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Team USA falls to Canada in Worlds semifinal; Larkin named U.S. player of the game

MiHockey Staff

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By @StefanKubus – 

Team USA came close, but couldn’t overcome Canada in the semifinal of the 2016 IIHF Men’s World Championship, a 4-3 final.

Waterford native and Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin was named the player of the game for Team USA, as he set up two of the U.S. goals in the losing effort. Keith Kinkaid stopped 23 of 27 shots in the loss. Team USA will face Russia for the bronze medal, while Canada advances to face Finland for gold.

Brendan Gallagher opened the scoring for Team Canada at 8:59 of the first period, crashing the net to bang home a Boone Jenner centering attempt.

Brad Marchand extended Canada’s lead to two before the opening frame ended, as he finished off a beautiful 2-on-1 passing play.

But Team USA responded in the second period, as Auston Matthews got his country on the board less than two minutes into the period off a slap shot blast from the left side with Larkin screening Canadian netminder Cam Talbot in front.

And shortly after, David Warsofsky evened things up at two aside, though it wasn’t originally clear. Warsofsky came down the right side and let a wrist shot go that just beat Talbot off the back bar and out. But because the puck shot out of the net so quickly, play went on as officials didn’t realize it was a goal. At the next stoppage, it was reviewed and confirmed to be a good goal.

Then, with roughly 12 minutes to go in the period, USA continued to score, as two Michigan natives connected.

Waterford native Dylan Larkin flew down the right side of the Canadian zone and found St. Clair native and fellow Wolverines alum Tyler Motte in the slot for the goal and 3-2 lead.

But Derick Brassard struck back for Canada with just under five minutes to play in the frame to make it a 3-3 game heading into a decisive third period.

Early in the third period, Ryan Ellis took advantage of open ice down the right side, stepped over the blue line and unleashed a  blast from the that beat Kinkaid to give Canada a 4-3 advantage.

Despite late pressure from Team USA, Canada held on for the 4-3 victory.