Finland wins gold on home ice

05 Jan 2016 | Fredrik Pålsson

Beats Russia in dramatic final, USA wins bronze.

Kasperi Kapanen is the big hero in Finland today after scoring the gold winning goal in the WJC final in Helsinki. The goal was scored 1:33 in to the overtime and ended a very dramatic final. And it was a very nice goal, Kapanen made it all by himself went around behind the net and scored at the wide open far post.

Earlier it was a drama when Russia took the game to overtime. Russia held the lead 1-0 after two periods when things exploded in the third period. First Patrik Laine tied the game with a hard shot already 24 seconds into the period. But only one minute later Russia took the lead again when Andrei Svetlakov scored with an individual effort. Sebastian Aho tied it again and when Mikko Rantanen deflected a shot for 3-2 on a power play with only 2:09 left to play everything pointed against a Finnish win. And it didn't help the Russians that the 1-0 scorer and team captain Vladislav Kamenev was sent to the locker room for unsportmanlike conduct after the goal.

But despite playing without Kamenev Russia managed to make a go for it and with an extra attacker they tied it with only seconds left to play when Svetlakov scored his second by deflecting a shot from the blueline. But the Finns didn't let themselves be beaten by that blow and Kapanen shot the goal to Finland.

In the bronze medal game USA won big, 8-3 against Sweden who didn't manage to refocus after the semi final loss. 4-0 in the second period decided the game in USA's favour. Matthew Tkachuk, Anders Bjork and Ryan Donato all scored two goals.