Early 6-0 Lead in US Vs. Finland Hockey Game Has USA Headed Towards Gold Medal Match

The USA vs. Finland hockey game was intensely anticipated as the build up to the potential US vs. Canada gold medal game on Sunday grows. Some were worried that the United States would be overlooking a talented Finland team which contains all current or former NHL players. That turned out not to be a problem, as the United States stormed to a massive 6-0 lead before the first period was over.

It only took 13 shots for the United States to score the six goals against Finland in the first period. The first four of those goals came against one of the most respected goaltenders in the NHL, Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames.

After Kiprusoff mishandled a puck that led to the first goal, it seemed as if he was never able to get himself back into the game mentally. The next goals came early and often, and by the time you looked up it was a 4-0 US lead over Finland and Kiprusoff skated himself to the bench, effectively removing himself from the game if the coach wasn't going to pull the plug.

Here's a rundown of the six USA goals in the first period:

Ryan Malone scored 2:04 into the first, unassisted on the mishandled puck by Kipprasoff

Zach Parise scored on the power play at 6:22 assisted by Paul Stastny and Brian Rafalski

Erik Johnson also scored on the power play at 8:36 assisted by Joe Pavelski and Ryan Malone

Patrick Kane scored at 10:08 unassisted

Kane scored again at 12:31 assisted by Rafalski

Stastny scored just 15 seconds later at 12:46 assisted y Jamie Langenbrunner and Parise

So not only was there a 6-0 lead by the end of the first period in the USA vs. Finland semifinals game, but it was a 6-0 lead in just the first 13 minutes of action! Kiprusoff gave up four goals in 10 minutes while facing only seven shots. Backup goalie Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild gave up two goals, both in the next three minutes, while facing only five shots. Finland only had three shots on goal in the first period.

Now in order for a gold medal match of the USA vs. Canada to take place on Sunday, Canada must beat upset-minded Slovakia later this evening. Slovakia is not without talent either, with NHL players such as the high scoring duo of Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa and standout defenseman Zdeno Chara. Either way, the hockey gold medal game time will be Sunday at 3:15 pm Eastern.

It was a huge first period in the USA vs. Finland hockey game and it effectively eliminated all drama from the match-up, although the crazy events, goal after goal, were thrilling to watch. With Kiprusoff mentally destroyed the team around him gave up as well, and after just 13 minutes of hockey the hole was far too deep to expect even a chance of a comeback.

It's another big step for US hockey as they charge toward Sunday's gold medal game, potentially for a rematch against the host and he tournament favorites, Canada. It would also be fitting to have a USA vs. Canada hockey gold medal game since the women's teams met in the final last night. In that game, the favored US squad was upset by the Canadians. Maybe next time it will be the opposite.

With the USA vs. Finland hockey game all but over after basically 10 minutes, thoughts quickly shifted focus to the bigger picture and a potential USA vs. Canada hockey gold medal game.