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Fleury Steps up in Team Canada's Defeat of Finland
Written by: Chris McCluskey on 01/01/2003 
LeNeveu, starting in place of the 2003 top NHL draft prospect, spoke to us earlier this week about remaining focused and staying ready in case he was forced into action. However, whatever preparation the young Phoenix Coyotes netminder was talking about did not show as he almost single handedly blew a 4-1 lead in the second period and letting in three goals on eleven shots, leaving Team Canada coach Marc Habscheid with no other option but to put Fleury back in as the Finns were gaining momentum which could have led to the Canadians' demise.
"It's a disappointing situation for myself, but we got the win and that's what's important", said LeNeveu after the game, "Fleury had a great game tonight."
Great may have been an understatement. Noticably feeling the effects of his flu, Fleury skated around the perimeter of the Canadian defensive zone during stoppages just to fight the nausea. But despite his handicap, the eighteen year old put on a spellbinding performance, receiving two standing ovations from the 10 594 strong after making multiple mind boggling saves. This including the save of the tournament thus far, sliding across to stone Joni Pitkanen with an acrobatic pad save while defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo cleared the rebound.
The amiable Fleury arrived at the post game media session all smiles expressing his appreciation for the Halifax fans. "I was a bit ticklish in the legs," he said in his sometimes broken English, "It was amazing to hear all those people cheering for me." "It says a lot for a goalie to come in cold like he did", added team captain Scottie Upshall, standing to his right. At this time the 18 year old goaltender's adversary, the ultra-competitive Kari Lehtonen, walked by giving Fleury a pat on the back. This speaks volumes for Fleury's play with Lehtonen respecting his performance and showing a lot of character. Although he came out second best in this goaltending battle, Lehtonen was spectacular as well, not giving up one soft goal. At one point in the first period he threw his arms up in disgust at his defence for leaving him alone to face the Canadian onslaught.
Tonight also saw two Canadian scoring aces break out of their scoring slumps just in time for the semi-finals beginning with Pierre-Marc Bouchard's howitzer from just inside the circle beating Lehtonen over his shoulder on the glove side. The Medicine Hat Tigers' Joffrey Lupul also scored his first two of the juniors including one of three Canadian power play goals of the night. His second showed a lot of patience and perseverance taking a Colaiacovo pass and putting his own rebound past the Finnish netminder.
Swiss referee Danny Kurmann later ejected Lupul in an absurd call when Tuomas Immonen took a blatant dive after colliding with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks prospect on their way to their respective benches; earning Immonen the ire of the crowd for the remainder of the game. Earlier on in the match, Finn Tomi Maki was also ejected after hitting Derek Roy from behind. After falling, Roy took a Gregory Campbell dump-in to the mouth leaving him with a bloody lip which Kurmann assumed to be of Maki's doing.
Brooks Laich and Gregory Campbell added singles for the Canadians while Maki, Teemu Jaaskelainen, and Matti Aho beat LeNeveu for Team Finland. With the win, the undefeated Team Canada solidified a by to the semi finals and will face the winner of this very same Team Finland taking on Slovakia.
Notes: Tickets for this game were going on the street for as much as $650 per pair, and selling! Washington Capitals defenceman Steve Eminger who is with the Canadians is playing himself into limited duty. Several of the Finns were spotted taking part in the RBC Fanfest activities this afternoon in place of resting for the game.
Faces in the crowd tonight included Guy Lapointe, Bobby Clarke, Paul Fenton, Tomas Steen, Mike Barnett, Keith Gretzky, Shane Churla, Pelle Eklund, Jim Benning, Slava Fetisov, and Dave Branch.
PERIOD 1
Scoring:
5:42 CAN Bouchard 1 (Eminger, Bell) PP
6:26 FIN Maki 2 (Naatatnen)
Penalties:
3:54 FIN Ruutu 2 (Hooking)
9:01 CAN Roy 2 (Holding)
14:31 CAN Upshall 2 (Charging)
19:35 FIN Immonen 2 (High Sticking)
PERIOD 2
Scoring:
1:06 CAN Laich 2 (Colaiacovo, Bouchard) PP
3:20 CAN Lupul 1 (Roy, Campbell)
8:31 CAN Lupul 2 (Colaiacovo, Wellwood) PP
10:06 FIN Aho 2 (Ruutu, Immonen) SH
11:20 FIN Jaaskelainen 1 (Pitkanen, Niinimaki)
Penalties:
5:53 FIN Maki 5 (Boarding)
5:53 FIN Maki 20 (Game Misconduct)
16:21 CAN Parenteau 2 (Cross Checking)
PERIOD 3
Scoring:
5:12 CAN Campbell 1 (unassisted) SH
Penalties:
3:19 CAN Lupul 5 (Cross Checking)
3:19 CAN Lupul 20 (Game Misconduct)
10:42 FIN Ruutu 2 (Roughing)
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PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Canada: Marc-Andri Fleury, 13 saves & shutout
Finland: Joni Pitkanen, 1 assist
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GOALTENDERS
Canada: David LeNeveu (2-0) pulled at 31:20,
Marc-Andri Fleury
Finland: Kari Lehtonen (2-1-1)
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LINE COMBINATIONS
Canada:
Laich-Bouchard-Parenteau
Paille-McClement-Tootoo
Upshall-Wellwood-Gordon
Campbell-Roy-Lupul
Eminger-Bell
Woywitka-Colaiacovo
Rouleau-Paetsch
Stajan-White
Finland:
Ruutu-Maki-Naatatnen
Aho-Jokinen-Bergenheim
Sykko-Niinimaki-Lehtisalo
Mikkonen-Fagerstedt-Juntunen
Pitkanen-Jaakola
Immonen-Timonen
Jalasvaara-Jaaskelainen
Kalteva-Filppula
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SHOTS ON GOAL 1 2 3 F Canada 11 17 7 35 Finland 8 5 11 24-------------------------------------------------------
OFFICIALS
Referee: Danny Kurmann (Switzerland)
Linesmen: Peter Feola (USA), Daniel Stricker
(Switzerland)
Copyright 2003 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.
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