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2024 IIHF World Junior Championship

2024 World Juniors Semifinal Preview: USA Vs. Finland

2024 World Juniors Semifinal Preview: USA Vs. Finland

The U.S. will take on Finland at the 2024 WJC for the chance to go to the gold-medal game in what should be a thrilling semifinal matchup.

Jan 3, 2024
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GOTHENBURG, Sweden – The 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship is down to its final four teams. After some surprising results in the quarterfinals, the top two seeds remain, but upsets created unexpected matchups in this stage of the medal round.

Team USA will meet Finland in the late game Thursday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time, 1:30 p.m. ET on NHL Network in the U.S.

The Americans are coming off of a record-setting preliminary round over which they scored 29 goals – most ever goals in that round by a U.S. team since the World Juniors became a 10-team tournament in 1996. They’re in the semis thanks to an easy 7-2 win over Latvia.

Finland, meanwhile, lost each of its first two games in the preliminary round including a stunning upset to Germany, which had never beaten Finland previously in this event. The Finns rebounded with wins over Latvia and an impressive shootout victory over host Sweden to secure third place in their group. In the quarterfinal, Finland beat Slovakia in an incredible back-and-forth contest that was ended 24 seconds into overtime by captain Jere Lassila.

USA and Finland have had some epic battles at the World Juniors and this one will surely test both squads. The U.S. scoring attack hasn’t been slowed down by anybody yet in the tournament as they’re averaging over seven goals a game. Meanwhile, Finland has showed over their last three games that they’re just hitting their stride.

To get you ready for what should be another classic semifinal, here’s what you need to know ahead of Thursday’s matchup.

2024 World Juniors Semifinal Matchup Schedule

Thursday, Jan. 4

Sweden vs. Czechia, 9 a.m. ET, Scandinavium

USA vs. Finland, 1:30 p.m. ET, Scandinavium

USA’s Scoring Attack Is Potent

Team USA has scored 36 goals so far in this tournament, averaging 7.2 goals per game. There is also not a team that is within 30 shots on goal of their 203 through the first five games of the tournament.

What makes the scoring impressive is that it has been spread out. Fifteen different players have scored for Team USA and all 20 skaters have at least one point in this tournament. 

Scoring in bunches was always going to be the expectation of this team. They have the forwards to do it, they have a mobile blue line that is good at moving pucks up ice and they have the experience. Now they have to prepare for one of their toughest games from a defensive standpoint.

Finland’s hallmark has always been defending as a team and pouncing on mistakes. The U.S. is going to have to protect the puck much more against a Finnish team that can counterattack with the best of them.

USA will have a clear speed and skill advantage, but Finland has some good size and enough players that can match USA stride for stride. Defensively, the Finns have been solid enough, but they don’t have a loaded D corps with a bunch of stoppers.

The U.S. will also have to face a goaltender in Niklas Kokko (SEA) who has yet to play his best game in this tournament. When he’s on, he’s a terrific netminder who is not often beaten easily. He’s going to face an awful lot of shots, but if Finland can keep the Americans to the outside, he’s going to have an easier day.

USA’s challenge is going to be getting to the middle of the ice, creating havoc at the net front and scoring a few dirty goals. They showed more of an ability to do that against Latvia than in any game previously, but USA’s ability to score in a variety of ways is going to challenge Finland.

Finland’s Counter Attack And Forecheck Present Challenges

Finland has scored half as many goals as USA in this tournament, with 18 through five games. They are not going to be looking to run and gun with Team USA. Instead, they’ll be picking their spots and looking to challenge USA’s defense with a good forecheck.

A few of Finland’s goals against Slovakia came thanks to an aggressive forecheck and an ability to fish pucks out of the corners and make plays before the other team could get set. They also showed an ability to pounce on mistakes and counter-attack in transition. 

USA has been slightly prone to turnovers at the offensive blue line, leading to odd-man chances against. That’s where Finland will look to make their living. They have some real speedsters up front, but even more than that, they have size. Players like Jani Nyman (SEA) and Kasper Halttunen (SJS) are going to give the U.S. defenders all that they can handle.

If the Americans struggle to get pucks up ice, they can’t get their forwards engaged in transition as well. USA’s team speed is going to have to start with good retrievals and exits from their defense. If Finland can slow that down at all, it will be harder for the U.S. to establish their offensive identity that has carried them through the tournament somewhat easily to this point.

Who Is Starting For Team USA In The Semifinal?

One of the biggest questions for Team USA was which of their two excellent collegiate goalies will start? Jacob Fowler (MTL) started the quarterfinal against Latvia, but when asked if that meant Fowler had won the No. 1 job, head coach David Carle did not offer a clear answer.

The fact of the matter is, the U.S. is honestly comfortable with either goaltender. Augustine has played on the bigger stages and in the more challenging visiting environments. With Canada out of the tournament, USA is the primary target of the remaining fans’ ire. 

In three starts, Fowler has an .889 save percentage, while Augustine has a .952 through two starts in this year’s event. Augustine has also 6-1 in his World Junior career. Both have been among the class goalies in the NCAA this season with Fowler possessing the better numbers for No. 1 Boston College. 

There is really no clarity at this point which of the two will get the nod for the game against Finland.

Players To Watch In USA-Finland Semifinal Matchup

Cutter Gauthier, C, USA (PHI) – Currently leading the World Juniors with 10 points, Gauthier has been doing most of his point damage with assists. With just one goal so far in this tournament, USA’s No. 1 center is getting his shots, they’re just not dropping. With a sub-5% shooting percentage at the moment, Gauthier may be due for a breakout. Gauthier’s shooting percentage for the rest of the season is nearly 14%. You have to figure these shots could start dropping at any minute for him and if they do, that makes a very dangerous U.S. attack even more dangerous.

Lenni Hämeenaho, RW, Finland (NJD) – After a lackluster start to the tournament, Hämeenaho has four points over his last three games including a big goal against Slovakia in the quarterfinal. He can be a menace on the forecheck and at the net-front. He plays a well-rounded game that can make things difficult on the opposition at both ends of the ice. Now that he’s playing better, he should be a bigger threat in this game.

Lane Hutson, D, USA (MTL) – Hutson is USA’s minutes leader, averaging over 23 minutes a game and I would not be surprised to see him play upwards of 25 to 27 minutes in the game against Finland. Hutson has points in every game but one so far, but hasn’t impacted many of the games as much as he does in the NCAA. His dynamic puck skills and ability to get shots through have been visible in flashes, but we still haven’t seen Hutson take over a game like he has so often over the last two years at BU. He may need to do it when the U.S. needs it most.

Jani Nyman, RW, Finland (SEA) – Emblematic of the size Finland has with seven forwards that are 6-foot-1 or taller, Nyman is one of their biggest. He has four points so far in the tournament, but has been a scoring threat in a lot of their games. If guys like him can get the forecheck established and make plays in transition, Finland has a better chance at knocking of the high-scoring Americans.

2024 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships Finals

The Bronze Medal Game of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships begins at 9 a.m. EST on Jan. 5. 

The Gold Medal Game is at 1:30 p.m. EST.  

World Juniors Stream In 2023- 2024

The World Juniors Championships will air the NHL Network in the U.S.. Select games will be available on ESPN+.

World Juniors Hockey On TSN In Canada

In Canada, the event will be televised on TSN and streamed on TSN+.

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