Finland’s ice hockey team has secured a place in the final of the 2016 World Championships after defeating Russia in an initially tense semi-final on Saturday afternoon in Moscow.
A goal by Sergei Shirokov sent Russia into the lead after two minutes, leaving Finland looking shaky during a first period characterised by scraps and a string of two-minute penalties handed out to both sides.
A comeback goal by Sebastian Aho in the second period brought the Finns back into the game, and two more Finnish goals followed in succession – from Jussi Jokinen in the 35th minute and Aho again three minutes later.
Despite putting the Finnish goal under some pressure in the final minutes of the match, Russia failed to breach the defences of Finnish keeper Mikko Koskinen. The Lions glided to a 3-1 victory, extending their historic world championship winning streak to nine matches, and hanging on to their 100 percent unbeaten record for this tournament.
Stellar run
The Lions’ performance so far in the championships comes off a stellar run this year for Finnish ice hockey, with 18-year-old Patrik Laine having already led the under-20 team to victory in their own world championships in January. Laine, a Tappara winger who is third in the scoring charts in this tournament, is expected to be drafted as a number two or number one pick in this summer’s NHL draft.
Victory in the hockey worlds is not highly-prized in every participating country—the best players often decline invitations as they’re involved in the NHL Playoffs—but in Finland it dominates almost everyone’s agenda in May.
Finland – who last won the World Championships in 2011 after dispatching Sweden – will now go on to play Canada in Sunday’s final, which will be shown at 20.30 Finnish time on the channel MTV3.
