World Junior Championship roundup: U.S. tops Czechia, faces Finland for title

Saturday is the 10th day of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, which is being held in Ottawa. The semifinals are Saturday, and the championship and third-place game are Sunday.

United States 4, Czechia 1 -- Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) made 26 saves for the United States, which advanced to the gold medal game of the World Juniors for the second straight year.

The U.S. will seek a seventh tournament championship and a chance at winning back-to-back titles for the first time when it plays Finland in the gold medal game at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).

Finland scored a 4-3 overtime victory against the United States in preliminary round play on Dec. 29.

"We spoke about [the possibility of winning back-to-back] at our first meeting in the summer, that our country has never done that, and a lot goes into getting back to that opportunity," U.S. coach David Carle said. "So you start with the end in mind, and then you kind of build your process from there. Our guys have believed and been on board throughout, and we've continued to get better and better. I think that's what we're most proud of ... to put ourselves in this situation. We've earned it, and we get to go lay it out all on the line [Sunday] evening."

The United States is 15-3-1-8 with one tie against Czechia in 28 matches in the tournament. It extended its streak to 14 straight games at World Juniors without losing in regulation; the last regulation loss was the semifinal round of the 2023 WJC.

Augustine became the career leader in wins at World Juniors (11 wins), passing Jack Campbell (10 wins, 2010-12).

"It's so special, just the whole list of goalies that have played for our country," Augustine said. "Obviously, looking to get another gold medal tomorrow and that's what I'm focused on."

Ryan Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perreault (New York Rangers) each had a goal and an assist for the Americans.

"I don't think we played nearly as good as we should've tonight," Leonard said. "I guess we're saving it for [Sunday]. I felt we were kind of up and down and our team knows that. We've just got to find a way to step on the gas the whole game [against Finland]."

Michael Hrabal (Utah Hockey Club) made 21 saves for Czechia, which will play Sweden in the bronze medal game at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).

"I think the U.S. played a really strong game; they didn't really push us too hard, but they played so smart, and they were waiting for their chances," Czechia coach Patrik Augusta said. "They weren't cheating for them, and we gave it to them at the end. I think it was a close game at 2-1 and I'm a bit disappointed we didn't give ourselves a better chance to end up tying it. We made two mistakes on changes that probably shouldn't happen in a big game like this if you want to be successful."

Perreault gave the United States a 1-0 lead at 3:14 of the first period. Leonard picked up a puck along the right wing boards, skated by a defender before backhanding a pass through another defender from the right circle to Perreault in the slot for the one-touch goal.

"I was going to support him at first, but then when I saw he was going to be able to fully get it out, I went to the middle and I knew he was going to find me," Perreault said.

Jakub Stancl (St. Louis Blues) tied the game 1-1 when he stole a clearing attempt from U.S. defenseman Logan Hensler (2025 NHL Draft eligible) at the left point, skated into the left circle and ripped a shot into the far top corner at 9:28 of the first.

"I just read their defenseman on the forecheck, and I picked up the puck and just wanted to get it high on the net, so it got in," Stancl said. "I think we had pretty good chances to score. Sadly, it didn't work out."

Cole Eiserman (New York Islanders) gave the Americans a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal on a one-timer from the high slot after a pass from Trevor Connelly (Vegas Golden Knights) from the left circle at 13:41 of the second period.

Augustine's best save came at 12:21 of the third period when he stretched out his right pad to deny Adam Jecho (St. Louis Blues) at the left post.

"It was just kind of a loose-puck scrum in the corner that kind of popped out the bottom of the dot and the guy got a shot, not too heavy, and kind of made it difficult to control the rebound," Augustine said. "At the end of the day, I'm just trying to get any part of my body in front of it to keep it out of the net."

Leonard scored from the slot off a lead pass from Perreault at 15:33 of the third period for a 3-1 lead, and Oliver Moore scored an empty-net goal at 18:53 for the 4-1 final.

“I liked our second period, and we just couldn't find a way to extend it,” Carle said. “We knew they'd have a push in the third and they did. Trey was excellent in the first 10 minutes of third before we kind of got going again and it was a big relief [when Leonard scored] and you start to see it coming together.”

The United States has medaled in seven of the last nine World Juniors, the best stretch in the country's history.

Finland 4, Sweden 3 (OT) -- Benjamin Rautiainen (2025 draft eligible) scored a power-play goal at 9:22 of overtime and Finland advanced to the gold-medal game of the World Juniors for the first time since 2022.

Finland will play the United States in the championship game at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).

Rautiainen was stationed along the goal line on the right side of the Sweden zone, and his shot along the ice went under the pads of goalie Melker Thelin (Utah Hockey Club).

"I just saw that the goalie is standing so I try to shoot to the five-hole as hard as I can," Rautiainen said.

Emil Hemming (Dallas Stars) had a goal and an assist for Finland, and Jesse Kiiskinen (Detroit Red Wings) and Arttu Alasiurua (2025 draft eligible) also scored. Konsta Helenius (Buffalo Sabres) had four assists and Petteri Rimpinen (2025 draft eligible) made 43 saves.

"It's an unreal feeling," Finland defenseman Aron Kiviharju (Minnesota Wild) said. "Can't really describe the feelings in any words. We did a [heck] of job there to get the win tonight. It wasn't easy. I think we played really well for the first two periods but in the third we were just trying to survive."

Otto Stenberg (St. Louis Blues) scored two goals for Sweden, and Wilhelm Hallquisth (2025 draft eligible) also scored. Thelin made 31 saves.

Sweden will play Czechia in the bronze-medal game Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET; NHLN, TSN).

"I told the players right after the game, 'Right now, for two hours, you can be disappointed, but then we need to have a meeting at the hotel and regroup,'" Sweden coach Magnus Havelid said. "It was a bit disappointing, but we will play in the bronze-medal game tomorrow, and that's a good feeling. So we need to come together tonight and regroup."

Stenberg made it 1-0 at 1:22 of the second period. He lifted the stick of Finland defenseman Emil Pieniniemi (Pittsburgh Penguins) at center ice and took off on a 2-on-1 with Victor Eklund (2025 draft eligible). Stenberg kept the puck and scored from the left side.

Hemming tied it 1-1 at 4:32. As a Finland power play was ending, Hemming passed to Helenius below the goal line, skated to the net, and scored off the return pass.

Kiiskinen scored a power-play goal 13:28 to put Finland ahead 2-1, tapping in a backdoor pass by Topias Hynninen (2025 draft eligible).

Sweden allowed a tournament-high eight power-play goals.

Stenberg tied it 2-2 with a power-play goal at 18:07, when his one-timer from the right face-off circle deflected off the glove of Finland defenseman Veeti Vaisanen (Utah Hockey Club) and past Rimpinen.

Finland went ahead 3-2 when Arttu Alasiurua scored on a net drive at 19:39.

Hallquisth tied it 3-3 at 11:32 of the third period when his point shot trickled between Rimpinen's right arm and body.

Sweden got a power play during overtime when Jessi Nurmi (New York Islanders) was called for high-sticking at 2:26. But Rimpinen, who has earned the nickname "Showtime," made three saves.

"Once again, Mr. Showtime was doing his job to help us win this type of game," Kiviharju said. "We showed our resilience and kept going and waited for our opportunity."

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman, NHL.com senior draft writer Mike G. Morreale and NHL.com independent correspondent Callum Fraser contributed to this report