Finland completed a late comeback to eventually win 4-3 in overtime over the United States in a pre-season game for the World Junior Hockey Championship on Thursday in Edmonton.
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Finland’s captain Roni Hirvonen ended the power-play debate 57 seconds after the start of the extra period. The forward fired a laser from the left circle to find the upper right corner, surprising US goalkeeper Dylan Silverstein.
Leading 3 to 1 late in the third period, the American team opened the door to their rivals by receiving a major penalty of five minutes. So, with 1 min 45 seconds to go in regular time, Joel Maatta started the recovery of his family. Ville Ottavainen then equalized 50 seconds later to force overtime.
Brett Berard and Dominic James had given the United States a two-goal lead in the final engagement. After the first period, a 1: 1 stalemate was entered on the board by virtue of the successes of Kasper Simontaival and Tanner Dickinson.
Cancelation
The preparatory match scheduled between Czechia and Switzerland, Thursday evening in Red Deer, was also canceled due to “protocols related to COVID-19,” Hockey Canada said in the afternoon. If ever players from these two countries have to quarantine, it will be difficult for the national teams concerned to find alternatives. Each team is limited to 25 hockey players each.
The preliminary round duels begin Sunday in Alberta, in Edmonton and Red Deer. The Czechs will also be Canada’s first opponents that day.
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