OTTAWA - Tuomas Uronen did Team Canada a huge favour.
The Finnish forward's overtime winner, which carried his nation to victory over the United States, meant that Canada had only to win in regulation against Germany to tie the Americans for the top spot in Group A.
In a game of thin margins, the Vegas Golden Knights prospect's snapshot 1:46 into the extra frame slipped out of American goaltender Trey Augustine's glove and fell into the net behind him. The play ensued after a sequence of impressive saves at the other end from Finnish netminder Petteri Rimpinen:
THE HUGE SAVE ON ONE END, AND THE GAME WINNER ON THE OTHER!
FINLAND WINS 4-3 IN OVERTIME 🇫🇮#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/LIzmgHuFEN
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2024
The loss snapped a 10-game win streak for the Americans that spanned the last three tournaments.
Improving to a 1-1-0-1 record, Team Finland (5) is just two points behind the North American nations (7) in the standings.
Should Canada or the USA win in regulation on New Year's Eve, the Finns can take sole possession of second place with a victory over Latvia. Group A has effectively been blown wide open, with each team losing a game thus far.
Finns show fire, flash in overtime win over USA
After a pair of flat performances against Canada and Germany, the Finns showed up and showed out yesterday, outshooting Team USA by a margin of 44-33. They matched the Americans' pace, with each team enjoying extended periods of puck possession.
In a back-and-forth contest, both goaltenders were called upon heavily. Finland held a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame and peppered Augustine with 15 shots in the third. The Michigan State netminder held off the Finnish attack and Brodie Ziemer's tally 3:26 into the third period was enough to send the game to overtime.
Rimpinen, in particular, was excellent. The undrafted 2006-born netminder, who plays for Kiekko-Espoo in Liiga, earned himself the nickname "Mr. Showtime" from his teammates.
It was easily the most entertaining game of the tournament so far, setting up a much less enthralling matchup between Canada and Germany.
Carter George remains perfect, questions still surround Canada after uninspiring victory
Stopping 56/56 shots through two starts, Carter George has yet to put a foot wrong for Canada. The Thunder Bay, Ont. native has provided an uber-steady presence between the pipes.
"It's the best feeling in the world knowing that you've got probably the best goalie in this tournament, hands down," said Team Canada defenceman Oliver Bonk. "When you do mess up, he's got your back."
George becomes the first Canadian goaltender to post back-to-back shutouts since Devon Levi in 2021.
Back-to-back shutouts for @AttackOHL's Carter George! 🇨🇦@LAKings prospect is perfect through two games at the #WorldJuniors as Canada blanks Germany 3-0 🎥 pic.twitter.com/1JEmvpp686
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 30, 2024
In George and Jack Ivankovic, the team has two rock-steady goaltenders — a luxury that every Canadian WJC coach dreams of — but it's not encouraging that they have been Team Canada's best players in games against Latvia and Germany.
As referenced in the broadcast, it took Canada two hours to score at five-on-five in two matchups that are usually games where forwards pad their stats. They lead all teams with 134 shots on net, but how many have been true high-danger chances?
Head coach Dave Cameron is confident the dam will burst soon.
“It was a solid performance, outside of the fact that we are a little snake-bitten on the offensive side of things," said Cameron after the match. "but it is not for a lack of effort or lack of quality play."
"We have been up against some really good goaltending so far, but we know we will break through," he added.
Despite earning an opportunity to top the group with a win against the USA, the tension surrounding Team Canada remains palpable. Perhaps lost in all the criticism: Canada has yet to concede at even strength and has the fewest goals against (three) in the tournament.
The real test starts on New Year's Eve. From here on out, there are no more "easy games."
Willander shines in barnburner between Sweden and Switzerland
In contrast to Group A, Czechia and Sweden lead Group B handily by six points, each with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record thus far.
The Swedes bested Switzerland by a score of 7-5, led by another strong showing from an offensively gifted defenceman. Tom Willander scored two mirror-image powerplay goals and Sweden took a 6-1 lead into the third period.
Tom Willander's seeing eye shot opens the scoring for Sweden!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/yIsovgfTQu
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2024
Tom Willander strikes again with a goal almost identical to his first-period tally, extending Sweden's lead to 5-1!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/oG6Df1oghq
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 29, 2024
They nearly imploded, letting the Swiss score four times on the man advantage in the final frame, holding on for the win. Head coach Magnus Havelid will certainly hammer down on a few areas of improvement for his players, but scoring is not one of them.
Are Czechia the real deal?
The Czechs were not expected to defend their bronze medal, with key figures such as captains Jiri Kulich, Tomas Hamara, and Matyas Sapovaliv aging out of eligibility. They lead the tournament in goals (23) and goal differential (+18) through three games, with Utah prospect Vojtech Hradec topping the scoring charts with four goals and seven points.
In our tournament preview, Assistant Director of Scouting, Derek Neumeier, identified Czech netminder Michael Hrabal (also a Utah pick) as a potential difference-maker.
"He's one of the best netminders in the tournament, capable of stealing games for them when he's on top of his game," said Neumeier.
Currently riding a .934 save percentage and 1.50 GAA, Hrabal hasn't been challenged much in his two starts. Against Team Sweden, the 19-year-old and Team Czechia have a chance to prove they aren't just here to feast on the weaker competition.
Parting Notes
- The last time Finland defeated the U.S. was in the 2020 quarterfinals: recently acquired Nashville Predators netminder Justus Annunen posted a 30-save shutout in the 1-0 triumph
- Team Canada forward Calum Ritchie (Oshawa, OHL) has a 100% goals-for percentage through three games: he's been on the ice for six of the team's nine goals
- Recording a goal and two assists in the win, Team Sweden captain Axel Sandin-Pelikka (Skellefteå, SHL) sits second in tournament scoring (3GP, 4G, 7 PTS, +6)
- Felix Unger Sörum (Chicago, AHL) had three assists for the Swedes
- Forwards Leo Braillard (Lethbridge, WHL) and Kimo Gruber (GCK Lions, Swiss-2) each scored twice for Team Switzerland
- Swiss defenceman Leon Muggli picked up three helpers in the loss