World Junior Championship roundup: U.S. tops Finland in OT for 2nd gold in row | NHL.com

Cole Hutson (Washington Capitals) had a goal and an assist, Buium and Ryan Leonard (Capitals) each had two assists, and Trey Augustine (Detroit Red Wings) made 21 saves for the United States, which has won back-to-back championships at the WJC for the first time.

“We’re really proud of the fact that we’re able to win back to back and be the first team to do that in USA Hockey history, but I think for us it’s keeping on this path and making sure that we continue to raise the bar and have that standard,” United States coach David Carle said.

It is the seventh championship for the United States in the past 21 years (also 2004, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2024).

“Winning back to back is something that’s never been done before for our country,” Augustine said. “We’ve always been talking about that throughout this whole 3 1/2 weeks and, I mean, there’s just no better feeling.”

In the first 27 years of the WJC (1977-2003) the U.S. won just three medals (silver in 1997; bronze in 1986 and 1992).

Emil Hemming (Dallas Stars) had two assists, and Rimpinen made 36 saves for Finland, which was seeking its sixth WJC championship (1987, 1998, 2014, 2016, 2019).

Jesse Kiiskinen (Red Wings) gave Finland a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal at 7:13 of the first period, scoring on a snap shot from the high slot inside the right post.

It was his sixth straight game with a goal.

James Hagens (2025 eligible) tied it 1-1 at 12:04 on a rebound. Leonard took the initial shot from the point, and Hagens stood his ground in front before muscling the puck into the net at the right post.

Finland regained the lead 59 seconds later when Tuomas Uronen (Vegas Golden Knights) scored on a wrist shot from the top of the right circle.

Emil Pieniniemi (Pittsburgh Penguins) pushed it to 3-1 at 4:52 of the second period. After Buium and Oliver Moore of the United States collided, Pieniniemi picked up the loose puck at the right point, skated in untouched and scored on a snap shot from the high slot.

“Heading into the third period, if we would have led by two goals, things would have been totally different,” said Finland captain Aron Kiviharju (Wild).

Said Carle: “They played a great first period, outpossessed us, generated things off the rush, and we just sat back too much,” Carle said. “We needed to get up ice, we needed to pressure, skate more, make them uncomfortable, and it would start to pay off. They went up 3-1, but we just needed to start skating a little bit more. I thought we were on our heels and little too passive in the first period.”

Brandon Svoboda (San Jose Sharks) pulled the United States to within 3-2 at 17:38 of the second when his shot from the left point deflected off the left shoulder of defenseman Daniel Nieminen (2025 draft eligible) into the net.

Hutson tied it 3-3 at 19:31. He controlled a pass from Leonard at the top of the right circle and cut between two Finland players before sending a wrist shot inside the right post from the slot.

“The second wave was open all game, and earlier in the second I had a chance to get the puck and [Leonard] took a shot, so I told him on the bench that I’ll be open on the second wave and I was screaming for it,” Hutson said. “He put it right on my tape, and good things happen when you join the rush.”

Hutson is the first defenseman in WJC history to lead the tournament in scoring (11 points; three goals, eight assists).

The United States outscored its opposition 20-7 in four straight wins following a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland in Group A pool play on Dec. 29. The Americans are 16-4-1-18 and have tied Finland once in 40 games at World Juniors.

“Our first period was very good. We played tight units, attacking together and the defense was very tight,” Finland coach Lauri Mikkola said. “The U.S. didn’t have so much space to attack, and then in the second, the game changed a little bit because there’s a longer change and we gave the them the chance to play their game, and they did it very well.”

The United States is 7-2 all-time in the gold-medal game of the WJC, including 1-1 against Finland.

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report