Canada beats USA 4-3, advances to gold medal game at World Hockey Championships (HIGHLIGHTS)

Canada edged the United States 4-3 at the World Hockey Championships today, punching their ticket to the gold medal game.

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Brendan Gallagher, Brad Marchand, Derrick Brassard, and Ryan Ellis scored the goals for Canada, and Cam Talbot made 30 saves, including 11 in the third period, to secure the win.

“I thought we played a pretty decent first period,” said Ellis. “Obviously they did a great job in the second period but once we got going again I thought we felt fine. [Brassard’s] power play goal for us was huge.”

It was a far cry from the 5-1 romping Canada gave the Americans to open the tournament. Leading 2-0 after the first period, Canada gave up three straight goals in the 2nd period and found themselves trailing 3-2. But the tying marker by Brassard late in the period followed by an Ellis goal early in the third was enough to send Canada to the gold medal game.

“We turned [a few] too many pucks over,” Gallagher said. “We got caught cheating up ice and they capitalized on their chances. But when we play our game and we stick to our structure we’re tough to play against.”

Canada will look for their second straight gold medal at the tournament when they take on Finland on Sunday. Finland gave Canada their only loss of the tournament, beating them 4-0 on May 17th.

You can watch Canada’s quest for gold on Sunday at 11:45 a.m. on TSN.