Sweden to face U.S. for world junior gold on home ice after beating Czechs

Sweden will play for gold on home soil at the world junior hockey championship.

Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored the winner on a power play in the third period before adding an insurance goal as the tournament hosts defeated the Czech Republic 5-2 on Thursday.

The Vancouver Canucks prospect blasted a one-timer past Czech goaltender Michael Hrabal on Sweden's first man advantage of the afternoon at 5:14 to snap a 2-2 tie.

Noah Ostlund then added his third goal of the under-20 event on a breakaway with eight minutes left to make it 4-2 before Lekkerimaki sealed things with his sixth just 1:02 later to blow the top off Scandinavium arena.

The United States battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to down Finland 3-2 and book the other spot in Friday's final.

The Finns and Czechs will play for bronze.

Axel Sandin Pellikka and Theo Lindstein had a goal and an assist each for Sweden, while Ostlund set up Lekkerimaki's second for another two-point performance. Hugo Havelid made 23 saves.

"He's not afraid to do things on the ice," Sandin Pellikka said of Lekkerimaki, selected 15th overall at the 2022 NHL draft. "Goes out there and plays his game.

"Fearless."

Jonathan Lekkerimaki with a power-play bullet!