For its second match of the tournament, Finland leaves aside its NHL centers Barkov and Lundell. It’s not just about resting them. It’s also about testing the many other players competing for the last places on the team. The competition will be tough, especially as the Finnish final is still underway.
Finland’s greater motivation is felt at the start of the match, when it is effective on its first opportunity. Lenni Hämeenaho wins the puck in the corner and Aatu Räty serves in the axis Vili Saarijärvi who scores halfway up the mitten side (1-0). The Czechs then kill two penalties (a clash from KovaÅ™Ä Ãk and a stick held by Kempný) but Finland pushes again at 5 against 5 and is successful. A throw from Petteri Puhakka hits the bottom of the railing and Aku Räty picks it up as soon as it crosses the baseline in the other direction (2-0). Goalkeeper Josef KoÅ™enář takes revenge on little brother Aatu Räty by parrying with his boot his shot from the left circle towards a half-open cage.
The Czechs, who had ended the series of Swedish victories without their major trio VoženÃlek-Tomášek-Flek, nevertheless brought it in today. After collecting points against the Germans and Austrians in April, the three men were less dominant at the home tournament last week. This Saturday, they better assumed their status.
The best Czech chance of the first half was already for Daniel VoženÃlek. In the second third, he serves Jakub Flek, who claimed the puck, alone in front of the cage, but fails twice at point blank range on Harri Säteri. The Finnish goalkeeper followed up thirty seconds later with a save against David Tomášek, who dribbled past defender Vilén with a very nice big bridge. This strong Czech moment, first driven by the first trio, resulted in a long delayed penalty. She is finally called for a collision with Manninen… whom Merelä soon joins in prison (he caused Melovský to trip during an action by VoženÃlek).
This 5 against 3 situation unlocks the Czech attack: cross-field pass from Tomášťek for Dominik Kubalák’s powerful recovery in the right circle. On the return to full strength, a goal was denied to Sami Päivärinta due to a stick that was too high on his deflection. Instead of 3-1, it was 2-2 twenty-five seconds later: VoženÃlek appeared to take the puck in front of Säteri’s dive and handed it to Tomášek, precise from a tight angle with a goalie out of position.
After twenty Czech minutes, it was Finland who got off to a strong start in the third period. His offensive actions are very often carried out by the defenders, who take a very active part in the game. Topias Vilén thus fakes KoÅ™enář and opens the cage but the Czech players come back to block the puck. The game rebalances, but with seven minutes remaining, David Tomášek is penalized two minutes (tripping). Mikko Lehtonen’s wrist shot from the blue line deceives KoÅ™enář, totally hidden (3-2).
It is perhaps in defense that coach Antti Pennanen will have the most difficult choices to make. With one starter in the stands (Määttä) and two who will join the team in Switzerland (Nikolas Matinpalo and Henri Jokiharju), the eight backs present on the ice gave everything for the five remaining places (at most) and greatly contributed to the victory.
Best players of the match: Mikko Lehtonen for Finland and Daniel VoženÃlek for Czechia.
Post-match comments :
Mikko Lehtonen (Captain of Finland): “We played good hockey overall, we didn’t concede much at 5-on-5, we even got the goal we wanted on the power play. There were opportunities before, we must take advantage of them. It was a close match. We could see that we were ready from the start. In the second period, the level of play dropped a little, but we improved in the third, an important victory. Of course everyone wants to give the best of themselves and prove their worth. Competition always brings positive motivation to everyone, that’s a good thing.”
Radim Rulák (Czech coach): “The first period was clearly in Finnish hands. They scored, they relaxed and they were better. They were extremely strong on the puck and in the boards throughout the game, that was their domain. The fact that we shot 16 times in the second half was partly because the Finns slowed down a bit to 2:0. It happens to all teams: we go out of the system a little, we replay situations and the concentration is not very good. However, we have really improved. The players reacted very well to the speeches in the locker room. […] The deployment of Tomáš Galvas and Marek Alscher at 6 against 5 was targeted. These are preseason games and we want to see the guys in these critical situations. We present different rotations in these moments to see how they will react. »
Finland – Czech Republic 3-2 (2-0, 0-2, 1-0)
Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at the Catena Arena d’Engelholm, 1576 spectators.
Referees: Mikael Holm and David Laksola (SUE) assisted by Ludvig Lundgren and Philip Hanning (SUE).
Pénalités : Finlande 10′ (2′, 6′, 2′) ; Tchéquie 12′ (4′, 4′, 4′).
Shots: Finland 18 (6, 5, 7); Czech Republic 22 (3, 16, 3).
Evolution you score :
1-0 à 04’44†: Saarijärvi assisté d’Aatu Räty et Hämeenaho
2-0 à 14’39†: Aku Räty assisté de Puhakka et Päivärinta
2-1 à 29’54†: KubalÃk assisté de Tomášek et Hovorka (double sup. num.)
2-2 à 32’32†: Tomášek assisté de VoženÃlek et Flek
3-2 à 54’41†: Lehtonen assisté de Hämeenaho et Manninen (sup. num.)
Finland
Attackers:
Sakari Manninen (A, 2′) – Janne Kuokkanen – Jesse Puljujärvi (2′)
Petteri Puhakka (+2) – Sami Päivärinta (+1) – Eemil Erholtz
Patrik Puistola (-1) – Aatu Ratty (2′) – Lenny Hämeenaho
Eetu Päkkilä – Hannes Björninen (A) – Waltteri Merelä (2′)
Aku Räty (+1)
Defenders:
Ville Heinola – Urho Vaakanainen (+1, 2′)
Mikko Lehtonen (C) – Vili Saarijärvi
Juice Ricola – Mikael Seppälä
Topias Vil̩n (+2) РMiska Kukkonen
Guardian :
Harri Säteri
Substitute : Waltteri Ignatjew (G). Reserve: Justus Annunen (G), Olli Määttä (D), Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, Saku Mäenalanen (A).
Tchéquie
Attackers:
Daniel VoženÃlek (C, +1) – David Tomášek (+1, 2′) – Jakub Flek (+1)
Dominik Kubalek (-1) – Michal KovaÅ™ä Ãk (2′) – Kristian Reichel (-1)
Jan Mandát (-1) – Matáš Melovský (-2) – Martin Kaut (A, -1)
Radovan Pavlík – Petr Sikora – Adam Klapka (2′)
Michal Kunc
Defenders:
Michal Kempn (A, -1, 4′) – Michael Hovorka (-1)
Tomáš Galvas – Marek Alscher (2′)
Libor Hájek – Libor Zabransk
Filip Pyrochta – Jan Å Ä otka
Guardian :
Josef Koenář [sorti à 58'14â€]
Substitute: Petr KvÃ¡Ä a (G). In reserve: Dominik Pavlát (G), Jiřà TichÃ¡Ä ek, Tomáš Cibulka (D), Jiâà Černoch, OndÅ™ej Beránek (A).
