Canada claims bronze with 4-0 win over Finland
Posted January 5, 2012 6:01 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A depleted Canadian team dug into its reserves to beat Finland 4-0 and capture the bronze medal at the world junior hockey championship Thursday.
Down three players due to injuries and a suspension, Canada extended the country’s streak of winning a medal in the tournament to 14 consecutive years.
Goaltender Mark Visentin was the feel-good story of the game. He stopped a second-period penalty shot and made a no-look, around-the-back save early in the third. He finished with 27 saves for the shutout.
Visentin was in Canada’s goal in last year’s final in Buffalo, N.Y., where Russia scored five third-period goals to win the gold medal.
Visentin had finished Canada’s 6-5 semifinal loss to Russia on Tuesday because starter Scott Wedgewood was injured in the second. The Canadians trailed 6-1 early in the third in that game but a spirited comeback fell just short.
The short-staffed Canadians needed a big game from their goalie Thursday to get a medal and the Phoenix Coyotes prospect delivered. Visentin was named player of the game for Canada.
Quinton Howden scored two goals while Tanner Pearson and Mark Scheifele had the others before 18,595 spectators, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Finland goaltender Sami Aittokallio stopped 40 shots.
