Sweden2 – Russia 2:0 (end) | Czech Republic – Finland 2:6 (end) | Switzerland – Germany2 2:6 (end)
USA – Canada2 5:3 (end)
final
Czech Republic
2:6 (0:2, 1:1, 1:3)
Finland
Tuesday 17.04.2012, 16:00 • U18 World Championship
     
    With the win, Finland moves into a tie for 1st in Group a with USA with 9 points. Finland is finished their group stage, while USA plays Canada next. Finland will finish 2nd in the group unless Canada wins in regulation, in which case there will be a 3-way tie and Finland will be 3rd on goal difference (unless Canada wins by about 7 goals, which would push the USA down).

    The Czech Republic is headed to the relegation round. They carry over 3 points from their victory against Denmark. (18:13:47)
     
    Players of the game: CZE goaltender Patrik Polivka (42 saves). FIN Rasmus Kulmala (2 goals).
     
    Shots on goal in the 3rd period (and game): by Czech Rep 9 (26), by Finland 15 (48).
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:47
    Czechs back to full strength, Dominik Simon took a run at Mikko Lehtonen and seems to have shaken him up.
     
    59:35
    Offside against Finland. :07 left in their power play.
     
    58:40
    One Czech penalty has ended, play continues . . .
     
    58:00
    Two minute announcement is made, Markkula hits the post, Finnish PP continues . . .
     
    57:43
    The Czechs are losing their composure. Jakub Houfek gets cross-checking, and they are 2 men down for the next :57.
     
    56:40
    The Finns have the game in control and now go back to the power play. Eustathios Soumelidis gets elbowing.
     
    56:23
    Goal for Team Finland!
    ALEXANDER BARKOV converts on the power play. Assists: Ville Pokka, Samu Markkula.
     
    55:49
    Now Finland goes back to the power play. Jakub Vrana gets slashing.
     
    55:39
    Goal for Team Finland!
    Right off the faceoff, SAMU MARKKULA hammers the puck off the crossbar and in for the 5th Finnish goal. That should put it away. Assist: Alexander Barkov.
     
    55:37
    A pretty passing play by the Finns, but they can't get a shot away, and the net is displaced. Faceoff in the Czech zone.
     
    54:17
    A slapshot from Vrana grazes the shoulder of Korpisalo and sails over the glass.
     
    53:50
    A shot by Machac is deflected out of play by Korpisalo.
     
    53:22
    Icing against Finland.
     
    51:53
    The puck goes over the glass in the Czech zone off a Finnish stick. Faceoff outside with just :07 left in their PP.
     
    50:28
    A Czech clearing attempt goes into the bench. Faceoff inside with 1:32 left in the penalty.
     
    50:00
    After scoring a goal, Jan Hudecekk gets a penalty for slashing the stick out of an opponent's hands.
     
    48:29
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    After a turnover at the Finnish blueline, Volek recovered the puck and fed JAN HUDECEK, who ripped a wrister past Korpisalo. Assist: Dominik Volek.
     
    46:27
    The Czechs are back at full strength, but the Finns keep the pressure on . . .
     
    45:25
    Matej Zadrazil does a nice job of penalty killing, taking the puck the length of the ice and getting a shot on goal.
     
    44:23
    Offside against Finland. After the whistle, Chlapik took a punch at Teravainen and gets 2 minutes for roughing.
     
    43:25
    A shot is deflected out of play in the Czech zone. We're now back to 5-on-5.
     
    42:52
    The puck goes into the Czech bench again. Faceoff inside. Finns on the PP for the next :20.
     
    42:35
    The puck goes out of play at the Czech bench. Faceoff inside. 4 on 4 for another :37.
     
    42:10
    Hand pass against Finland. Faceoff outside.
     
    42:05
    The teams are 4 on 4 fo rthe next 1:07. Polivka made a great glove save on a Finnish rush, then the Czechs iced the puck.
     
    41:12
    Another penalty. This one is Jan Kostalek (CZE) for slashing. 4-on-3 Finland.
     
    40:52
    Goal for Team Finland!
    That was quick. RASMUS KULMALA scores his 2nd of the game, ripping it off the post and in while 4 on 4.
     
    40:42
    Finland's Ristolainen gets interference. 4-on-3 for one second, then 4-on-4 . . .
     
    40:01
    Third period began.
     
    Shots on goal in the 2nd period (and game): by Czech Rep 11 (17), by Finland 16 (33).

    A better period by the Czechs, as they were able to get some offence going, but they still face a big hole going into the 3rd period and they need to win in regulation time for a chance at the quarterfinals.
     
    40:00
    Finland will start the 3rd period with a 2-man advantage for :43. A yet-to-be-identified Czech player was assessed a slashing penalty. We'll find out at the start of the next period.
     
