Finland survives quick scare to beat Austria

11 May 2013 | Lukáš Peroutka

Team Finland reclaimed top spot of Helsinki group after beating Team Austria 7-2, despite conceding two goals on their own 5-minute powerplay early in the third period.

Things looked very comfortable for the hosts for 40 minutes. Antti Pihlstrom and Veli-Matti Saviainen got on the end of quick combinations within first eight minutes, fired their shots past helpless Bernhard Starkabaum and Finland got a needed two-goal cushion.

The game was very one-sided. As Team Finland logged 30 shots on goal in the first two periods, Austria got just 11, their only major chance coming courtesy of Thomas Vanek breakaway. However, Buffalo Sabres forward buried his chance as he lost balance in an attempted deke.

At the end of the second period, forward Daniel Welser conceded a 5-minute major penalty for a slash on goalie Joni Ortio and things looked very good for Finland. But Team Austria entered the third period in a great fashion. Firstly, Robert Lukas converted a quick breakaway just 38 seconds after the intermission and two minutes later, Raphael Herburger pushed his side to a one-goal deficit with another breakaway shorthanded goal.

Finnish head coach Jukka Jalonen immediately took a timeout. Hosts regrouped and pushed forward again. Lauri Korpikoski eased fears of an unlikely twist with a close range powerplay goal in the 50^th minute and Finland went on to score three more in front of full Hartwall Areena. Niklas Hagman and Jarno Koskiranta scored with quick one-timers and Finnish best player of the game Vali-Matti Savinainen logged his second of the game to make the final score 7-2.