Hockey

USA Erases 2-0 Deficit to Top Finland and Advance to Gold Medal Game

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The #1 seeded USA faced Finland today in the World Junior Championships semifinal round in Gothenburg, Sweden. The USA fell behind by two goals in the first period, drew even in the second period, and won the game in the third period, 3-2. The USA faces Sweden in the gold medal game tomorrow.

The Finns capitalized on an early turnover under two minutes into the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Eleven minutes later the Finns found the net again, 2-0. The Americans missed some good chances in the period but so did the Finnish in the first 20 minutes.

The USA created great opportunities in period two. It took 12 minutes into the period and a power play goal by sniper Jimmy Snuggerud to cut the Finnish lead in half. Will Smith, the Fresh Prince of BC, tied the game, 2-2, on a back door snipe with four minutes remaining. The USA owned the pace of play and outshot Finland 14-3 in the middle frame.

Period three showed a slight edge to the USA through the first 10 minutes.  The Finns created some solid chances in the next five minutes but were stoned by US goaltender Trey Augustine. After the officials missed no fewer than three high-sticking calls on Finland, the USA earned a soft power play on a nonexistent hooking call. Late in the man-advantage, Boston College sniper Cutter Gauthier found twine on a one-timer to give the Americans a 3-2 lead with just 3:13 left.

At 2:33, a make-up hooking call on the US put the Finns on the power play but the USA weathered the 6-on-4 storm after the Finns pulled their goalie, and held on for the 3-2 victory.

Tournament hosts Sweden defeated Czechia 5-2 earlier in the day to advance to the Gold Medal final against the Americans. The puck drops with the 2024 World Junior Championship on the line at 11:30 am mountain time tomorrow morning. The game, as always, will be televised on NHL Network.

Highlights

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