Florida Panthers 2020 seventh round pick Devon Levi stopped all 27 shots as Canada cruised to the final of the World Junior Championship in Edmonton with an impressivee 5-0 victory over Russia.
Levi is now a perfect 6-0 with a 0.53 GAA, .975 save percentage and a tournament-leading three shutouts. He has turned aside 116 of 119 shots for the Canadians, who will face the United States tonight for the gold medal. He even made a bid for an empty-net goal!
Devon Levi just tried to score 😳 pic.twitter.com/9KpJTERvUj
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2021
2019 first-rounder Spencer Knight backstopped the Americans to a 4-3 win over Finland in the semifinals.
Knight finished with 36 saves to pick up his fourth win of the tournament. The U.S. led 3-1 before the Finns rallied to tie the game late in the third period. Arthur Kaliyev scored the game-winner with 1:16 remaining in regulation.
THIS GAME IS INSANE 🤯 USA TAKES THE LEAD #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/hYrTnebAVv
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2021
Anton Lundell set up the game-tying goal for the Finns. Knight stopped his shot from in close and the rebound came out to Roni Hirvonen, who put it home with 3:43 to go.
🚨🇫🇮 TIE GAME! @leijonat come back in the 3rd and it’s tied 3-3 with 3:43 to go! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Khw1jEn3hh
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2021
Lundell registered five shots on goal, won 15 of 20 faceoffs, and finished the game with an even rating while logging 21:09 of ice time. The assist was Lundell’s fourth of the tournament, giving him a team-leading eight points.
Defenseman Kasper Puutio was named Finland’s Best Player for his two-assist performance. Puutio drew the primary assist on both of Kasper Simontaival’s goals for his first two points of the tournament.
Here, Puutio makes a crossing pass to Simontaival, who finishes it off for a first period power-play goal.
🚨🇫🇮 @leijonat answers right back on the #powerplay with a little tic-tac-goal by Kasper Simontaival. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/5MuUveg9Fg
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2021
The combination worked again 11:38 into the third period as the Finns climbed within a goal.
🚨🇫🇮 Just over 8 minutes to go and Kasper Simontaival nets his 2nd of the night! Just one goal between @leijonat and @usahockey #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/baqrmnwhhP
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2021
Puutio logged 14:17 TOI and finished the game with thee shots on goal and an even rating.
Tonight’s games
Finland (Lundell, Puutio) vs. Russia 5:30 p.m. NHL Network
United States (Knight) vs. Canada (Levi)