19 May, 2017
Finland, who will face Sweden, beat the United States 2-0 with a power-play goal from Mikko Rantanen and another from Joonas Kemppainen with 13 minutes left in the third period.
US forward Jack Eichel, center, Finland's defender Ville Lajunen, right, Finland's forward Juhamatti Aaltonen, left, and Finland's forward Antti Pihlstrom challenge for the puck at the Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match between the United States and Finland in the LANXESS arena in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, May 18, 2017.
"It goes without saying we're bitterly disappointed", said Blashill, whose team looked to be improving with each game following its surprise 2-1 defeat to co-host Germany in the opener.
Team USA was seeking to secure a place in the semifinals for the third consecutive World Championship, though this was a young team that coach Jeff Blashill brought to the 2017 tournament. "Unfortunately, Finland was better than we were today and I congratulate them".
In the other quarterfinals in Paris, Sweden got by Switzerland 3-1 and Russian Federation defeated the Czech Republic 3-0. US goalie Jimmy Howard made 18 saves, but it was Finland's Harri Sateri's 26-save shutout that won the day. The best chance for either side came on a breakaway attempt by Finland's Juhamatti Aaltonen with just under five minutes remaining in the period, but Howard made a sprawling pad save to keep the game scoreless.
NOTES: Jimmy Howard was named U.S. Player of the Game ... "Finland's tough defensively, they play a very disciplined game and don't give up much".
