Granlund scores a fantastic goal and sends Finland to the finals!

13 May 2011 | David Schlegel

Mikael Granlund scored an incredible goal at 25:03 and Russians were unable to tie the game until the end. Finland finally prevailed 3-0 and will play inthe World championship finals for the first time since 2007. They will meet their arch-rivals from Sweden for the fourth time in history.

Russia will face the Czechs for the bronze medals.

Both teams played very cautiously in the first period and drew only few scoring chances. The crucial moment of the game came at 25:03 when Finnish youngster Mikael Granlund beat two Dmitris - Kalinin and Kulikov behind the net and then used the famous Mike Legg move to score the winning goal. He picked the puck up on his stick blade and put it from behind past Barulin. "Mikael is an incredible player. You never know what he is going to do in the next moment. However, I have not seen this move from him ever before," said Jukka Jalonen, the Finnish coach. The goal had to be approved by the video judge, who had to confirm it was not scored with a high stick.

"As a little boy I tried this trick, but it was long time ago that it was successful", says Granlund. "A friend told me to try it when I am behind the net. Nice that it worked". The goal can be viewed at http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=114221

Afinogenov and Kulikov
Photo: Roman Kucera

Russians had several chances to score to tie the game. "We could score, but we were unlucky. Then the Finns became the better team and deserved to win," said Vyacheslav Bykov. When Lajunen added 2nd goal at 47:40, the Russians got nervous and could not control the puck. Also Petri Vehanen showed several great saves. Two minutes later the best scorer of the tournament Berglund added a 3rd Finnish goal on a power play and Finland started to protect their lead. Russians outshot Finland 17-6 in the third but could not score. Coach Bykov even did not pull Barulin out of the goal to play with six men. "I think it was my fault," said Vyacheslav Bykov, the Russian coach.

0 points in 4 games wasn't what Ovechkin had hoped for.
Photo Roman Kucera

Finland will play Sweden, which they beat in the final game in 1995 to reach their only gold medal at the World championships history.

"We must play even better", says Jalonen. "Sweden is a tougher opponent than Russia. It becomes a dense Nordic battle. First we beat the neighbor to the east. Now we're going to beat his neighbor to the west".