OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Boston University’s Cole Eiserman broke a second-period tie and the defending champion United States beat Czechia 4-1 on Saturday night to advance to the world junior hockey championship game.
The Americans will face Finland — a 4-3 overtime winner over Sweden in the first semifinal — for the title Sunday night. Finland beat the United States 4-3 in overtime in group play.
Boston College teammates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault each had a goal and an assist for the Americans. Minnesota’s Oliver Moore also scored, and Michigan State’s Trey Augustine made 26 saves.
Eiserman made it 2-1 with 6:19 left in the second with a one-timer off a cross-ice feed.
Jakub Stancl scored for the Czechs. Michael Hrabal stopped 21 shots.
In the first semifinal, Benjamin Rautiainen scored on a power play at 9:22 of overtime to lift Finland past Sweden.
Rautiainen beat goalie Melker Thelin from a sharp angle to the right of the net on a 4-on-3 man advantage with Tom Willander in the penalty box for holding.
Petteri Rimpinen made 43 saves for Finland. Emil Hemming had a goal and an assist and Jesse Kiiskinen and Arttu Alasiurua also scored.
Otto Stenberg scored twice for Sweden. Wilhelm Hallquisth also scored and Thelin stopped 31 shots.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
