Florida Panthers forwards Aleksander Barkov and Jussi Jokinen combined to set up Toronto’s Leo Komarov for the game-winning power-play goal 4:16 into the third period in Finland’s 3-2 victory over the United States in Group B action from Russia.
Mikko Koivu and Antti Pihlstrom scored to stake Finland to a 2-0 first period lead before Frank Vatrano and Connor Murphy lit the lamp for the U.S. to tie the game. Young American phenom Auston Matthews drew an assist on the Vatrano goal.
Barkov finished the game with no shots on goal and a -1 rating in 15:39 TOI. He won 9 of the 13 face-offs he took.
Jokinen registered two shots on goal, lost one draw and also finished with a -1 rating while playing exactly 15 minutes.
Finland (3-0) will take on Hungary on Wednesday.
Defenseman Mike Matheson scored the final goal in Canada’s 8-0 rout over Belarus. The goal came on the power-play and was assisted by Brendan Gallagher and Connor McDavid.
Matheson logged 15:28 of ice time and finished the game with two shots on goal and a +2 rating.
Ryan O’Reilly notched two goals and Derick Brassard, Corey Perry, Matt Duchene, Taylor Hall and Mark Stone also lit the lamp for the 3-0 Canadians.
Canada will get two days before facing Hungary on Thursday.
In other games not involving Panther players, Russia blanked Latvia 4-0 and the Czech Republic beat Sweden 4-2.