2014-15 National Men's Team

CANADA SCORES FIVE UNANSWERED, BEATS JOKERIT IN SPENGLER CUP QUARTERS

JASON LA ROSE

DAVOS, Switzerland – Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C./HC Fribourg-Gottéron, SUI) scored the game-winner late in the second period, the third of five unanswered goals that helped Canada’s National Men’s Team to a 5-2 victory over Jokerit Helsinki in Monday’s quarter-finals at the 2014 Spengler Cup.

The win moves Canada into the semifinals for the second year in a row at the tournament; it will face defending champion HC Genève-Servette on Tuesday (2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT).

Micki DuPont (Calgary, Alta./Kloten Flyers, SUI), Alexandre Giroux (Quebec City, Que./HC Ambri-Piotta, SUI), Brett McLean (Comox, B.C./HC Lugano, SUI) and Marc-André Gragnani (Île-Bizard, Que./SC Bern, SUI) had the other goals for Canada, which lost 6-5 to HC Genève-Servette in last year’s semifinals.

Steve Moses and Linus Omark scored early goals for Jokerit Helsinki.

It didn’t take long for the Finnish side to open up a multiple-goal lead; Moses made it 1-0 just 58 seconds in, snapping a shot off the right wing past Drew MacIntyre (Charlottetown, P.E.I./Charlotte, AHL), and Omark doubled the advantage at 4:08, slipping around the Canadian defence and beating MacIntyre.

DuPont got the Canadian comeback started at 17:44 of the first period, scoring just six seconds into a power play with Mike Hedden (Dunnville, Ont./Ässät Pori, FIN) parked in front of Jokerit goaltender Riku Helenius.

Canada pulled even four minutes into the second, again just six seconds into a power play and again thanks to a point shot from DuPont; this time it was deflected by Giroux for his third goal in as many games.

Tambellini gave the Canadians the lead for good with 1:33 left in the middle frame, streaking into the Jokerit zone and snapping a quick wrist shot over the glove of Helenius.

The Finnish team, which competes in Russia’s KHL, pushed for the equalizer in the third period, outshooting Canada 11-4 with the help of four power plays, but MacIntyre kept the Canadian lead intact.

McLean added some insurance with 6:52 left, converting a shorthanded mini-breakaway by going five-hole on the backhand to beat Helenius, and Gragnani found the empty net in the final minute to cap the scoring.

Canada won despite being outshot 27-18 and giving Jokerit 10 opportunities on the power play; the Finns finished goalless on those 10 chances, while the Canadians went two-for-three.