CALGARY -- Mark Visentin
saved his best for last at the 2012 World Junior Championship.
In what would be his final appearance in a game for the Canadian National Junior Team on Thursday in the bronze medal contest against Team Finland, Visentin made several highlight-reel stops on the way to a 27-save shutout to lead Canada to a 4-0 victory.
In what arguably can be considered the best save of the entire tournament, Visentin somehow snared an attempt by Joonas Donskoi
at the right post by reaching behind his back to keep the puck from crossing the goal line. The stop was showed well over 10 times on the center ice scoreboard and, each time, fans applauded while offering up plenty of "Oooo's and Ahhh's".
scored a pair of goals and Tanner Pearson and Mark Scheifele
once for Team Canada.
In the first, Pearson converted a perfect feed from Scheifele to give Canada a 1-0 lead. Just 5:35 into the second Pearson returned the favor, dishing to Scheifele in the slot for a 2-0 advantage. Howden would score a power-play with just 30.7 seconds left in the second to extend the lead to 3-0. Howden converted a feed from Mark Stone
with just 2:25 left in the game to close out the scoring.
Finland starting goalie Sami Aittokallio
, who has played wonderfully in this tournament, was inadvertently run into by Howden with 9:41 left in the second. The goalie remained down for a few minutes before regaining his senses. He finished with 40 saves.
Canada goalie Mark Visentin
, making his first start since Dec. 29 when he made 24 saves in a 10-2 victory over Denmark, has turned aside 18 shots through 40 minutes. Visentin denied Teemu Pulkkinen
on a penalty shot with 2:11 left in the second after being whistled for throwing his stick in an attempt to block an original shot. Pulkkinen faked a slap shot and skated in, only to be stopped by Visentin's left pad. The goalie then slapped the puck out of his crease to the delight of the locals.
Pearson, in prime position in the slot, one-timed a perfect pass from Barrie Colts teammate Scheifele from the right circle with his team on the power-play at the 9:08 mark to give the Canadians the early lead. Canada isn't playing in the gold medal game for the first time since 2001, which is also the last time the country earned bronze.
Visentin had a solid opening 20 minutes, turning aside seven shots, including a shorthanded breakaway attempt by playmaker Markus Granlund
with just 4:13 remaining in the period.
The Canadians received a bit of a scare in the period when defenseman Dougie Hamilton
was struck in the ankle following a shot by Finland's Miro Aaltonen
. Hamilton slowly returned to the bench but eventually returned to the ice for his regular shift alongside Brandon Gormley
The Finns couldn't convert a 2-on-1 in the final minute of the period. Joonas Donskoi
and Teemu Pulkkinen
broke in but Donskoi failed to release his shot from deep in the left circle.