Finland secures dominant 3-0 victory over Latvia

Finland - Latvia 3-0

Latvia came into the game with a defensive focus, but Finland capitalized on their possession advantage early. At 7:05, Konsta Helenius maneuvered the puck out of the corner and found Rautiainen in front of the net. Rautiainen coolly outwaited Latvian goalie Linards Feldbergs and lifted the puck into the net to make it 1-0. Despite their best efforts, Latvia struggled to generate offense, with a single notable chance on a power play, as Eriks Mateiko’s close-range effort was denied by Rimpinen.

The second frame followed a similar script, with Finland controlling play and outshooting Latvia 17-12. Jesse Kiiskinen extended the lead at 27:06 with a precise screen shot from the blue line that eluded Feldbergs. Latvia, while more active offensively, failed to create high-danger chances, leaving Rimpinen largely untroubled.

Finland solidified their dominance early in the third period during a power play. Kasper Halttunen unleashed a blistering one-timer off a well-placed pass from Aron Kiviharju at 42:05, beating Feldbergs cleanly to make it 3-0. From there, Finland tightened their defensive structure, ensuring Latvia couldn’t find a way back into the game.

The win leaves Finland awaiting the outcome of other Group A games to determine their quarter-final opponent. Latvia, finishing fourth in the group, will now prepare for a tough matchup against the winner of the Czechia-Sweden game.

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