5-Jan-2012 - Canada's comeback falls short in world junior semis

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The Canadian juniors dug down with a remarkable late-game surge, but their comeback bid fell short against a bunch of speedy Russian teenagers. A year after Canada suffered a third-period collapse against Russia in the gold-medal final, the Canadian juniors scored four times in the final period, but lost 6-5 to the Russians in the semifinal at the world wholesale nhl jerseys junior at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Canada also hit a post in the final minute and Brett Connolly was foiled on a rebound attempt. Canada's Mark Stone, who led the team in scoring with seven goals, almost scored the tying goal with just under three minutes remaining, but his shot trickled wide of the far post. Russian forward Yevgeni Kuzenetsov, the lone returning Russian from last year's gold-medal winning team, continued his outstanding 2012 world under-20 championship. He scored three times and set up another to lead his club to the final against Sweden on Thursday. The loss halted a streak of 10 consecutive appearances in the gold-medal game by Canada. Russia had a 2-0 lead after the first period on goals from Kuzenetsov and Nikita Nesterov. Canada had a chance to get back in the game with a 74-second 5-on-3 advantage, but could not put one past Andrei Vasilevski. Canada outshot Russia 56-24.Jumping out swiftlyCanada jumped out swiftly in the second nfl jerseys cheap period to pull within 2-1 on a pinpoint shot from Brett Connolly, but that would be the end of the Canadian push. Russia increased its lead to 4-1 on two more goals from Kuzenetsov. On Kuzenetsov's third goal of the game, his linemate Alexander Khokhlachev lost his balance and crashed into Canadian goalie Scott Wedgewood, who surrendered four goals on 13 shots. He left the game with a neck injury and returned to the bench with an ice pack on his neck. The Canadian juniors lost their composure after Wedgewood was replaced by returnee Mark Visentin. Brendan Gallagher took an undisciplined high-sticking penalty in the Russian end and on the ensuing power play Kuzenetsov set up Khokhlachev. A few shifts later, Russian defenceman Ildar Isangulov caught Canadian nfl jersey supply forward Boone Jenner with a high hit. Isangulov was called for an elbowing penalty, but then after staying down Jenner got up and speared Kuzenetsov, who was skating by. Jenner was called for a five-minute spearing major and game misconduct for his actions. Late in the second period, Canadian forward Justin Huberdeau got caught for a slashing penalty and received an additional 10-minute misconduct for slamming his stick into the boards in protest. After Nikita Kucherov made it 6-1 in the third period, Canadian defenceman Dougie Hamilton, forward Jaden Schwartz and Gallagher gave Canada some life with goals midway through the final 20 minutes. Then defenceman Brandon Gormley added a power-play goal with 5:43 remaining. What was the biggest factor in Canada's loss?

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