Bring on the Russians! Canada advances to gold-medal game with win over U.S.

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BUFFALO, N.Y. – Curtis Hamilton and Quinton Howden scored in the first period Monday as Canada exacted some revenge against the United States at the world junior hockey championship with a 4-1 semifinal win.

The victory sets up a showdown with Russia in Wednesday’s final. The Russians came from behind to beat Sweden 4-3 in a shootout in Monday’s other semi.

Canada reached the final for the tenth consecutive year, a mark that includes victories over the Russians in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Canada is 7-5 all-time in finals against Russia or the Soviet Union.

Ryan Johansen and Zack Kassian also scored for Canada in front of a boisterous, mostly pro-Canadian crowd. The Canadians outshot the nervous-looking Americans 41-23 in dominating all three zones, the faceoff circles while also carrying the physical play.

“We didn’t want to sit back. We wanted to come out with a lot of speed. We came out hard in the first period and didn’t give them an inch,” said Canada’s Brayden Schenn. “We got great support. People we coming over the border. It was great.

“Hopefully it will be the same in the final.”

The showdown many predicted would be a fitting final came in the semis as Canada lost its final preliminary round game in a shootout to Sweden before beating Switzerland 4-1 in a quarter-final.

It avenged Canada’s 6-5 overtime loss to the U.S. a year ago on home ice in Saskatoon.

Chris Brown scored on a power play for the Americans in the third period to snap Mark Visentin’s shutout bid. The goal briefly gave the U.S some life but the hosts would get no closer.

“We were a little lackadaisical and a little big-headed,” U.S. forward Emerson Etem said of his team’s performance.

Red and white-clad Canadian fans outnumbered their U.S. counterparts in the packed HSBC Arena and their chants of “Ca-Na-Da” were drowning out the home side’s “U-S-A” before the puck was even dropped.

When the game started, it was Canada that came out flying and the Americans who looked to be on their heels in their first taste in the tournament of high-paced, heavy-hitting hockey.

Only 2:38 in, Cody Eakin found Hamilton alone on the left side and he put in his own rebound on the first two shots of the game.

A counterattack saw Howden redirect Brett Connelly’s pass behind U.S. goalie Jack Campbell at 13:54 to make it 2-0.

An American power play had just ended when Canada got its first goal. Canada then had a two-man advantage as Charlie Coyle hooked down Schenn. Johansen was in front to knock in a Ryan Ellis rebound 5:59 into the second.

The end of another penalty kill saw Calvin de Haan send Kassian in on a breakaway and he beat Campbell, his teammate with the Windsor Spitfires, on a low shot at 6:02 of the third.

The Americans finally got one at 9:37 when Brown batted a bouncing puck inside the near post, but the Canadian fans were singing “Na Na Goodbye” and “We want Russia” as time wound down.

Canada beat the Russians 6-3 to open the tournament, a game that was close for two periods.

The Americans will face Sweden in the bronze medal game. The U.S. is seeking its first medal of any kind in the five times the country has hosted to the tournament.

Notes: U.S. forward Ryan Bourque celebrated his 20th birthday. … Switzerland’s Tristan Scherwey has been suspended one game for a hit on Canada’s Carter Ashton in their quarter-final. He will miss the game for fifth place against Finland. … Canada has a 4-0 record against the U.S. in world junior semifinals. … Canadian Olympic team general manager Steve Yzerman watched from the pressbox.

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