Stjernborg's last-minute winner leads Sweden to upset win over Finland, advances to semi-finals

It's quarter-final day at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and the first game saw one of the biggest rivalries in international hockey, Sweden vs Finland.

Just over three minutes into the opening period, Finland got the game's first goal. Finnish captain and Montreal Canadiens prospect Oliver Kapanen picked up the rebound in front of Sweden's net and put the puck under Carl Lindbom's glove to make it 1-0.

Oliver Kapanen opens the scoring with his second of the tournament 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/SZh3dd7Yd3— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

Despite playing very poorly, Sweden tied up the game late in the first period. Florida Panthers prospect Ludvig Jansson threw the puck on net, where 2023 projected top-three pick Leo Carlsson tapped it home for his first of the tournament to make it 1-1.

Sweden capitalizes on Finland's turnover 🚨

Leo Carlsson's first of the tournament ties the game at 1.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/B3Z8oYAN6M— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

The middle frame was scoreless as the two Nordic rivals headed to the third period knotted up at 1-1, with a spot in the semi-finals on the line.

Finland regained the lead early on in the third period. On a partial 2-on-1, Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Niko Huuhtanen fired a shot short-side on Lindbom. 2-1 Finland.

Niko Huuhtanen's perfectly placed shot gives Finland a 2-1 lead early in the 3rd period 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/0YW75lZeL8— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

Then with just under three-and-a-half to go, Sweden brought things even, once again. Fabian Wagner passed it to Filip Bystedt who ripped a shot on net, where it's picked up by Leo Carlsson and he puts it in to make it a 2-2 game.

SWEDEN TIES THE GAME 🚨

Leo Carlsson buries the rebound to tie the game at 2 with 3 minutes left in regulation.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/5MFLz7tYcM— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

With just over a minute left in the third period, Sweden took their first lead of the game. While on the penalty kill, Swedish captain Victor Stjernborg stripped Aleksi Heimosalmi of the puck along the board and went in on a breakaway, putting the puck through the five hole of Finnish netminder Jani Lampinen. 3-2 Sweden.

STJERNBORG GIVES SWEDEN THE LEAD WITH 1 MINUTE LEFT IN REGULATION 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/PZeHw91OB5— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2023

Sweden would hold on for the next minute and went on to win the game by a score of 3-2 and will advance to the semi-finals. The Swedes will have to wait until the end of the last quarter-final game tonight, Canada vs Slovakia, to find out who they'll face, as the tournament re-seeds for the semi-finals.

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