World Cup Semifinals: Finland Buries Team USA

After an impressive win over Russia in the quarterfinals, Team USA appeared to be coming together at just the right time. That turned out to be an illusion, as the uninspired Americans were turfed from the World Cup on Friday night.

Coming from behind in the third period, Finland advanced to Tuesday's championship game with a 2-1 win over the U.S. The win is being called one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of Finnish hockey.

The Finns came out cautiously and the Americans played right along with it, which might have been their biggest mistake. Rather than try to force the issue with their superior size and forecheck, as they did against Russia, the American forwards did little to disrupt the dreary pace. The teams combined for just 17 shots in the first two periods, and Doug Weight gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead on a power play goal at 15:27 of the second.

It was Finland that picked up the pace in the third period. A more adventurous approach paid off when Olli Jokinen scored off a rebound about five minutes in. Then, with just under four minutes left before overtime, Saku Koivu was left all alone at the side of the American net, where he had time to corral an errant pass and stuff it inside the post before goaltender Robert Esche could come across the crease.

Team USA had a power play in the dying minutes, during which they generated their only real scoring chances of the period, but the effort fell short.

Overall, the Finns were deserving winners. The American team simply did not show the resolve and drive required to break through a very good defensive team. The tournament will go down as a disappointment for American hockey, as a team of veteran stars managed just two wins in five games.

Finland, meanwhile, is guaranteed one of its best results ever in international play. The Finns won the world championship in 1995, and have placed second or third on several other occasions. But they have never made it this far in a competition involving full participation of NHL professionals.

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