Finland captured its fifth Ice Hockey World Championship on Sunday, edging Switzerland 1-0 in a tense overtime showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Overtime Heroics in Zurich
The decisive moment arrived at 10:42 of the extra period when forward Konsta Helenius slipped the puck past the Swiss netminder, sealing a gold‑medal victory for the Finnish side.
Goalie Justus Annunen stood tall with 22 saves, preserving the shutout and earning the tournament's best‑goalkeeper honors.
Captain Aleksander Barkov, who had missed the entire Florida Panthers campaign due to a serious knee injury, contributed three goals and eight assists throughout the competition, underscoring his pivotal role.
Switzerland, the host nation, could not find a breakthrough, marking their third consecutive final without a goal and extending a championship drought that dates back to 1935.
The triumph underscores Finland's resurgence on the world stage, having previously lifted the trophy in 1995, 2011, 2019 and 2022, and it sets the stage for next year's competition.