Two games to decide who goes to the world championships, Canada or USA.

Videos available on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=canada+vs+usa+floorball&search_type=&aq=f

After a few practices and team meetings Canada started the first game with the following lines:
Goal: Martin Belanger (replaced by M.Hayward in the 2nd period).
1st line: R.Parikka, P.Parikka, P.Schuler, L.Hannelius and S.Valkama
2nd line: P.Paré, J-S.Plante, P.Ducharme, S.Leblanc and F.Dominianni
3rd line: D.Morency, E-Ulli-Vanasse, S.Laporte, P.Root and S.Weber
the 4th line completed the Canadian roster but did not play in the first game: R.Sa'd, J.Innoye, A.Radjenovic

The Canadian team started the game in high tempo and very aggressive. USA relied on counter attacks while Canada was having most of the ball in this first period. USA was leading 4-3 after the first period.
In the second period Canada started to make use of their more balanced line up and dominated more of the play which resulted in Canada winning the period 4-2 and leading the game 7-6.
Canada scored four unanswered goals in the 3rd period to win the game 11-6 and placing themselves in a very good position for the 2nd game on Saturday.
1 - 0 sh. 04.44 Michael Binder Stefan Zimmermann USA M
2 - 0 sh. 07.04 Karl Förare Michael Binder USA M
2 - 1 pp. 07.34 Patrick Ducharme Patrice Pare Canada M
2 - 2 pp. 07.57 Risto Parikka Lauri Hannelius Canada M
3 - 2 10.15 Stefan Zimmermann Fabian Länzlinger USA M
3 - 3 sh. 14.59 Dominic Morency no assistant Canada M
4 - 3 18.06 Stefan Zimmermann Karl Förare USA M
5 - 3 20.25 Michael Binder no assistant USA M
5 - 4 20.52 Jean Sebastien Plante Fernando Dominianni Canada M
5 - 5 27.21 Paavo Parikka Lauri Hannelius Canada M
6 - 5 32.15 Ryan Winkler Michael Binder USA M
6 - 6 33.01 Risto Parikka Lauri Hannelius Canada M
6 - 7 pp. 37.13 Paavo Parikka Philip Schuler Canada M
6 - 8 44.56 Simon Leblanc Patrice Pare Canada M
6 - 9 pp. 46.25 Dominic Morency Paavo Parikka Canada M
6 - 10 sh. 49.16 Philip Schuler no assistant Canada M
6 - 11 pp. 54.10 Philip Schuler Simon Leblanc Canada M

For the second game Canada made one change as it was now Haywards turn to start in goal after doing a good job in replacing Belanger in the first game.
Canada started this game a bit more relaxed and with a less attacking style while the Americans did not fore check as hard as one would have thought. The score was 2-0 for Canada after the first period.
USA came on harder to start the 2nd and the game was tied at 2-2 halfway into the game. Two quick goals put Canada back to a two goal lead until USA got another goal to have 3-4 going to the 3rd period.
In the 3rd there was never any danger of the Americans running away with the score and Canada could win the last period 2-1 and the final score would end at 6-4.
Risto Parikka was chosen the MVP of the two game series.
1 - 0 07.12 Risto Parikka Lauri Hannelius Canada M
2 - 0 19.28 Patrice Pare Lauri Hannelius Canada M
2 - 1 pp. 26.20 Michael Binder Karl Förare USA M
2 - 2 28.05 Karl Förare Fabian Länzlinger USA M
3 - 2 pp. 30.14 Patrick Ducharme Simon Leblanc Canada M
4 - 2 31.16 Lauri Hannelius Philip Schuler Canada M
4 - 3 34.36 Karl Förare Michael Binder USA M
5 - 3 49.30 Risto Parikka Philip Schuler Canada M
5 - 4 50.50 Karl Förare Fabian Länzlinger USA M
6 - 4 52.02 Jean Sebastien Plante Fernando Dominianni Canada M

Canada is now qualified for the 2010 world championships in Helsinki, where they will be facing Russia, Finland and Denmark in the group stage. More info on the world championships can be found here: http://magicalgames.fi/en