Fantilli leads Canada to world hockey gold-medal game with 1st goal of tourney
Reigning silver medallists to play Germany after ending host Latvia's impressive run
Forward Adam Fantilli, a projected top-five pick in next month's NHL draft, scored at 8:56 of the third period to lift Canada to a 4-2 semifinal victory over host Latvia at the men's world hockey championship on Saturday.
The win sealed the Canadians' place in Sunday's gold-medal game, where they will face Germany, which beat the United States 4-3 in overtime in the other semifinal.
The 18-year-old Fantilli fooled a defenceman before netting his first goal of the tournament with 11:04 to go as Canada took a 3-2 lead.
The assist for the game winner came from Milan Lucic, and Fantilli said after the game it was surreal to get an assist from a player he's watched all his life.
"I was in the middle of a one-on-one and tried to make a move and ended up getting a shooting opportunity and it ended up going in," Fantilli said. "I'm really happy about it."
WATCH | Fantilli highlight-reel goal sends Canada to gold-medal contest:
Samuel Blais, Jack Quinn and Scott Laughton also scored for Canada whose goaltender Samuel Montembeault made 20 saves.
Canada had to twice come back from a goal down to reach its fourth straight final.
"We stuck with it and needed some character after they scored the first goal, and I think the boys did a great job. [Jack Quinn] scored a big, big goal for us, and Fantilli's goal will be a highlight for a long time," said head coach André Tourigny. "There was no panic on our bench, and I think the commitment from our team was exceptional today."
Latvia's goals came through Dans Locmelis and Rudolfs Balcers.
Germany forces OT with 83 seconds on clock
Germany scored a late equalizer and then upset the United States in overtime Saturday to set up the final.
Frederik Tiffels scored with 2:28 left in overtime to give Germany a 4-3 win over the Americans in the semifinals.
Germany reached the final for the first time since 1992, when the playoff format was introduced at the world championship.
The Germans pulled goaltender Mathias Niederberger when they were down 3-2 late in the third period and Marcel Noebels equalized with a backhand shot with 1:23 remaining to force overtime.
With files from The Associated Press
