ZURICH -- Finland won the men's ice hockey world championship for the fifth time Sunday, defeating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime.
Buffalo Sabres rookie center Konsta Helenius scored the gold-winning goal 10:42 into overtime, giving Team Finland its second title since 2022.
Helenius, 20, among many prospects who helped lead Buffalo into the postseason this season, had one goal and four points in nine games for the Sabres after his promotion. In the playoffs, where Buffalo won a first-round series over the Boston Bruins before losing to the Montreal Canadiens, Helenius had two goals in four games before leaving North America to join Team Finland for the tournament.
Florida Panthers forward Anton Lundell and Mikko Lehtonen assisted on the winner allowed by Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni, who finished with 27 saves.
THE 2026 MEN'S WORLDS CHAMPIONS 🏆🇫🇮🔥#MensWorlds #IIHF @leijonat pic.twitter.com/lYX7Srqjyq
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 31, 2026
"The game was like a lot of up and downs," Finland center Janne Kuokkanen, a former forward for the New Jersey Devils, told reporters after the win. "I think both teams had a chance to score the goal. Hockey is like that, especially today. With the two best teams in a tournament, it's just one bounce and one lucky chance, and you score the goal, and that's it. In the end, it's 1-0. It's just small margins."
Across the ice, Justus Annunen, who went 10-12-2 last season with the Nashville Predators, stopped all 22 shots he faced for Finland, which also won in 1995, 2011, 2019 and 2022.
After finishing runner-up the previous two years, host Switzerland hoped for more this time in front of its home crowd in Zurich. But Switzerland has now failed to score a single goal in the three finals.
"Switzerland is a great team. They've made the final three years in a row," Finland's Olli Maatta, a defenseman for the Calgary Flames, told reporters after the win. "We have a strong culture. You leave your ego outside the locker room, and that's why it's so awesome to come and play for Finland."
The Swiss lost to the Czechs 2-0 in 2024 and were defeated by the United States 1-0 in overtime last year. They also finished second in 2018 and 2013, when they were defeated by rival Sweden. Switzerland also finished second back in 1935.
"One goal again, and we just couldn't manage it," Swiss forward Nico Hischier, New Jersey's captain, told reporters after the loss. "It was a very intense game. I mean, props to Finland. Obviously, they're a well-disciplined team, a well-structured team. But I don't think we gave them much. They didn't give us much. They hit one post. We hit one post. They scored. That's sports. It just sucks to be on the other side."
After the loss, Switzerland captain Roman Josi, a defenseman for the Predators, was named tournament MVP, and also made the championship's All-Star team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.