Canada vs. Finland final score, results: Macklin Celebrini helps Canadians to opening World Juniors win

Canada could not have asked for a better start to the 2024 World Juniors. 

The defending gold medalists kicked off group play with a 5-2 win over Finland on Tuesday morning. The Canadians received a strong showing from 2024 draft prospect Mathis Rousseau in net to down the Finns in the Group A opener. 

Nate Danielson, Owen Allard and Macklin Celebrini all potted goals for Canada before Matthew Poitras and Maveric Lamoureux added empty-net scores. Rousseau ended the game with 24 saves in the winning effort. 

Goaltender Niklas Kokko kept Finland in the contest through the first two periods, but the Kraken prospect was unable to make up for the team’s lack of offense. Aleksanteri Kaskimaki and Jere Lassila were the two goal scorers for the Finns, with both goals coming up a man. 

Canada and Finland each pick up action again tomorrow. The Canadians take on Latvia while the Finns have a date with Germany. 

The Sporting News provided all the updates and highlights from the Canada vs. Finland group play game at the 2024 World Juniors. 

Canada vs. Finland final score

Canada vs. Finland results, highlights from 2024 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

Final: Canada 5, Finland 2

Canada 5, Finland 2

11:02 a.m. — Another empty-net goal for Canada, this time it’s Lamoureux with six seconds left. 

11:01 a.m. — Kokko to the Finnish bench to keep the play 5 on 5. 

Canada 4, Finland 2

10:58 a.m. — GOAL! Finland gets on the board for a second time as Jere Lassila cleans up a rebound in front with 1:04 to go. Rousseau made the initial stop on Jesse Pulkinnen off a give-and-go down low, but Lassila pots it home on the second chance. After the play, Pulkinnen is called for roughing so Canada has a power play to end the game. 

Jere Lassila gets Finland back within two with 1:04 remaining.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/3kGq11i4Cd

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

Canada 4, Finland 1

10:55 a.m. — GOAL! Poitras collects a stretch pass at the far blue line and puts it into the empty net with 2:26 left. Canada’s lead extends to three. 

10:54 a.m. — Kokko heads to the Finnish bench with 2:50 to go. Poitras is out of the box, so it’s 6 on 5. 

10:49 a.m. — Less than a minute after the Savoie penalty expires, Finland is going back to the man advantage. Poitras will sit this time as he’s called for tripping with 4:42 remaining in regulation. 

10:49 a.m. — Canada’s PK comes through again, killing off the Savoie penalty. Finland is struggling to get shots onto Rousseau. 

10:46 a.m. — With 7:25 left, Savoie is called for hooking, his second penalty of the game. The Finns get their fifth power play of the game, cashing in once on their previous four chances. 

Canada 3, Finland 1

10:36 a.m. — GOAL! After review, it is determined the puck completely crossed the goal line, and it’s a good goal for Celebrini. It was an excellent effort by Kokko to try and keep the puck out, but it wasn’t enough. The top 2024 draft prospect has his first of the tournament and it extends Canada’s lead back to two goals with 13:22 to go in the third.

After review, it’s a good goal for Celebrini to make it 3-1 Canada!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Hm6E2bPNox

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

10:33 a.m. — Canada forces a turnover down low in the Finland zone, gets the puck to the front of the net and it results in an excellent chance for Celebrini. The Canadian forward thinks the puck crossed the goal line, but the officials waive no goal. It looks like a challenge is coming from the Canadian side. 

10:32 a.m. — Macklin Celebrini takes a stretch pass and rings a shot off the crossbar. 

Macklin Celebrini off the crossbar! Canada still leads 2-1 over Finland.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/omZdoI8XY6

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

10:30 a.m. — It’s been a very defensive few minutes to start the third period. Finland hasn’t had the big push yet, and Canada seems willing to play the reserved dump and chase game while maintaining the one-goal lead. 

10:23 a.m. — Canada gets back to even strength with Minten out of the box. 

10:20 a.m. — Finland gets an early power play to start the third. Fraser Minten is called for tripping 38 seconds into the frame. The Finns are 1-for-3 so far on the man advantage. 

10:20 a.m. — The third period from Gothenburg is a go. 

End of the second period: Canada 2, Finland 1

10 a.m. — Canada takes a one-goal lead into the final frame. Finland was the better team for the first half of the period, but could not generate much offensively. The two sides exchange goals in the latter part of the period. Shots are 22-17 in favor of Canada. 

Canada 2, Finland 1

9:53 a.m. — GOAL! Finland is on the board, thanks to the power play. A shot from the point by Arttu Karki is tipped by Aleksanteri Kaskimaki up and over the shoulder of Rousseau. It’s back to a one-goal game with 4:40 remaining in the second. 

Aleksanteri Kaskimäki with a beautiful deflection on the powerplay to bring Finland within 1.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/G7YvQXfQ8P

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

9:50 a.m. — Finland heads to its third power play of the game as Savoie gets called for tripping with 4:54 remaining. The Finns did not score on their previous two PPs, failing to even record a shot on goal yet on the man advantage. 

Canada 2, Finland 0

9:47 a.m. — GOAL! The Danielson line does it again for Canada, as this time, it’s Owen Allard slamming in a pass from the slot that beats Kokko. After Allard caused a turnover behind the net with his heavy forechecking, Danielson found Allard open in front of the net for the one-timer. Canada doubles its lead with 6:19 left in the second. 

Owen Allard! Canada takes a 2-0 lead over Finland#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/59nfjw7cys

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

9:44 a.m. — The post is a goalie’s best friend. Cowan picks up a loose puck from a Finland turnover in the neutral zone and sends Jordan Dumais in on a partial breakaway. The Canadian forward rips a shot past the glove of Kokko but it clangs off the iron and stays out. 

