Rangers' Juuso Parssinen scores overtime winner, helps Finland avoid upset at Word Championships
Juuso Parssinen finished the 2024-25 season strong for the New York Rangers, and that's carried over into his play at the 2025 World Hockey Championships.
Parssinen scored a beauty in overtime to lift Finland past France 4-3 in preliminary-round play Sunday in Stockholm. His goal capped a furious comeback, as Finland avoided what would have been a stunning upset defeat at the hands of France.
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Eeli Tolvanen scored twice 1:05 apart late in the third period to rally Finland from a 3-1 deficit. Each of his goals — at 18:27 and 19:32 — were scored after Finland pulled goalie Emil Larmi for an extra attacker.
That set the stage for Parssinen's heroics. The Rangers center accepted a feed from Tolvanen, scooted to the net, and slid a backhand shot between the pads of goalie Antoine Keller just 1:24 into overtime to lift Finland to their second win in as many games at the Worlds.
It was the second consecutive game-winner at the tournament for Parssinen. His first wasn't nearly as exciting. He scored Finland's second goal, 7:06 into the first period of an eventual 2-1 win over Austria.
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Playing on Finland's third line, Parssinen tied for second on the team with four shots on goal Sunday, won 8 of 14 face-offs and logged 13:16 TOI.
'France played a great game,' Parssinen said. 'They defended well, everybody can skate and battle these days and the games get tough if you don't bury your chances.'
Parssinen will face his Rangers teammate Mika Zibanejad on Monday when rivals Finland and Sweden clash. Zibanejad has three goals including a game-winner, in two games for Sweden, which won each of its first two games at the Worlds.
The 24-year-old, who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1 as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade, finished strong for the Rangers with five points (two goals, three assists) in his final three games of the season — a three-point outing against the Islanders on April 10 and two points vs. the Florida Panthers four days later.
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Parssinen signed a two-year contract with the Rangers two weeks ago. He could've been a restricted free agent after he totaled 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 48 games for the Nashville Predators, Avalanche and Rangers this season.
Related: Why Rangers long offseason might be blessing in disguise for Adam Fox
Rangers forward prospect Adam Sykora earns first points at World Championships
Credit: Hartford Wolf Pack
Elsewhere at the World Championships, Rangers forward prospect Adam Sykora helped Slovakia defeat Slovenia 3-1 on Sunday. He picked up an assist on their first goal of the game, by Sebastian Cederle at 8:20 of the first period. It was Sykora's first point of the tournament.
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The 20-year-old had two shots on goal in 14:09 TOI. This past season was his second as a pro in North America. Sykora notched career highs across the board with nine goals, 21 assists and 30 points 71 games with Hartford of the American Hockey League. He finished fifth on Hartford in scoring and fourth in assists.
Will Cuylle remains without a point for Canada, which routed Latvia 7-1 on Sunday. Cuylle, a 20-goal scorer for the Rangers this season, logged 10:23 TOI but didn't record a shot on goal.
Rangers goalie prospect Dylan Garand backed up Marc-Andre Fleury in the easy win. Garand started and earned a shutout in Canada's opener, a 4-0 win against Slovenia.
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