In a stunning upset at the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship, Finland defeated the two-time defending champion United States 4-3 in overtime during a heart-stopping quarterfinal clash on Friday night.
Overtime Heroics Seal the Victory
The dramatic finish came at the 2:11 mark of the extra period when Arttu Valilä netted the game-winning goal for Finland at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. The victory abruptly ended the American team's quest for a third consecutive world junior title and sent the Finnish squad into the semifinals.
A Rollercoaster Third Period
The game's intensity peaked in the final frame. Lee Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen scored for Finland in a rapid 55-second span to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Tuuva first tied the game with 7:17 remaining in regulation before setting up Saarelainen for the go-ahead marker just 55 seconds later.
The United States, facing elimination, fought back fiercely. With goalie Nick Kempf pulled for an extra attacker, Lee Ryker of Michigan State scored the equalizer with just 1:33 left on the clock, forcing the game into overtime and setting the stage for Valilä's heroics.
Key Performances and Tournament Context
For the United States, Boston University defenceman Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist in a strong return to the lineup after missing two games due to being struck in the head by a puck. His BU teammate, Cole Eiserman, had given the Americans a 2-1 lead on a second-period power play.
The loss marks the second consecutive defeat for the U.S. squad, which fell 6-3 to Sweden in its final group stage game. They finish the tournament having won their first three contests before the two critical losses.
In other quarterfinal action on Friday, Sweden remained perfect with a 6-3 win over Latvia, while Czechia defeated Switzerland 6-2. The late game featured Canada facing Slovakia in Minneapolis. In relegation play, Germany secured its spot in next year's top division with an 8-4 win over Denmark.