Jordan Dumais nearly doubles Canada’s lead on the breakaway!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/IgBdSkglsr

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

9:40 a.m. — After putting 12 shots onto Kokko in the first, Canada has recorded just one shot on goal through the first 10 minutes of the second. Finland has had more possession time this period, but Canada has been getting too cute with the passing in the offensive zone. 

9:36 a.m. — Some strong passing on man advantage by Finland, but not enough shot attempts to generate anything dangerous. Back to even strength with over 12 minutes left in the period. 

9:34 a.m. — Easton Cowan brings a Finland defender down with his stick and he’ll sit for two minutes for tripping. Finland gets its second power play of the game. 

9:33 a.m. — This has been a good response out of Finland to start the second after getting outworked for most of the first. Canada hasn’t been successful on the forecheck, as Finland has been able to break out fairly easily in the period. 

9:29 a.m. — Finland kills off the rest of the Naukkarinen penalty. 

9:28 a.m. — Second period is underway. Canada has 40 seconds remaining on the power play. 

End of the first period: Canada 1, Finland 0

9:11 a.m. — The first period ends with Canada up 1-0. That was a strong showing out of the defending champions in the opening frame, but goaltending was the name of the game in the first. Kokko and Rousseau were both fantastic in their respective nets, as the bounce off Danielson for Canada is the lone tally of the period. 

9:07 a.m. — Canada heads to its first power play of the tournament with 1:19 to go in the opening frame. Naukkarinen is whistled for hooking. 

Canada 1, Finland 0

9:04 a.m. — GOAL! Canada gets on the board first. A shot from the point by Maveric Lamoureux deflects off the body of Nate Danielson in front to give Canada 1-0 with 3:36 left. The Red Wings prospect planted himself as a screen at the top of the crease, and Kokko had no chance off the deflection. 

Lamoureux’s shot goes off Nate Danielson and in for Canada’s opening goal!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/chfgP2WBHo

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

9:03 a.m. — Rousseau submits his argument for save of the tournament by robbing Lenni Hameenaho on the backdoor. Finland gets a 2 on 0 with Hameenaho and Janne Naukkarinen, but the Canadian goaltender makes a sensational glove stop on the cross-crease pass to Hameenaho. 

Mathis Rousseau with an early candidate for save of the tournament!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/SpVbASw9us

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

A couple more looks at the ridiculous save by Mathis Rousseau.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/iY6HWj0vj4

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

8:55 a.m. — Kokko makes a flashy glove save on Matthew Poitras after an awful neutral zone giveaway by Finland. The Finland goalie has been without a doubt the best player on the ice so far. He does not give up many rebonds. 

Niklas Kokko robs Matthew Poitras with the glove in close!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/AdR2BRzVE9

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

8:51 a.m. — Canada has controlled a majority of the play as the game hits the 10-minute mark in the first. Finland’s lone chances have come on odd man rushes, but the Canadians have been getting sustained offensive zone pressure. Nothing to show for it on either side. 

8:45 a.m. — Kokko stones Matthew Savoie from point-blank range to keep this a no-score game. Savoie was left all alone in the slot for the chance, but the Finnish netminder swallowed up the attempt. 

Great chance for Matt Savoie early but Canada and Finland remain scoreless.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/hlB9QFDwHV

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

8:44 a.m. — Canada kills off the Beck minor. Finland didn’t manage a shot on the power play. 

8:41 a.m. — Just 2:10 into the game, and Finland is heading to a power play. Owen Beck, the lone returner for Canada from the 2023 team, is called for boarding. 

8:38 a.m. — Puck is down and Canada vs. Finland is underway from Gothenburg, Sweden. 

Pregame

8:30 a.m. — Mathis Rousseau gets the start today for Canada in his first World Juniors appearance. On the opposing side, it will be Niklas Kokko also making his first start at the World Juniors. The Finn, who is a Kraken draft pick, was a member of the 2023 team, but did not see any action. 

8:25 a.m. — At the 2023 World Juniors, Canada began the tournament with a stunning loss to Czechia in the opener. It ended up being the team’s only loss at the tournament, winning three straight to close out group play before ripping off three more victories in the knockout stage to hoist gold. 

8:13 a.m. — Canada has arrived at Scandanavium for the opening game against Finland. 

Puckdrop between Canada and Finland gets underway in 30 minutes!

Catch the action on TSN! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/UzoQDucmNf

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 26, 2023

7:55 a.m. — Something to note for Team Canada is that the team is already down two of their top defensemen. Tanner Molendyk and Tristan Luneau both were removed from the roster and replaced by Jorian Donovan and Ty Nelson before the start of the tournament. Molendyk suffered a wrist injury during a pre-tournament game, while Luneau is out with a viral illness. 

7:46 a.m. — Here are the lineups for today’s Canada vs. Finland. 

Lines for Canada and Finland to kick things off at Scandinavium.

Ty Nelson (SEA) is dressing for Canada. Konsta Helenius (2024) centring the Finns’ first line as an underager. #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/SWWLXiGHH2

— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) December 26, 2023

What channel is Canada vs. Finland on today?

• TV channels: TSN (Canada) | NHL Network (United States)
• Live stream: TSN app (Canada) | Fubo (United States)

Canada vs. Finland will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the U.S. Viewers can also stream the game on the TSN app in Canada and Fubo in the U.S.

Canada vs. Finland start time

• Date: Tuesday, Dec. 26
• Time: 8:30 a.m. ET | 5:30 a.m. PT

Canada vs. Finland will start at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

This year’s tournament is being played in Gothenburg, Sweden.

World Juniors odds 2024

Here are the pre-tournament odds for the top 10 teams (via Sports Interaction):

World Juniors schedule 2024

Tuesday, Dec. 26