Mikael Granlund overcame Raimo Helminen in the victorious Canadian semi-final.
- The Lions beat Canada 4–2 in the World Cup semi-final on Saturday.
- In Sunday’s final, they will face host Switzerland.
- The final starts at 21:20.
The Lions’ all-time top scorer of the World Cup was renewed again on Saturday.
Mikael Granlund assisted two of Leijoni’s goals and raised his World Cup career score to 60.
He also scored 60 points in the World Championships Raimo Helminen had to give way from third place, because Granlund has more goals.
The Lions’ best scorers in the World Cup
1. Ville Peltonen 34+47=81
2. Petteri Nummelin 15+49=64
3. Mikael Granlund 16+44=60
4. Raimo Helminen 12+48=60
5. Saku Koivu 17+39=56
Granlund is now playing in the World Cup for the eighth time. He joined this year’s team in the middle of the first group. Granlund has collected 1+6 power points in six matches in Zurich.
Granlund is known as an excellent passer, just as Raimo Helminen was also known.
Annunen also shone
The Lions’ first chain was on fire in the Canada semi-final. Granlund’s chain friends Alexander Barkov and Konsta Helenius also captured two power points (1+1).
Mikael Granlund and Aleksander Barkov cheered against Canada. Pasi Liesimaa
In addition to the first team, the hero section of the Lions was the goalkeeper Justus Annunen with 27 saves.
– Before the game, of course, I was nervous, as you always are before big games, whether it’s here or in the regular season. It was a big game and big stakes. I was able to focus well on the essentials, play and trust my own game, Annunen said.
In the opening set, Leijonat had some difficulties with the pressure given by Canada.
Canada chased the Finnish defenders away from behind the goal, and the red shirts had a 2-1 lead after the opening set.
According to Annus, Leijon didn’t have a finger in his mouth during the first break.
– North American teams always start really hard. Often the game is like that. We believed in our game.
Tavares rips
As so often before, Leijonat was on the defensive in the third period, protecting the lead.
This time the team held on.
Justus Annunen was in good shape in the Canada game. Pasi Liesimaa
Annunen made no fewer than 14 saves in the third period. Canadian goalkeeper For Jet Greaves recorded two saves.
Annunen took, among other things, a handsome triple save. First the defender Parker Wotherspoon your life, and then John Tavares was able to shoot twice from loose pucks.
– There was pressure in the last set. I was able to block the pucks and keep the readings like that. It was a big deal, Annunen said.
The head coach Antti Pennanen praised that Annunen took important shots even when Canada was leading 2–1.
– Did what a winning goalkeeper does. And self-confidence seems to be growing all the time, Pennanen said.