    40:00
    Second period finished.
     
    39:45
    Another save for Polivka. He still seems to be hurt from earlier.
     
    39:20
    Poikka had Polivka going the wrong way and had a wide-open net to shoot at, but his one-timer went high.
     
    39:11
    A slapshot by Teravainen is handled by Polivka.
     
    38:43
    Finland is back at full strength and now they're going to the power play. Patrik Machac gets hooking at the blueline.
     
    37:35
    Offside against the Czech Republic. 1:02 left in their PP.
     
    36:58
    A hard, high one-time by Vrana is taken in the shoulder by Korpisalo, and he hangs onto it.
     
    36:37
    Another penalty to Finland, Rasmus Ristalainen for roughing. With their best momentum of the game, this is a chance for the cCzechs to get back into it.
     
    36:08
    On a Czech 2 on 1, Tomecek couldn't handle the pass and they couldn't get a shot . . .
     
    35:56
    A shot is deflected by the stick of Polivka over the glass.
     
    35:36
    Offside against Finland.
     
    34:52
    Finland is back at full strength, play in the Czech zone . . .
     
    34:37
    A low shot by Machac is gloved by Korpisalo. :12 left in the penalty.
     
    33:25
    This time a big slap shot from the point by Sidlik.
     
    33:19
    The puck is deflected out of play by Finland. Faceoff inside, 1:30 left in the penalty.
     
    33:09
    The puck is worked around for a one-timer from Tomecek at the half-boards. Stopped and held by Korpisalo.
     
    32:49
    Teravainen of Finland and Slovacek of Czech Rep get tangled up. Terevainen gets the only penalty for throwing a punch. Czechs to the power play.
     
    31:56
    Offside against the Czech Republic.
     
    31:20
    A chance for Finland and a save by Polivka for a whistle.
     
    30:45
    And now the Czechs come back, first a 2 on 1 and then a scramble in front. They seem to have energy since the goal, and so does the crowd. Play continues . . .
     
    30:00
    Esa Lindell's shot was stopped by Polivka, but there was a juicy rebound that nobody could get to. Play continues . . .
     
    28:35
    Goal for Team Czech Republic!
    Korpisalo made a nice toe save off of the shot by Jakub Vrana, but nobody could stop DOMINIK SIMON on the rebound. Assist: Jakub Vrana.
     
    28:09
    The Czechs are having trouble breaking out of their end. Another icing.
     
    26:43
    Icing against the Czech Republic.
     
    26:31
    A shot by Barkov is stopped by Polivka and it appeared someone's stick caught his hand after the whistle.
     
    As I suspected, Finland's first goal was deflected and there has been a change. Haapala now has the goal and Vainonen the assist.
     
    25:31
    Goal for Team Finland!
    The puck is worked to ALEKSI MUSTONEN, whose quick release beats Polivka. Assist: Henrik Haapala.
     
    23:47
    The puck deflected out of play in the Czech zone.
     
    22:42
    Just as the penalty ends, the Finns almost score, but Polivka holds his pad against the post and doesn't allow the puck to get through.
     
    20:42
    Jan Hudecek (CZE) takes an interference penalty 55 metres from his own net.
     
    20:20
    Lehkonen's shot is gloved by Polivka and held.
     
    20:01
    Second period began.
     
    The teams have returned to the ice and the period will begin in about 2 minutes. Finland still has 2 seconds remaining in a power play, then the teams will be back to 5 on 5.
     
    The 2nd period begins at 16:44 CET.
     
    Shots on goal in the 1st period: by Czech Rep 6, by Finland 17.

    The Finns played the period they wanted, and their speed and strength was too much for the Czechs to handle at times.
     
    Finland finished the period moving the puck around on the power play, but Polivka had no problem with the shots he faced.
     
    20:00
    First period finished.
     
    18:24
    The puck is lobbed into the Czech zone and Polivka makes the catch like an outfielder.
     
    18:02
    Petr Sidlik gets called for hooking in his own zone. Finland goes to the power play for the second time to finish the period.
     
    17:08
    The Czechs are back at full strength, and they rush down the ice, forcing Korpisalo to make a save.
     
    16:39
    Niklas Tikkinen takes a slapshot from the point, which is stopped. :16 left in the penalty.
     
    16:01
    A Czech clearing attempt hits the glass and goes out, so no penalty. :54 left in the penalty.
     
    15:36
    The puck is teed up for a big one-timer by Teravainen, which is gloved by Polivka. 1:19 left in the Finnish PP.
     
    14:55
    Patrik Machac (CZE) 2 minutes for tripping. Finland gets the game's first power play.
     
