🔗 Share this article

Finland's Arttu Välilä scored the decisive goal at 2:11 of overtime as the Finnish squad pulled off a stunning 4-3 win over the two-time defending champion United States on Friday night in the world junior hockey last eight.

"We must give credit to the US," stated Finnish captain Aron Kiviharju. "They are a fantastic squad, loaded with great individuals and a well coached team. But I mentioned we were seeking that payback from the previous final, and I think we truly deserved it tonight."

In the semifinal matches on Sunday, the Finns will face Sweden, while the Canadians will meet Czechia. The Swedes beat the Latvian side six to three, Canada had a first-period five-goal outburst in a 7-1 romp over Slovakia, and Czechia overcame the Swiss by a six to two score.

Thrilling Third Period and Extra Session

The Michigan State Spartan L. Ryker tied it for the U.S. team with 1:33 left in the third period and the Notre Dame netminder N. Kempf pulled for an additional skater.

Lee Tuuva and J. Saarelainen scored in a fifty-five-second span in the third to hand Finland a two to one lead. He leveled the score at 2 with seven minutes and seventeen seconds to go, then assisted on his teammate's game-leading goal with 6:22 on the clock. J. Saarelainen also earned a helper on Tuuva’s goal.

Notable Contributions and Post-Game Comments

The Boston University blueliner Cole Hutson recorded a goal and an assist for the United States after being struck in the back of the head against Switzerland and sitting out the next two contests.

"I thought we executed well for a lot of the game," Hutson said. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality chances came from our mistakes."

His BU teammate C. Eiserman handed the United States a two to one edge on a man advantage with nine minutes and forty-five seconds remaining in the second period. He accepted a pass from his teammate and fooled Petteri Rimpinen with a quick shot from the right circle.

Hutson tallied on a rush thirty-five seconds into the second. H. Ruohonen tied it at four minutes and forty-six seconds on a snap shot from the left wing.

Goaltending Summary

• Rimpinen stopped twenty-eight attempts.
• The American netminder recorded twenty-one stops.

The U.S. squad fell in their final two games – losing six to three to Sweden on Wednesday in the group finale – after winning their first three.

"It has been an honor to lead this team," stated the American bench boss. "They played a terrific game today and came up just short. Give Finland. It's an empty emotion at the moment, but our guys gave it all they had."

Other Quarter-Final Action

In the late game in Minneapolis, the Canadians routed Slovakia with the aforementioned first-period explosion.

Cole Reschny, T. Iginla, Michael Misa, S. O'Reilly and Brady Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and C. Beaudoin connected in the following period. J. Ivankovic made twenty-one shots.

"Just goes to show how dominant we can be," B. Martin said. "Taking a five-nothing lead, it kind of saps their morale."

In the opening playoff game, A. Frondell netted a pair for Team Sweden against Latvia. The defender L. Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two helpers to help the Swedes stay perfect in five games.

In Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, Jiri Klima and Jakub Fibigr scored for the Czechs.

Consolation Match Outcome

Germany won the relegation game, defeating the Danes eight to four. Manuel Schams had two goals to ensure Germany keep its spot next year in the top division. Denmark was relegated to the second tier.