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

Rudi Schuller

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

Kaapo Kakko is the real deal, and Canada found that out the hard way.

The Canadians didn't know what to expect against Finland on opening day of the 2019 IIHF World Championship, but they were well aware of the promise of 18-year-old Kakko. The teenager showed that potential can be realized early when he scored the first and last goals of Finland's 3-1 victory over Canada on Friday, and Kakko demonstrated throughout that he will be a force to be reckoned with when he enters the NHL later this year.

Canada suffered from a lack of familiarity, both within its own team and with the opposition, and it showed on Friday. Dressing 16 players who had never previously played in the world championship, Alain Vigneault's Canada squad struggled to adjust to the international game at times and allowed itself to be stretched on the bigger international ice surface. And with the Finland team filled with players who ply their trade in various European leagues, the Canadians were unable to scout their opponents as thoroughly as they normally would.

It all led to a performance that was disjointed at times, although Canada did have its chances and imposed its will during long stretches. It wasn't enough, though, and the Finns held on for an unlikely victory to open the competition.

Sporting News is tracked Friday's 2019 IIHF World Championship Group A opener between Canada and Finland with live, real-time updates. See how it all played out below:

Finland 3, Canada 1: Score, result from prelim game

Third period

0:00 - That's it! Finland takes this one 3-1, with teen phenom Kaapo Kakko scoring twice.

0:34 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 Finland finally gets out of their own zone, and the empty netter follows. Finland 3, Canada 1.

0:49 - BIG SAVE! Mantha somehow gets all alone in front of the Finnish net, but Lankinen makes the stop.

1:47 - Murray heads to the bench. The Canadian net is empty.

2:52 - The power play ends with nothing doing for the Finns. All eyes turn to Matt Murray in the Canadian net now.

4:52 - Finland will go on the power play after Darnell Nurse is called for tripping.

5:12 - Yikes! Couturier nearly scores an own goal when he slides the puck back to Murray in a scramble in the Canadian goalmouth.

5:29 - Murray holds his ground as the Finns crash the net. Finland is finding a bit more space now as Canada looks to push for the equalizer.

7:03 - Good movement by the Canadians in the Finland zone, but nothing to trouble the goalie too much.

10:00 - We're into the final ten minutes here, with Canada still trailing by a goal.

13:34 - Marchessault registers his fourth shot of the game. He leads the Canadians in that department.

17:24 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 The Finns immediately take advantage, after a huge bounce confuses everyone. The puck lands in front of Canada's net, and it's knocked in on the second attempt. Finland 2, Canada 1.

17:31 - Finland gets its first power play after Damon Severson gets called for crosschecking.

20:00 - The teams are back, and we're underway again.

Second period

0:00 - Canada was the better team for most of that period, but Finland started and ended the frame looking dangerous. Should be a barn-burner third period. Finland 1, Canada 1.

1:02 - Now the Finns have set up camp in the Canadian end. Murray's suddenly busy after being left alone for most of the second period.

5:30 - Canada's getting lots of time in the offensive zone now. The Canadians seem a lot more comfortable over the past several minutes.

8:48 - Now it's a Lankinen save on Mantha. The Canadians are testing the Finland netminder more often.

11:08 - Turris gets a point-blank shot on Lankinen, but the Finnish goalie is equal to the challenge.

12:32 - The pace of the game has slowed considerably. This is nothing like the first period, with plenty of stoppages killing the flow of play.

16:58 - Play is stopped because... there's another puck on the ice. 

19:11 - Finland hits the crossbar! The Finns are off to another good start to a period.

20:00 - And we're back for the middle period.

First period

0:00 - The horn goes and ends an enteratining opening 20 minutes. Finland is not going to be a pushover. Finland 1, Canada 1.

0:51 - Murray makes a great save on a booming point shot. Good stuff by the Canadian goalie.

1:54 - Mantha forces a good save from Finnish goalie Kevin Lankinen after deflecting a point shot by Darnell Nurse.

6:40 - Kakko is giving the Canadias a hard time in their own end, and it's obvious why the youngster is so highly rated.

10:00 - After being stretched out by the big ice, Canada seems to have adjusted and are moving around with a bit more fluidity now.

11:57 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 Canada gets the equalizer as Jonathan Marchessault rips a wrister from the right faceoff dot.  Finland 1, Canada 1.

12:58 - Canada will go on the power play.

13:14 - 🚨 GOAL 🚨 Finland gets on the board first as Kaapo Kakko receives a nice feed and shows strength and patience to get around Murray. Finland 1, Canada 0.

16:51 - Marko Anttila is big (6-foot-8), and he's not afraid to use his size.

17:16 - Murray comes up with another good glove save. Nothing too troubling for the Canadian goalie, but Finland will be happy with the start.

18:15 - The Finns have come out with energy and have already tested Matt Murray with a couple of decent shots.

20:00 - We're underway.

Pregame

Here's how Canada will line up:

Rudi Schuller