This is Finland’s fourth ice hockey World Cup title, and the team also became Olympic champions earlier this year. Finland is also the first country since Sweden in 2013 to win WC gold on home soil.

– This is really awesome. That you can win World Cup gold at home is something you can only dream of. I wish I was a spectator and a fan today too, Granlund told Viaplay.

It all must be decided in the most dramatic way. This was first decided in a 20-minute three-on-three game. Canada suffered an ejection and in four against three, Manninen scored the winner after 6.42 minutes into stoppage time.

Last year it was Canada who decided the final against Finland after extra time.

Finnish captain Valtteri Filppula secured the triple by becoming the first Finn to win Stanley Cup, World Cup and Olympic gold.

Strike back

After a scoreless and equal first half, Dylan Cozens sent reigning Canadian champions ahead four minutes into the half. Canadians are often good at exploiting games that are outnumbered.

It was precisely the overplay game that became the direct determinant in the final. Finland was allowed to go five-on-three after two quick and disputed expulsions of Canada in the third period. The Swedish judges’ spouses were unlucky with the decision. Among other things, Cole Sillinger was sent off for a top-flight club, but TV pictures suggest it was the Finn who got the face of his own club.

They took advantage of the situation to equalize first at 1-1 through Nashville star Mikael Granlund. The same guy went 2-1 in a five-on-four clash soon after.

Joel Armia then changed the score to 3-1 with six minutes remaining. Canada then sent off the keeper, and Zach Whitecloud made it 2-3 with two minutes remaining. Referees must learn by video whether the goal is out of position before they approve the goal.

Forced extension

Canada continued without a goalkeeper and pressing. Max Comtois made it 3-3 with 1.24 minutes remaining so the final had to be decided in “sudden death”. Also in the quarterfinal against Sweden, Canada managed to make a decision in overtime after the final score.

Canada could win a 28th WC gold, but stay on 27 shared titles with Russia/Soviet. Finland has won the WC three times previously in 1995, 2011 and 2019.

Norway finished 13th in the WC for the second year in a row, but had three semifinalists Finland, Czech Republic and the United States in their group.