Finland came back and is ready for semifinals

USA started the game like expected. They forechecked very active, sometimes even with three players, and took time and space away from Finnish defenders in Finland's zone. Finland was also pretty nervous after all the speculation after their poor preliminary round. During the first ten minutes there were couple of really bad phases for Finland but goalie Petri Vehanen played good. The longer the period last the better also Finland came in to the game and what was good for Finland not only top line could create some chances. Also USA's goalie Jimmy Howard took really a solid backbone behind USA's defense.

In the second period Finland took the command in the game. They came flying over the neutral zone when USA left it mostly totally open. USA also didn't forecheck anymore that aggressive and Finland could open its game nice. Finlands pressure earned games first penalty when after 7.35 Max Pacioretty was forced to hook down Janne Pesonen in front os USA's goal. That was so allec good penalty because otherwise Pesonen would have had easy job to put the puck into an empty net. Power play didn't bring a goal to Finland but their domination continued even more clearly also after the penalty. However Finland just couldn't score even from good chances. After thirteen minutes Antti Pihlström passed over the neutral zone to the right side Jesse Joensuu who skated in and fired a wrister to the far corner of USA's goal. Somehow it looked a bit easy goal and Howard had saved much more difficult shots earlier in the game, but of course it is easy to say from the stands. Anyway thay Finnish joy last whole 21 seconds and Finland top line had to take USA goal on their blame. Kyle Palmieri was left unmarked and he directed the puck into an empty net after a pass from the right side. Finland's play was a bit confused couple of minutes after the goal but they still got back on track and created couple of good scoring chances still before the break.

Third period wasn't even two minutes old before Bobby Ryan brought USA ahead. Justin Faulk shot from line and Ryan cleared the rebound in. Situation started when Finland couldn't clear the puck out. Here started Finlands fight agains the time. It took couple of minutes until Finland recovered from the goal but then  again started pressuring USA. Filppula-Koivu-Jokinen brought the game in every shift to the USA's end of the field but equalizer wasn't to come.

"After USA's second goal it was Koivu's line who showed us the way. They kept pressuring in every shift and they were our leaders in the game" said two goal man Jesse Joensuu. "About 18 years I have been watching these games from the couch at home and now playing here in team Finland - unbelievable!".

Joensuu after the game

After thirteen minutes Koivu's line was again like a hurricane around USA's goalmouth. Jussi Jokinen went behind the goal and threw the puck to the goal and Koivu directed it in. After viewing the video referee determined it is a good goal and that was correct because there never was a kicking motion. What a nail-biting end it was coming to this game.

Koivu's goal gave to Finland one more boost for the rest of the game. Eight seconds before the end Joensuu was left all alone in front of the goal and he managed to put Kontiola's pass from behind of the goal into the net and Hartwall arena went crazy. USA got one more faceoff in Finland's zone two seconds before end but it didn't bring anything anymore.

"I am very proud of our guys how we played today and kept playing according our own system despite USA's third period goal" said Finnish coach Jukka Jalonen. "I think we also deserved our win tonight" and there he was totally right. Finland was dominating team despite maybe the first 5-10 minutes and totally deserved their place in the semifinals.

In the semifinals Finland will face Alex Ovechkin and co. when Russia arrives from Stockholm.

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