Arttu Välilä netted the winner at 2:11 of overtime as Finland pulled off a stunning 4-3 win over the two-time defending champion United States on Friday evening in the IIHF World Junior Championship last eight.
"Got to give credit to the US," remarked Finland's leader Aron Kiviharju. "That's a hell of a team, full of exceptional individuals and a well coached team. But I said we were seeking that revenge from the previous final, and I think we kind of earned it this evening."
In the semi-finals on Sunday, Finland will face Sweden, while the Canadians will meet the Czech Republic. The Swedes beat Latvia 6-3, Canada produced a five-goal first period in a 7-1 romp over Slovakia, and the Czechs overcame the Swiss by a six to two score.
Dramatic Third Period and Overtime
The Michigan State Spartan Lee Ryker tied it for the United States with one minute and thirty-three seconds remaining in regulation and the University of Notre Dame netminder Nick Kempf off for an extra attacker.
L. Tuuva and J. Saarelainen found the net in a fifty-five-second burst in the third to give Finland a 2-1 lead. Tuuva tied it at two-all with 7:17 to go, then assisted on Saarelainen’s game-leading goal with 6:22 on the clock. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva’s goal.
Key Contributions and Post-Game Comments
The Boston University blueliner C. Hutson recorded a goal and an assist for the United States after being struck in the head versus Switzerland and sitting out the next two contests.
"I thought we executed well for most of the game," the defenseman said. "But the small details that they got, many of their high-quality opportunities resulted from our errors."
His BU teammate Cole Eiserman gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead on a man advantage with 9:45 remaining in the second period. He accepted a pass from Hutson and beat the Finnish goaltender with a quick shot from the right side.
Hutson tallied on a rush thirty-five seconds into the second period. Heikki Ruohonen tied it at 4:46 on a quick shot from the left wing.
Goaltending Summary
- Rimpinen saved 28 shots.
- The American netminder recorded 21 saves.
The Americans fell in their last two games – falling 6-3 to Sweden on Wednesday night in the final preliminary game – after winning their initial three matches.
"It has been an honor to coach this team," said the American bench boss. "Our guys played a great game today and fell just a bit short. All credit to Finland. It's an hollow emotion at the moment, but our guys left everything on the ice."
Additional Quarter-Final Action
In the second match in Minneapolis, the Canadian team routed Slovakia with the five-goal first.
Cole Reschny, T. Iginla, Michael Misa, Sam O’Reilly and Brady Martin tallied in the first period, and P. Martone and Cole Beaudoin connected in the second. Jack Ivankovic made 21 saves.
"This demonstrates how powerful we are," B. Martin remarked. "Taking a 5-0 lead, it really kills their morale."
In the first quarter-final, Anton Frondell scored twice for Sweden against Latvia. The defender Leo Sahlin Wallenius contributed a goal and two helpers to help the Swedes remain undefeated in their five outings.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek, P. Sikora, J. Klima and Jakub Fibigr scored for the Czech team.
Relegation Match Outcome
Germany triumphed in the consolation match, defeating the Danes eight to four. M. Schams scored twice to help Germany retain its place next year in the top division. The Danish side was relegated to the second tier.
