FIN 4:3 1SV | Finland - Slovakia2 (World Championship)

World Championship

Russia – USA	3:8 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Czech Republic	2:1 (end)	\|	Finland – Slovakia2	4:3 (end)
Canada2 – Sweden2	2:3 (1:2 after SO)

final

Finland

4:3 (3:0, 0:2, 1:1)

Slovakia2

Thursday 16.05.2013, 17:30 • Hartwall Arena, Helsinki, Finland • World Championship

		Thank you for following with us, we hope you enjoyed the coverage. We also have Canada and Sweden in about half an hour live, so you can enjoy your hockey evening. Stay tuned, until next time, goodbye! (19:45:31)
		Shots on goal: FIN 6 (25), SVK 13 (36) Penalties: FIN 2 (8), SVK 2 (10) Powerplay: FIN 0 for 5, SVK 0 for 4
		Tomas Kopecky is awarded the best player of team Slovakia, while the same honors will be received by Petri Kontiola on the Finnish side.
		Despite fighting like lions, the Slovaks couldn't finish the Finns off in the end. Congratulations to team Finland on proceeding to the semifinals, and the Slovaks will have something to grieve about. But all in all, it was a great, interesting, action-packed game, highly enjoyable to watch.
	60:00	Game over.
	59:47	Aaltonen came out with the puck, the Slovaks intercept.
	59:31	Icing Finland, Vaananen shot it.
	59:13	Tomas Zaborsky fires twice from the right side, both times Raanta deflects.
	59:00	One minute to go.
	58:43	The Finns successfully clear the puck out of their zone.
	58:12	The Finns were near scoring on empty net but the puck was too slow so the Slovaks got to it first.
	58:00	Two minutes left in the third period.
	57:31	Rastislav Stana leaves the ice for the extra attacker.
	57:31	Time-out Slovakia. Will they be pulling the goalie to get the extra attacker this early?
	57:31	Icing Finland
	57:19	Branko Radivojevic shoots with his back facing the net.
	57:07	Tomas Kopecky fires from distance, wide of the goal.
	56:51	The Slovaks get into the zone and then immediately out.
	56:08	Michel Miklik makes the shot from the slot, Raanta deflects into the boards.
	55:44	The Finns have a chance now before the net, but Stana makes pad saves, twice.
	55:22	The puck went out of the rink, stoppage in play.
	54:39	The Slovaks with the puck behind Raanta, but then the puck into the middle is inaccurate and impossible to get the hold of.
	54:02	Tomas Zaborsky played with a high stick, so the play is stopped.
	53:33	Team Slovakia loses possession and then Juhamatti Aaltonen is on a breakaway, though no one follows.
	53:19	Roman Kukumberg gets a shot, save made by Antti Raanta.
	52:42	The Finns have the puck in the zone.
	51:45	Andrej Sekera fires from the blue line and Surovy tries to deflect it into the net, but it's wide.
	51:36	The Slovaks get back to full strength.
	51:16	The Finns keep the puck in the zone.
	50:36	Miroslav Satan tries to fool Antti Raanta by circling the net and trying to put the puck over the line with a backhander, but Raanta read his intentions.
	50:08	Another shot from the Finns, Stana catches with his gloves and gets it back into play.
	49:45	Juuso Hietanen fires from the slot, it's wide of the net.
	49:36	Tomas Kopecky is called for hooking on Sami Lepisto in the neutral zone.
		How will the Slovaks react to this? It must be frustrating to dominate and concede a goal.
	48:13	Goal for Team Finland! JUHAMATTI AALTONEN gets to score to get Finland back in front. After a shot by Petri Kontiola, Aaltonen was the first on the deflected puck and despite being dominated by Slovaks, Finns take the lead again. Assists: Petri Kontiola, Janne Pesonen
	47:48	Finland is back at full strength.
	47:36	Branko Radivojevic gets the pass before the goal but the shot is deflected by Antti Raanta out of the rink.
	47:28	Slovaks still inside the zone firing from all positions.
	47:07	Michel Miklik gets the shot on the left side, Raanta makes a glove save.
