QUEBEC CITY -- Canada and Russia will meet in the final of the 2008 ice hockey World Championships after both won their semifinals Friday.
Rick Nash broke a 3-3 tie midway through the second period and Mike Green added another goal with seven seconds remaining, leading Canada to a 5-4 victory over Sweden.
Russia's win was less dramatic, cruising to a 4-0 win over Finland.
Sunday's final will be the first time the two ice hockey powers have met for the gold medal at the worlds.
Canada's victory was its 17th straight at the World Championship and moved it one victory away from consecutive titles. A win Sunday would make it four titles in six years for Canada, which has only missed one of the past five finals.
Sweden goalie Henrik Lundqvist turned away eight shots in the first five minutes before Dany Heatley opened the scoring for Canada at 5:35, his tournament-leading 12th goal.
Anton Stralman responded with 45 seconds remaining in the period to equalize for Sweden and Niclas Wallin put the Scandinavians ahead 2:46 into the second.
But Ryan Getzlaf responded for Canada just a minute later and Jamal Mayers put Canada back in front at 8:31. Stralman tied it 3-3 at 11:26, but once more the Canadians responded quickly.
Nash's goal put Canada ahead for good at 12:29 of the period and Green secured the victory.
Sergei Fedorov, Danis Zaripov, Alexei Morozov and Maxim Sushinsky were the scorers for Russia, which avenged a 2-1 semifinal loss to the Finns at last year's World Championship in Moscow. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for the shutout.
It is the Russians' first trip to the final since 2002, when they were beaten 4-3 by Slovakia in Linkoping, Sweden. Russia has not won the tournament since 1993, and finished third last year.
Sweden and Finland will meet in the bronze medal playoff Saturday.
