Canada shows a great hustle, but Team USA prevails in overtime

Canada cut the lead at the 50th minute and then even scored another goal, which was disallowed. The puck got into the net after deflecting from the body of a referee, but the play was stopped just before the puck crossed the goal line. No Canadian protests could help it.

However, it would not be Canada, if they withdrew without the fighting. Bardreau shot the puck into the stands and drew a 2-minute penalty, so Canada played 6 on 4. With 105 seconds to go Murphy cut the lead and 51 seconds before the buzzer Mark Scheifele tied the game!

"Penalties can kill you and unfortunately, it was the case. We stayed disciplined afterwards, blocked shots and kept our game plan, but Canada came really strong into an overtime," said Tyler Biggs, who scored the winning goal for the Team USA eventually.

However, it was Team Canada who could even add the winning goal. "We definitely had all the momentum, we scored three goals in the last ten minutes. We had a couple of good chances in the overtime and we had also an open cage there but missed it," said Mark Scheifele, a Canadian forward.

On Sunday, it will be a rematch of last year`s final. Team USA will play Sweden once again. "They have a great team every year, they know how to compete on this level. We have to come up strong and stay disciplined for the whole sixty minutes," said Biggs, who played already in the final game last year in Minsk.


In the match between two teams, which will play in Division I next year, Slovakia took an early 2-0 lead over Norway. Just before the end of the 1st period, Weberg cut the lead and it was the start of a disaster for Slovakia.

Slovaks took ten two-minutes penalties and one game misconduct in the 2nd period. Norway used that to turn the game over and won 6-2 in the end. "I would trade my goal, and even all the points of my teammates, for staying among the elite teams. We started this game well, but we drew way too many inexcusable penalties," said Slovak Andrej Bires, who scored his 1st goal of the tournament.

"We played almost the whole period with four men, sometimes even with three. Our penalties in the 2nd period cost us the game. I am sure we would be able to score the game over, but we were very tired after we played shorthanded so long," added Marko Dano.

Norwegian goalie Steffen Søberg was named the best player of the game on Norwegian side, for the 4th time in the tournament. Søberg was also a goalie in U20 WC in Buffalo. Having him in the crease, Norway experienced its first victories on U20 WC and U18 WC elite level in several decades.

Switzerland secured the 7th spot after beating the Czech Republic 4-2. Jaskin opened the scoring for the Czech Republic soon, but Andrighetto, Bertaggia and Richard gave the Swiss a comfortable lead. "I am very disappointed from our performance. We cannot play like this at the World championship. The attitude of some our players was really bad," said Lukas Sedlak, who became a new Czech captain after the coach`s decision. Former captain was Marek Hrbas. The Czechs eventually lost 2-4.

"It was a very good game for us. The Czechs got plenty shots but we still managed to win. The championship is over and I will keep in my head for a long time a game against Team USA. We lost 1-2, but we showed a great spirit and the success was close," said Swiss goalie Luca Boltshauser.

Semi final
USA-Canada 5-4 (1-1, 1-0, 2-3, 1-0)
Goals: 11. Miller, 37. and 48. Boucher, 47. Larraza, 65. Biggs - 5. and 50. Ritchie, 59. Murray, 60. Scheifele

Relegation Round
Slovakia-Norway 2-6 (2-1, 0-3, 0-2)
Goals: 8. Bires, 14 Mraz - 20. and 38. Hoff, 22. Knutsen, 23. Lund, 45. Søberg, 59. Salo

Switzerland-Czech Republic 4-2 (2-1, 1-0, 1-1)
Goals: 16. Andrighetto, 18. Bertaggia, 35. Richard, 45. Martschini - 11. Jaskin, 43. Hyka

 

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