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Finland off to semis
Finland off to semis
Raisanen shuts out Germany, 1-0
Finland's Michelle Karvinen #21 and Karolina Rantamaki look on as the puck sails wide of Jennifer Harss's goal. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)
The 1-0 victory over Germany in the first quarter-finals of the day at Scotiabank Place gives the Finns a semi-finals date with the United States on Monday afternoon.
Germany will now play for fifth place on Monday against the loser of tonight’s Russia-Switzerland tilt.
The Finns played without their number-one goalie, Noora Raty, who was benched in favour of Raisanen.
"I found out this morning [that I'd play]," Raisanen said after. "I was a little surprised, but it's always nice to play. I have to be ready all the time even though I'm the backup."
The first period was dominated by the Finns, who moved the puck around easily and were never in much danger in their own end. The difference-maker was goalie Jennifer Harss who made several big saves and kept the game scoreless until late. Harss was particularly impressive stretching back to put her left pad down and stop a sure one-timer from Marjo Voutilainen.
But at 15:27, Karvinen got the puck near centre and drove down the right side. She cut in on goal and outmuscled Ronja Richter for position and lifted the puck over Harss. The pretty goal gave the Finns a much deserved lead and put Germany under added pressure heading to the dressing room after 20 minutes.
"We didn't come out as hard as we should have," admitted German forward Kerstin Spielberger. We played well, but we could have done better."
If Finland controlled the first, it did so to an even greater degree in the second. But a combination of poor shooting and Harss ensured the score remained 1-0.
Continue reading"We should have scored more," Raisanen suggested, "but they have a good goalie. We have to do better next game."
Germany had only two shots in the period but one was a great opportunity. Maritta Becker did a great job at centre ice to spring Kerstin Spielberger in alone, but her shot was knocked away by Raisanen’s blocker.
"It was a good chance, but someone was coming up behind me, so I just tried to take a quick shot. Unfortunately, it didn't go in."
The Germans had a power play late in the third but generated only one decent scoring chance, and then with time winding down German coach Peter Kathan refused to pull Harss until there was only 30 seconds left and despite Harss's waving to the bench for nearly a minute.
"It's not my decision," Harss said. "I was looking at the coaches waiting to give me the sign earlier. They could have pulled me earlier, yes," she admitted.
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