Jeff Woywitka scored the winning goal at 11:20 of the third period to give Canada to a 3-2 win over a hard-working United States squad and a berth in Sunday's final against Russia.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Nathan Paetsch also scored for the Canadians, while goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 13 saves for win.
Eric Nystrom and Ryan Kesler scored for Team USA. Goaltender Bob Goepfert was sensational for the Americans making 39 saves.
Canada's Pierre Marc Bouchard (16) hugs teammate Pierre Alexandre Parenteau as they celebrate the team's second goal. (CP PHOTO)
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If the Canadians wanted a little adversity on the road to the gold-medal game, they certainly got it.
The team conceded three consecutive penalties at the end of the second period, all to defencemen. After Brendan Bell and Paetsch were sent to the penalty box, assistant captain Steve Eminger was handed a two-minute penalty and 10-minute misconduct for hitting from behind.
Canada held off the American power play for one minute in third. Just after Fleury stopped two Zach Parise shots in close, Kesler was able to jab the puck in behind Fleury to tie the game at two goals a piece.
After some tense minutes, Canada was able to regain their composure and regain their lead for good.
Checker extraordinaire Jordin Tootoo threw a hit in the American zone and was later upended, which seemed to cause some distraction on the ice. Matt Stajan took advantage of the confusion and feathered a pass to Woywitka skating in. The big blueliner from Vermilion, Alta. wristed the puck through Goepfert?s pads to bring the sell-out crowd of 10,594 to their feet.
?I just thought there was a spot open and it was a good play by Staj,? said Woywitka, who plays for the WHL?s Red Deer Rebels. ?When you?re in that close your heart skips a beat.
?We have a lot of goal scorers on this team and I guess it was my turn tonight.?
It was Goepfert's efforts that allowed the Americans to almost steal the game from the Canadians, but still the Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick was disappointed with the loss.
?I can?t really blame myself. I?m second guessing myself on what I should?ve done (on the winning goal), but I can?t hang my head. He?s a good player and it was a hard shot. That?s how the game goes sometimes,? said Goepfert. ?Somebody had to win.?
The fans were appreciative of Goepfert?s performance and gave him a standing ovation when he was awarded player of the game.
?It was tremendous,? he said. ?It?s a special moment in my career and in my life. I?m going to think about that for as long as I live.
?When your opposing fans and rivals cheer you like that, it?s something special.?
After Derek Roy drew his third penalty of the game at 16:28 of the second period, the Canadians showed why their team leads the tournament in power-play efficiency.
Bouchard collected his second goal of the championship from a pinpoint pass from his second cousin Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau. The Canadian power-play unit worked the puck around to Carlo Colaiacovo, who fed Parenteau in low slot. The skilful playmaker slid the puck through the crease and behind an American defenceman to Bouchard for a 2-1 lead.
For Roy, who earned player of the game honours, drawing penalties is just part of his game.
?I just try to keep my feet moving and try to work down low as hard as I can,? said the Rockland, Ont. native. ?Sometimes it creates chances, creates penalties and opens up some room for me.?
After two early chances, Canada got on the scoresheet first. Kyle Wellwood won a faceoff to Paetsch. Paetsch?s wrist shot floated through traffic and deflected off Goepfert?s pads and in to send the crowd.
The Americans appeared to tie the game at 7:17 of the period, but it was waved off after the referee said it went in off a high stick.
Eventually the Americans tied the game for real. Fleury made a weak pass up the ice to Ian White near the Canadian blueline, but American Parise read the play and knocked the puck away from White to Nystrom who went in alone on Fleury to tie the game at 1-1.
