Canada vs. Finland results: Canada settles for silver as Finland wins first gold at world championship since 2011

Jackie Spiegel

•
Canada vs. Finland results: Canada settles for silver as Finland wins first gold at world championship since 2011 image

There would be no comeback in this one. Despite outshooting Finland 21-3 in the third period, Canada could not muster another goal and lost 3-1 in the gold medal game of the 2019 IIHF World Championship. 

Things started off well for the Canadians as Shea Theodore opened the scoring in the first period with a beautiful snipe in the slot. Entering the game, Canada was 6-0 when scoring first. However, in the second period, the Finnish captain Marko Anttila netted his first goal of the night to tie it at one. Anttila, who did not score a single point in the preliminary round, scored in each playoff game and added his second of the game in the third.

Kevin Lankinen, a Chicago Blackhawks prospect made 43 saves in the game.

After avenging their 2018 semifinal loss to the Swiss in this year's quarterfinals with a dramatic overtime win , Canada was hoping to get one back against Finland too. To open this year's tournament, Canada lost by the same score of 3-1 — their only loss until the championship game. Canada won eight straight before the gold medal meeting.

MORE: Keep tabs on Team Canada's schedule, scores

Prior to the 2019 IIHF World Championship, Canada was not expected to go far. They had just lost John Tavares to injury, depleting a roster that already was not considered by pundits to be strong.

Instead, head coach Alain Vigneault's squad put up 45 goals, led by Mark Stone's tournament-high eight and Anthony Mantha's seven; Stone was named the world championship's MVP.​ Canada also had the top power play in the tournament, although were unable to utilize three power-play opportunities in the gold medal game.

Kaapo Kakko, who is expected to go first or second at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, has now won gold at the U18, U20 and men's world championships — all in 2019. The gold medal is the third one for Finland who last won in 2011, and the silver is Canada's second in three years. Neither team medaled in 2018.

Canada vs. Finland: Scores, highlights from 2019 world championship

(All times ET)

Final Score: Finland 3, Canada 1

4:30 p.m. — Finland wins 3-1. Canada will get the silver medal.

4:25 p.m. — Finn's laying their body's on the line. Harri Pesonen with two big blocks.

4:23 p.m. — Sam Reinhart right off the crossbar.

4:22 p.m. — With just under four minutes left in the period, Matt Murray is pulled for the extra attacker.

4:20 p.m. — GOAL. Harri Pesonen's wrist shot gets past a screened Matt Murray. Finland leads 3-1.

4:18 p.m. — Canadians are never out of it until the final buzzer and have 16 shots to Finland's two in the third; however, the   Finns have only allowed two goals in the third period the entire tournament.

4:16 p.m. — Mark Stone and Jonathan Marchessault both come up with big chances, including a stuff attempt by Marchessault.

4:09 p.m. — Ten minutes left in the game and Canada trailing by one.

4:01 p.m. — Good chances by Canada to get back in this game.

3:58 p.m . — GOAL.  Marko Anttila scores again, this time up and over Murray off the short pass. Finland leads 2-1.

3:56 p.m. — Canada again cannot convert on the power play. Thomas Chabot does get a quality chance seconds after the penalty ended.

3:54 p.m. — Third period starts with Canada on the power play.

Second period: Canada 1, Finland 1

3:39 p.m. — Canada will have 43 seconds of power play time to start the third period.

3:36 p.m. — Canada heads to the power play, although they are 0-for-2 thus far today.

3:34 p.m. — Backhand chip shot from Pierre-Luc Dubois in the slot goes right off the pipe. Canada controlling the play here in the second period.

3:30 p.m. — Dante Fabbro down in the corner behind the Canadian bench after taking a stick between the legs.

3:23 p.m. — It's been more than nine minutes since the last whistle with lots of back-and-forth action with solid scoring chances for both teams. As soon as that sentence is typed, Finland goes offside and we have our first break in a long time.

3:18 p.m. — Finland hits another post. 

3:12 p.m. — PP GOAL. Finland's captain Marko Anttila fires the quick shot through the five-hole of Matt Murray. Anttila scored the game-winner in the semis against Russia and the game-tying goal against Sweden.  Game tied at 1.

3:11 p.m. —  Shea Theodore pulls down Kaapo Kakko. Finland heads to the power play.

3:08 p.m. — Second period underway. Reminder, Canada is 6-0 when scoring first.

First period: Canada 1, Finland 0

2:51 p.m. — Finland netminder Kevin Lankinen with two big saves. More pushing and shoving after the whistle as the game gets chippy. 

2:49 p.m. — Philippe Myers steps across the blueline and rips a slapshot that clanks off the pipe. Canada comes close to being up 2-0.

2:45 p.m. — Nothing cooking again with the man advantage.

2:43 p.m. — Canda heads to the power play.

2:34 p.m. — Darnell Nurse shoots the puck after the whistle for an offside and is immediately wrestled down. Nurse gets four for roughing and Petteri Lindbohm gets two. Finland heads to the power play.

2:33 p.m. — GOAL. Shea Theodore squeezes past the defense and snipes the puck from the slot. Canada leads 1-0.

2:29 p.m. — Sam Reinhart with a solid spin chance but Kevin Lankinen — who is a Blackhawks prospect — with the pad save.

2:27 p.m. — Canada held scoreless on the power play.

2:26 p.m. — Canadian power play continues.

2:25 p.m. — Anyone can take the penalty shot in IIHF rules. Defenseman Oliwer Kaski — who signed with the Red Wings recently — is tapped, but Matt Murray squares up nicely and makes the pad save.

2:24 p.m. —   Jere Sallinen outraces Thomas Chabot and is pulled down. PENALTY SHOT for Finland!

2:22 p.m. — Canada heads to the power play with their tournament-best 47.62% efficiency.

2:21 p.m. — Matt Murray makes a big stop on Joel Kiviranta right on the doorstep.

2:15 p.m. — Game on. Canada looking for a third gold in the last five years.

Pregame

1:45 p.m. — Lineups are here.

1:08 p.m. — Time to get going.

Related links from SN

Canada dominates Czechs in semifinals

Canada wins OT shocker against Switzerland, advances to semis

Canada shuts out USA in last preliminary game to finish first in Group A

Sam Reinhart, Jonathan Marchessault lead Canada to dominating win

Mark Stone posts hat trick in Canada's rout of Germany

Anthony Mantha continues strong play for Canada in win over France

Canada vs. Slovakia results: Birthday boy Mark Stone caps Canada's come-from-behind win

Canada rebounds from loss to Finland with blowout

Finland vs. Canada results: Score, highlights from Canada's tournament-opening loss

IIHF World Championship 2019 hockey schedule: Dates, times, TV channel, live stream for every game

Jackie Spiegel