USA vs. Finland final score, results: Americans close out prelims with win; finish first in Group B

Bryan Murphy

•
USA vs. Finland final score, results: Americans close out prelims with win; finish first in Group B image

The USA is your Group B winner at the 2023 World Juniors.

The Americans defeated Finland 6-2 on Saturday afternoon to close out group play and secure the top spot in the standings. 

Six different players scored for Rand Pecknold's crew, as Jimmy Snuggerud leading the way with a goal and three assists. Logan Cooley picked up a goal and two helpers, while Trey Augustine secured his third win at the World Juniors, finishing with 29 saves. 

MORE: Watch the 2023 World Juniors live with fuboTV (free trial, U.S. only)

The victory sets up the United States with a quarterfinal matchup against Germany, who ended the preliminary round as the No. 4 team in Group A. The Americans are looking for redemption after they were knocked out in the quarterfinals by Czechia at the 2022 World Juniors. 

For Finland, it finishes as the No. 2 seed in Group B and will have to wait the results of the Sweden-Canada game tonight to determine their quarterfinal matchup. All four quarterfinals will take place on Monday, Jan. 2. 

The Sporting News provided live updates and highlights from the USA-Finland matchup at the 2023 World Junior Championship.

MORE: Team USA roster, schedule for 2023 World Juniors

USA vs. Finland score

  1 2 3 OT F
USA 1 3 2 - 6
Finland 1 1 0 - 2

USA vs. Finland live updates, highlights from 2023 World Juniors

(All times Eastern)

Final: USA 6, Finland 2

6:22 p.m. — The USA hang on for a 6-2 in over Finland to win Group B. An up-and-down game at times for the Americans, but they grind out a win. That's kind of how this whole preliminary round has gone for the United States, where they have flashes of dominance, and then fall asleep. Up next for the USA is a quarterfinal date against Germany. Finland finishes second and will have to await the result of the Canada-Sweden game to determine its quarterfinal matchup. 

6:17 p.m. — GOAL! Lane Hutson joins the rush, takes a slight feed from Snuggerud and buries it by Koskenvuo. A really smooth behind-the-back pass from Snuggerud to draw the defenders one way and find Hutson coming down on the other. With just 3:45 left, that should just about do it, 6-2 USA. 

6:14 p.m. — He's not playing top minutes, but Brad Lambert has been invisible today for Finland. I don't think I've heard his name called once all game. 

6:13 p.m. — It's back to 5 on 5 with less than seven minutes to go. Finland did not get a single shot on goal on that power play. A big block by Gavin Brindley on a Kemell one-timer highlighted the PK. 

6:09 p.m. — The Finns go back to the power play, as Jackson Blake hooks Jimi Suomi in the Finland zone. 

6:08 p.m. — The Americans kill off the Lipkin minor. An interesting call by the Finnish coaching staff, as Kemell was not out with the top unit to start the power play. 

6:04 p.m. — Strong response by Finland following the Cooley goal, and it results in a penalty by the USA. Lipkin sits for the second time today as he's called for tripping. 

5:58 p.m. — GOAL! Cooley puts home a rebound off the rush and the USA lead is back to three. A great defensive zone faceoff sends the USA up the ice in transition. Koskenvuo made the initial stop on the Snuggerud shot, but Cooley follows to the net and pounces on the rebound. Four minutes into the third, and it's 5-2. 

5:52 p.m. — Puck is down and we are potentially 20 minutes away from deciding the Group B winner. 

End of the second period: USA 4, Finland 2

5:33 p.m. — After 40 minutes, the USA has a two-goal lead over Finland. The Americans were able to break through and get three goals in the period, but the Finns had the momentum by the end. It's setting up for an interesting third period. 

5:30 p.m. — The Finns have ramped up their pressure since falling behind 4-1. They are finally getting some sustained offensive zone time here late in the second. Finland has been generating a ton of shots from the point. 

5:25 p.m. — GOAL! Just 27 seconds after the Hughes goal, Leeni Hameenaho gets one back for Finland. He cleans up a rebound in front to cut the lead back to two. Not a good follow-up shift from the Americans following the Hughes goal, as they left Hameenaho uncovered on the doorstep for the easy tap-in.

5:24 p.m. — GOAL! Hughes pots his third of the tournament and it's now 4-1 USA. The Finns allow Hughes to have time and space to step into a slap shot that may have gotten deflected on its way to the net. The lead is now three with five minutes to go. 

5:23 p.m. — Great penalty kill by the Americans. They got in multiple shooting lanes and blocked three to four shots in a span of 10 seconds towards the end of the power play, including two one-timers from Kemell. 

5:19 p.m. — Charlie Stramel gets caught reaching and trips up a Finnish defender. Finland goes to what is technically its third power play, although the second one was just 10 seconds. The Finns' lone goal came on the man advantage in the first. 

5:16 p.m. — GOAL! Jimmy Snuggerud extends the USA lead to 3-1. A turnover by Finland in the slot leads to a loose puck that Snuggerud collects, he spins and beats Koskenvuo with a backhand with just under 11 minutes left in the second. 

