Canada played their best game of their tournament, defeating the United States 4-1 in the semifinal match. The Americans may have been the favourites to win the tournament, but the Canadians played like they wanted it more.
Curtis Hamilton and Quinton Howden scored for Canada in the first period. On a five-on-three power play in the second frame, Ryan Johansen gave the Canadians a 3-0 lead and gave the squad some breathing room going into the final stanza.
Zack Kassian scored a breakaway at 6:02 of the third to give Canada a 4-0 advantage. The Americans were beginning to get things rolling in the third as Chris Brown got them on the board at 9:37. But it was too little too, late as the Canadians cruised to a 4-1 win.
Goaltender Mark Visentin made some key saves for Canada, stopping 22 shots on the night. United States ‘tender Jack Campbell was solid and probably the best American on the ice, stopping 37 shots.
Saint John Sea Dogs defenseman Simon Despres was a +1 in the game and played his best match of the tournament. The pairing of Despres and Erik Gudbranson kept things simple and shutdown the speedy Americans.
Canada will now play Russia for gold on Wednesday night.
DANGLE’S RECAP
OPEN ICE HOCKEY RECAP
THE CROWD
The game was played on American soil but it was a pro-Canadian crowd at HSBC Arena.
"They began chanting "This is our house!" because, well, it was,” writes Bucky Gleason of the Buffalo News. “They didn't simply take over HSBC Arena. They parked themselves on the sofa, threw their feet on the coffee table, grabbed the remote control and emptied the beer fridge.”
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