Finland allowed a goal 10 seconds in but bounced back to thrash Latvia 7-1 at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Zurich, Switzerland.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
With a 7-1 demolition of Latvia on Thursday, Finland kept pace with also-perfect host Switzerland in the race for first place in Group A. Coach Antti Pennanen’s crew boasts a 4-0 record so far at the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship.
Hannes Bjorninen scored a goal and two assists. Henri Jokiharju, Saku Maenalanen, Waltteri Merela, and Patrik Puistola had a goal and an assist apiece. Anton Lundell and Aatu Raty added singles. Mikko Lehtonen contributed three assists.
"I think we had a solid 60 minutes today," said Lehtonen. "We played good defence and good offence. We created some good chances today. I think that was the key to our success"
The Finns, who won the Olympic bronze medal in February in Milan, also got a key new roster addition in forward Mikael Granlund, who chipped in an assist.
Granlund, 34, became available after his Anaheim Ducks fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The two-time Olympic bronze medalist is among Finland’s greatest international heroes, from his lacrosse goal against Russia in the 2011 Men’s Worlds semi-finals to his set-up on Saku Manninen’s sudden-death goal versus Canada to give Finland its last gold in Tampere in 2022.
"He's a big leader and a really good player," said Maenalanen. "He's a big part of our team."
Captain Rudolfs Balcers replied for Latvia. The Baltic nation has just one win in four games so far. The Latvians must rest and regroup before taking on the defending champion Americans on Saturday.
"Today sucks," said forward Filips Buncis. "It stinks, but it's a long tournament. There's a new day tomorrow so we move on. We will learn from this game, improve on the things we need to improve on, and take another battle."
Suomi outshot Latvia 36-15 as Finnish starting goalie Justus Annunen recorded his third victory. Latvia's Mareks Mitens was pulled after conceding six goals in his World Championship debut. The last time the 28-year-old goalie appeared in net for Latvia was at the 2017 World Juniors in Canada.
Perhaps the Finns were a little too well-rested after Monday’s 6-2 romp over the U.S., as Latvia caught them napping early. Behind his own net, Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov – the reigning three-time winner of the NHL’s Selke Trophy as best defensive forward – uncharacteristically coughed up the puck to Sandis Vilmanis, who put it out front for Balcers to draw first blood just 10 seconds in.
Balcers, who leads the tournament with five goals, clearly likes playing here. This is the former NHLer’s home rink with ZSC Zurich Lions, the Swiss NL club with whom he will play a fourth consecutive season in 2026-27.
The Finns remained composed and struck back. At 5:11, Bjorninen batted in the mid-air rebound from Merela’s shot. The 30-year-old SCL Tigers forward is best-known for scoring Finland’s first Olympic gold-medal winner against the ROC team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Maenalanen praised Bjorninen: "He's a really solid centreman and good in the D-zone."
Just after a mid-period power play expired, Jokiharju made it 2-1, pinching in to accept a backhanded pass from Puistola and zipping one over Mitens’ glove.
On a breakaway set up by Bjorninen, Maenalanen scored five-hole on Mitens to put Finland up 3-1 at 15:22.
"I think we started well with the first shift," Buncis said of Latvia. "We scored that first goal, but then we kind of panicked a little bit and didn't play to our systems, to the battles, and they took over."
Mitens robbed Lundell just before the buzzer to prevent a four-goal Finnish lead. First-period shots were 15-3 Finland, which said it all.
In the second period, Finland continued to stifle Latvia and capitalize on its errors. Merela skated in unimpeded to convert a centering pass from Maenalanen at 8:55, putting the game out of reach.
Things got testy at the end of the second as the Latvians took multiple stick fouls. They would pay the price.
Lundell ccnverted on a 5-on-3 at 0:58 of the third period. Just 27 seconds later, Puistola put in a rebound on the ensuing 5-on-4. Latvian coach Harijs Vitolins mercifully ended Mitens' outing in favour of Gustavs Grigals. Number one goalie Kristers Gudlevskis had the night off.
"Our power play managed to score two goals," said Lehtonen. "So that was good, but I think we can be even sharper on the power play."
Raty potted Finland's seventh goal off the rush at 5:36. It was his third of these Worlds after potting just four goals in 66 NHL games with Vancouver this year.
The Latvians used up their time-out prior to a late 5-on-3 man advantage, but it made no difference as the Finns killed it off.
