Canada beats Finland, advances to Olympic men’s hockey semifinal

GANGNEUNG, Korea, Republic Of – Maxim Noreau’s goal early in the third period moved Team Canada into the Olympic men’s hockey semifinals with a 1-0 win over Finland.

The breakthrough goal came 55 seconds into the third period with Noreau blasting a point shot stickside past Mikko Koskinen after an Eric O’Dell faceoff win.

Ben Scrivens started the game for Canada, but gave way to Kevin Poulin at 4:17 of the second period after a crushing O’Dell check sent a Finnish player flying into the Canadian goaltender.

Hockey Canada said Scrivens suffered an “upper-body injury.”

Canada will play Germany in Friday’s semifinals after the Germans shocked Sweden 4-3 in overtime.

Canada is looking for a third straight Olympic gold medal, though the 2010 and 2014 titles were won with rosters stocked with NHL talent. There are no NHL players competing at the Pyeongchang Games.