Finland beats Sweden in thrilling semi-final

Sweden - Finland 3-4 OT

The decisive moment came with Swedish defenseman Tom Willander in the penalty box for a holding call on Topias Hynninen—a decision that sparked debate. Finland capitalized on the man advantage as Rautiainen, from a sharp angle, slipped the puck under Swedish goaltender Melker Thelin, leaving the Swedes stunned.

The game began cautiously, with both teams locked in a scoreless first period, each registering 10 shots. The tempo shifted in the second period when Sweden’s Otto Stenberg broke the deadlock at 21:22, firing a high shot past Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen.

Finland responded swiftly as Emil Hemming ended his scoring drought at 24:32, tying the game with a pinpoint shot set up by Konsta Helenius. The Finns surged ahead during a power play, with Jesse Kiiskinen tipping in a hard pass from Hynninen at 33:28.

Sweden's power play, however, was equally lethal. Stenberg struck again at 38:07, leveling the score at 2-2 with a one-timer. Yet, Finland reclaimed the lead moments later when Arttu Alasiurua forced the puck past Thelin in the dying seconds of the period, leaving the score 3-2 after 40 minutes.

Facing elimination, Sweden dominated the third period, outshooting Finland 20-3. Their relentless pressure paid off at 51:32, with Wilhelm Hallquisth’s long-range shot sneaking past Rimpinen to tie the game at 3-3.

Overtime saw both teams trading chances, with Sweden gaining an early power-play opportunity after Jesse Nurmi was penalized for high-sticking. Despite a flurry of shots, Rimpinen stood tall, denying Sweden the game-winner.

The tables turned when Willander’s controversial holding penalty gave Finland the decisive power play. Despite Swedish protests, Finland made no mistake, securing their place in the final.

Finland’s Julius Miettinen praised his team’s resilience: “We played as a team. I think we fought hard and deserved to win.” Emil Hemming echoed the sentiment, highlighting the rivalry: “It’s always a good feeling to beat Sweden.”

On the Swedish side, disappointment was palpable. Captain Axel Sandin-Pellikka lamented missed opportunities: “We played our hearts out in the third period and overtime. We had so many chances, but the puck just didn’t go in.”

Head coach Magnus Hävelid expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging his team’s comeback effort while hinting at frustration over the officiating: “We gave ourselves a chance, but it’s tough when decisions go against you in critical moments.”

Finland now aims for their sixth World Junior gold medal, facing the winner of the U.S.–Czechia semi-final. Sweden, meanwhile, will regroup for the bronze medal game against Czechia, hoping to end their tournament on a high note.

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