World Junior Championship roundup: Finland defeats U.S. in OT
Canada rebound against Germany; Sweden scores 7 in win against Switzerland
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Finland 4, United States 3 (OT) -- Tuomas Uronen (Vegas Golden Knights) scored at 1:46 of overtime for Finland in Group A at Canadian Tire Centre.
"I felt it was the most complete game we've played," Finland center Konsta Helenius said. "We played together. We've played many games against USA before, so maybe that helped us, that we knew what kind of players they have. I think that was our best game."
Uronen broke in on a 2-on-1 and scored on a wrist shot from the right face-off circle that deflected off the glove of goalie Trey Augustine and into the net.
"I just didn't get enough of it and, honestly, it's one I'd like to have back," Augustine said.
Petteri Rimpinen, a W-rated goalie on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list and potential late-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, made 30 saves, including two in overtime, for Finland (1-1-0-1). The U.S. had won the past three games against Finland at World Juniors, with Finland last winning 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the 2020 WJC.
"I thought both goalies played great," U.S. coach David Carle said. "[Rimpinen] made a lot of great saves. The margins get tighter the longer into this tournament you go. So it's what we do with this game and how do we respond from it ... that'll be our challenge."
Augustine made 40 saves for the United States (2-0-1-0). The loss was the first for Carle in 10 games as U.S. coach at the tournament. The U.S. had won seven straight to win the 2024 WJC in Sweden.
"Both teams had a lot of chances, but I think for us it's getting a little bit more consistent in how we want to play," Carle said. "A lot more consistence throughout our lineup and how we want to play. I felt like we were chasing the game little bit. I'm proud of the effort to come back, get it tied, proud of the penalty kill in the third with guys putting their body on the line for each other. But in the 3-on-3 (in overtime), anything could happen."
Arttu Alasiurua (2025 draft eligible) gave Finland a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal at 9:50 of the first period.
Augustine stopped Alasiurua on a short-handed breakaway with a left pad save at 13:00.
Carey Terrance (Anaheim Ducks) tied it 1-1 when he skated over the blue line and cut his left into the high slot before scoring on a snap shot at 14:20.
Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a snap shot from the left circle that went bar-down at 1:45 of the second period.
Jesse Kiiskinen (Detroit Red Wings) tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal on a deflection from the slot after a shot from the point by Emil Pieniniemi (Pittsburgh Penguins) at 4:09.
"We had meetings with the players and then also coaches (after our first two games) and we talked about how we're not at the 100 percent level," Finland captain Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota Wild) said. "We got to be consistent, playing offense, playing defense, and I think we did that pretty well tonight."
Julius Miettinen (Seattle Kraken) gave Finland a 3-2 lead on a wrist shot from the right hash mark at 9:19.
Rimpinen stopped a short-handed breakaway attempt by Oliver Moore at 14:25, and, minutes later, received some help when Gabe Perreault swept into the crease 1-on-1 and hit the right post.
"Everyone's going to be really frustrated within themselves and with the outcome today," U.S. captain Ryan Leonard said. "Ultimately, we're playing for that first place spot against Canada. It's not out of the picture yet but we all got to be ready to go."
Brodie Ziemer (Buffalo Sabres) tied it 3-3 when he tipped in a cross-ice pass from Teddy Stiga at the left post at 3:26 of the third period.
"I think a goal like that kind of turns the momentum, and we had some chances," Ziemer said. "Ultimately, I don't think we had our best game."
The U.S. will next play Canada on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET). Finland faces Latvia on Tuesday (2:30 p.m. ET).
Canada 3, Germany 0 -- Carter George (Los Angeles Kings) made 25 saves and had an assist as Canada (2-0-1-0) rebounded for a victory in a Group A game at Canadian Tire Centre.
It was George's second shutout in as many games; he made 31 saves in a 4-0 win against Finland on Thursday.
"It's pretty cool to be able to do it again," George said. "I just want to go out there and do my part to get this team a win."
He's the seventh Canada goalie with multiple shutouts at the World Juniors, and the first since Devon Levi had three at the 2021 WJC.
"It's the best feeling in the world knowing that you've got probably the best goalie in this tournament, hands down," defenseman Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) said. "It's a really good feeling when you do mess up, he's got your back."
Bonk, Caden Price (Seattle Kraken) and Mathieu Cataford (Vegas Golden Knights) scored for Canada, which lost 3-2 in a shootout against Latvia on Friday.
"I think it was a good response by our group," Canada captain Brayden Yager (Winnipeg Jets) said. "Obviously tough one against Latvia, but I thought we did a real good job of kind of just having a short memory and getting ready for Germany and playing a solid game."
