Blackhawks defenseman Henri Jokiharju and goalie prospect Kevin Lankinen will suit up for Finland against forward Dylan Strome and Canada in the gold-medal game at the World Championship on Sunday in Slovakia.
Lankinen recorded a 32-save shutout and former Chicago prospect Marko Anttila (2004 ninth rounder) scored the game-winning goal in Finland’s 1-0 win over Russia and Artem Anisimov in the semifinals.
Jokiharju’s shot from the point bounced off defenseman Nikita Zaitsev’s leg, and Anttila grabbed the rebound and fired it through Andrei Vasilevski’s five-hole with 9:42 left in the third period.
Lankinen was able to hold off Russia for his second shutout of the tournament to earn first star of the game honors.
A 32-save shutout for @KLankinen in a 1-0 @leijonat semi-final win over @russiahockey
Here are some great stops from Kevin Lankinen #IIHFWorlds@goicehogs @NHLBlackhawks
More top plays >https://t.co/la1GD9Qazi pic.twitter.com/p3P4vShYQ0
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 25, 2019
Strome and Canada advanced with a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic and Chicago winger prospect Dominik Kubalik, who has reportedly agreed to terms with the team.
Strome picked up his fifth point of the tournament with a secondary assist on Thomas Chabot’s goal to make it 5-0 just three minutes into the third period.
Anisimov and Kubalik will meet in the bronze-medal game.
Sunday’s medal games
Bronze: Czech Republic (Kubalik) vs. Russia (Anisimov), 8:45 a.m.
Gold: Canada (Strome) vs. Finland (Jokiharju/Lankinen), 1:15 p.m.
Both games will be on NHL Network.