2025 World Juniors: Top standouts for Finland vs. Latvia

Credit: Kasper Halttunen (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)

OTTAWA – Finland has temporarily taken over the top spot in Group A thanks to a 3-0 win over Latvia on Tuesday afternoon.

The Finns can still finish anywhere from 1-3rd, depending on the result of the Canada vs. USA game later tonight. Latvia, meanwhile, will play the top team from Group B in the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

It was a low-event game, but the Finns didn’t mind. Benjamin Rautiainen scored the opening goal at 7:05, which proved to be the game-winning goal. Detroit Red Wings prospect Jesse Kiiskinen scored the 2-0 goal on a good shot at 27:06, and Kasper Halttunen finished things off with the 3-0 blast at 42:05 to finish the night off.

Undrafted Finnish goaltender Petteri Rimpinen, meanwhile, stopped all 28 shots sent his way for the shutout.

Here’s a look at the top performers from Tuesday afternoon:

Finland

#19 Konsta Helenius, C (Buffalo Sabres): This was my favorite game from a high-caliber prospect that we were waiting to see a big game from. He made a great play on the first goal, deking past two Latvians to get the puck into a high-danger scoring position. His creativity and hockey IQ is near the top on this team but it felt like he was caught watching too much of the game action throughout the tourney. Today, he took control and was Finland’s best play driver, as many expected he would be.

#22 Kasper Halttunen, RW (San Jose Sharks): The power-play goal had to feel good for Halttunen. The noted goal-scorer had been having a rough time scoring goals, but he fired home a perfectly placed one-timer in the back of the net for the 3-0 goal. Halttunen had three excellent looks in the first period that didn’t come together, but it felt like it was only a matter of time until he figured it out.

#37 Benjamin Rautiainen, RW (Undrafted): The double overage prospect had the best showing of his tournament today. He scored the opening goal and assisted on the 3-0 goal to help blow things wide open. He’s really smart with the puck, and he’s been acting in an energy-oriented role on the top line. It was good to see him rewarded with a goal today.

Latvia

#29 Linards Feldbergs, G (Undrafted): Who else? The Latvian goalkeeper has been so important for them all tournament long and he kept the Latvians in this one. He was great laterally, moving so fluidly and without hesitation. Feldbergs was also a bit more aggressive at the top of crease, taking away space as the Finns tried to get creative with their passing.

#9 Eriks Mateiko, LW (Washington Capitals): Between his physicality and his play with the puck, Mateiko was Latvia’s best forward again today. That top line was nowhere near as effective as they were against Germany thanks to the injury to Bruno Osmanis but Mateiko was crashing and banging and moving the puck every time he hit the ice.