Sault Ste. Marie's Craig Hartsburg will lead Team Canada into the gold-medal game Friday of the World Junior IIHF Championships, after a cliffhanger of a game this afternoon in in Leksand, Sweden.
In a shootout that left Canada with a 2-1 victory, the Hartsburg-coached Canadians scored five times, the Americans four times.
Canada will face the winner of today's Russia - Sweden semifinal.
The gold medal game will be fought at 1 p.m. Ontario time on Friday.
Losers will play for bronze at 10 a.m. Friday.
Game summary
U.S. power-play goal by T. Chorney (assisted by E.Johnson), at 5:04 in second period.
Canada power-play goal by Luc Bourdon at 12:19 in third period.
No scoring during 10 minutes of overtime period.
Scoring for Canada in the shootout: Little, Toews (x3), Cogliano score for Canada.
Scoring for U.S. in the shootout: Mueller (x2) J. Johnson (x2)