Reigning champions, Team Finland have shocked the hockey world again this year, defeating Team USA 1-0 on Thursday in the Quarter Finals to advance to the Semi-finals, proving yet again that Team Finland is not to be counted out.
🇫🇮 shocks 🇺🇸 with a 1-0 win to advance to the semis! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/b9ox14Vm2j— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2020
After defeating Team USA in the final last year and winning the gold, this Quarter Final rematch was scoreless through two periods, until Joonas Oden sent a beautiful one-timer past Team USA goaltender Spencer Knight on a power play early in the third period for the games only goal.
Kristian Tanus with the no-look dish to Joonas Oden, and Finland breaks the deadlock! pic.twitter.com/kYL0k30UNl— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2020
Team USA would outshoot Finland 30-29, but ultimately fell short of advancing to the Semi's.
They leave the World Junior Championship without a medal for the first time since 2015, ending a streak of four consecutive trips to the podium.
As Team Finland moves on to the Semi-finals, the possibility of running it back and winning the Gold is their sights again, and if attained, they would become the first team to win consecutive titles since Team Canada won five in a row from 2005 to 2009.
