Slovakia2 – Germany2 4:5 (1:2 after SO) | Hungary – Japan2 12:2 (end) | Finland – Sweden2 4:2 (end)
Austria – Brazil 5:1 (end) | USA – Canada2 5:6 (1:2 after SO) | Croatia – Australia 5:6 (after OT)
Czech Republic – xxx 6:1 (end) | Slovenia2 – Latvia 13:2 (end)
final
Finland
4:2 (0:0, 1:0, 2:0, 1:2)
Sweden2
Friday 06.06.2014, 15:00 • ČEZ Arena, Pardubice, Czech Republic • IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship
     
    So Finland will play for the gold medal tomorrow, while Sweden will play for bronze.

    The other semifinal is coming up in about 30 minutes between USA and Canada, so you don't want to miss that. The winner, of course, will meet Finland in the final and the loser will play Sweden for bronze. (16:31:06)
     
    Players of the game

    SWE – Robin Sjoren
    FIN – Sasu Hovi

    The Finnish national anthem is now being played.
     
    48:00
    Game over.
     
    47:54
    Miettinen missed a long shot at the empty net, but the Swedes getting 2 penalties on the play, slashing against Svensson and then, after the whistle, unsportsmanlike conduct against Axelsson. It's done.
     
    47:12
    Timeout Finland. They have the power play now, but want to play it smart. It will be 4-on-4 on the floor with the Swedish goalie out.
     
    47:12
    Now there is a Swedish penalty, Henrik Hoglund for roughing. Lots of emotion down on the floor right now as players exchange words with each other. No love lost between Sweden and Finland.
     
    47:01
    A Finnish player was knocked down there, looked like maybe a high stick but play continued as he struggled to the bench. Finally Hovi makes the save to stop play, and the Finnish bench is upset there was no call. Faceoff in the Finnish zone.
     
    46:30
    Axelsson with a blast, blocked.
     
    46:00
    Slapper from the point by Nilsson, pad save Hovi, rebound wide.
     
    45:45
    Swedes try to crash the Finnish net, play stopped with a player in the crease. Faceoff outside.
     
    45:30
    Ollikainen skates to the bench for a 5th attacker with the puck still in the Swedish zone.
     
    45:16
    Timeout Sweden. Faceoff in their end with 2:44 on the clock.
     
    45:16
    No goal! Partanen skated in slowly, Ollikainen forced the backhand wide. Sweden not done yet.
     
    45:16
    And now a penalty shot coming to Petri Partanen as he was tripped on a breakaway. This is huge right here now.
     
    44:27
    Sami Markkanen with a golden chance to restore Finland's 3-goal lead but Andreas Ollikainen made a huge blocker save. Every save he makes now it huge.
     
    44:00
    Swedes buzzing in the Finnish zone, Finnish defence forcing the shots long.
     
    42:41
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    The power play had just ended, and the Swedes entered the zone. ROBIN SJOREN fired a wrister through traffic that looked like it changed direction just in front of Hovi. The Swedes are back in it.
    Assist: Johan Erkgards.
     
    41:35
    Shot by Nilsson hits the side of the net, Axelsson's drive is stopped by Hovi and the Finns clear it.
     
    40:47
    The Swedes were threatening and the Finnish net is knocked off. The referee is calling goaltender Sasu Hovi for delaying the game, so the Swedes with a big power play coming up. They certainly have to score if they want to get back into this.
     
    39:51
    Another chance for the Swedes and another save by Hovi, who freezes it.
     
    39:07
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    Lilja led the rush into the zone, fed MARCUS NILSSON. His first shot hit Hovi in the chest, but he knocked the rebound out of the air but below the crossbar and into the net to get Sweden on the board.
    Assists: Johan Lilja, Carl Berglund.
     
    38:28
    Swedes move the puck around for a one-timer from Lilja, just wide.
     
    37:26
    Dick Axelsson with a chance and another big save by Sasu Hovi. The Swedes clearly frustrated and they thought there should have been a penalty on the play, but no. Faceoff in the Finnish zone.
     
