Tue. Dec 10th, 2024

Canada is back where it belongs, playing in the World Junior Championship gold-medal game. The host country is taking on Finland on Saturday to be crowned champion of the 2022 tournament.

On Friday, Canada took down Czechia 5-2 in the semifinals to punch its ticket to the gold-medal game. Kent Johnson picked up a goal and two assists, Logan Stankoven had a goal and a helper, Olen Zellweger had three assists and Connor Bedard, Mason McTavish and Joshua Roy each added a goal.

Canada built a 4-0 lead over the first two periods thanks to two goals each in the first and second. Czechia fought back in the third, scoring two goals to cut the deficit in half, but a late goal by Canada provided needed insurance.

Canada’s power play went 2 for 3 on the day, improving its tournament success rate to 50 percent (8 for 16).

Finland earned its spot in the 2022 World Juniors gold-medal game thanks to a 23-save shutout by goalie Juha Jutkola against Sweden. Seeing Jatkola starting was a surprise to some, as he had only started one of the team’s previous five games, but the Finns rode with him and he came up big in the 1-0 win.

Kasper Puutio potted the lone goal of the game. It came on the power play after an iffy call for too many men on the ice. Sweden could not score on a 5-on-3 power play it had for 1:34 late in the second period.

It’s the first time since 2019 that Finland will play for gold. That year, the team defeated the United States in the championship game. This year, it will have to take down a Canadian team that it lost to 6-3 in the preliminary round.

The Sporting News has a complete guide on how to watch Canada vs. Finland in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship final, including the start time and TV channels for viewers in the United States and Canada.

What channel is Canada vs. Finland on today?
Canada: TSN1/3/5
United States: NHL Network

TSN has all the World Juniors action in Canada. In the United States, viewers can find the games on NHL Network.

Gord Miller and Mike Johnson will be on the call live in Edmonton. James Duthie and Bob McKenzie will provide analysis during intermissions.

How to live stream World Juniors hockey games
Canada: TSN.ca, TSN app
United States: fuboTV (free trial)
Fans in Canada can stream all World Juniors games at TSN.ca or the TSN app. U.S. fans can stream the tournament on fuboTV (free trial), NHL.tv or the NHL app.

Canada vs. Finland start time
Time: 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. MT)
The puck drops at 8 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. local time, from Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alta., home of the NHL’s Oilers and WHL’s Oil Kings.

Canada vs. Finland odds
Canada: -1.5 (-122)
Finland: +1.5 (-114)

Canada is a 1.5-goal favorite on the puckline for the contest against Finland at the World Juniors, according to Sports Interaction.