US loses lead, then cool in 3-2 loss to Finland

5/11/2008 9:07 PM

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) -Mikko Koivu scored with less than four minutes remaining to complete Finland's 3-2 come-from-behind win Sunday over the United States at the world hockey championships that was marred by a postgame brawl.

Additionally, Finland's first goal was awarded even though video replays showed it went through the side of the goal's mesh and in.

``They go upstairs. They look at a replay. What the hell were they looking at?'' United States coach John Tortorella said. ``But we deserved our fate. We deserved our fate. We didn't deserve to win that hockey game.''

After the game, the IIHF agreed that Finland's first goal entered through the side of the net. The IIHF wouldn't identify the goal judge who missed the call on replay but said he was fired from the tournament.

``I've heard about these horror shows as far as international refereeing I have finally lived through one,'' Tortorella said. ``But not even that play there, the whole game. It's just ridiculous as far as how they're calling the game when you have two pretty competitive teams willing to go toe-to-toe. Let the teams and players decide.''

After Koivu scored with 3:50 left, the United States' Adam Burish was ejected for butt-ending a Finland player.

As the final horn sounded to end the game, U.S. forward Dustin Brown drilled Jussi Jokinen into the boards with a hit to the head, touching off a melee that featured a fight between David Backes of the U.S. and Amsso Salmela of Finland.

``That was a cheap shot at the end, but we took it well,'' Koivu said. ``Jussi is fine. That's a good thing for us.''

Tortorella didn't agree with the ``cheap shot'' assessment.

``The guy is still trying to put a puck into an empty net,'' Tortorella said of Jokinen, who plays for him on the Tampa Bay Lightning. ``Players are taught you never let a player try to put the puck into an empty net, no matter what has happened.

``To me, Dustin Brown, it was the right play.''

The United States took a two-goal lead to the third after scoring twice in the second. But Finland (4-0) scored three times on 25 shots in the final frame.

Phil Kessel and Tom Gilbert scored for the United States in the second period for a 2-0 lead.

Teemu Selanne scored the tying goal on a cross-ice pass from Saku Koivu after Ville Koistinen put Finland on the board during a two-man advantage.

Koivu's go-ahead goal came on a power-play and ensured that the United States (2-2) can finish no better than third in its group, though the U.S. has already qualified for the quarterfinals.

Backes will sit out the game against Norway and Salmela will sit out Finland's game against Canada, as will Olli Jokinen, who was ejected for hitting Tim Gleason of the U.S. from behind in the first period.

``I don't even know what to think anymore,'' U.S. forward Phil Kessel said. ``It was one of those games. It was hard fought. It was a battle. A lot of hitting.''

Finland trails Canada atop the group by one point.

In Quebec City, Andres Ambuhl and Sandy Jeannin scored early to help Switzerland beat Denmark 7-2, and took over second place in the group when the Czech Republic lost to Sweden 5-3 later that night.