    Because the Finnish defence came in deep to join an altercation after the whistle, the faceoff is moved outside.
     
    14:42
    The puck is dropped to Lindell at the point, whose wrist shot is stopped and held by Polivka.
     
    13:50
    A shot from the point by Sidlik hits Korpisalo in the chest and play continues . . .
     
    13:31
    Coming down the left wing, Henrik Haapala's wrist shot is stopped by Polivka. Haapala has been dangerous today and has 2 assists already.
     
    12:30
    The Finns are totally dominant at this point. The Czechs are having trouble getting out of their end.
     
    10:25
    Goal for Team Finland!
    The same line for Finland strikes again. RASMUS KULMALA was all alone with the puck in front and had Polivka at his mercy. Assists: Henrik Haapala, Aleksi Mustonen.
     
    09:57
    A shot from the right wing by Sedlacek is caught and held by Korpisalo.
     
    09:15
    The Finns are buzzing in the Czech zone--they can't clear it.
     
    08:10
    Tikkinen's shot through traffic was stopped by Polivka in the butterfly.
     
    07:31
    Finland went back to the attack, Polivka made the save, and the Czechs iced the puck.
     
    05:54
    Goal for Team Finland!
    MIIKO VAINONEN's shot from the point appeared to change direction, but for now it's his goal (Edit: It's now been changed to HENRIK HAAPALA) Assists: Miiko Vainonen), Aleksi Mustonen.
     
    05:41
    Icing against the Czech Republic.
     
    05:08
    A shot attempt by Soumelidis is deflected out of play by Ristolainen. Faceoff in the Finnish zone.
     
    04:25
    On a 2 on 1, Jakub Vrana's shot is stopped by Joonas Korpisalo--it is the Czechs' first shot of the game.
     
    04:19
    A shot from the point by Mikko Lehtonen is stopped and held by Polivka.
     
    03:44
    An attempt by Petr Sidlik to keep the puck in the Finnish zone goes into the bench, faceoff outside.
     
    02:37
    Play is called for a hand pass against Finland in the Czech zone. Faceoff outside.
     
    01:30
    A long shot from Mustonen is the first shot on Polivka, play continues . . .
     
    01:00
    Play in the Czech zone, but still no shots for either team . . .
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams have taken to the ice. The Czech Replublic is wearing red jerseys with red pants and blue helmets. Finland is in white jerseys with blue pants and blue helmets.

    The opening faceoff will take place in approximately 3 minutes . . .
     
    Welcome. Our live commentary will follow the fourth tournament game of Finland and Czech Republic. Any of both teams has secured position in quarterfinals but Finland has got a better starting position. In order to avoid playing in relegation group, Czech Republic has to make a 3 points win and it still might not be enough.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Czech Republic: Polivka (Hrachovina) - Sidlik, Sulak, Kosťalek, Houfek, Knot, Stencel, Behal - Machac, Volek, Tomecek - Zadrazil, Prochazka, Hudecek - Vrana, Soumelidis, Simon - Sedlacek, Matejcek, Slovacek - Chlapik

    Finland: Korpisalo (Auren) - Pokka, Tikkinen, Ristolainen, Lindell, Lehtonen, Vainonen, Makinen - Ikonen, Teravainen, Lehkonen - Mustonen, Haapala, Kulmala - Barkov, Markkula, Ikonen - Huovinen, Salminen, Antonen - Juutinen

    Referees: Koch (SUI), Sidorenko (BLR) - Kohler (SUI), Ponomarjow (GER).
     
    Welcome. The game will begin at 16:00 CET.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 29. Simon (Vrana), 49. Hudáček (Volek) - 6. Haapala (Vainonen, Mustonen), 11. Kulmala (Haapala, Mustonen), 26. Mustonen (Haapala.), 41. Kulama (Lindell, Pokka), 56. Markkula (Barkov), 57. Barkov (Pokka, Markkula)

    Czech Republic: Polivka (Hrachovina) - Sidlik, Sulak, Kosťalek, Houfek, Knot, Stencel, Behal - Machac, Volek, Tomecek - Zadrazil, Prochazka, Hudecek - Vrana, Soumelidis, Simon - Sedlacek, Matejcek, Slovacek - Chlapik
    Finland: Korpisalo (Auren) - Pokka, Tikkinen, Ristolainen, Lindell, Lehtonen, Vainonen, Makinen - Ikonen, Teravainen, Lehkonen - Mustonen, Haapala, Kulmala - Barkov, Markkula, Ikonen - Huovinen, Salminen, Antonen - Juutinen
    Referees: Koch (SUI), Sidorenko (BLR) - Kohler (SUI), Ponomarjow (GER)