CANADA FALLS TO FINNS IN FIRST U18 TUNE-UP

JÄRVENPÄÄ, Finland – Brendan Perlini (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont./Niagara, OHL) and Brayden Point (Calgary, Alta./Moose Jaw, WHL) had a goal and an assist each, but Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team dropped a 3-2 decision to Finland on Friday.

It was the first of two pre-competition games for the Canadians ahead of the 2014 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, which opens next Thursday in Lappeenranta and Imatra, Finland.

Perlini got the scoring started just 3:31 in off a feed from Point, the lone goal of the first period.

The Finns tied the game just 29 seconds after Canada made a goaltending change, with Joel Kiviranta beating Brent Moran (Ottawa, Ont./Niagara, OHL) for the 1-1 goal.

Moran had replaced Mason McDonald (Halifax, N.S./Charlottetown, QMJHL), who stopped all 14 shots he faced in just under 31 minutes of work.

Finland took the lead for good late in the second period when Mikko Rantanen converted on a power play, and Rantanen’s second of the game 15:25 into the third period was the eventual game-winner.

Point made it a one-goal game with just 26 seconds left, but that would be as close as the Canadians would get.

Despite the loss, Canada finished with a 27-26 advantage in shots on goal. Moran made 10 saves in the Canadian goal in his half of action, while Kaapo Kähkönen went the distance for the Finns, stopping 25 of 27.

Canada will face Denmark in its second and final pre-competition game Monday (9:30 a.m. ET/6:30 a.m. PT) in Lappeenranta before opening defense of its gold medal Thursday against Sweden.

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