photos courtesy of
Metcalfe Photography
 

Finland vs Canada White
by PAT BRETHAUER
November 2, 2014
 

Canada Red came out strong in the opening minutes of their first game but the wind were knocked out of their sails and they dropped a 5 - 1 decision to Finland.

Canada appeared to score early but had the goal denied when an interference penalty was called.

"I thought we have some bright spots in the game." said Sheldon Keefe Head Coach from Brampton, Ont "We came out really hard got off to a really good start and scored a goal that unfortunately got called back on a marginal penalty call and took the wind out of our sails a bit."

Canada battled back from that decision and just over the midway point in the first Tyson Jost scored the only power play goal in the game on a weak screened shot that got past Finland's netminder Leevi Laakso.   Alexander Katerinakis earned an assist on the play.

Finland tied the game just over two minutes later when Otto Somppi found the opening in a scramble in front of the net.

Finland outshot Canada 16 - 8 in the first period.

In the second Pete Niemi picked up the puck close stick side and caught Canada's netminder Samuel Harvey off balance and slapped it into the wide open net.  Juha Jaaska and Oliver Felixon picked up assists on the play.

Another stick side goal was scored by Janne Kuokkanen at 12:38 gave Finland the 3 - 1 lead with Emil Oksanen earning an assist.  The final goal of the period was scored with 2.5 seconds remaining in the period when Otto Makinen battle through two of Canada's players and skated in and scored unassisted to end the period taking the 4 - 1 lead.  Canada outshot Finland in the second 12-5.

Third period action saw Eetu Tuulola score the final goal of the game after picking up a pass from Kristian Vesalainen and rifled it past Harvey glove side.

Canada outshot Finland 12-5 and the two teams each tallied 28 shots on goal in the game.

"Our guys played hard it was a much better effort today than it was a couple of days ago in the exhibition game against the USA but ultimately we have some growing to do here." Keefe said

Netminder Leevi Laakso earned his first win in the tournament making a total of 27 saves.  Samuel Harvey made 23 saves for Canada.

Canada went one for seven on the power play and Finland went zero for seven.
 

"Penalty kill did a good job we had to utilize it to much." Keefe said "We took too many penalties that put us in a disadvantage in the game, It’s hard to take hold in the game and take offecnce when we have to kill as much as we did. I liked our effort but we have to be smarter with it."

Team White is back in action tonight (Tue Nov 3) when they meet their fellow countrymen Team Black at 7:00 pm at the RBC Centre.