WORLD JUNIORS: Canada and the United States are Going for Gold

The showdown is set.
It will be Canada versus the United States in the gold medal game at the 2021 World Junior Championship.
Both teams securing their tickets after semi-final wins on Monday.
Canada was the first team to punch their ticket, after a remarkable 5-0 win over Russia, jumping out to a 3-0 lead after the opening 15:05 minutes.

Dawson Mercer assisted on Canada's fourth goal, a secondary assist that was as good as it gets. He lifted up the stick of fellow Devils prospect Shakir Mukhamadullin in the defensive zone, sending the play down the ice towards Russian goaltender Yaroslav Askarov. Mercer hustled down after the play and found himself behind the net, for a pass to Ryan Suzuki and Braden Schneider finishing the play with the goal.
The assist brings Mercer's point total to six in six games (two goals, four assists) and a plus-seven rating.
Canada's win means that Devils prospects Mukhamadullin and Arseni Gritsyuk will play in the bronze medal game against Finland, who were defeated later in the night by the United States.
Patrick Moynihan played 7:58 for the American's in a nail biter against the Finns. The final nine minutes of the game were wild ones, with three goals scored right down to the wire. At the 51:38 mark, Finland inched closer to tying the United States, while less than five minutes later striking again to tie the game at three with less than four minutes to play. And then it was all over. With just 1:16 left in the game, the USA took the final lead they'd need on a goal from Arthur Kaliyev.
Off to the gold medal game goes the USA, ready for a classic showdown with Canada tonight at 8:30 pm ET.

THE NUMBERS:

MERCER (CANADA):
6 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 P
PYTLIK (CZECH):
1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P
MOYNIHAN (USA):
4 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 P
HOLTZ (SWEDEN):
5 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 P
MUKHAMADULLIN (RUSSIA):
6 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 P
GRITSYUK (RUSSIA):
6 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 P