Nico Pertuch (2025 draft eligible) made 33 saves for Germany (0-0-0-3).
"I'm really proud for this team," Germany captain Edwin Tropmann (2025 draft eligible) said. "Everyone gave all that they can. We're a little bit disappointed but I'm proud of the team, the coaches. and now we know tomorrow is a big game for us, and we do everything to win it."
Bonk put Canada ahead 1-0 with a power-play goal at 9:40 of the first period, setting up in the right face-off circle and one-timing a pass from Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs).
Price made it 2-0 at 15:02 of the third period when his shot from the point caromed off the end boards, into the crease, off Pertuch's skates and across the goal line.
Cataford closed the scoring with empty-net goal at 19:57, with George credited with an assist.
Germany next plays Latvia on Monday (3:30 p.m. ET). Canada faces the United States on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET).
Sweden 7, Switzerland 5 -- Tom Willander (Vancouver Canucks) had two goals and an assist for Sweden, which remained undefeated (3-0-0-0) in Group B play at TD Place.
Zeb Forsfjall (Minnesota Wild) and David Granberg (2025 draft eligible) each had a goal and an assist, and Melker Thelin (Columbus Blue Jackets) made 25 saves.
"We didn't have the best start, but we worked our way into the game," Forsfjall said. "We took too many penalties, and they scored a lot of goals on the [power play]. We tried to be ready from the start and take the puck to the net. It's a bit of an adjustment on the small ice compared to at home, but we need to get it deep a little more quickly."
Kimo Gruber (2025 draft eligible) had two goals and two assists for Switzerland (0-0-0-3), and Leo Braillard (2025 draft eligible) scored twice. Christian Kirsch (San Jose Sharks) made 21 saves. He replaced Elijah Neuenschwander (2025 draft eligible), who allowed three goals on five shots in the first period.
"We didn't have a good 40 minutes, but we knew we had to keep going and I think we had a really good last period," Switzerland forward Alain Graf said. "They took more good shots than we did, but we need to play hard in front and put more pucks in."
Sweden scored on three of its first four shots, including power-play goals by Willander at 6:52 and Otto Stenberg (St. Louis Blues) at 18:52.
Victor Eklund (2025 draft eligible), an A-rated skater in NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list, made it 6-1 at 19:48 of the second period when he pushed a loose puck behind Kirsch over the goal line.
Switzerland scored four power-play goals in the third period. Each team went 4-for-7 with the man-advantage in the game.
Each team next plays Tuesday. Switzerland faces Kazakhstan (Noon ET); Sweden plays Czechia (5 p.m. ET).
Czechia 4, Slovakia 2 -- Eduard Sale (Seattle Kraken) scored two goals to help Czechia stay unbeaten in Group B at TD Place.
Matej Mastalirsky, a W-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's preliminary players to watch list, had two assists, and Michael Hrabal (Utah Hockey Club) made 25 saves for Czechia (3-0-0-0). The win was a bit of redemption for Hrabal, who allowed six goals on 34 shots in a 6-2 preliminary-round loss against Slovakia at the 2024 WJC.
Alan Lendak (2025 draft eligible) made 21 saves for Slovakia (1-0-0-2).
Vojtech Hradec (Utah) and Pavel Simek (2025 draft eligible) each scored in a span of 3:58 midway through the first period to give Czechia a 2-0 lead. Hradec scored a short-handed goal off a 2-on-1 at 11:12 before Simek connected on a rush down the middle at 15:10.
"It's pretty exciting. Tonight was a big game, and now we have three wins in three games," Hradec said. "We're happy, but we need to keep going. We play like a team."
Peter Cisar (2025 draft eligible) made it 2-1 for Slovakia on a shot through traffic in front at 10:48 of the second period.
Sale converted an odd-man rush with Mastalirsky on a snap shot from the slot at 17:21 of the second to give Czechia a 3-1 lead.
Dalibor Dvorsky (St. Louis Blues) scored a power-play goal for Slovakia for the 4-2 final at 14:52.
Czechia forward Vojtech Cihar (2025 eligible) received a major penalty and game misconduct at 13:46 of the third for a hit against Miroslav Satan, who didn't return to the game.
Czechia, which has medaled in two straight WJC events, will next play Sweden in a battle for first place in Group B on Tuesday (5 p.m. ET). Slovakia will play Kazakhstan on Monday (1 p.m. ET).
NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman and senior draft writer Mike G. Morreale contributed to this report
