World Junior Hockey Championship 2017 Results: Semifinal Scores and Reaction

The finals of the 2017 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship from Montreal are set after Wednesday's semifinal action. Things led off with the United States defeating Russia in a thrilling shootout and its reward will be a gold-medal matchup with continental foes Canada after it defeated Sweden.

Here are the updated results from the semifinals:

Team	Team	Result
United States	Russia	USA 4-3 (SO)
Canada	Sweden	7:30 p.m. ET

United States 4, Russia 3 (Shootout)

The United States was coming off its most difficult game of the tournament with a 3-2 quarterfinal win over Switzerland. That was until Wednesday against the Russians. 

But thanks to the heroics of Troy Terry, who converted all three of his shootout attempts, the United States managed to outlast its opponents and make the World Junior finals for the first time since 2013.

Russia provided the breakthrough 11:54 into the first period when Kirill Kaprizov streaked around the United States net and stuffed the puck between Tyler Parsons' legs before the goalie could realize, via TSN: 

Michael Traikos of the Postmedia News made a lofty comparison to the Russian scorer who is a Minnesota Wild prospect:

It was Kaprizov's tournament-leading eight goals that helped make that comparison. That would be the first time at the World Juniors the United States trailed. 

With 55 seconds left in the first, though, the United States answered through Ottawa Senators prospect Colin White. 

From beneath the right face-off circle with his back almost at the boards, Clayton Keller whipped a wrister that somehow found space between Russian goalie Ilya Samsonov and the post, trickling through to tie the game. 

Originally, he was credited with the goal, but upon further review, the puck bounced off White before beating Samsonov.

It capped off a blistering period that saw few stoppages, via Gord Miller of TSN:

The Russians came out flying in the second period and took the lead just 1:17 into the frame. A shot at from just above the left circle by Pavel Karnaukhov was saved by the pads of Parsons, but a juicy rebound fell right to the stick of Denis Guryanov, who finished the chance with ease. 

A pair of penalties swung momentum back toward the United States, who made Russia pay on one of those power plays with 9:37 left in the second thanks to a pair of Wild draft picks.

Driving hard to the net, Luke Kunin redirected Jordan Greenway's pass by Samsonov, via TSN:

Less than six minutes later, White got his second when a wrist shot deflected off a Russian defender and once again just found a way through Samsonov to give the United States a lead heading into the final period. 

His performance gained the respect of TSN's Travis Yost:

The United States had a chance to extend its lead five minutes into the third when it was awarded a penalty shot. But Keller was robbed by Samsonov with a quick glove save after the American forward deked to his backhand from point-blank range.

Less than a minute later, Guryanov made the United States rue its missed opportunity when Guryanov sped his way to a breakaway and slid the puck under Parsons to tie the game and eventually force an overtime in which no one could find a winner. 

After Russia took a 1-0 lead in the five-round shootout through three rounds via Guryanov, Terry scored to take some pressure off the Americans. 

Mikhail Vorobyov and Jeremy Bracco traded goals before Parsons turned away Kaprizov in the fifth round to force extra shooters. 

Guryanov and Terry scored to force a seventh round, and after Alexander Polunin was denied by Parsons, the United States went back to Terry.

One more time, he beat Samsonov five-hole to punch the United States' ticket to the finals.

Canada 5, Sweden 2

The biggest rivalry in international hockey is now set up for the championship game after Canada disposed of the tournament-favorites Sweden.

It had to overcome a pair of one-goal deficits in the process, but the high-powered Canadians provided enough support for replacement goalie Carter Hart, who was called into action after Connor Ingram allowed two goals on the first three shots he faced.

In total, three goals were scored in the game's first 8:05 which resulted in a Sweden 2-1 lead and Ingram being relegated to the bench.

Sweden opened the scoring while shorthanded when captain Joel Eriksson Ek coasted into the Canadian zone and snapped a wrister past Ingram, via TSN:

Just 1:38 later, Mitchell Stephens tied the game up thanks to the hard work of Anthony Cirelli. 

Coming from behind the net, Cirelli powered the puck across the face of goal and it rolled to Stephens, who was waiting on the left post to hammer it home, via TSN:

Canada's good vibes only lasted 22 seconds though when Carl Grundstrom streaked toward Ingram's goal while being draped by a defenseman. He went to put on a deke, but his stick missed the puck. 

It didn't matter as it fooled Ingram and the puck slid through the goalie's legs, putting Sweden up and ending the Canadian goalie's night early. 

The hosts managed to find an equalizer once again with just 1:11 left in the first when Cirelli was able to snap a shot blocker side past Felix Sandstrom into the top-left corner. 

Canada dominated the second period, bossing possession and pinning Sweden back in its own zone. 

While Sandstrom was able to stay strong for the first 12 minutes, Julien Gauthier stuffed in a loose puck to give Canada its first lead of the night off of a Sweden turnover. 

Gauthier's efforts showed a lot of heart to Douglas Gelevan of CBC Montreal:

Canada could have went up two just moments later, but Sandstrom robbed Tyson Jost on the doorstep twice, via TSN:

It astonished TSN's Mark Masters:

Dylan Strome found a way past Sandstrom with 12:22 left in the game, but he should thank Matt Barzal for his screen that obstructed the Swedish goalie's view of the wrist shot coming his way. 

With Sweden desperate to spark something in the final minutes, it pulled Sandstrom for an extra attacker. But Gauthier picked up his second of the night with an empty-netter to make it an insurmountable three-goal lead with 1:58 left. 

There's no rest for the weary though, as the gold medal will be up for grabs on Thursday in Montreal against the United States at 7:30 p.m. ET.