    36:25
    Goal for Team Finland!
    On a 2-on-1 rush, MARKUS JOKINEN held the puck, made a move to his backhand and went upstairs over the glove of Ollikainen. At 4-0, that might just punch Finland's ticket into the Final.
    Unassisted.
     
    36:01
    Start of the 4th period.
     
    Ollikainen had to make a blocker save just before the horn to end the 3rd period. A 4th Finnish goal surely would have been a back-breaker.

    As it is, the Swedes have their work cut out for them. They're down 3-0 with 12 minutes left, and Sasu Hovi has looked very solid in the Finnish goal.
     
    36:00
    End of 3rd period.
     
    35:34
    Low wrister from Lohtander, pad save Ollikainen.
     
    34:30
    Now a backhander from Robin Wall, who falls to the ice. Hovi holds on again.
     
    34:00
    Swedish rush, pass to the trailer Bejmo, fires just wide.
     
    33:19
    Now at the other end, a shot by Dick Axelsson from the slot, right on Hovi, who holds it.
     
    32:52
    Pellinen takes a whack at a loose puck in front, hits Ollikainen.
     
    32:20
    And a wrister from Markkanen off the arm of Ollikainen. The Finns looking for more.
     
    32:00
    Backhander from Miettanen, off the side of the net.
     
    29:47
    Goal for Team Finland!
    Then they add a 3rd goal 1:11 later! A nice tic-tac-toe passing play around the Swedish zone, Laakonen with the cross-crease pass to OSSI PELLINEN, who put it in.
    Assists: Janne Laakkonen, Mikko Pukka.
     
    28:36
    Goal for Team Finland!
    It was a 3-on-2 rush, Virtala with the pass across to JESSE SAARINEN, and he fired a beautiful wrist shot over Ollikainen's blocker, off the far post and in. With the strength of defence in this game, the 2-0 Finnish lead now is huge.
    Assist: Marko Virtala.
     
    28:06
    The Finns starting to press, Partanen with the wrister, caught and held by Ollikainen.
     
    26:55
    Markkanen with Finland's first shot of the half, blocker save Ollikainen.
     
    25:46
    Now a high wrister by Carl Berglund from the left wing, off Hovi's glove and out of play. The Swedes starting this second half aggressively, but still haven't scored.
     
    24:22
    Filip Gunnarsson with a high slapper from the point, over the net.
     
    24:25
    Marcus Nilsson with the first shot of the second half, a low wrister that Hovi stops and covers.
     
    24:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    It's now halftime and, wow, the Swedes have to be shaking their heads that they haven't scored any goals yet. Some great chances to score but some marvelous goaltending by Sasu Hovi, and so it's Finland on a goal by Markus Jokinen who lead 1-0.

    3rd quarter begins at 15:44 CEST, 16:44 EEST.
     
    24:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    23:10
    Finns move it around, Stromberg from a sharp angle denied.
     
    22:53
    Long slapper from Eriksson, caught and held by Hovi.
     
    21:55
    Two huge saves by Sasu Hovi! First a breakaway by Carl Berglund, then a two-on-nothing and another stick save.
     
    21:15
    Sami Markkanen from a sharp angle, turned to the corner by Ollikainen.
     
    20:40
    Long wrister from Eriksson, turned away by Hovi.
     
    18:28
    Team Sweden is at full strength.
     
    18:12
    Also Saarinen fires wide. Ollikainen is yet to make a save on this power play.
     
    17:23
    Penttinen´s shot is too high and misses the net.
     
    16:58
    After a couple of minor clashes near boards, referees call Axelsson (SWE) for interference.
     
    15:34
    Team Finland is at full strength.
     
    14:41
    Goal for Team Finland!
    Finland take the lead shorthanded when MARKUS JOKINEN slips through two opponents and scores with a wristshot towards the far post. Assisted by Juho Hoki-Erkkila.
     
    14:05
    Penttinen (FIN) is called for roughing. Powerplay to Sweden.
     
    13:24
    This time it is Sweden who start the period more active. Hovi is alert but is yet to make a serious save.
     
    12:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    12:00
    1st period finished.
     
