Gold-Medal Game Bound!
Team Canada is gearing up for a shot at gold after a thrilling comeback win against Team Finland in the semifinals. With Drew Doughty, Darcy Kuemper, and Darren Granger leading the charge, Canada is set to battle for the top spot on Sunday morning.
Doughty, usually a key player, took on a more defensive role this time. As Canada found themselves trailing 2-0 early on-an unfamiliar position in this tournament-Doughty’s ice time was reduced.
The team leaned on their puck movers to turn the tide, and they did just that, flipping the score to a 3-2 victory. Doughty logged 6:27 on the ice, staying clear of the scoring action.
Meanwhile, Darcy Kuemper watched from the sidelines as Jordan Binnington held the fort in goal.
This sets the stage for a showdown against either Team USA or Team Slovakia, with the second semifinal just hours away.
For Finland, Joel Armia put up a fight, notching his fifth point in as many games with an assist on Erik Haula’s shorthanded goal. Armia’s defensive prowess was on full display as he helped create a breakaway that put Finland ahead 2-0. However, the Canadians stormed back with three unanswered goals, leaving Armia and his team to contest the bronze.
Armia, who has been a standout for Finland, will aim to add to his tally in the bronze-medal game. With five points (2-3-5) in the tournament, he trails only Mikko Rantanen in team scoring. Finland, with a rich history of medaling in these tournaments, will look to Armia to help secure another podium finish.
As for Team Canada, they’ll have a day to regroup before the gold-medal clash. It’s an early start at 5:10 AM Pacific, but for fans, witnessing the first NHL-player gold-medal game in 12 years is worth the pre-dawn wake-up call. Doughty aims for a historic third gold medal, potentially joining Sidney Crosby in that exclusive club-though Crosby missed the semifinal due to injury.
Kings Medal Round Schedule
- Bronze Medal Game (Armia) - Saturday, 2/21 at 11:40 AM Pacific
- Gold Medal Game (Doughty, Kuemper, Granger) - Sunday, 2/22 at 5:10 AM Pacific
Catch the bronze-medal game on USA Network and the gold-medal showdown live on NBC.
Looking ahead, the LA Kings will have their eyes on the return to NHL action on February 25. With Doughty and Kuemper fresh off their Olympic stint, the Kings face a quick turnaround. Their opponents, potentially featuring Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore, will also be racing the clock to recover from the long flight back from Italy.
The Kings are hitting the ice soon at the Toyota Sports Performance Center, with a familiar lineup expected. Forward Adrian Kempe is taking a well-deserved break, with plans to rejoin practice soon as the team gears up for the final stretch of the season.