NHL Network will broadcast every game of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa. It includes comprehensive coverage of the U.S. National Junior Team, which will play Finland in the tournament at the Canadian Tire Center on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET). In the semifinals on Saturday, the United States beat the Czechs 4-1, and Finland beat Sweden 4-3 in overtime.
NHL Network's EJ Hradek will handle the play-by-play with former NHL forward Tony Granato providing color commentary. Mike Kelly and John Morosi will also be part of the coverage, and longtime NCAA hockey analyst Dave Starman will provide in-studio analysis and give his three keys to victory for the USA before each of its games during the 11-day tournament.
“I give the United States a great deal of credit…,” Starman said. “I thought the Czechs fit in well with the United States, but the biggest difference, as we said it on the NHL Network studio shows, was the American speed. It was the X factor in every game. No team played that fast. They had no shape and they turned it into A goal or a chance, as the United States did, and their speed was a big reason why the attack was in fifth gear, which makes a lot of players, especially defenders aged 18 and 19, make mistakes.
“In 2019, the USA and Finland played a very entertaining 'fight for every inch' type game that Kaapo Kakko won for the Finns in Vancouver in the final two minutes. Finland is just playing no frills, good skill, solid skill hockey after an emotional win over their geographical rival Sweden, facing their biggest rival, the United States, for the gold medal Matches between these two countries are usually great to watch, and the Finns view the United States as their team to go Beating It Every year the games match up well, but this game goes back to the old adage “The team that gets off the bus with the best players usually wins. That team is the USA.”
Here are Starman's three keys to the USA's victory over Finland:
1. Control of the check
“With all the highlight-reel goals, it's overlooked how the ground game made a difference. The ability to defend the ice, combined with how quickly the USA can get to people and pucks, has made a lot of teams shine. Going 200 feet Often with a disciplined defensive structure the Finns are a physical team but they don't score much making them work at every opportunity (and probably limit a fair few) using their speed and tenacity off the ball huge assets for the USA team “American.”
2. Salah, goalkeeper
“Being home, I read about there being no goalkeeping controversy with the USA. Trey Augustin was a starter and they were preparing him for their biggest two games. Those tea leaves were easy to read. He came in after a layoff and it took him 2-3 games to get to battle level.” To where he was meant to be, once the Canada game arrived, Augustin's “game on” switch flipped and he has been the rock they need him to be ever since. His last two games against Canada and Czechia have been incredibly solid, and it looks Refreshed mentally and physically If the match against Finland for the gold medal is the first win by three goals, I expect it will be less than allowed by Augustin.
3. Achieve balance
“The US has 33 goals. The number that came from the rush versus the number of plays from the offensive zone is about equal, and they have nine goals from the power play. They get out wide, get into the middle lane and can kick wide or create a layup.” This is the initial input and they can rotate pucks and retrieve them. The last 23 goals have been scored on first shots which is unheard of and is testament to how well they create high risk chances their skill level allowed them to play with possession in all three zones and the balance of their line allowed them to distribute minutes and keep everyone involved. This is a deck that is designed to win seven games. “Building a short-tour team versus a long-tour team are very important. Different animals and the 2025 edition is what a short-tour team looks like.”
