Canada holds off Finns 5-4 at U18
DRESDEN, Germany – Colin Smith scored the winner with less than five minutes left in regulation as Canada edged Finland 5-4 at the world under-18 hockey championship Saturday.
Finland led 3-2 with less than 10 minutes to play before Nick Cousins and Mark Scheifele scored 40 seconds apart to put Canada up by one. Smith added Canada’s third unanswered goal four minutes later.
It stood up as the winner after Finland’s Olli Maatta scored a power-play goal in the final two minutes.
Smith called the game a step forward for the team’s chances at the tournament.
“Obviously the first game was 5-0 (against the Czech Republic) and a good confidence booster,”said Smith,“but I think this game, just knowing we can come back, is a huge stepping stone for when we get deeper.”
Eric Locke and Ryan Murphy also scored for Canada as the team stayed undefeated through two games.
Joel Armia and Maatta each scored twice for Finland (1-1).
Malcolm Subban had another quality start in goal for Canada with 34 saves. Finnish goalie SamuPerhonenwasalso a factor, stopping 30 shots.
Canadian coach Mike Williamson said he tried to focus his team before the big third period.
“We played pretty well tonight but we didn’t seem to quite have the jump and got away from our game plan a lot,” said Williamson. “For a 5-4 hockey game both goalies played incredible, and again (Subban) stood tall when it was 3-2 and 3-3 and gave us a chance to get that one.
“I thought we were a little bit loose today. The Finns have a good hockey team. They’re very,very skilled…. It could have gone either way.”
Williamson said the team will have a light day Sunday to recuperate before facing Norway (0-2) on Monday.Canada will also play Sweden in round-robin play before the start of the medal round.
Story courtesy of Hockey Canada and the Canadian Press
