The conditions were simple ahead of Monday morning's game at TD Garden in Boston.
A draw at full time was the only possibility for Sweden to retain the chance of reaching the final ahead of tonight's meeting with the USA.
It looked hopeless from the start when Canada scored three goals in the first period and led 4-0 five minutes into the third period.
But in the end, Finland woke up and shook Canada.
Finland reduced the deficit three times and with 1.17 left to play, the score was 4-3.
"Not to help Sweden"
Esa Lindell scored the first reduction and Mikael Granlund scored two goals within 23 seconds.
A Finnish goal would have suddenly given Sweden a free ticket to the final discussion.
It was our goal too to aim for overtime when we were down 0-4. But it was not to help Sweden, it was to win the match ourselves, says Florida forward Anton Lundell.
Well, the Finnish (and Swedish) hope of a tie lived for only 21 seconds.
Then Sidney Crosby put the nail in the coffin with his 5-3 goal – and Canada took the second final spot for a hotly anticipated meeting against rival USA on Friday Swedish time.
We didn't play well enough to win. Canada is a really good team and showed why when they took advantage of our mistakes, says Finnish team captain Aleksander Barkov disappointedly.
For it was the start that broke Finland in the end.
After 4.59, Canada led 2-0 and five minutes into the second period, the score was 4-0.
Colorado's forward profile Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals and superstar Connor McDavid initiated the goal scoring.
If the match had ended in a draw after regular time, Sweden could have gone past both Finland and Canada with a three-pointer against the USA.
Dream final for NHL
Thus, Canada has secured a final spot against the USA on Friday Swedish time – the dream final for NHL.
Especially after the intense and heated group stage match in Montreal.
For Sweden's part, it means yet another failed attempt to win any of the NHL-star-filled tournaments in North America.
In five Canada Cups, three World Championships, and one Four Nations, Sweden has never managed to win.
A final spot in the 1984 Canada Cup is the best result. That time, Canada won the final series in best of three with 2-0.
