Canada 3, Finland 2

Canada shows mettle in hard fought win over Finland

 Danielle Goyette scored two goals, including the game winner, as Canada defeated Finland 3-2 and remained unbeaten in the Women's World Hockey Championships in front of over 3,000 cheering fans at the Hershey Centre.

 Kim St-Pierre shut the door in the third period, weathering a storm of shots from Finland in the last two minutes to preserve the win.

 Sedley, Sask. native Kelly Bechard thought Finland, a team that has placed no better than third in the tournament, played a great game.

 "The Finns are an excellent hockey club. They really came out strong against us. I thought after the two quick goals, 'We got them' ... . But they just kept coming at us and coming at us. We had to play to our level to defeat this hockey club.

 "We've been playing really well all week and we've been getting stronger and stronger. All I have to say is 'Look out Americans'."

 Bechard does not feel any pressure going into Sunday's game, even though this is the first time she has competed for Canada in a world tournament.

 "I don't really feel any pressure. I'm just really excited. There is so much support and camaraderie. I don't really have any nerves, I'm just really excited. It's my first time, and I'm thinking I want to contribute to the best of my ability."

 Team captain Therese Brisson said the dressing room was calm after the win.

 "It was kind of funny. When we got into the room there was no whooping or celebrating or any of that," said Therese Brisson. "This is the next step and I think everyone was already focussed for tomorrow."

 But the game cost Team Canada one of their key players. Hayley Wickenheiser went down with a rumoured injured shoulder during the third period, but did come back on the bench with less than five minutes remaining in the game and was cleared to play on the last shift of the game while Finland was pressing.

 Wickenheiser is being evaluated to see how severe her injury is. It is still up in the air if she is going to play in the final tomorrow, although head coach Mel Davidson says her team has enough depth to overcome an injury.

 "She's a great hockey player. If we have her on the team, we have her on the team. If we don't, we don't."

 Finland fell behind early on when Jayna Hefford broke in alone and beat Tuula Puputti while crashing into the net. Finnish coach Hannu Saintula did not like it one bit, protesting the goal by not sending out any players for the faceoff.

 Canada made it 2-0 when Jennifer Botterill won the battle to the puck along the boards and fed it to Danielle Goyette, who was alone in front of the net.

 Canada continued to control play for the first half of the period, which included killing off a penalty to Brisson.

 But Finland narrowed the gap to one again when Marja-Helena Palvila scored during a goal-mouth scramble, beating Kim St-Pierre. After some deliberation between the referee and both lineswomen, the goal was counted.

 Goyette almost scored her second goal of the period when she went in on a breakaway, but could not beat Puputti. Then, with less than two minutes left in the period, Caroline Ouellette sprung in on another break, with Puputti shutting the door again.

 Goyette did add her second goal of the game in the second period on a wrap-around after she stole the puck behind the net, giving Canada another two-goal cushion. It proved to be the game winner.

 "I don't think she (Goyette) surprised me, but our player behind the net was surprised. But, then again, I was surprised also (that she scored)," Puputti said.

 On that play, Puputti called out to her defenseman that the coast was clear. That error cost the Finns a chance at overtime to settle things.

 However, Finland did not give up.

 Katja Riipi grabbed a rebound following a shot by Marja-Helena Palvila, beating St-Pierre upstairs.

 St-Pierre was perfect the rest of the way, including a hectic final two minutes of the game.

 Following the game, coach Saintula commended his team's performance.

 "They have done a great job at this championship. I am really proud of these girls. But we have to improve."

 Goyette, Saturday afternoon's hero, said she just wants to set an example for her team. Also, she wants the team to be ready for the gold-medal game.

 "After the game, we want to make sure we cool down. We're going to eat a good supper and have a team activity and make sure everybody stays together and focus on the (final) game. Tomorrow morning, everybody is going to be excited."

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