Nolan Foote picks up three points in Canada’s final tune-up game
Rockets captain Nolan Foote (Kelowna, B.C./Kelowna, WHL) scored twice and added an assist, Ty Dellandrea (Port Perry, Ont./Flint, OHL) got the winner with 7:42 left and Canada’s National Junior Team finished its pre-tournament schedule ahead of the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship by doubling up Finland 4-2 on Monday.
FOOTE LOOSE: Watch as Nolan Foote scores twice for 🇨🇦 against 🇫🇮 in Team Canada’s final #WorldJuniors tune-up…
1st goal: https://t.co/GVqXkJKHxx
2nd goal: https://t.co/nVP6m9A8K9#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/4eG5VU6pE7
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 23, 2019
The Canadians gave back a two-goal lead in the third period before Dellandrea and Kevin Bahl (Mississauga, Ont./Ottawa, OHL) counted in the final eight minutes to cap off an unbeaten exhibition slate; they blanked Switzerland 3-0 on Thursday.
Less than five minutes after Patrik Puistola had brought the Finns even, Dellandrea threw a harmless-looking shot towards the net from a sharp angle that beat goaltender Kari Piiroinen over the glove.
Bahl added insurance with 6:06 left, jumping in off the blue-line and finishing a feed from Foote.
After a scoreless first period, the second belonged to Foote, who found the back of the net twice in four minutes.
His first came 7:03 into the middle frame; he walked into the high slot before lasering a wrist shot upstairs on Justus Annunen, who got the start in the Finnish goal.
He added another at 11:01 after gathering in a bouncing puck in the slot and slipping a shot through Annunen.
The Finns finally solved Joel Hofer (Winnipeg, Man./Portland, WHL) two minutes into the third period when a centring pass from Joonas Oden hit a Canadian skate and eluded Hofer, and Puistola roofed a rebound at 7:51.
Hofer split time with Nico Daws (Burlington, Ont./Guelph OHL), who was perfect in his 31 minutes of work.
Canada is back on the ice Thursday for its tournament opener against the United States (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).
Extensive game coverage and analysis throughout the tournament is once again presented by TSN and RDS, the official broadcasters of Hockey Canada; check your local listings for details.
