74 - Alexei Emelin Celebrates Game Winning Goal Vs. Norway

Canadiens defenseman Alexei Emelin bounced back from his one game suspension to scored what turned out to be the winning goal in Russia’s  5-2 win over Norway at the World Championships in Stockholm.

Emelin made it 3-2 Russia 55 seconds into the third, taking a Pavel Datsyuk pass near the blueline, using Lars Erik Spets as a decoy, and floating a high shot over the Norwegian goaltender’s glove.  It was Emelin’s second goal of the tournament.  In seven games he has 2 goals, 2 assists and is plus-9.  In his previous 27 games at the World Championships he registered only 2 goals and 3 assissts.   Emelin plays on a Russian five man unit that includes Datsyuk and Alexander Ovechkin.

Russia will play Finland in the semi-final on Saturday.  The defending champion Finns scored with nine seconds remaining to beat the United States 3-2.  Team USA’s leading scorer Max Pacioretty failed to register a point.

The Czech Republic will play Slovakia in the other semi-final.  The Czechs, led by Milan Michalek’s goal with 29 seconds remaining upset Sweden 3-2.  Michalek also had two assists.  Tomas Plekanec, although centering Michalek in the game,  was held off the scoresheet.   Slovakia upset Canada 4-3.