The Finns didn’t hold zero this time, but they managed to win the Nordic derby. Kapanen and Hyry both scored two goals

On Monday afternoon, the Nordic derby between Finland and Norway took place at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Prague. The favoured team Suomi did not falter and won 4:1. Oliver Kapanen and Arttu Hyry scored twice. Max Krogdahl scored the tying goal for the losers.

The Norwegians, who came into the game without the experienced Mats Zuccarello, defended themselves shorthanded in the beginning. But the Finns took advantage of the second power play when Oliver Kapanen crossed Kaski’s attempt from the blue line behind goalie Jonas Arntzen in the seventh minute.

Norway’s hockey team created their first big chance in the ninth minute when two of their players drove into a power play. However, Harri Säteri dealt with Martin Rønnild’s shot and Håvard Salsten’s follow-up. The Finnish goaltender did not score even a moment later on his team’s numerical disadvantage. And he also saved Brandsegg-Nygård at the end of the opponent’s fast break in the 15th minute.

Three minutes later, the favourites led 2:0 after another good run by Kaski. This time it was Arttu Hyry who scored. At the end of the period, the game was delayed a bit after Norwegian Kåsastul accidentally hit his face on the boards and had to be treated. Due to the need to remove the bloodstain from the ice, the referees eventually called a timeout early, with the remaining minutes of the opening period being played after the break.

26 seconds after the start of the standard middle 20 minutes, Hyry scored for the second time in the game. He increased the lead to 3:0 with a backhand shot into a half-covered net. Jukka Jalonen’s teammates were clearly the better team in that situation.

After Säteri’s save against a lone Olsen, Kapanen was also a double goal scorer. He finished into a completely empty net, as goalkeeper Arntzen made a mistake behind the net and thus contributed significantly to the fourth goal for coach Tobias Johansson’s team.

However, his teammates were not about to give up completely, and after a sacrificial power play save by Finland, they enjoyed a goal in the 39th minute. Straight from the penalty spot, Max Krogdahl headed the ball to Säteri, who was the first player of the tournament to beat him with an accurate finish over his left shoulder.

The Biel goalkeeper had only missed two Czech shootouts at the 2024 World Championship. In the opening game, he was still unable to beat Palat’s shot, which was not valid. For the first time in the ongoing championship, the Finns did not keep zero at the back, but entered the third period with a comfortable 4:1 lead.

The Suomi team created several scoring opportunities, for example Jormakka hit the post with one shot in the 46th minute. As the final siren approached, it was becoming more and more certain who was going to win, which is what the relatively calm action on the pitch looked like. The numerical advantage of the winner at the end did not change the final score.

Finland will have two days off after the expected win, after which they will play Austria on Thursday afternoon. Norway will take on another northern European rival on Tuesday. At 16:20 they will face Denmark.

Source: IIHF, CT Sport Plus