Team Finland won gold at the 2016 World Junior Championships in dramatic fashion. Finland took a late lead in the third period on a goal by captain Mikko Rantanen. Then they gave up a goal to Russia with 9.6 second left in the game, sending it to overtime. It only took 1:33 of 4-on-4 overtime for Kasperi Kapanen to decide the game though.
Kapanen started the puck out from behind the goal line, then took a hard pivot that lost Flyers 1st round draft pick Ivan Provorov, made Russian goaltender Alexander Georgiev overcommit to Kapanen’s attack and allowed him to go hard around the net to put a wrap around attempt and win the game.
Pop the champagne. It’s a holiday in Finland on Wednesday and no one has to work.
https://youtu.be/BTAlFOM21qo
It was an overdue goal for Kapanen who played very well, fired the puck constantly, but only managed a total of two goals in the entire tournament.
It was a goal that made the stadium erupt, including Finnish hockey legends Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu, both of whom had their numbers retired with the national team during the tournament.
This was a gold medal game worth repeat viewing. Both teams played great and it was one of the more exciting gold medal matches in recent years.
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/684484397479903232
https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/684483142309249028
UPDATE:
Watch the goal called in Finnish, courtesy of Robert Söderlind.
Finnish commentator on Kasperi Kapanen's Golden Goal #WorldJuniors #WJC2016 pic.twitter.com/ruJ4eq5l8z
— Robert Söderlind (@HockeyWebCast) January 5, 2016
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