    11:47
    Late pressure by the Finnish team. Miettinen and Lohtander combine for a shot, yet Ollikainen makes a save.
     
    10:52
    Finns had a two-on-one breakaway, but Virtala made a bad pass that Markkanen could not get onto.
     
    10:05
    Sweden goes on offense again, yet a weak shot is comfortably saved by Hovi.
     
    9:16
    Strömberg fires a one-timer from the middle of the rink, Ollikainen makes a save.
     
    8:21
    Swedes killed a rest of their power play with comfort. Sjören is back.
     
    7:22
    Pukka shoots from top of the crease, Ollikainen is down quickly and makes a save.
     
    6:41
    Robin Sjören (SWE) is penalized for holding an opponent.
     
    5:52
    Another save by Hovi, this time a comfortable glove catch.
     
    5:01
    Great save by Hovi in the Finnish net. He made himself big and stopped a close range shot by Sjören. The opening goal was close!
     
    4:08
    Nilsson´s attempted wristshot from the slot is blocked by a Finnish defenseman.
     
    3:40
    Sweden gets hold of the puck and calms things down.
     
    2:52
    Ollikainen is busy early in the game, this time saving Virtala´s slap shot with his glove.
     
    2:12
    Strömberg with a rebound opportunity for Finland, but he misses the net.
     
    1:04
    Markus Jokinen found some space on the left wing and aims for a top corner. Ollikainen in Swedish goal makes a good save.
     
    0:52
    Team Finland controls the puck early in the game and is looking for options.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Starting lineups:

    Finland: Hovi (Taponen) – Penttinen, Aalto, Jokinen, Joki-Erkkila – Pukka, Markkanen, Virtala, Strömberg – Saarinen, Partanen, Miettinen, Lohtander – Pellinen, Laakkonen.

    Sweden: Ollikainen (Kruse) – Lilja, Sjören, Nilsson, Höglund – Gunnarsson, Svensson, Axelsson, Berglund – Erkgards, Bejmo, Wall, Eriksson – Johnsson, Kokkonen.

    Referees: Prchal (CZE), Morrison (USA).
     
    Both semifinals of the 2014 IIHF Inline Hockey World Championship are regional derbies and classic hockey match-ups.

    The first one is between Nordic neighbours Finland and Sweden. Both teams competed in the same group, with Finland winning the head-to-head meeting 7-4, thanks to 3 4th-quarter goals. Because of that result, Finland won the group with 9 points, while Sweden was 2nd place with 5.

    In the quarterfinals on Thursday, the Swedes had an easy time with Slovakia, scoring 5 times in the first quarter and rolling to a 12-1 win. The Finns were also dominant against Great Britain, scoring 3 times in the first quarter and eventually winning 7-2.

    Sweden's top scorer is Marcus Nilsson with 11 points (7+4), followed by Dick Axelsson with 9 (3+6). Axelsson is playing in his second IIHF World Championship in less than a month, having skated for Sweden at the Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk.

    Finland has 3 players with 8 points: Markus Jokinen (4+4) and a pair of defencemen, Sami Markkanen and Mikko Pukka (both 2+6).
     
    Welcome. This semifinal game starts at 15:00 CEST, 16:00 EEST.
    Commentary by

    Derek OBrien

    CZ@@Djob76

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 15. Jokinen (Joki-Erkkila), 29. Saarinen (Virtala), 30. Pellinen (Laakkonen, Pukka), 37. Jokinen – 40. Nilsson (Lilja, Berglund), 43. Sjoren (Erkgards)

    Finland: Hovi (Taponen) – Penttinen, Aalto, Jokinen, Joki-Erkkila – Pukka, Markkanen, Virtala, Strömberg – Saarinen, Partanen, Miettinen, Lohtander – Pellinen, Laakkonen.
    Sweden2: Ollikainen (Kruse) – Lilja, Sjören, Nilsson, Höglund – Gunnarsson, Svensson, Axelsson, Berglund – Erkgards, Bejmo, Wall, Eriksson – Johnsson, Kokkonen.
    Referees: Prchal (CZE), Morrison (USA)