Associated Press
Dec 31, 2006, 2:13 AM EST
MORA, Sweden (AP) - Oskar Osala and Perttu Lindgren combined for four power-play goals to lead Finland past Switzerland 4-0 Saturday at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Finland will play a Group B final against unbeaten Russia on New Year's Eve. Switzerland must beat the Czech Republic on Sunday to reach the playoff round.
Host Sweden beat Germany 3-1 behind goals by Robin Lindqvist, Magnus Isaksson and Alexander Sundstrom to also clinch a playoff berth with six points in Group A game.
At Leksand, the Czech Republic beat Belarus 2-1 for its first win but can still make the quarter-finals.
Pat Kane scored two power-play goals and had one assist as the United States hammered winless Slovakia 6-1 for its first victory in Group A. Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson, Peter Mueller and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Americans.
The United States, which won its last title in 2004, has four points heading into its last game against Sweden on Sunday. Germany has five points and no games left.
Slovakia can't advance even if they beat two-time defending champion Canada, which clinched a semifinal spot Friday.
At Mora, Osala scored on a perfect tic-tac-toe play in the eighth minute which included linemates Mikko Lehtonen and Lindgren.
Osala scored his second power-play goal five minutes later when he jumped on a loose puck following a faceoff and gave goalie Reto Berra no chance with his quick release.
Lindgren got his third point in the game when he made it 3-0 with a Finnish two-man advantage at 12:23 in the second period.
With one goal and three assists, Lindgren now has the tournament lead with one goal and seven assists.
FULL STORY
Dec 31, 2006, 2:13 AM EST
MORA, Sweden (AP) - Oskar Osala and Perttu Lindgren combined for four power-play goals to lead Finland past Switzerland 4-0 Saturday at the World Junior Hockey Championship.
Finland will play a Group B final against unbeaten Russia on New Year's Eve. Switzerland must beat the Czech Republic on Sunday to reach the playoff round.
Host Sweden beat Germany 3-1 behind goals by Robin Lindqvist, Magnus Isaksson and Alexander Sundstrom to also clinch a playoff berth with six points in Group A game.
At Leksand, the Czech Republic beat Belarus 2-1 for its first win but can still make the quarter-finals.
Pat Kane scored two power-play goals and had one assist as the United States hammered winless Slovakia 6-1 for its first victory in Group A. Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson, Peter Mueller and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Americans.
The United States, which won its last title in 2004, has four points heading into its last game against Sweden on Sunday. Germany has five points and no games left.
Slovakia can't advance even if they beat two-time defending champion Canada, which clinched a semifinal spot Friday.
At Mora, Osala scored on a perfect tic-tac-toe play in the eighth minute which included linemates Mikko Lehtonen and Lindgren.
Osala scored his second power-play goal five minutes later when he jumped on a loose puck following a faceoff and gave goalie Reto Berra no chance with his quick release.
Lindgren got his third point in the game when he made it 3-0 with a Finnish two-man advantage at 12:23 in the second period.
With one goal and three assists, Lindgren now has the tournament lead with one goal and seven assists.
FULL STORY
