🇨🇦 Canada 4-2 Finland 🇫🇮
Women’s World Championship Qualifying Round
Baqu Arena, Harbin 🇨🇳
Wednesday, 09 April 2008

Sarah Vaillancourt scored two power play goals in 38 seconds in the second period to lead Canada to a 4-2 win over Finland at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s Championship.

The win gives Canada a berth in Saturday’s Gold medal game.

With the score tied 1-1, Vaillancourt scooped up a rebound off a Hayley Wickenheiser shot and beat Finland’s Noora Räty. Then, just over half a minute later, Vaillancourt found a loose puck and scored her second of the game.

Canada made it 4-1 when Katie Weatherston made a nice forehand to backhand move, and roofed the puck.

Jayna Hefford opened the scoring at 3:29 of the first period. Canada came out with a lot of jump but then had to hold off a strong Finnish attack for much of the first period. Finland had eight of its 12 shots in the first, forcing Kim St-Pierre to make several good saves.

Canada will face Team USA on Thursday in Harbin. Finland has concluded play in the qualifying round and will now await the result of Canada-USA. Team USA needs to win that game to be in Saturday’s Gold medal final.

If Canada wins, Finland will play in its first-ever Gold medal final at the IIHF World Women’s Championship.

BOXSCORE
1st Period
03:29 – 🇨🇦 GOAL – Hefford (Wickenheiser, Piper)
09:52 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Mikkelson, roughing
13:49 – 🇫🇮 GOAL – Laaksonen (Helin, Rantamäki)
15:21 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Ferrari, high sticking
16:25 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Agosta, tripping

2nd Period
25:52 – 🇫🇮 PEN – Voutilainen, interference
27:04 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Wickenheiser, hooking
29:56 – 🇫🇮 PEN – Pelttari, interference
31:23 – 🇨🇦 PP GOAL – Vaillancourt (Wickenheiser)
31:54 – 🇫🇮 PEN – Rantamäki, slashing
32:01 – 🇨🇦 PP GOAL – Vaillancourt (Botterill)
37:25 – 🇨🇦 GOAL – Weatherston (MacLeod)
39:22 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Vaillancourt, cross checking

3rd Period
43:25 – 🇨🇦 PEN – Apps, hooking
46:41 – 🇫🇮 GOAL – Pehkonen
49:13 – 🇫🇮 PEN – Hiirikoski, body checking
51:39 – 🇫🇮 PEN – Jalosuo, interference

GOALTENDERS
W: 🇨🇦 St-Pierre (10-12)
L: 🇫🇮 Räty (30-34)

SHOTS ON GOAL
🇨🇦 8+15+11 = 34
🇫🇮 8+2+2 = 12

ROSTERS
🇨🇦 Goaltenders: Charline Labonté, Kim St-Pierre. Defence: Delaney Collins, Gillian Ferrari, Becky Kellar, Carla MacLeod, Meaghan Mikkelson, Colleen Sostorics. Forwards: Meghan Agosta, Gillian Apps, Kelly Bechard, Jennifer Botterill, Jayna Hefford, Rebecca Johnston, Gina Kingsbury, Caroline Ouellette, Cherie Piper, Sarah Vaillancourt, Katie Weatherston, Hayley Wickenheiser.
🇫🇮 Goaltenders: Maija Hassinen, Noora Räty. Defence: Jenni Hiirikoski, Mira Jalosuo, Kati Kovalainen, Emma Laaksonen, Heidi Pelttari, Saija Sirviö, Vilma Tarvainen. Forwards: Anne Helin, Venla Hovi, Piia Lallukka, Eini Lehtinen, Mari Pehkonen, Karoliina Rantamäki, Mari Saarinen, Nora Tallus, Nina Tikkinen, Marjo Voutilainen.

Article Credit: Hockey Canada
Photo Credit: Hockey Canada – IIHF – HHOF – IOC