A sudden-death goal by Atlanta Thrashers' marksman Dany Heatley put Canada into the world championship semifinals with a hard-fought 5-4 win over Finland on Thursday.
The defending world champions Canada came from two goals down to continue their title defense with a win that sent them into today's last four match-up against Slovakia, who ousted Switzerland 3-1 in the other quarterfinal.
"I'm impressed with both teams' playing and of course with our win," Canada's head coach Michael Babcock said.
"I'm pleased how my guys hang up when we were down or how they fought their way back when things went wrong.
"The win gets us into the final four and gives us an opportunity," he added.
Heatley collected two goals and an assist to become the hero of the match and grab the lead in the event's goal scorers contest with seven goals so far.
The Finns took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game on powerplay, when Ville Peltonen made a sliding pass from the right board. The puck hit Phoenix Coyotes defender Derek Morris' skate and ricocheted into the net past stunned Roberto Luongo.
Less than two minutes later Tomi Kallio doulbe Finland's advantage, beating Luongo between the pads from Peltonen's precise cross-ice pass.
Canada's efforts in attack before the break were foiled by the Finland defense well-marshalled by Buffalo Sabres goalie Mika Noronen.
But after the interval Heatley reduced the arrears 24:27 into the match on two-man powerplay, while Jay Bouwmeester put Canada back on track when he levelled three minutes later with a mid-range shot between Noronen's pads.
In the remaining time the teams traded with goals again to record a 3-3 tie before the second intermission as Oli Jokinen scored for Finland, while Eric Brewer was on target for Canada.
Kimmo Rintanen put Finland into the lead again 1:55 into the third when Glen Murray crashed into Luongo, preventing Canada's goalie from deflecting the Finn's long-range shot.
But Edmonton Oilers defender Steve Staios equalized just four minutes later with a powerful slap shot from the blue line sending the match into overtime.
The rivals traded threats early in the extra time before Heatley had his supporters at Prague Sazka 17,000-seat Arena on their feet, when he stopped the match at 65:33, firing into the net from just inside the blue line.
Meanwhile, the 2002 world champions Slovakia also had to battle from a goal down after Swiss forward Adrian Wichser put his side into the lead with an opening goal 9:34 into the game.
The Slovaks rushed forward, seeking an equalizer, but the Swiss squad defended stoutly until 31:15, when Pittsburgh Penguins defender Martin Strbak pulled to level on powerplay with a sharp-angled shot.
Ottawa Senators rear guard Zdeno Chara skated around the Swiss net to sweep the puck into the net at 37:44 to put Slovakia 2-1 up before the second interval.
St. Louis Blues forward Pavol Demitra added his powerplay goal in the third to secure Slovakia's well-deserved win.
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