In the second game of the 2024 World Junior Hockey Championship, two teams that have enjoyed a lot of success at the tournament in recent years squared off in Sweden. Team Canada began its gold-medal defence, playing what’s always a tough squad from Finland, a team looking to get a medal after missing out a year ago.
To start the first game of the tournament for both clubs, it was a tight-checking start as the players got adjusted to the play. There were few shots in the opening minutes, despite Finland getting an early power-play opportunity from a boarding call on Owen Beck.
With the penalty killed, Canada began to shift the play in its favour, but Finnish goaltender Niklas Kokko was solid in his crease, making his saves look easy.
Things were more difficult for Mathis Rousseau at the opposite end with about four minutes left to play. He was forced to deal with a two-on-one rush, and he dealt with it in style, making a lunging glove save on Lenni Hämeenaho to keep the game goalless.
Moments later, Canada took advantage of the save from its netminder, opening the scoring. A shot from defenceman Maveric Lamoureux went off the screen set by Nate Danielson at the top of the crease, and into the net for a 1-0 edge.
Matthew Poitras drew a hooking call to give Canada a chance at doubling their lead. Finland killed off 1:19 to hold the deficit at just one, with the final third of the penalty left to deal with to open the second period.
With those seconds killed off, the Finns launched a four-on-one as their player exited the penalty box. They got a good chance out of it, but Hämeenaho’s shot hit the outside of the net on his attempt.
That rush set the tone for the second frame, one played nearly exclusively in Canada end in the opening minutes. Unfortunately for Finland, they weren’t able to turn that into many great chances on target. Despite all the possession, not allowing Canada a shot through the opening 10 minutes of the period, they remained off the scoreboard with a couple of quality saves from Rousseau.
With one shot on net at the frame’s midpoint, Canada began to generate more offence. Jordan Dumais had the best chance for either team, racing in a breakaway but firing a shot off the crossbar and out.
Canada got a better bounce on a shot a few seconds later. The Beck line that had been the most notable in the first period with its 200-foot play made it a 2-0 games as Owen Allard hit the post on his cross-crease shot, then watched as the puck went off the back of Kokko’s skate and in.
It was Finland’s turn to get a late power play in the second period. With five minutes to go, Matthew Savoie went off for tripping. On the power play, the Finns finally put themselves on the scoreboard with a point shot from Arttu Kärki that was tipped in front by Aleksanteri Kaskimäki.
The third period opened with another Canada penalty as team captain Fraser Minten pulled his man down right off the opening faceoff. Thanks to some good killing from Beck, Finland top unit was held to no dangerous chances, and the penalty was killed.
Macklin Celebrini nearly made it a 3-1 game on his rush up the ice, but his shot went off the crossbar and out of play to keep Canada up by just a single goal. Still on the ice after a TV timeout, Celebrini had another chance, and this time he was able to jam the puck over the line from the top of the crease. Initially called no goal, a review found the puck in the net, and the two-goal lead was confirmed.
As Canada was attempting to see its two-goal lead home, Savoie took his second penalty of the game, a hook in the defensive zone. Another quality kill from the Canadians kept the Finns from getting a shot, and drained two minutes of the clock.
Finland went right back to the power play by putting the pressure on Canada’s defence and forcing a penalty to prevent a chance. They needed a bit more urgency to get themselves back in the game with just over four minutes to go. Attempting to make it a six-on-four advantage by pulling their goaltender, the Finns were called for an illegal substitution by swapping on a skater too quickly, and the faceoff came to centre ice.
Staying onside by a matter of millimetres, Poitras collected a puck with the net empty, and made it a 4-1 games with an empty-netter to give Canada a three-goal advantage.
Jere Lassila made things a bit more interesting with a goal with a minute to go, but on the celebration one of the Finnish player was called for a roughing penalty, making the improbable comeback that much more unlikely.
A second empty-netter for Canada with six seconds to go sealed the 5-2 win from Canada.
Canada will take its 1-0 record into a game with Latvia on Wednesday. Finland will play Germany in what will be an important game a bit earlier in the day.
