Finland scored two goals in the opening two minutes and skated to an impressive 6-2 win over newly-promoted Denmark this afternoon at 3M Arena at Mariucci. 

This was only the fourth meeting all time between these countries at the World Juniors, the Finns now having won three. 

The Danes are right back at it tomorrow night against another formidable opponent in Czechia. The Finns have a day off before facing Latvia on Sunday.

Petteri Rimpinen stopped 10 shots for the shuout while Anton Wilde was stellar for the Danes, making 37 saves. Roope Vesterinen led the attack with two goals, and Jasper Kuhta chipped in with three assists.

"We got a good start," Vesterinen said. "It's not that usual to score on the first shift. We got a fast two goals and took control and then played a good game all the way. The quick goals are good, but then you have to play with the lead, which can be tricky sometimes. But we have experience, and I think it's a good sign for the rest of the tournament."

"We came out a little bit shaky in the first period," admitted Danish defender Viggo Damgaard. "We allowed some easy goals, but in the third period we came out as a team and played good hockey. Finland is a big hockey country, but I thought we played a solid game against them. It's a big tournament for all of us. There were a lot of positive things from the third period that we can take to tomorrow's game."

Vesterinen got the party started, knocking in his own rebound just 1:49 into the game. "I got a pass from Jasper and was in front of the net. I tried to shoot high and it bounced in front, and I put the rebound in," Vesterinen recalled.

Just 30 seconds later, Onni Kalto converted a nice pass from Max Westergard to make it 2-0. 
 

Four minutes later, however, the Danes got one back when William Bundgard got to a loose puck. He made a quick move to pull goalie Petteri Rimpinen out of position, and scored with the team’s first shot of the game.

Midway through the period, though, Oliver Suvanto restored the Finland two-goal lead with a power-play marker.

It was all Suomi again in the second. Aatos Koivu, the son of legendary Saku, made it 4-1 when Wilde couldn’t squeeze a shot that went under his arm. Joona Saarelainen added to the lead with another goal on the power play, and Vesterinen got his second after not one but two back passes to the side of the goal left him with an empty net.

The Danes made it a bit closer early in the third when number 22, Anton Linde, scored at 2:22 on the power play, his quick one-timer sliding between the pads of Rimpinen. This inspired them to play their best stretch of hockey, and when Mads Klyvo hit the post, the Danes continued to press for more.

The Finns, however, were just too good. They weathered the storm and skated to victory.