Canada to play Russia for hockey title after beating Sweden

5/16/2008 8:33 PM

QUEBEC CITY (AP) -Rick Nash scored the go-ahead goal to put Canada in the title game of the world hockey championships with a 5-4 win over Sweden on Friday night.

On Sunday, Canada will face Russia, which advanced to the final with a 4-0 shutout of Finland. It's the first time the two hockey powers have met for the world title.

``We have an aura around us,'' Ryan Getzlaf said. ``We know we're going to get it.''

Nash's goal broke a 3-all tie in the second period, and Mike Green added a needed goal on the power play with 7 seconds left in the period.

Getzlaf, Dany Heatley and Jamal Meyers also scored for Canada, which remained unbeaten despite facing its toughest competition in the tournament.

Niclas Wallin scored just over two minutes into the second period, putting Canada behind for the first time.

That lasted just 1 minute, 12 seconds before Getzlaf tied it back up on a nice individual rush. He cradled the puck and cut right around defenseman Magnus Johansson before lifting it over Henrik Lundqvist's shoulder.

``When we get pushed we really respond,'' Canada coach Ken Hitchcock said. ``We have done that all tournament. We've gotten pushed either early in games or at certain stages in games and we've been able to find another gear.''

Anton Stralman had two goals for Sweden, while Fredrik Warg also scored. The Swedes will play rival Finland for the bronze medal on Saturday.