Team Canada needs a win in regulation to clinch a spot in Thursday night’s championship game against Team USA, so what Jon Cooper decides (or what has been decided for him) should today’s matinee between Canada and Finland reach its final five minutes of regulation with the score tied will make for some drama.
Under the soccer-style point system, teams earn 3 points for a 60-minute win (as did USA in both of its game in Montreal), 2 points for an overtime win, 1 point for an overtime loss and no points for a 60-minute loss.
It is therefore wide open as to which team will emerge from today’s final round of pool play, but with a 60-minute win this afternoon by Canada tonight’s game would be rendered a pure exhibition.
Why Canada? Because, even if Sweden beats the U.S. tonight, the tiebreaker would be the head-to-head (won in overtime by Canada).
Kevin Lankinen leads Finland onto TDG ice, as had Jordan Binnington moments earlier.
Bigger than goalie starts is the fact Cale Makar and Thomas Harley are taking the warmup for Canada, which has seven defensemen on the ice.
A public-address announcement to respect the players’ home-country anthems was ignored by an audible number of attendees. Nothing like what happened in Montreal, but the games here are unfortunately also not quite idiot-proof.
FIRST PERIOD
Makar in, Harley out for Canada.
Connor McDavid turns in the left circle and beats Lankinen glove side for a 1-0 Canada lead at 4:13.
I “tweeted” a short while ago that, after facing Connor Hellebuyck on Saturday, Saros would look small today, but I forgot the Preds starter is not getting this start (Lankinen is 6-foot-2).
Nathan MacKinnon follows suit off the rush, sprung for a partial breakaway at 4:59, just 46 seconds later, and it’s 2-0.
Timeout Finland. Lankinen stays in the net.
Mikko Rantanen carries through the middle and is knocked off his skates by Sam Reinhart.
The game calms down, but Canada pushes again and Brayden Point makes it 3-0, and the rout is on.
The is the worst-case scenario from an excitement standpoint for the in-game drama, as a Canada victory assures a Canada-U.S. final on Thursday. This is also the best possible news for the networks where it concerns the championship game, and for the ticket scalpers (white collar and blue).
Brad Marchand, BTW, playing hard, generating grinder’s chances, and initiating shoves at Lankinen’s protectors including former Bruin Eric Haula.
First-period shots: 11-5 Canada.
SECOND PERIOD
MacKinnon makes it 4-0 just 5:03 into the second period, after Reinhart and Crosby trap Urho Vaakanainen at the end of a long shift, win the puck. Crosby makes the play out of the corner to MacKinnon. Makar and Devon Toews turned that puck around so quickly to get it deep. Vaakanainen had no chance.
Jussi Saros comes in for Lankinen.
Marchand has his second big chance of the period, but his shot was blocked in the slot. Gassed when he received a nice pass from linemate Travis Konecny, he was not able to muster his best. Earlier, Marchand pounced with speed to rifle a rebound chance, but the puck skipped over his stick.
Finland is denied its best scoring chance of the game when Binnington stops Eric Haula at the doorstep, but the game’s first penalty also comes on the play with Toews to the box at 15:25 of the second period.
Canada gets the kill.
Period ends 4-0 for the Maple Leaf.
Shots after two: 20-17 Team C. The official scorers have taken a Canadian shot off the board, so it’s officially 19-17 heading into the third period.
THIRD PERIOD
Sasha Barkov generated a scoring chance for Finland, but was not successful.
Lots of pride in the white uniform today, and the Canadians want to get Binnington a shutout to take into Thursday’s championship vs. USA.
That and NHL management teams’ and fans’ abiding concern for injuries that could ruin a playoff run is what’s left of the hockey to be played today.
Esa Lindell ends Binnington’s shutout bid at 13:19 of the third period, 4-1 Canada.
Should we keep an eye on Saros?
Sure enough, the netminder sprints to the Finland bench with five minutes remaining in regulation. The Finns go offside, so Saros must return, at least momentarily. Wrong – Saros stays on the bench as the Finns huddle at center.
Mikael Granlund makes it 4-2 with 1:40 left and makes it 4-3 with 1:17 left, and that brings up the question, has they’re ever been a game in which both teams (not necessarily at the same time) pulled their goalies because they needed goals? What will Canada do if Finland scores again?
Crosby’s empty-netter lets the air out of that bag, as all of Canada breathes a sigh of relief with a 5-3 victory.
Boston Bruins alumnus and president of the team’s foundation Bob Sweeney presents the Player of the Game award to Nathan MacKinnon.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 