Another Classic Game between two old rivals Saturday at the 2017 IIHF World Hockey Championships.
Canada and Russia squared off in a Semi Final clash before a sold out crowd at Lanxess Arena in Colonge, Germany and did not disappoint. Canada spotted the Russians a two goal lead through the first forty minutes, with Yevgeni Kusnetsov, and Nikita Gusev (the latter a Power Play Goal) scoring for Russia.
In typical Canadian fashion, and despite being outplayed, Canada dug down deep and took their game to another level. Needing an early third period goal they got one just seventeen seconds into the final frame from Mark Sheilfele in the form of a Power Play Goal. The equalizing goal came with five minutes left to play from Nate Mackinnon, and just when you thought Overtime was imminent the gritty Ryan O Reilly put Canada in front to stay, scoring on a rebound of his own shot at point blank range on Russian Goalie Andrei Vasilevski. The insurance goal was scored with little more than a minute to play when O Reilly intercepted a pass in the Canadian zone and sent in Sean Couturier in on the empty net.
The four unanswered goals that Canada scored in the third period stunned Team Russia and their Fans, but left Team Canada and their supporters elated!
For the third year in a row (winning the previous two) Canada has earned the right to play in the Championship Game, and their opponent will be the winner between Scandinavian rivals Sweden and Finland later today.