It was another uninspired start for Finland, and today it cost them.
Kristian Reichel and Martin Necas scored in the shootout for the Czechs while only Kristian Vesalainen scored for Finland.
The win ends a long semi-finals drought for the Czech Republic. The team hadn't made it as far as the semis since 2005 when it won bronze. Finland, meanwhile, won gold in 2014 and 2016 and are going home early. The Czechs will now play the winner of Canada-Finland in one semi-finals on Thursday.
Vesalainen also had two assists in the game.
The Czechs opened the scoring at 6:20 on the power play when Filip Zadina wired a high shot over the shoulder of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. It was the team’s seventh goal with the extra man this tournament in only 14 chances, second best to Canada.
Despite holding a 15-4 shot advantage in the period, the Finns had a slow start similar to their last game against the Americans on New Year’s Eve. There weren’t many good scoring chances among those 15, but the Czechs also failed to create greater distance on the scoreboard either.
The Finns tied the game at 3:04 of the second with a man advantage of their own. Kristian Vesalainen’s shot was blocked in front by a group of players, but Aapeli Rasanen managed to pull it from the scrum and snap it into the open goal with Josef Korenar down and out.
The Finns took the lead at 9:53. Olli Juolevi’s quick point shot was nicely screened in front, beating Korenar over the glove on a shot the goalie really couldn’t see.
But the Czechs fought back and tied the score four and a half minutes later. Kristian Reichel made his dad, Robert, happy. Kristian scooped up a loose puck in centre ice and went in on goal. He drew a penalty on the play but managed to make a nice deke on Luukkonen and roof a backhand on the play.
Shots may have been 29-15 for Finland after two periods, but the score was equal, 2-2.
Early in the third it appeared Finland had scored the goal needed to take it to the semis. Vesalainen pounced on a rebound at 6:30 after goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made two good saves on Eeli Tolvanen. He couldn’t control the rebound, though, and Vesalainen was uncovered in front.
The Finns then played solid, two-way hockey, but as time wound down the Czecsh scored the equalizer. Jakuv Galvas's point shot was deftly tipped in front by Zadina, and the puck fooled Luukkonen and went it, setting the stage for a ten-minute overtime of four on four.
That OT produced previous few shots and only one real chance, when Janne Kuokkanen hit the side of the post with a shot. Beyond that, it was all caution and control.
ANDREW PODNIEKS
Kristian Reichel and Martin Necas scored in the shootout for the Czechs while only Kristian Vesalainen scored for Finland.
The win ends a long semi-finals drought for the Czech Republic. The team hadn't made it as far as the semis since 2005 when it won bronze. Finland, meanwhile, won gold in 2014 and 2016 and are going home early. The Czechs will now play the winner of Canada-Finland in one semi-finals on Thursday.
Vesalainen also had two assists in the game.
The Czechs opened the scoring at 6:20 on the power play when Filip Zadina wired a high shot over the shoulder of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. It was the team’s seventh goal with the extra man this tournament in only 14 chances, second best to Canada.
Despite holding a 15-4 shot advantage in the period, the Finns had a slow start similar to their last game against the Americans on New Year’s Eve. There weren’t many good scoring chances among those 15, but the Czechs also failed to create greater distance on the scoreboard either.
The Finns tied the game at 3:04 of the second with a man advantage of their own. Kristian Vesalainen’s shot was blocked in front by a group of players, but Aapeli Rasanen managed to pull it from the scrum and snap it into the open goal with Josef Korenar down and out.
The Finns took the lead at 9:53. Olli Juolevi’s quick point shot was nicely screened in front, beating Korenar over the glove on a shot the goalie really couldn’t see.
But the Czechs fought back and tied the score four and a half minutes later. Kristian Reichel made his dad, Robert, happy. Kristian scooped up a loose puck in centre ice and went in on goal. He drew a penalty on the play but managed to make a nice deke on Luukkonen and roof a backhand on the play.
Shots may have been 29-15 for Finland after two periods, but the score was equal, 2-2.
Early in the third it appeared Finland had scored the goal needed to take it to the semis. Vesalainen pounced on a rebound at 6:30 after goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made two good saves on Eeli Tolvanen. He couldn’t control the rebound, though, and Vesalainen was uncovered in front.
The Finns then played solid, two-way hockey, but as time wound down the Czecsh scored the equalizer. Jakuv Galvas's point shot was deftly tipped in front by Zadina, and the puck fooled Luukkonen and went it, setting the stage for a ten-minute overtime of four on four.
That OT produced previous few shots and only one real chance, when Janne Kuokkanen hit the side of the post with a shot. Beyond that, it was all caution and control.
ANDREW PODNIEKS