2026 World Junior Championship: 3 Takeaways from Sweden’s Semi-Finals Win Over Finland

In what has been the game of the tournament, Sweden defeated Finland 4-3 in a shootout, punching their ticket to the Gold Medal game of the 2026 World Junior Championships.

Related: Guide to the 2026 World Junior Championship

Sweden wasted no time, opening the scoring just thirty-six seconds in. Linus Eriksson crossed the blue line and threw what appeared to be a harmless wrister on goal, but the puck had eyes, as it soared past the glove of Petteri Rimpinen for an uncharacteristic goal against for the 2025 tournament’s top goaltender. 

With just over three minutes left in the first, Finland struck back. Atte Joki rifled a shot through the legs of William Hakansson, which provided enough of a screen to prevent Love Harenstam from finding the puck as it found a hole under his glove.

Sweden came out flying in the second period as well, finding the back of the net a minute and twenty seconds into the middle frame. With a delayed penalty to Finland, Eddie Genborg dropped to Ivar Stenberg up high, who snapped one past a flying screen to put the Swedes back in front 2-1.

A minute later, Finland responded with the equalizer. Jasper Kuhta found Kasper Pikkarainen’s rebound out front before trying to quickly snap one upstairs on Love Harenstam. Kuhta’s shot sailed high, but bounced off the glass towards the Swedish crease. Alfons Freij tried to bat it out of harm’s way, but the puck deflected off his stick into Harenstam’s back before bouncing into the Swedish net.

The luck swung back in Sweden’s favour with just under six minutes to play in the second frame. Ivar Stenberg looked to find Eddie Genborg in the slot, but Julius Miettinen got a stick in the lane. Genborg stuck with the play, whacking the puck towards the Finnish goal. The puck pinballed off the side of the net and Petteri Rimpinen’s pad before sliding over the goal line. 

After pressing for twenty-two minutes, Finland finally broke through to tie the game at three apiece. Arttu Valila’s point shot hit Heikki Ruohonen out front before falling on the stick of Joona Saarelainen. The Tampa Bay Lightning prospect made no mistake, banging it past an outstretched Harenstam.

Sixty minutes were not enough for this one, as the teams headed to overtime. The teams exchanged chances in what was an electric extra frame, including four breakaways for Sweden’s Viggo Bjorck, and a full two-minute penalty kill from Sweden to send it to a shootout. 

Finland got out to an early lead in the shootout when Matias Vanhanen scored on their second opportunity, but they were held scoreless on their next three chances. That set up Jack Berglund for a do-or-die in the fifth round. The Swedish captain delivered, beating Petteri Rimpinen to extend the Swedish tournament. The thrilling game met its end when Anton Frondell was given a third opportunity in the eighth round. The 2025 third overall pick snuck one five-hole on Rimpinen to send Sweden to the gold medal game.

Sweden now awaits the winner of Canada vs Czechia as they search for their first gold medal win since the 2012 tournament in Alberta. Finland will face the loser in the bronze medal game tomorrow afternoon in hopes of returning to the podium for back-to-back tournaments.

Three Takeaways

It Is Better To Be Lucky Than Good

Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. With both Sweden and Finland playing exceptional defensive hockey this tournament, goals in this game were going to be hard to come by. In matchups like this, luck can be the deciding factor. Of the six goals scored, three of them were unusual. First, Petteri Rimpinen was beaten on a shot that he stops ninety-nine of a hundred times. Then, Finland got a lucky bounce of their own with Kuhta’s shot banking off the end glass before finding its way into the net. Sweden got the final pivotal bounce, as Eddie Genborg’s chance pinballed into the Finnish net. 

Sweden’s Stars Are Rising To The Occasion

Sweden’s top dogs are finding their best forms when it matters most. Draft eligibles Ivar Stenberg and Viggo Bjorck combined for a goal and two assists, helping propel Sweden to victory over Finland. The coaching staff’s trust in the pair is clear, as the duo played nearly half of the extra frame and were both selected in Sweden’s top three forwards of the tournament. Stenberg and Bjorck will need to continue to elevate their games if Sweden is to snap their over a decade-long gold medal drought.

Finland Needs More From Their Top Line

Finland will need more from their top forwards if they are to return to the podium. After assisting on the overtime winner in their quarter finals victory over the Americans, the top line with Julius Miettinen and Matias Vanhanen dried up in the semi finals. Likewise, their only first-round NHL selection, Emil Hemming, was held scoreless and now sits at three goals in six games. Against a tough opponent in the bronze medal game, the trio will need to rise to the occasion like Stenberg and Bjorck did tonight.