BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Gophers' Nick Bjugstad scored with 1:52 left in overtime and Team USA opened defense of its world junior title with a 3-2 victory over Finland on Sunday night in Buffalo, N.Y.
The former Blaine star snapped a wrist shot that got by goalie Joni Ortio, who stopped 27 shots.
"I thought we stuck to our game plan throughout," said Keith Allain, head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. "Our players need to work on acting instinctively within that system, but this was an important win against a good Finland team."
Goalie Jack Campbell stopped 32 of 34 shots. Minnesota Duluth's Justin Faulk and Wild prospect Jason Zucker also scored for the U.S. Joonas Nattinen and Iiro Pakarinen -- who tied the score with 7:01 left in the third -- tallied for Finland.
Team USA took a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal as Faulk's slap shot sailed over Ortio's shoulder at 18:54 of the first period.
Finland broke through at 13:50 of the second after Campbell misplayed the puck behind his net. Toni Rajala chipped the puck from Campbell, and then sent a pass to Nattinen who evened the game at 1-1.
Just a minute, 18 seconds later, Zucker gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead. Chris Brown's forecheck caused a turnover deep in the Finland zone. Zucker pounced on the loose puck and beat Ortio on the short side.