5:08 p.m. — GOAL! The USA gets another power play goal, this time courtesy of Rutger McGroarty. Hughes rushes into the zone and drops a pass to McGroarty, and his shot gets through Koskenvuo. 2-1 USA regains the lead with just over 15 minutes to go. 

5:07 p.m. — Kalle Ervasti shoves Dylan Duke down well after the whistle and USA heads to a power play. Finland is not happy with the roughing call. 

5:03 p.m. — Back to 5 on 5 as both Gauthier and Huuhtanen are out of the box. 

5 p.m. — Second period starts 4 on 4 for the first 1:50. 

End of the first period: USA 1, Finland 1

4:41 p.m. — Niko Huuhtanen is called for cross-checking as the buzzer sounds, so that wipes away the Finnish power play. At the end of the first, it's a tied game. Each team notched a power play goal to get on the board. The Americans controlled a majority of the play throughout the period, as their forecheck and pressure on Finland's defense was tremendous.

4:40 p.m. — With 10 seconds left in the first, Finland gets another power play as Gauthier is called for slashing. 

4:34 p.m. — GOAL! Finland strikes back with a power play goal of its own. Joakim Kemell rips a rocket one-timer off the post and in. He's a deadly sniper and places it perfectly over Augustine's blocker. Tied game with 3:33 left in the first. 

4:32 p.m. — Now Finland goes on the man advantage 22 seconds after the Lucius goal. Sam Lipkin is called for holding. 

4:31 p.m. — GOAL! Seconds after the power play ends, Chaz Lucius gets his second of the tournament. A shot by Ryan Ufko goes off the backboards and Lucius knocks it as it came back off the boards. 1-0 USA leads with under five minutes go to. 

4:26 p.m. — The USA gets the first power play of the game, as Topi Ronni is called for high sticking. The Americans had the puck for a good 30-45 seconds with the extra attacker on, and Luke Hughes nearly by taking the puck to the net with a power move and trying to beat Koskenvuo with a backhand. 

4:21 p.m. — Jack Peart comes streaking in behind the play, picks up a pass from Jackson Blake and rings a shot off the post. The USA are all over the Finns right now. The forecheck in particular is causing issues for Finland, who has struggled at times in this tournament at breaking the puck out. 

4:15 p.m. — Jimmy Snuggerud and Cutter Gauthier just had back-to-back chances. Snuggerud picks off a lazy pass from a Finnish defender and goes in on a mini-breakaway, but is denied by Koskenvuo. Gauthier then takes advantage of a Finnish defender blowing a tire at the blue line on his zone entry, but his shot is fought off by Koskenvuo. 

4:09 p.m. — Puck is down and the game has begun! Winner wins Group B. 

Pregame

3:30 p.m. — With Switzerland beating Slovakia in a shootout earlier today, it confirms that the U.S.-Finland game decides the winner of Group B, whether the game ends in regulation or not. If the U.S. wins, they finish first in the group, Finland ends up in second and Slovakia finishes third. However, if Finland wins, regardless of whether it's in regulation or extra time, then Finland gets the No. 1 spot, Slovakia ends up No. 2 and the USA is No. 3. 

2:30 p.m. — Lineups for today's pivotal game. It is Trey Augustine vs. Aku Koskenvuo in net. Not many changes for the USA. 

USA vs. Finland start time

  • Start time: 4 p.m. ET (5 p.m. AST)

The puck will drop at 4 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) from the Avenir Centre in Moncton, N.B., home of the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. 

MORE: Team USA 2023 World Juniors roster, results

It is the final group play game of the tournament for both teams. 

What channel is USA vs. Finland on today?

  • Network (U.S.): NHL Network
  • Network (Canada): TSN 1/4

TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada, while in the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.

Stephen Nelson will provide play-by-play coverage for NHL Network. He will be joined by analyst Dave Starman and reporter Jon Rosen. 

Dennis Beyak and Craig Button will be on the call for the USA games for TSN. Laura Diakun and Dave Reid will be in the studio.

How to live stream World Juniors hockey games

U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (which comes with a free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.

Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games on TSN.ca or the TSN app.

USA vs. Finland odds

  • USA: -1.5 (+114)
  • Finland: +1.5 (-159)
  • O/U: 6

The USA are a slight 1.5-goal favorite on the puck line for its game against Finland, according to Sports Interaction. 

USA World Juniors schedule 2023

(All times Eastern)

Date Opponent Result Time (ET) TV
Dec. 26 Latvia W, 5-2 4 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 28 Slovakia L, 6-3 4 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 29 Switzerland W, 5-1 4 p.m.  TSN, NHLN
Dec. 31 Finland — 4 p.m. TSN, NHLN
Jan. 2 TBD (Quarterfinals) — TBD  TSN, NHLN
Jan. 4 TBD (Semifinals) — TBD  TSN, NHLN
Jan. 5 TBD (Gold-medal game) — TBD  TSN, NHLN

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.