Blackhawks prospect Antti Saarela and Finland will play Canada in the semifinals Saturday at the World Junior Championship.
Saarela has no points, seven shots on goal and is 48 percent on faceoffs (25-for-52) in five tournament games. He opened the tournament as the third-line center then was moved up to the top line after Kings prospect Rasmus Kupari’s injury for three games and was back on the third line for Finland’s 1-0 quarterfinal win against the United States.
Finland defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in last year’s quarterfinals in Vancouver.
Sweden will face off against Russia is the first semifinal game.