Kasper Simontaival scores shootout winner as Finland defeats Czechia

The opening game of Day 3 at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship saw Czechia take on Finland, both of whom come into the game 1-0-0-0.

Czechia had a strong start to the first period and with nearly seven minutes played, they scored the game's first goal. Jaroslav Chmelar threw the puck on net from a tight angle on the Finnish goal line and it finds a way through Leevi Merilainen, who had a shaky start to the game, to make it 1-0 Czechia.

Czechia gets to the back of the net first! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/INhdjUgmFw— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

About five minutes later while on the power play, Buffalo Sabres 2022 first round pick Jiri Kulich fired a shot past Merilainen after a clean faceoff win from Jan Mysak to extend Czechia's lead to 2-0.

Good lord that is an absolute cannon right off the face off from Jiri Kulich #WorldJuniors #LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/hktIa1aXsv— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) August 11, 2022

With less than four minutes left in the first period, the Finns went to the power play for the first time in the game. Finnish defenceman Aleksi Heimosalmi had the puck at the point and quickly passed it to Roby Jarventie, who one-timed it past Jan Bednar to cut Czechia's lead to one goal.

Roby Jarventie scores 14 seconds into the power play! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/i6fLumfIFU— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Shortly into the second frame, the Finns tied the game up at 2-2 after defenceman Kasper Puutio floated the puck on net and it found its way just over the glove of Jan Bednar.

Bednar felt like he was interfered with and Czechia decided to challenge for goaltender interference. After a review, the call on the ice stood as a good goal for Finland, with Czechia receiving a two-minute minor for delay of game.

Kasper Puutio. Tie ballgame. #WorldJuniors #FLAPanthers pic.twitter.com/X039HEZChT— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) August 11, 2022

The first half of the third period saw both teams exchange chances, but just as Finland's power play was coming to an end, New York Islanders prospect Aatu Raty scored his second of the tournament after a slick feed from captain Roni Hirvonen to give his nation a 3-2 lead.

Aatu Raty breaks the tie in the 3rd! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/BkFNyTuqmB— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

Just over two minutes after Raty's goal, Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak sweeps the puck through the pads of Leevi Merilainen and in the net to tie the game up at 3-3.

Czechia answers and ties up the game with 7 minutes to go! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/eGcHrYlqLy— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 11, 2022

With the game at a stalemate at the end of regulation, for the first time at the 2022 World Juniors, we have 3-on-3 overtime. The extra frame solved nothing and the teams headed to the shootout.

In the shootout, Roby Jarventie got Finland on the board first, before Jan Mysak tied it at a goal a piece. Los Angeles Kings prospect Kasper Simontaival scored in the fifth round of the shootout, which would stand as the winner as Finland earns their second victory of the tournament.

Finland will now have two days off before facing Slovakia in the early game on Sunday, while Czechia will take on Canada on Saturday night.

Players of the Game

Czechia: Jiri Kulich
Finland: Kasper Puutio

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