Canada masters another shootout and will play for gold medal

What a game this semifinal was! Both teams were quite even and it went back and forth, with neither managing to get into a lead larger than one goal. Overtime was inevitable and since nobody scored in it, this enigma went to a shootout. Fortune stood by the Canadians again, who scored twice again, like yesterday.

Leggat helped his team with an early penalty killing and the Canadians got in front. They took the chance with their powerplay and Kyle Sheen‘s one-timer broke the deadlock.

The States managed something incredible later in the first quarter. Travis Noe equalized at first with a nice shot off the post on powerplay and just 10 (!) seconds later, Peter Kavaya turned the scales to the American side. However, Canada evened it just before the intermission with Thomas Woods‘ redirection on Terry’s attempt.

USA got in front again in 20th minute as Tyler Spezia took advantage of another powerplay from right circle. The Americans could have score a shorthanded one to increase the gap, but Thompson’s shot went out off the crossbar and later, the Canadians scored another last-minute equalizer. With 13 seconds left until halftime, Josh Foote found the back of the net with a backhand finish on a fast counter.

Canada got in front again with Chris Terry’s screamer on the near post, but held it only for one minute. Patrick Lee tied it up by then with a shot through traffic, the puck got deflected and fell just behind Leggat.

Anyway, Leggat showed his skills just a moment later and the Canadians took the lead again. Brennan Luscombe stayed alone in front of Kuhn, made him go down and finished upstaires.

The States managed to equalize this intense game once again in the beginning of last quarter. Another powerplay goal and it was Travis Noe who slapped it inside this time.

Such a drama had to go to OT obviously and both teams could decide in it, but none of them did. Hammond’s attempt ended in Kuhn’s glove, Foote’s one met Kuhn’s blocker and Cadiz failed to score against lying Leggat, who made a brilliant stick save.

Woods started shoot-outs with a goal off the post. White’s shot went wide and Terry made it 2:0. Noe handled the situation well under pressure and scored to keep the hope and when Hammond was denied, Lee could have equalize it, but Leggat’s pad stole it from him and sent the Canadians into the Final game.