Finland to meet Czech Republic in semi-finals of IIHF World Championships
Belarus prove tough to break down; Norrena enjoys shut-out
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Best prepare yourselves for another nerve-jangling weekend.
Not only did Lordi deliver the goods in Athens, making Saturday's final of the Eurovision Song Contest, but the Finnish hockey team overcame Belarus 3-0 (1-0, 0-0, 2-0) last night to move into the last four of the tournament and towards a semi-final encounter with the Czech Republic.
After the recent successes at the Olympics and in the World Cup of Hockey, where the Finns twice came heart-breakingly close to outright victory, it is perhaps surprising that this is the first time since 2002 that the Finnish Lions have progressed past the quarter-finals stage in the Worlds, to give themselves a shot at the medals.
Thursday night's game was by no means an easy skate, either.
Under the leadership of their goalie Andrei Mezin, the Belarus players made themselves into extremely determined and awkward opponents.
Although the obvious underdogs, Belarus had already shown in the tournament that they could not be taken lightly, as they disposed of both Slovakia and Switzerland.
The all-important breakthrough, forcing the opposition out of blanket defence and into something more resembling an attacking formation, came after 9:24 of the first period, when Riku Hahl got on the end of a sweet pass from Sean Bergenheim and swept the puck past Mezin.
Mezin then proved impassable for the next thirty minutes or more, demonstrating why he has taken the eye at this tournament, even after having faced more shots on goal than any of his colleagues in the other teams.
With only a one-goal advantage, the Finns themselves could hardly afford a setback and Fredrik Norrena was called upon on a number of occasions to produce important saves.
Even though he faced only 20 shots to Mezin's 41, Norrena genuinely earned his second shut-out of the tournament. Norrena was elevated to the #1 spot between the posts following injury to Antero Niittymäki in Finland's game against Canada.
After a frustrating and edgy second period, the tension was broken at 43:58 when captain Ville Peltonen scored after good work from Petteri Nummelin. The second assist went to Olli Jokinen, who then popped up himself to score five minutes from time, with Peltonen and Nummelin providing the back-up. Nummelin has already scored an impressive 3+7 for the tournament so far.
The Belarus coach called time out and pulled the goalie for the last three minutes, but the team could not exert any real pressure on the Finnish goal.
The Finns will now meet the Czech Republic on Saturday afternoon, after the Czechs overcame Russia in overtime 4-3 (0-1, 1-0, 2-2, 1-0).
The vital Czech goal was scored at 67:58 by Zbynek Irgl, after the Russians had forced the game into overtime with a late-late equaliser, pulling their goalie Maxim Sokolov off the ice to play 6-on-5.
The other semi-final pairing will match up Canada and Sweden. Canada, the only team in the tournament that the Finns have lost to so far, were too good for Slovakia, winning 4-1. Sweden romped to a 6-0 whitewashing of Team USA. Mika Hannula scored a hat-trick.
The last time that Finland were in contention for a medal at the IIHF World Championships was in Sweden in 2002, but the hosts proved the stronger team in the bronze medal final.
Finland's most recent medal at this level was a silver behind the Czech Republic in Germany in 2001.
The Finns and the Czechs played out a 3-3 tie in their earlier encounter in Riga this year, during the Preliminary Round stage of the tournament.
Matches on Saturday:
Czech Republic vs. Finland (16:15 Finnish time)
Canada vs . Sweden (20:15)
Matches on Sunday:
Bronze Medal Final (16:15)
Final (20:15)
Previously in HS International Edition:
Finnish Lions to meet Belarus in World Championship quarter-finals (17.5.2006)
Links:
IIHF World Championships, Latvia 2006
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 19.5.2006 - TODAY |
Finland to meet Czech Republic in semi-finals of IIHF World Championships
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