Finland continue to take World Championship by storm with Latvia thrashing

[p]Wins over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/vgQVYBeh/"]Germany[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/hungary/fBiWomPG/"]Hungary[/a] had set [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/finland/rRWMzYQu/"]Finland[/a] up nicely for a meeting with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/GYgp4SO3/"]United States[/a], and a comfortable 6-2 win over the reigning champions ensured they stayed perfect ahead of facing a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/latvia/44JaYkQ4/"]Latvia[/a] side who had won one of their three matches so far.[/p][p]However, the Finns were in for an early shock, as Latvia broke the deadlock after just 10 seconds when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barkov-aleksander/KCA1r9X3/"]Aleksandar Barkov[/a] was too casual in possession behind his own goal, allowing [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vilmanis-sandis/nRmlLUmk/"]Sandis Valmanis[/a] to steal the puck and knock it back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balcers-rudolfs/SdbO0Y8g/"]Rudolfs Balcers[/a] to score.[/b][/p][p]But Finland regained their composure and were level again five minutes later when a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jokiharju-henri/Gd5gYXor/"]Henri Jokiharju[/a] strike from the left was saved, only for the [b]puck to ricochet up for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bjorninen-hannes/MoWTgiXS/"]Hannes Bjorninen[/a] to volley into the net.[/b][/p][p]From then on it was plain sailing for [i]Leijonat[/i], and though Latvia survived the first powerplay following interference by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/andzans-arturs/OKckYwpP/"]Arturs Andzans[/a], the conceded again within seconds of getting back to full strength when [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/puistola-patrik/nqWpkFgA/"]Patrik Puistola[/a] played the puck into Jokiharju's path and this time there was no stopping his shot.[/b][/p][p]Inside the final five minutes of the opening period, Finland added some breathing space when Bjorninen sent [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maenalanen-saku/WKihHw6h/"]Saku Maenalanen[/a] away and clear, and he made no mistake with the finish[/b] to make it 3-1.[/p][embed guid="28cd4b6a-8b2c-46c7-ae94-b918b6c7adf2" url="https://x.com/ViaplayUrheilu/status/2057475271050035313" social-type="twitter" /][p]Barkov began the second period badly as well, as he was called for tripping in the first minute, but eight minutes later the advantage was extended - this time it was [b]Maenalanen's turn to turn provider, setting the puck back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/merela-waltteri/xt3CAN68/"]Waltteri Merala[/a] to bury.[/b][/p][p]A flurry of late penalties at the end of the second period resulted in Latvia beginning the third period two players down, and Finland made use of the 5-on-3 as Barkov finally enjoyed a positive opening minute to a period, as he set up [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/granlund-mikael/lUeWxpf3/"]Mikael Granlund[/a] for a shot, which was saved, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lundell-anton/zTGkWBJP/"]Anton Lundell[/a] pounced[/b] on the rebound.[/p][p]Getting one man back wasn't enough for the Latvians, who conceded another powerplay goal less than 30 seconds later - [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lehtonen-mikko/GU8BUg7n/"]Mikko Lehtonen[/a]'s shot didn't make it through the crowd, but that's where [b]Puistola was waiting to poke it home.[/b][/p][embed guid="714cb4e2-e3fc-4819-a302-2715f874ad62" url="https://x.com/ViaplayUrheilu/status/2057494101046477037" social-type="twitter" /][p]And in the sixth minute of the final period, the Nordic side added a seventh when the arriving [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raty-aatu/hQ2YUhqG/"]Aatu Raty[/a] had his shot saved by new goaltender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/grigals-gustavs/nLNAPCXu/"]Gustavs Grigals[/a], but [b]he followed in to collect his own rebound and score.[/b][/p][p]Four two-minute penalties against Finland - two conceded by Lundell - in the final 14 minutes slowed the momentum, [b]but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/finland-rRWMzYQu/latvia-44JaYkQ4/?mid=Eajojrz2"]a resounding 7-1 victory[/a] for Antti Pennanen's side puts them on the brink of Quarter-final qualification[/b], though they remain second in the table behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/buO3jBAo/"]Switzerland[/a] on goal difference.[/p][p]Latvia stay sixth, two points behind the all-important fourth place, and next up they play the side occupying that place, USA, on Saturday 23rd. Finland return to the ice on Friday 22nd to face outsiders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/great-britain/C2UJnT9A/"]Great Britain[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/hockey/world/world-championship-2026/"]Follow the 2026 World Ice Hockey Championship on Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]