	46:56	Zaborsky behind the net, Slovaks playing great powerplay.
	46:19	Tomas Zaborsky fires a one-timer from near the left post, buth Raanta manages to deflect.
	45:48	Petri Kontiola is called for hooking on Tomas Kopecky.
	45:35	Tomas Kopecky fires a backhander from the edge of the left faceoff circle with his back facing the goalie.
	44:57	Marcel Hascak gets the puck in the zone, but then the Slovaks lose it.
	44:34	Michal Sersen is offside, the puck will be dropped in the neutral zone.
	43:46	Roman Kukumberg gets the puck in the zone, skates past a defender and goes on the net, the shot is deflected.
	43:26	Icing Finland.
	43:11	Radivojevic dumps the puck in, but Sami Lepisto takes over behind the net.
	42:32	A shot was fired immediately following the faceoff by the Finns, Rastislava Stana is concentrated.
	42:01	Marcel Hascak fires twice from near distance. The first shot is deflected, only to him, and his latter shot is deflected once again. The Finns look shocked at the moment.
	41:47	It'll be interesting to see the Finnish response now. A shot from the right circle gets caught by Stana.
	40:30	Goal for Team Slovakia! After dumping the puck and getting in back on the blue line, Branislav Mezei fires a shot, it's deflected and Branko Radivojevic comes first to it firing a backhand from the right post. It's again deflected and then TOMAS SUROVY fires behind Raanta's backs as he was getting to the other post. Assists: Branislav Mezei, Branko Radivojevic.
	40:23	The Slovaks dump the puck and get to it inside the zone.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Shots on goal: FIN 7 (19), SVK 12 (23) Penalties: FIN 4 (6), SVK 2 (8) Powerplay: FIN 0 for 4, SVK 0 for 3 We even witnessed two fights and a brawl, this means the rivalry starts to fire up. We'll be back in 15 minutes for the outcome of the game, stay with us.
		Like I said during the first intermission, Slovaks need to change their play from the ground up, and that's exactly what they did, neutralizing the Finns completely. Now the third period will bring the outcome hopefully, and it will be extremely interesting to watch.
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:54	Marcel Hascak fires from the left faceoff circle after skating past a Finnish defenseman.
	39:31	Team Finland is back at full strength as Pesonen skates back in.
	39:08	Slovaks dump the puck in without trying to build on the attack.
	39:00	One minute to go in the second period.
	38:18	After passing around quickly, Satan delivers to Sekera who shoots immediately, the shot is wide though.
	37:31	Janne Pesonen is called for roughing.
	37:31	Roman Kukumberg and the Michel Miklik both get shots on Raanta from the slot, but he saves both times. And then a fight behind the net, yet another one.
	37:18	Sami Lepisto commits an icing.
	36:54	The Finns finally have possession in the Slovak zone, but then the puck is cleared away.
	36:21	Slovakia puts a lot of pressure on the Finns, it's unbeliveable, especially regarding the first period. They keep on attacking.
	35:59	Libor Hudacek fires from the blue line on the left side, the shot gets deflected.
	35:19	Now the Finns get the puck and then their pass is intercepted, so Slovakia back in possession.
	34:36	Mario Bliznak leaves the puck for Marcel Hascak on the right side, he skates for a few metres and then fires from the edge of the circle for Antti Raanta to make the save.
	34:06	The Finns can't get into possession, they can't organize.
	33:28	Miroslav Satan get into the zone with the puck but then loses it amid two players.
	33:00	Veli-Matti Savinainen fires from outside the blue line and Stana must hold onto it.
	32:17	Goal for Team Slovakia! A few moments before Libor Hudacek had a chance of a lifetime on an empty net, but now ANDREJ SEKERA scores after a lone wristshot from the blue line. It's getting interesting. Assists: Branislav Mezei, Libor Hudacek
