Renney defends Canada’s world junior coaches

Canada mounted a strong comeback attempt in the latter half of the third – led by Marner, who had a few dazzling plays which almost resulted in a hat-trick goal – but ultimately were undone by their penalty troubles as Finland held on to win 6-5. Strome that was Strome’s fourth goal and sixth point, giving him a point in every game, and making the Coyotes’ prospect Canada’s most consistent and unsafe player.

Canada carried the play, but Perlini took a costly penalty for slashing, allowing the white hot, Finnish powerplay to strike again, Puljujarvi setting up Aleksi Saarela for the game-tier.

Finnish captain Mikko Rantanen took an interference penalty on Mitchell Stephens 1:29 into the third, and a risky Canadian powerplay finally converted as Point corralled Travis Sanheim’s rebound and Marner tucked it home.

As you can see by Laine’s post-game comments (below), the Finns aren’t lacking confidence heading into their semi-final showdown against Sweden. Finland’s Veini Vehvilainen was pulled midway through the second after letting in his third goal; he also let in a very shaky second goal when he couldn’t corral the puck.

Russian Federation forward Alexander Barabanov eyes the puck as Canada goaltender Zachary Fucale makes a save during second period Bronze Medal game action at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Malmo, Sweden on Sunday, January 5, 2014. Kaapo Kahkonen turned aside 20 shots in relief. It looked like the strong play of Blackwood and the Canadians penaltykillers would get through, but What should have been a huge kill play by Hicketts sent the puck over the glass, and Canada to a 5-3 shorthanded situation. Quenneville corralled the puck behind Finland’s net and made a backhanded pass to Konency, who was skating in from the face-off circle. “It was a little bit of a question how we were going to come out, but we established our forecheck early on, and we got pucks on the net”. And Russia’s close quarter final win over the spirited Danes was fuelled by a two-goal performance – one in overtime to win the game – from Nashville draft pick Vladislav Kamenev. But it’s part of the game. First-choice goalie Mackenzie Blackwood was suspended for the tournament’s first two games.

Although Canadians were hesitant to peg them as Gold medalists again, the whole country was hopeful and even confident the least they could do was bring home a medal.

“We once again took penalties that hurt us”.

Canada then whipped Denmark 6-1 and it seemed things were back on track.

“No, I mean, maybe, maybe not”, said Blackwood when asked if the suspension effected his play.

“No, I can’t blame that”. Although the Ice Hall’s rink was larger than a typical National Hockey League ice surface, Hartwall’s is full Olympic size, four metres wider than the Ice Hall’s dimensions. While Canada was two-for-five with the man advantage, Finland was two-for-eight.