Finland scored two quick power-play goals in the first period and killed off all five Canadian power plays, winning the game, 5-1, and exposing some of Canada's soft spots while playing their own game with confidence.

The win takes Suomi to second place in Group B with 12 points, one behind the U.S. Canada drops a place and is now in fourth with ten points.

"We have to be better at some things but this was a good win for us. It was a good comeback for us after the last game [3-2 loss to Denmark]," said Kasperi Kapanen. "We should be happy with the result tonight."

"They moved the puck around pretty quick and made some good plays," suggested Bo Horvat of Canada. "They worked hard and closed a lot of gaps on us. Their power play was very good, and their goaltending was sensational."

Next up for Finland is a game with Germany tomorrow, while Canada plays Latvia on Monday. While Finland has now created some distance in the standings, Canada must now contend with Latvia, in fifth with nine points. Monday's game now has huge meaning.

Canada outshot Finland, 31-22, but while Harri Sateri was first rate, both Curtis McElhinney and Darcy Kuemper struggled.

As well, Canada's lack of discipline was disconcerting, and the team's inability to create scoring chances not started by captain Connor McDavid was evident.

Finland, meanwhile, played an aggressive game and kept Canada to the ouside, giving up precious few odd-man rushes.

"I'm not sure if it’s that we lacked discipline, but maybe we were just a little bit lazy. We were always hooking and little behind people trying to play catch up. When you’re playing catch up like that, you’re going to hook and hold."

The first period featured four goals to which the goalies couldn’t be ascribed any blame (except perhaps the last). Finland opened the scoring at 8:50 thanks to a slow play by Marc-Edouard Vlasic, playing his first game since flying over to Denmark two days ago.
 
He took his time moving the puck behind his net and Mikko Rantanen stripped him of it and fired a quick shot towards the Canadian goal. Defenceman Luke Schenn tried to tip the puck out of harm’s way, but instead he tipped it between the pads of Curtis McElhinney.
 
Two minutes later, Finland returned the favour. This time, with no options, Jean-Gabriel Pageau fired a quick shot on goal that hit the pants of Janne Pesonen and trickled past Harri Sateri.
 
Then on the power play, Finland went ahead when Markus Nutivaara’s point shot was nicely tipped by Pesonen past McElhinney.
 
Finland made it 3-1 on another power play. This time with play to the side of the Canadian goal, McElhinney stumbled and Mikael Granlund lifted the puck over the fallen goalie.

That spelled the end for the goalie and coach Bill Peters inseretd Darcy Kuemper, who had a terrible game in his only start on day one, against the Americans.
 
McDavid then went to work. His quick stickhandling produced two superb close-in chances, but he couldn’t beat Sateri on either.

Although there were no goals in the second, there were five power plays--three to Finland--meaning that more or less half of the period was played five-on-four. There were chances aplenty both ways, but both goalies were solid and the shooters couldn't finish.

The Finns blew the game open early in the third with goals just ten seconds apart. The first came on a terrible play by Kuemper. He played the puck to the side of his goal, putting a pass right onto the stick of Eeli Tolvanen, who easily put the puck into the open net.

Right off the ensuing faceoff the Finns came over the line. Sebastian Aho dropped a pass to Teuvo Teravainen, and his shot hit the short side to make it 5-1 and put the game out of reach.