	31:34	The Slovaks dump the puck and it gets back into their zone.
	30:49	Marko Dano receives the puck and fires from the blue line, though the shot is blocked by Finnish defense.
	29:54	Marcel Hascak gets the puck behind the net, but soon loses it.
	29:16	We have a fight down the ice. Milan Jurcina and Marko Anttila get into a fight, so they're soon separated an will draw penalties.
	29:06	The Finns clear the puck out and then even get a break away.
	28:44	Icing Slovakia.
	27:40	The Finns get into the zone after an intercepted pass and fire from the left faceoff circle, Stana deflects and Janne Pesonen comes to it first but the shot is blocked.
	27:03	The Finns get into the zone but they lose the puck after an inaccurate pass.
	26:12	Miroslav Satan fires from the blue line, and Antti Raanta cover the deflected puck.
	25:03	Goal for Team Slovakia! And just as I say it, they score! Roman Kukumberg circles the net and passes to MICHEL MIKLIK on the blue line who fires one-timed and the puck goes in the upper right corner. Assists: Roman Kukumberg, Branislav Mezei
	24:56	The Slovaks get into the zone.
	24:48	Faceoffs are 13-8 in favor of team Finland.
	24:15	Lauri Korpikoski fires a blast from between the circles but the puck is deflected by Rastislav Stana.
	23:57	Milan Jurcina gets the wrong pass and the Finns get on the offense.
	22:34	Mario Bliznak gets the puck inside the Finnish zone and skates past Lasse Kukkonen, but his pass into the middle is intercepted.
	21:58	And the Finns dump the puck in but lose possession.
	21:21	The Slovaks dump the puck in and lose possession.
	20:50	Both teams are back to full strength.
	20:46	Tomas Zaborsky fires a shot from the left faceoff circle, but save is made by Antti Raanta.
	20:16	Branislav Mezei tries to come up with a shot, but the shot is deflected.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		The teams are back on the ice for the second period.
		Shots on goal: FIN 12, SVK 11 Penalties: FIN 2, SVK 6 We'll be back in ten minutes, stay tuned.
		The Finns take advantage of all their chances to build a huge lead. Slovakia will have a mountain to climb, but if they don't change something drastically in their play, they won't be able to do much.
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:21	A lot of traffic in front of Raanta but finally the Finns clear it out.
	19:00	One minute left in the first period.
	18:50	Branko Radivojevic (SVK) and Sami Lepisto (FIN) get called for roughing.
	18:50	After a shot from the blue line, we have a brawl before the net, Radivojevic and Sami Lepisto get into a fight. The referees separate them.
	18:25	Marko Dano skates past a defender but Raanta saves his shot from the near.
	18:08	Ilari Melart gets the shot after a passing play inside the Slovak zone, from near the goal he fires but Stana saves.
	17:13	Ilari Melart fires from the blue line, the shot is wide. The Finns trying to score even more.
	15:44	Goal for Team Finland! And the Finns make it 3:0 to make a giant leap into the semifinals. Juhamatti Aaltonen passes into the middle, it's intercepted by Vladimir Mihalik but the puck is loose and PETRI KONTIOLA fires a one-timer that went in through Stana's legs, although he was on the puck. Assists: Juhamatti Aaltonen
	15:16	Andrej Sekera waits for his team to organize, behind the net.
	14:49	Marcel Hascak skates into the zone with the puck.
	14:01	Slovakia back at full strength.
	13:43	Milan Jurcina executes a shot shorthanded, Raanta saves.
	13:11	The Finns try to organize an offense but the Slovak penalty kill clears it.
	12:01	Hooking call on Martin Bliznak in his own end. The second penalty for Slovakia and the second for this line, their 4th line.
