Finland leads the Czech Republic 5-3 at the end of the second period in the bronze medal match at the 2024 World Junior Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The Czech Republic started a power play midway through the second period as Finland’s Otto Sarin was sent off for interference. Jakub Stankull took advantage of this advantage and squeezed the puck past Finnish goaltender Niklas Kokko in the fifth hole, tying the game at 2-2.
However, Finland would soon regain control. 2024 NHL Draft prospect Konsta Helenius took a pass from Jani Nyman and beat Czech goaltender Jakub Fondras to give Finland a 3-2 lead.
Nineteen seconds later, Kasper Kronunmi hit a wide-open Leni Hamenaho, beating Fondras on the blocker side and doubling Finland’s lead to 4-2.
When Stankl was whistled for an illegal stick and Finland was on its second power play of the game, Haminaho made a great move to get inside and beat Fondras for his second goal of the game, giving Finland their fifth goal. became. .
With just over two minutes left in the second, Matthias Sapovaliv was given a two-minute minor for an illegal check to the head of Kasper Hartunen. However, Ondrej Becher broke through the pass from Štnakl shorthanded and scored, bringing the Czech Republic within two points. The Czech Republic continued to take penalties to end the period.