In the second semifinal of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, the United States scored three unanswered goals and beat Finland 3-2.
They will therefore face Sweden in the grand final.
The Finns started the game strong and beat goalie Trey Augustine twice in the first period. Oiva Keskinen and Rasmus Kumpulainen were the authors of these successes.
However, the Americans had not yet said their last word and equalized in the second period. Jimmy Snuggerud first used a power play to halve the gap. Will Smith then brought everyone back on level terms. The San Jose Sharks prospect was forgotten at the opening of the goal and was skillfully served by Gabriel Perreault.
Cutter Gauthier completed the comeback in the final moments of the third period. In the power play, he delivered the ball to the Americans with a shot from the top of the face-off circle. Canadian young player Lane Hutson from Montreal prepared the winning goal.
On Friday, the United States will compete in a first final since the 2021 edition of the tournament. At that time they had defeated Canada and secured the fifth gold medal in their history at this prestigious competition.
For their part, Sweden will be in a final for the first time since 2018 and will be trying to triumph for the first time since 2012.
On the same day, Finland and the Czech Republic will fight for the bronze medal.