranked prior to determining the penultimate games for Saturday.
The goal came on the first shift of a 10:00 OT featuring 3-on-3. Canadian Adam Fantilli entered the Finland zone and dropped the puck to Connor Bedard, but the pass was intercepted by Kemell who skated in alone and roofed a shot over the glove of Reid Dyck.
"I saw Connor was going to take a drop pass," Kemell explained, "so I just read the play and got the puck and skated away. I just did what I could. Today was a good day!"
Canada led 5-3 with less than five minutes left in the third period, but as had been the case against Czechia a weak penalty kill proved their undoing. The Finns tied it with two power-play goals, their third and fourth power-play goals of the game. Canada allowed a staggering nine goals against while down a man in their last two games.
Canada led in this game 1-0, 2-1, 4-2, and 5-3 and couldn't hold on for the victory.
"We played very well," Kemell added. "I think it was our best game so far. They have some really good players who are so skilful and can score from everywhere. We had to take their space away. It was a big test. We practise the power play a lot--it's our biggest weapon."
"We took some undisciplined penalties," conceded Canada's coach Nolan Baumgartner, "and just like that it's in the back of our net. You never know when a big play is going to happen, and it happened to us a few times tonight. Still, our players did a great job here. We're proud of them. I hope they'll learn from the experience and take those lessons home for the future."
Indeed, Canada took the only four penalties in the last half of the third period, and that was their undoing.
"They're hard on pucks and transition really quickly, but we have to learn to be more disciplined," suggested Bedard, the 16-year-old team captain.
Finland vs Canada (QF) - 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship
FIN vs. CAN
Twice Canada took the lead in the first period on fortuitous circumstances, and twice they surrendered the lead thanks to their tournament-worst problems killing penalties. Kocha Delic made it 1-0 just 3:53 into the game when he tucked in a rebound. Mathew Ward took the original shot, and although defender Thomas Gronlund blocked it with his shin pad, the puck came right to Delic and he made no mistake. The play had started with a masterful defensive play to break up a two-on-one for Finland.
Midway through the period, though, Bedard took a penalty in the centre-ice area, and the Finns wasted no time in tying the game just eight seconds later. Kemell, the top-ranked skater among Europeans according to NHL Central Scouting, snapped a shot past the outstretched glove of Dyck at 9:08. It was Canada’s sixth power-play goal allowed in its last seven man-short situations, including five to Czechia two days ago in a 6-5 OT loss.
Canada continued to press and was rewarded again with good net presence. This time Spencer Sova’s shot was blocked in front, but it landed on the stick of Connor Hvidson who roofed a nice backhand over Leinonen for his first goal of the tournament, giving Canada a 2-1 lead.
Just four minutes later, though, Michael Mastrodomenico took a holding penalty, and 24 seconds later it was a 2-2 game. Predictably, Kemell was the sniper, from the other side of the ice, beating Dyck over the shoulder to the far side. It was a psychological goal as much as anything for Canada, a team clearly lacking all confidence killing penalties.
Canada jumped into a two-goal lead early in the second, again thanks to good fortune and quick hands in front of the Finnish goal. Nicholas Moldenhauer made a pass from behind the goal that bounced off the skate of Kasper Kulonummi, right onto the stick of Brayden Schuurman, and he swatted the puck in from close range at 5:25.
Just 29 seconds later, Bedard scored a beautiful goal which he started himself with a great defensive play and finished with a great play in front of the Leinonen. First, he broke up a scoring chance in front of Dyck, stripping Kasper Halttunen just as he was about to shoot. Bedard carried the puck up ice on a two-on-two with Fantilli, who tried to get the puck to Bedard heading to the goal. The puck was behind him, but Bedard turned back to gain possession then turned again to face the goalie and whip a low shot between his pads to make it a 4-2 game.
But just when Canada thought it might be able to enjoy some quality time with the lead, Finland struck. Tommi Manisto headed up ice on a three-on-one and was given the shot, so he took it, beating Dyck under the blocker arm to cut Canada’s lead to one heading to the third.
