Finland's top line combine for eleven points, win tournament opener against Latvia

In the second game of the day at the 2022 World Juniors, Finland took on Latvia, who was brought up from Division 1A as a replacement for Russia, who is banned by the IIHF.

The teams traded chances early in the first period, but it was Finland who got the first goal of the game. Nashville Predators 2022 first round pick Joakim Kemell was looking to make a cross-crease pass to Aatu Raty, but the puck went off the Latvian defenceman and in the net to make it 1-0 Finland.

Textbook setup. 😍 Joakim Kemell gets the first goal of the game for @leijonat #WorldJuniors #LATFIN @PredsNHL pic.twitter.com/FYmdGC3tDe— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

A few minutes later, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Roni Hirvonen picked up the loose puck after it was bobbled by the Latvian defenceman and went in on a 2-on-1 with Joakim Kemell. Hirvonen used his patience to fake out the lone Latvian blue liner trying to break up the play and passed the puck over to Kemell who fired home his second of the game to give Finland a 2-0 lead.

Hirvonen 👉 Kemell: 2/2#WorldJuniors @leijonat pic.twitter.com/hic0OdWK8q— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

Finland headed to the power play early in the second period following a holding penalty by Latvian forward and Florida Panthers prospect Sandis Vilmanis.

On the power play, Winnipeg Jets 2022 first round pick Brad Lambert fired the puck home from the high slot after a give-and-go with Roby Jarventie to extend Finland's lead to 3-0.

Give and GOAL! Brad Lambert makes it 3-0 for @leijonat just 1:58 into the 2nd. #WorldJuniors #LATFIN @NHLJets pic.twitter.com/utJ8Olkf69— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 9, 2022

In the dying minutes of the second period, the Finns extended their lead over Latvia to four goals after captain Roni Hirvonen went forehand, backhand top shelf to make it 4-0.

Flash forward to early in the third period with Latvia on the power play. With only six seconds remaining on the man advantage, the Latvians got on the board as Klavs Veinbergs ripped a shot past Finnish goaltender Leevi Merilainen.

Klavs Veinbergs scores for Latvia on the power play! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ajNSuRo9nh— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 9, 2022

With less than five minutes left in the third period, Islanders prospect Aatu Raty ripped a shot short side for his first of the tournament to restore Finland's four-goal lead, making it 5-1.

Aatu Raty goes short side to put @leijonat up 5-1 over @lhf_lv with under 5min to go in the 3rd.#LATFIN #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/63YvYBpP5N— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 10, 2022

With the game approaching the final minute, Kasper Puutio's shot finds a way through the crowd and past Latvian goaltender Bruno Bruveris to put Finland up 6-1.

Finland would hold on to win the game by a score of 6-1. The Finns will be back in action on Thursday against Czechia, while Latvia will face the hosts, Canada, on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET/4 p.m. local.

Players of the Game

Finland: Roni Hirvonen
Latvia: Bruno Bruveris