The Montreal Canadiens sent a handful of their players or prospects to the annual World Hockey Championships this spring. Of the five, four of them have advanced as far as the semifinals after wins today… well, three, but technically four… kinda.
Josh Anderson, and Team Canada seemed to be finished in the third period of their game. They were taking on Sweden who looked better on paper and much better on the ice for the first forty minutes. It was 3-0 Sweden with 20 minutes to play and it looked like they were going to cruise to the final four.
But Canada was able to mount an incredible comeback in the final moments. But, Ryan Graves got Canada on the board just over a minute into the third period to pull within two. With less than two minutes to play, Pierre Luc-Dubois scored on a one-timer to pull within one. Just 30 seconds later, a Matthew Barzal backhander snuck behind Linus Ullmark and just crossed the goal line before the goaltender was able to grab it with his glove.
With William Nylander in the box for tripping, Drake Batherson completed the comeback with a strong one-timer of his own to win the game in overtime. Anderson was held scoreless for Canada, while playing on the second line with Barzal and Cole Sillinger.
Sean Farrell is suiting up for USA and was able to help his team secure a 3-0. He chipped in with an assist on the Americans third goal in a shutout victory over Switzerland. Farrell is playing a third line role for USA and now has five points in eight games.
Jordan Harris was supposed to be on this team as well but he hasn’t played a game. He must be dealing with a injury because the United States played today’s quarterfinal game with five defencemen and thirteen forwards. Former Canadiens winger Riley Barber dressed as the sixth “defenceman” but he has played his entire career as a winger.
Joel Armia also advanced to the semifinals as Finland beat Slovakia 4-2. The Finnish coach rolls his four lines fairly evenly but it is fair to say Armia is playing a bottom six role with penalty killing duties. The Canadiens winger has three goals and five points in eight games.
Finland, and Armia, will now advance to play the United States, and Farrell but not Harris, in the semifinal on Saturday. Anderson and Team Canada will take on Czechia in the other semifinal.
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