Finland spoils Sweden’s golden moment with overtime shocker

MALMO, Sweden — Rasmus Ristolainen scored one of the biggest goals in Finnish world junior championship history when he tucked a backhander by Swedish goaltender Oscar Dansk 9: 42 into overtime. Then he lost his mind. “I don’t remember what I did,” Ristolainen said of his celebration following the 3- 2 win in the gold- medal game. “Hopefully, it’s not stupid.”

After the puck crossed the goal- line, Ristolainen bolted down the ice, threw his stick in the air, took off his helmet and tossed it before finally jumping into the far- end boards.

The tally gave Finland its first gold medal at the tournament since 1998 and first medal of any colour since a bronze in 2006.

It was the first time the two Nordic countries had ever met in the tournament final.

The Swedes were unbeaten in 2014 entering the contest, leading forward Andre Burakovsky to say their opponent would have to “play the game of their lives” to upend them.

“We have all the chances. I don’t think they had any dangerous chances,” Burakovsky said after the final. “We controlled the game pretty good, but they played really good in their own zone.”

The Swedes last won gold in 2012, beating Russia 1- 0 in overtime on a goal by current Ottawa Senators forward Mika Zibanejad.

With 11 returnees, they were the favourites to reclaim the title on home ice against their biggest rival.

Lucas Wallmark and Christian Djoos scored for Sweden.

Dansk made 28 saves in Sweden’s net and was named the tournament’s top goalie.

Esa Lindell and Saku Maenalanen had the other goals for Finland. Captain Teuvo Teravainen, a Chicago Blackhawks first- rounder in 2012, assisted on all three Finnish goals and won the tournament scoring race with 15 points.