No sooner had the third period started than Kemell took a stretch pass for a breakaway, but he was stoned by Dyck with the save of the game. Things looked bad again a little while later when Canada took a penalty, but Bedard made sure there would not be another PPG on this situation.
He got the puck inside his own blue line and skated carefully down the right side. Nearing the Finnish goal line, he saw Leinonen on his knees and wired a high shot in. It was a sensational goal, short-handed, but one the goalie should never have allowed.
Canada killed off the rest of that penalty, and another, but a third in quick succession cost them. This time it was a nice tip in front by Aleksanteri Kaskimaki off a shot-pass from Jere Lassila to cut the Canada lead to 5-4.
If that wasn't enough, Canada took another penalty and coach Mika Marttila pulled Leinonen for a two-man advantage. They tied the game off a high shot by Halttunen over the glove of Dyck, another suspect goal that tied the game at 5 with only 1:42 remaining and forcing overtime.
Then, Kemell went to work, and the Finns are on their way to Lanshut for some semi-finals and medal action this weekend.
Midway through the period, though, Bedard took a penalty in the centre-ice area, and the Finns wasted no time in tying the game just eight seconds later. Kemell, the top-ranked skater among Europeans according to NHL Central Scouting, snapped a shot past the outstretched glove of Dyck at 9:08. It was Canada’s sixth power-play goal allowed in its last seven man-short situations, including five to Czechia two days ago in a 6-5 OT loss.
Canada continued to press and was rewarded again with good net presence. This time Spencer Sova’s shot was blocked in front, but it landed on the stick of Connor Hvidson who roofed a nice backhand over Leinonen for his first goal of the tournament, giving Canada a 2-1 lead.
Just four minutes later, though, Michael Mastrodomenico took a holding penalty, and 24 seconds later it was a 2-2 game. Predictably, Kemell was the sniper, from the other side of the ice, beating Dyck over the shoulder to the far side. It was a psychological goal as much as anything for Canada, a team clearly lacking all confidence killing penalties.
Canada jumped into a two-goal lead early in the second, again thanks to good fortune and quick hands in front of the Finnish goal. Nicholas Moldenhauer made a pass from behind the goal that bounced off the skate of Kasper Kulonummi, right onto the stick of Brayden Schuurman, and he swatted the puck in from close range at 5:25.
Just 29 seconds later, Bedard scored a beautiful goal which he started himself with a great defensive play and finished with a great play in front of the Leinonen. First, he broke up a scoring chance in front of Dyck, stripping Kasper Halttunen just as he was about to shoot. Bedard carried the puck up ice on a two-on-two with Fantilli, who tried to get the puck to Bedard heading to the goal. The puck was behind him, but Bedard turned back to gain possession then turned again to face the goalie and whip a low shot between his pads to make it a 4-2 game.
But just when Canada thought it might be able to enjoy some quality time with the lead, Finland struck. Tommi Manisto headed up ice on a three-on-one and was given the shot, so he took it, beating Dyck under the blocker arm to cut Canada’s lead to one heading to the third.
No sooner had the third period started than Kemell took a stretch pass for a breakaway, but he was stoned by Dyck with the save of the game. Things looked bad again a little while later when Canada took a penalty, but Bedard made sure there would not be another PPG on this situation.
He got the puck inside his own blue line and skated carefully down the right side. Nearing the Finnish goal line, he saw Leinonen on his knees and wired a high shot in. It was a sensational goal, short-handed, but one the goalie should never have allowed.
Canada killed off the rest of that penalty, and another, but a third in quick succession cost them. This time it was a nice tip in front by Aleksanteri Kaskimaki off a shot-pass from Jere Lassila to cut the Canada lead to 5-4.
If that wasn't enough, Canada took another penalty and coach Mika Marttila pulled Leinonen for a two-man advantage. They tied the game off a high shot by Halttunen over the glove of Dyck, another suspect goal that tied the game at 5 with only 1:42 remaining and forcing overtime.
Then, Kemell went to work, and the Finns are on their way to Lanshut for some semi-finals and medal action this weekend.
Finland vs Canada (QF) - 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship
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