Another great conclusion to an epic World Junior Tournament took place yesterday in Malmo, Sweden. The IIHF U20 prospect showcase featured Sweden and Finland in the gold medal game. In one of the biggest rivalries, it was Finland who prevailed over Sweden 3-2 in dramatic fashion- winning gold thanks to Sabres’ defense prospect Rasmus Ristolainen, who scored 9:42 into overtime.

The 2012 Buffalo first round pick selected eighth overall last June got to a loose puck around the boards from teammate Teuvo Teravainen. He made a great move around a Swedish player and then patiently tucked a backhand around Oscar Dansk for the tournament winner.

“I saw that they played man-on-man defense in their own end,” an emotional Ristolainen told the IIHF site. “It was empty in front of the net. I just skated there. I tried to put the puck somewhere hard and it went in.”

“Nobody trusted us to win, but we trusted,” Teravainen added after adding a tournament best 15 points (2-13-15) with assists on all three Finland goals. He also led everyone with 13 helpers. “We knew we were going to be a good team and we had a chance to win this tournament. It’s an awesome feeling right now.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow for host Sweden. Many observers felt they were the best team. A pre-tournament pick, they ran the table getting all the way to the championship game. Despite rallying twice from one-goal deficits, they were unable to capture a second WJC in three years.

“We were playing in their zone the whole game,” a disappointed Sweden captain Filip Forsberg said after being named tournament MVP finishing with four goals and eight assists for 12 points. “Obviously, it’s hard to lose like this.”

Also making the media All-Star Team were Teravainen and Canada’s Anthony Mantha up front. On defense, Ristolainen and Russia’s Nikita Zadorov were tabbed with Ristolainen garnering Top Defenseman honors. Rounding out the team is Finland goalie Juuse Saros, who posted a tournament best 1.57 GAA and .943 save percentage. Even though Saros made the All-Star Team, Sweden netminder Dansk was tabbed Best Goalie finishing with a 1.79 GAA and .928 save percentage.

Finland took an early 1-0 lead when Esa Lindell scored 28 seconds in. Lucas Wallmark (’14 Draft Eligible) tied it. Finnish defenseman Saku Maenalanen beat Dansk with a wrist shot through traffic to put them back ahead. Ironically, Ristolainen was in the penalty box for Christian Djoos’s tying goal. He could only watch as Djoos one-timed a Wallmark feed past Saros.

Ultimately, Ristolainen redeemed himself by playing the hero. His goal allowed Finland to win the WJC for the first time since 1998. It’s their third championship.

Russia edges Canada for bronze: In the bronze medal game, Russia prevailed over Canada 2-1.  It marked the second consecutive year they defeated Canada for bronze.

Sabres’ forward prospect Mikhail Grigorenko and Eduard Gimatov each scored in the first period to give Russia a 2-0 lead. Grigorenko’s shot deflected off Canadian defenseman Matt Dumba past Zachary Fucale for the opening goal at 3:35.

“It was a little bit lucky,” Grigorenko said. “I was trying to make a pass to [Pavel] Buchnevich and there were a lot of guys in front.”

Buchnevich is Ranger property. The club selected him in the third round of last year’s draft number 75 overall. Gimatov followed later in the stanza when a simple wrist shot fooled Fucale.

“There was no deflection,” Fucale expressed afterwards. “He just scored. It’s something I have to stop. That was my bad, for sure.”

Canada’s lone goal finally came with 12:50 left in regulation. Josh Morrissey redirected a Charles Hudon feed in front by Russian netminder Andrey Vasilevskiy. But that was the closest they got. Vasilevskiy finished 4-2 with a 1.83 GAA and .933 save percentage.