The United States scored three second-period goals, but New York Rangers‘ Derick Bassard and Nashville Predators‘ Ryan Ellis scored for defending champion Canada to skate away with a 4-3 semifinal win to advance to the World Championships gold-medal game Sunday.
Canada will look to repeat as tournament champions when they play Finland and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ville Pokka in the gold-medal game. Pokka has two assists in nine games for Finland. The U.S. and Blackhawks prospects Vincent Hinostroza and Tyler Motte will play Russia and Artemi Panarin for bronze. Panarin has 12 points (five goals and seven assists), including two game-winning goals in nine contests.
Finland is 9-0 in the tournament and holds a 5-1 win over in Canada in Group A play. They advanced to the gold-medal game with a 3-1 win over Russia in the semifinals.
Brendan Gallagher (Montreal Canadiens) and Brad Marchand (Boston Bruins) gave Canada a 2-0 lead after the first period. The U.S. responded with goals from Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, and David Warsofsky (New Jersey Devils) to tie it before Motte tallied the go-ahead goal.
Bassars tied it early in the third and Ellis scored the game-winner.
Hinostroza has one goal and two assists in nine games, including the game-winner against Hungary in Group B play. Motte, who signed a three-year entry-level deal after deciding to forgo his senior season at Michigan, also has a goal and two assists in nine appearances.