Defenseman Zeev Buium set up Stiga’s breakaway with a stretch pass through the neutral zone, which sent the Boston College product and Nashville Predators’ second-round draft pick alone on goal. Stiga took care of the rest when he beat Rimpinen between the legs.

"I kind of saw [their defenseman] sleeping, so I tried to skate as fast as I could and beat the defender,” Stiga said. “[Buium] made a really good saucer pass and sprung me on a breakaway. I didn’t really try to think too much. I just tried to open [Rimpinen] up and get a good shot and luckily it went in.”

The U.S. outshot Finland 40-24, including a 6-2 margin in overtime. Stiga’s game-winning goal was his first of the tournament.

“Great speed and a great play by [Buium] to find [Stiga] streaking,” U.S. coach David Carle said. “It was an unbelievable finish and something [Stiga] will remember for the rest of his life. It was an amazing play and certainly one that will live in history.”

The Americans claimed their seventh gold at World Juniors, including their third in the last five years. The U.S. won a medal for the third straight year and will attempt to tie the American record of four straight from 2016-19 at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“I’m really proud of the guys for their ability to buy in and put the team and the country first,” Carle said. “Our first time as a country going back-to-back. For the guys to be part of that, it’s something they’ll remember forever.”

Last year, the U.S. won gold in Gothenburg, Sweden, defeating the host country 6-2. Prior to Sunday’s gold-medal win, the U.S. suffered a 4-3 overtime loss against Finland in the preliminary round, the Americans’ lone defeat of the tournament.

“It’s just unbelievable and such a great feeling to win with all of these guys,” forward Danny Nelson said. “Obviously we had this goal coming into it and when you accomplish your goal, it feels amazing to see all of that hard work come to fruition.”

Nelson was one of 10 returning players who won gold at last year’s tournament. Ryan Leonard, who finished with five goals and 10 points, also won his second gold medal and earned tournament MVP honors.

Trey Augustine ended the gold-medal game with 21 saves to pick up his 12th career win at World Juniors, tops all-time among American goaltenders. Augustine is the only American goaltender — and sixth all-time — to win three medals at World Juniors.

Augustine became the winningest American goaltender at World Juniors following a 4-1 win in the tournament semifinals against Czechia. Finland reached the final game with a 4-3 overtime win against rival Sweden.

Finland outshot the U.S., 13-8, in the first period and led 3-1 4:52 into the second period. The U.S. took control, but didn’t have anything to show for it until Boston University teammates Brandon Svoboda and Cole Hutson scored 1:53 apart late in the second period to tie the game.

“It speaks to the resilience of our group,” Nelson said. “We were down, but never out and we knew in that locker room that if we kept pounding, it would eventually pay off. We stuck to our game plan and it worked out for us.”

The same can be said for Stiga, who, in overtime, delivered the biggest moment of the game — and one of the most impactful moments in U.S. history at World Juniors.

“This is something special that I’ll never forget,” Stiga said. “The team we had and the way we were able to do it, there’s no better feeling.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.