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Controversial goalie-interference call costs Finland gold medal, USA wins in shootout

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After a roller-coaster ride of a game, Team USA beat Team Finland in a shootout to take home IIHF gold for the fifth consecutive tournament.

Finland was an underdog to reach, must less win, the final match. It was the first time they had made it to the final round in their 18-year history and the first time the gold medal match wasn’t between USA and Canada.

Noora Raty was superhuman in goal for Finland. Shots were 52-27 in favor of USA, but the game ended with a 1-1 tie. Annie Pankowski started off the scoring for Team USA.

Susanna Tapani tied things up for Finland soon after.

Halfway through overtime, Finland scored what everyone thought was the game-winning goal from Petra Nieminen.

It appeared as though Finland had won their first ever gold medal.

But then, the IIHF reviewed the goal for goaltender interference because Jenni Hiirikoski tried to fight to get the puck back, but ran into USA goalie Alex Rigsby in the process.

After a lengthy — and controversial — review, Finland’s overtime goal was called off for goaltender interference. Team USA were the ones who found themselves shorthanded due to a tripping penalty on Rigsby, which was in the process of being called as Nieminen scored.

The IIHF official rule book stipulates that, “An attacking skater who makes incidental contact with a goaltender out of his goal crease while both try to gain possession of the puck will not be penalized. If a goal is scored at this time, the goal will count.”

No additional explanation on the no-goal ruling has been released by the IIHF at this time.

Team Finland collected their discarded helmets and gloves and returned to finish out the 20-minute sudden death overtime.

The game remained scoreless and went on to a 5-5 shootout.

Alex Rigsby stood strong in goal during the shootout for USA, only letting in one by Minnamari Tuominen.

Amanda Kessel beat Raty with a beautiful deke while Annie Pankowski netted her second of the game to take the match 2-1.

It’s Team USA’s fifth consecutive gold medal at Worlds.

It appears Finland has filed a complaint over the goaltender interference call that cost the Finns their first gold medal.

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