Medals will be handed out today, and the first game on the day’s docket pits two powerhouses, Finland and Russia, against each other for bronze.
It’s a tough turnaround to go from losing in the semifinals and having your golden dreams dashed fewer than 24 hours ago to getting ramped up. But there’s a lot on the line — the winner takes home some hardware while the loser leaves World Juniors bubble hockey empty-handed.
“It’s gonna be tough for sure but, of course, they’re going to. It’s our last game, so I hope that we bring a team effort,” Finland head coach Antti Pennanen said after the semifinal loss to the U.S.
MORE: How Canada and the U.S. match up for gold-medal game
“That’s hockey. Obviously, it’s a loss and the boys are emotionally drained and mentally drained after the game,” noted Russia’s bench boss Igor Larionov after his team’s lopsided loss to Canada. “Right now we’ve got 24 hours to get ready for the game and to go and play our best hockey and try to win the bronze medal.”
Finland enters the game after a heartbreaking loss to the U.S. The never-say-die Finns fought back to tie things up late in the third before Arthur Kaliyev scored the game-winner with 76 seconds left. Russia just looked off from the jump against Canada and was left goose-egged 5-0.
But don’t expect these two teams to not bring their A games Tuesday night. Anton Lundell continues to be a driving force for Finland’s offense — his pressure led to the tying goal — while Kasper Simontaival potted two big goals to up his tournament total to seven and tie Lundell for the team lead in goals (four). Finland’s defense has also been generally solid and Kari Piiroinen has looked sharp in net as the team No. 1.
“It’s been a really awesome trip with these guys to be here in the bubble. We still want to get the medal and be proud of this team,” Kasper Puutio said after the loss. “Still definitely going to be giving the best we have and trying to get the bronze medal.”
As for Russia, the team is powered by its top-six with Leafs prospect Rodion Amirov leading the way with six points (two goals, four assists). Yaroslav Askarov had a less-than-stellar appearance in the semifinals and kept losing his stick for much of the first period that led to at least two goals by the Canadians.
Sporting News had all the action as Finland won bronze.
(All times Eastern)
Finland vs. Russia score, highlights from 2021 World Juniors bronze-medal game
Third period: Finland 4, Russia 1
7:58 p.m. — EN GOAL. With 12.6 seconds left they get another one, this time by Juuso Parssinen. Finland leads 4-1.
7:56 p.m. — EN GOAL. The captain Anton Lundell, who has been a force all tournament for Finland, ices it with an empty-netter with 1:28 left. Finland leads 3-1.
7:55 p.m. — Scramble in front and good chance — Russia thought they scored — but Piironen had it.
7:54 p.m. — With 1:55 left in regulation and a deep faceoff, Russia pulls its netminder.
7:53 p.m. — Finns making big blocks including one by Santeri Hatakka off a point shot that stung.
7:46 p.m. — No luck. Russia’s Podkolzin runs into his own teammate in the neutral zone and his stick gets up in the face and cuts one of the Finns giving them a four-minute penalty.
7:37 p.m. — Askarov makes a stop on the point shot but can’t control the rebound but recovers with a nice kick save and a beauty.
7:24 p.m. — GOAL. Off a double deflection, first by a Russian defender and then by Mikko Petman, Finland takes the lead just 1:13 into the final frame. Finland leads 2-1.
7:22 p.m. — Third period underway. Tie game. The winner takes bronze.
Second period: Finland 1, Russia 1
7:04 p.m. — The period comes to an end and it’s all tied up. Buckle up for the third period.
7:00 p.m. — Anton Lundell with a pass across the royal road but Eemil Viro, coming down from the point, can’t connect on it as his stick gets caught up at a weird angle. Viro goes face-first into the board and leaves holding his back after the training came out.
6:59 p.m. — Finland gets a power play after some after the whistle greetings.
6:58 p.m. — Finland with a good chance off a scramble in front as a shot goes off the goal post in between.
6:37 p.m. — GOAL. Anton Lundell deflects the Topi Niemela point shot off a strong Finland forecheck to tie things up. That’s Lundell’s fifth goal of the tourney and Niemela’s sixth helper. Ville Heinola’s strong work along the boards helped lead to that goal too. Game tied 1-1.
6:31 p.m. — Fifteen seconds in and Ville Heinola gets called for high-sticking. Russia heads to the power play. (They would not score)
6:31 p.m. — The second period is underway.
First period: Russia 1, Finland 0
6:12 p.m. — First period comes to an end. Russia came out fast but Finland picked up its game as time went on. Remember: never count the Finns out.
6:09 p.m. — Finland inching closer as they hit the goal post.
6:05 p.m. — Finland breaks in 2-on-1 but Artemi Kniazev (SJS) breaks up the Anton Lundell pass. The Finns have elevated their game after coming out flat.
6:03 p.m. — Askarov looking more like a first-round draft pick tonight.
6:02 p.m. — Now it’s Askarov with the big save as Aku Raty’s feed is perfect to two crashing Finns but Juuso Parssinen can’t bang it in.
6:00 p.m. — What a save by Piiroinen as he point-blank robs Rodion Amirov (Maple Leafs) on the doorstep. Amirov should have had an easy goal there as the puck deflects to him. What a save.
5:58 p.m. — Just under nine minutes left in the period and Askarov makes a glove save on the second Finnish shot he’s seen all game.
5:46 p.m. GOAL. Russia keeps the puck in. Maxim Groshev with a pretty easy backhander on net that Piiroinen doesn’t corral and Ilya Sofonov buries the rebound. Russia leads 1-0.
5:45 p.m. — Podkolzin off the pipe with a deflection chance. Not a shot on goal but Russia is outshooting the Finns 3-0.
5:43 p.m. — Yegor Chinakhov comes off the bench and breaks in all alone but Kari Piiroinen makes the stop. Great heads up pass by 2021 eligible Kirill Kirsanov to spring him.
5:39 p.m. — Game on. Arseny Gritsyuk got hurt against Canada and is out.
Pregame
5:34 p.m. — Quick note: Finland lost in the semis to Canada 5-0 in 2020 and then lost in the bronze-medal game to Sweden 3-2.
4:41 p.m — Lines.
World Juniors 2021: Latest news
Tournament
- Time, TV channel, live stream, where, when, schedule
- How has COVID-19 impacted the tournament?
- Rosters, NHL draft status, jersey numbers for all 10 teams
- Breakdown of every NHL teams’ prospects
- Predictions: Hockey experts pick who will win gold
- It’s gold or bust’: NHL players look back on World Junior Championship memories
- A team-by-team guide to the under-20 championship
- Dach, Caufield and the top four storylines
- Oilers’ Philip Broberg impresses with three assists for Sweden
- Senators’ Tim Stuetzle scores two goals in Germany’s overtime win
- Predictions, odds, X-factors, breakdowns for quarterfinal matchups
- Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen sends Finland to semis with late goal
USA
Canada
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