Overview
- An early five-minute major to Veeti Vaisainen set the tone, with Matej Kubiesa scoring on the ensuing Czechia power play.
- Finland forced overtime when Emil Hemming tied the game with about 19 seconds left in regulation.
- Adam Jiricek, a 2024 first-round pick by the Blues, finished a Petr Sikora feed between his legs for the sudden-death winner.
- Special teams and discipline loomed large with 41 combined penalty minutes as Czech coach Patrik Augusta praised a strong defensive outing.
- The victory positions Czechia near the top of Group B entering Czechia–Latvia and Finland–Canada on Dec. 31, though outlets differ on whether Czechia sits tied for second or third under tiebreaks.