"We were going for it," said Buncis. "Guys were just trying to make a play, score a goal. We didn't give up until the end."
Finland gets a shot at its fifth win versus newly promod Great Britain on Friday.
Hannes Bjorninen scored a goal and two assists. Henri Jokiharju, Saku Maenalanen, Waltteri Merela, and Patrik Puistola had a goal and an assist apiece. Anton Lundell and Aatu Raty added singles. Mikko Lehtonen contributed three assists.
"I think we had a solid 60 minutes today," said Lehtonen. "We played good defence and good offence. We created some good chances today. I think that was the key to our success"
The Finns, who won the Olympic bronze medal in February in Milan, also got a key new roster addition in forward Mikael Granlund, who chipped in an assist.
Granlund, 34, became available after his Anaheim Ducks fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The two-time Olympic bronze medalist is among Finland’s greatest international heroes, from his lacrosse goal against Russia in the 2011 Men’s Worlds semi-finals to his set-up on Saku Manninen’s sudden-death goal versus Canada to give Finland its last gold in Tampere in 2022.
"He's a big leader and a really good player," said Maenalanen. "He's a big part of our team."
Captain Rudolfs Balcers replied for Latvia. The Baltic nation has just one win in four games so far. The Latvians must rest and regroup before taking on the defending champion Americans on Saturday.
"Today sucks," said forward Filips Buncis. "It stinks, but it's a long tournament. There's a new day tomorrow so we move on. We will learn from this game, improve on the things we need to improve on, and take another battle."
Suomi outshot Latvia 36-15 as Finnish starting goalie Justus Annunen recorded his third victory. Latvia's Mareks Mitens was pulled after conceding six goals in his World Championship debut. The last time the 28-year-old goalie appeared in net for Latvia was at the 2017 World Juniors in Canada.
Perhaps the Finns were a little too well-rested after Monday’s 6-2 romp over the U.S., as Latvia caught them napping early. Behind his own net, Finnish captain Aleksander Barkov – the reigning three-time winner of the NHL’s Selke Trophy as best defensive forward – uncharacteristically coughed up the puck to Sandis Vilmanis, who put it out front for Balcers to draw first blood just 10 seconds in.
Balcers, who leads the tournament with five goals, clearly likes playing here. This is the former NHLer’s home rink with ZSC Zurich Lions, the Swiss NL club with whom he will play a fourth consecutive season in 2026-27.
The Finns remained composed and struck back. At 5:11, Bjorninen batted in the mid-air rebound from Merela’s shot. The 30-year-old SCL Tigers forward is best-known for scoring Finland’s first Olympic gold-medal winner against the ROC team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Maenalanen praised Bjorninen: "He's a really solid centreman and good in the D-zone."
Just after a mid-period power play expired, Jokiharju made it 2-1, pinching in to accept a backhanded pass from Puistola and zipping one over Mitens’ glove.
On a breakaway set up by Bjorninen, Maenalanen scored five-hole on Mitens to put Finland up 3-1 at 15:22.
"I think we started well with the first shift," Buncis said of Latvia. "We scored that first goal, but then we kind of panicked a little bit and didn't play to our systems, to the battles, and they took over."
Mitens robbed Lundell just before the buzzer to prevent a four-goal Finnish lead. First-period shots were 15-3 Finland, which said it all.
In the second period, Finland continued to stifle Latvia and capitalize on its errors. Merela skated in unimpeded to convert a centering pass from Maenalanen at 8:55, putting the game out of reach.
Things got testy at the end of the second as the Latvians took multiple stick fouls. They would pay the price.
Lundell ccnverted on a 5-on-3 at 0:58 of the third period. Just 27 seconds later, Puistola put in a rebound on the ensuing 5-on-4. Latvian coach Harijs Vitolins mercifully ended Mitens' outing in favour of Gustavs Grigals. Number one goalie Kristers Gudlevskis had the night off.
"Our power play managed to score two goals," said Lehtonen. "So that was good, but I think we can be even sharper on the power play."
Raty potted Finland's seventh goal off the rush at 5:36. It was his third of these Worlds after potting just four goals in 66 NHL games with Vancouver this year.
The Latvians used up their time-out prior to a late 5-on-3 man advantage, but it made no difference as the Finns killed it off.
"We were going for it," said Buncis. "Guys were just trying to make a play, score a goal. We didn't give up until the end."
Finland gets a shot at its fifth win versus newly promod Great Britain on Friday.
Latvia vs Finland - 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship
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