MONTREAL – The semi-final round of the 2023 IIHF World Championship was held at the Nokia Arena in Tampere, Finland on Saturday.
Here’s a summary of the performances of the Canadiens players and prospects:
CANADA 4 – 2 LATVIA
Team Canada defeated the tournament’s co-hosts in front of a vociferous and passionate pro-Latvian audience.
Named Player of the Match for Canada in Quarterfinals, Sam Montembeault received a vote of confidence from head coach Andre Tourigny and started at the net for the sixth time in nine games.
The Canadians were trailing after two periods and needed just 45 seconds at the start of the third frame to level the game.
Midway through the verse, blue-chip contender Adam Fantilli put Canada ahead and leveled the score at 3-2. Justin Barron earned a second assist.
The defender spent 9:40 minutes on the ice and fired one of his team’s 35 shots at goalkeeper Arturs Silovs. The final score of the game was scored in an empty goal.
Montembeault, MacKenzie Weegar and Lawson Crouse were named Canada’s Players of the Tournament. The Habs goalie made 20 saves.
USA 3 – 4 GERMANY (OT)
The United States suffered their first loss of the event in a hard-fought semi-final.
While the Stars and Stripes took a 2-0 lead early in the game, the Germans put both clubs back into first place before the end of the first period.
Thanks to Marcel Noebels, they equalized again and forced extra time just over a minute before the end of regular time.
Frederik Tiffels and the Germans stunned the Stars and Stripes late in overtime to secure their spot in the finals.
Defender Lane Hutson completed an ice time of 16:54 while forward Sean Farrell had two shots on goal in 12:55.
Interested Luke Tuch has not dressed.
Comes
Latvia and the United States will battle it out for the bronze medal at 8:20am ET, while Canada will meet Germany for gold at 1:20pm ET at the Nokia Arena.
Cover photo: Andrea Cardin/IIHF
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