World Hockey Final 4 Set; Canada To Face Sweden, Russia To Meet Finland

Quebec City, Quebec (AHN) - Favorites Canada and Russia cruised with ease while Sweden and Finland went through nervous fits before squeezing out thrilling wins as the 2008 World Hockey Championships completed its Final 4 cast on Wednesday night.

The Canadians extended their unbeaten run with an 8-2 rout of the Norwegians at the Metro Centre in Halifax, earning them a semifinal meeting against the Swedish, who nipped the Czechs 3-2 in overtime.

The Russians, who emerged unblemished after nine games, blanked the hapless Swiss 6-0 and will face Finland, which advanced following a 3-2 overtime victory against the United States.

Both semifinal contests are scheduled Friday at the Colisee Pepsi here.

Sweden, in its eighth straight semifinals, will try to avenge its 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Canadians in Moscow last year. The Russians are also in revenge mode against the Finnish, who beat the host team in the semis last year.

The losers in the semifinals will face each other for the bronze medal on Saturday while the gold medal game will be played Sunday in Halifax.