	11:24	A tic-tac-toe play by the Finns inside the zone. The puck was passed to the right side and then back into the middle, but the shot was blocked by the Slovaks.
	11:04	Offside Finland.
	09:52	Goal for Team Finland! What a beauty! You certainly don't see this every day! Juhamatti Aaltonen passes the puck in the middle for PETRI KONTIOLA who dekes out Rastislava Stana and makes him look ridiculous. Beautiful goal to double the Finnish lead. Assists: Juhamatti Aaltonen, Janne Pesonen.
	09:29	Michal Sersen gets into the zone and skates to behind the net prior to losing possession.
	08:46	Tuukka Mantyla tries to dump the puck, Slovaks get possession.
	08:09	The Slovaks try to organize an attack from their zone.
	07:07	Team Finland is back at full strength.
	06:28	Lauri Korpikoski blind passes to just outside the crease for Sakari Salminen who fires a one-timer that gets deflected up high in the very last moment. Tough luck for Salminen.
	06:04	Juuso Hietanen fires a blast from the blue line slightly to the left on a one-timer, save made by Rastislav Stana.
	05:41	The Finns are inside the Slovak zone passing the puck around.
	05:07	Marko Dano is called for elbowing on Lasse Kukkonen inside the Finnish zone.
	04:41	Veli-Matti Savinainen fires a shot from the right side, it's deflected into the protective net.
	03:52	Tomas Zaborsky tries from behind the goal, but doesn't get to shoot.
	02:38	The Slovaks get onto the offense now, Tomas Kopecky shoots from the right side, Raanta deflects.
	01:31	Goal for Team Finland! OSSI VAANANEN took the puck from the goal line to the blue line and executed a wristshot that went in past Stana. Dream start for the Finns. Unassisted.
		We're waiting for the Finnish net to be set up again after it came loose on the previous play.
	01:06	Michel Miklik comes into the zone and from the right faceoff circle fires a shot into Antti Raanta.
	00:36	Juuso Hietanen with the puck behind his net waiting for his team mates to get set up.
	00:14	The Slovaks win the faceoff and start on the offense.
	00:01	Game started.
		Starting lineups: Finland: Raanta (Ortio) – Lepisto, Hietanen, Pesonen, Kontiola, Aaltonen – Laakso, Mantyla, Salminen, Korpikoski, Koskiranta – Vaananen, Jalasvaara, Sainainen, Pihlstrom, Granlund – Kukkonen (C), Melart, Hagman, Anttila, Hytonen Slovakia: Stana (Hudacek J.) – Mezei, Sekera, Surovy, Kopecky, Radivojevic – Vydareny, Jurcina, Kukumberg, Miklik, Zaborsky – Sersen, Mihalik, Satan, Hudacek L., Olvecky – Svarny, Dano, Bartek, Bliznak, Hascak Referees: Jerabek (CZE), Kaval (USA) – Blumel (CZE), Morrison (USA).
		The teams are on the ice and the opening faceoff is moments away.
		Warm welcome everyone from Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. 2013 WC quarterfinals scheduled for today. Earlier today, Russia was run over by team USA 8:3, while Switzerland beat the Czech Republic 2:1.
		Welcome. Game starts at 17:30.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 2. Vaananen, 10. Kontiola (Aaltonen, Pesonen), 16. Kontiola (Aaltonen), 49. Aaltonen (Kontiola, Pesonen) – 26. Miklik (Kukumberg, Mezei), 33. Sekera (Mezei, Hudacek), 41. Surovy (Mezei, Radivojevic)

Finland: Raanta (Ortio) – Lepisto, Hietanen, Pesonen, Kontiola, Aaltonen – Laakso, Mantyla, Salminen, Korpikoski, Koskiranta – Vaananen, Jalasvaara, Sainainen, Pihlstrom, Granlund – Kukkonen (C), Melart, Hagman, Anttila, Hytonen

Slovakia2: Stana (Hudacek J.) – Mezei, Sekera, Surovy, Kopecky, Radivojevic – Vydareny, Jurcina, Kukumberg, Miklik, Zaborsky – Sersen, Mihalik, Satan, Hudacek L., Olvecky – Svarny, Dano, Bartek, Bliznak, Hascak

Referees: Jerabek (CZE), Kaval (USA) – Blumel (CZE), Morrison (USA)

1st period
	01:31
	05:07
	09:52
	12:01
	15:44
	18:50
1st intermission
2nd period
	25:03
	29:16
	32:17
	37:31
2nd intermission
3rd period
	40:30
	45:48
	48:13
	49:36
Final