Canada Advances to face U.S. in World Championship Final

Canada blanks Finland to clinch finals berth

April 9, 2007

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - Kim St. Pierre made 22 saves to help Canada beat Finland 5-0 on Monday night, setting up a 10th straight Canada-United States final in the women's world hockey championships.

Hayley Wickenheiser, Gina Kingsbury, Danielle Goyette, Tessa Bonhomme and Kelly Bechard scored for the Canadians, 5-4 shootout winners over the United States on Saturday night in the opening game of the group winners' round robin.

"Canada-U.S., it's the best game you can watch in women's hockey," U.S. captain Krissy Wendell said after practice Monday. "There's not a hatred. When you play on a great team, you want to go and play another great team."

The United States ended Canada's title run at eight in the last championships, winning 1-0 in a shootout in 2005 in Linkoping, Sweden.

"I always remember lining up at the blue line and being able to watch our flag go up and actually sing, because I'd heard `O Canada' a few too many times," said Wendell, a 25-year-old Minnesotan playing in her sixth world championship.

Finland, coming off a 4-0 loss to the United States on Sunday night, will play Sweden in the third-place game. Sweden beat Switzerland 3-0 on Monday.