The United States is coming off its first loss of the 2026 world junior hockey championship.
It can’t afford another loss.
Team USA, attempting its first three-peat at the tournament for the world’s best under-20 players, will face Finland on Friday, Jan. 2, in the quarterfinals. The team that loses goes home and the winner heads to the semifinals on Jan. 4. The medal games are Jan. 5.
The USA beat Finland in the championship game last year to pick up a second consecutive gold medal.
The Americans beat Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia in this tournament before losing to Sweden. They have been without top defenseman Cole Hutson since he was hit by a puck in the second game and left the ice on a stretcher. Max Plante missed the Sweden game with an injury. Hutson is expected to play Friday while Plante remains day-to-day.
Here’s what to know about the USA vs. Finland game, including how to watch:
What channel is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?
TV channel: NHL Network
Livestream: Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers, or Sling TV.
Watch world junior championships on Fubo
What time is USA vs. Finland world juniors hockey game today?
Date: Friday, Jan. 2
Time: 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time)
The game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. local time) at the Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the home of the Minnesota Wild.
World juniors USA vs. Finland: How to watch, stream
Time: 6 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 2
Location: Grand Casino Arena (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
TV: NHL Network
Streaming: Fubo and certain levels of Sling TV carry NHL Network.
World junior championships quarterfinals today
Jan. 2
Sweden 6 Latvia 3: The Swedes remain perfect at the tournament and will have the top seed in Sunday’s semifinals. Anton Frondell, a Blackhawks No. 3 overall pick, scored twice, including 10 seconds into the game.
Czechia vs. Switzerland, 4:30
USA vs. Finland, 6
Canada vs. Slovakia, 8:30
Sweden advances to semifinals
Sweden improved to 5-0 after a 6-3 win against Latvia. Blackhawks draft pick Anton Frondell scored 10 seconds into the game and also scored in the third period.
USA players to watch
Will Zellers leads the USA with five goals and seven points. He had the game-winning goal in the first three games. Brodie Ziemer (Sabres) has six points and James Hagens (Bruins) has five.
Finland players to watch
Roope Vesterinen leads Finland with four goals and is tied for the team with five points. Defenseman Lasse Boelius also has five points, including two goals.
Cole Hutson injury update
The USA defenseman will suit up for the first time since he left the second game on a stretcher after being hit in the head by a puck. Injured forward Max Plante remains day-to-day.
Germany wins relegation game
Fifth-place Germany beat beat fifth-place Denmark 8-4 in Friday’s relegation game and will stay in the top level of the world junior championships. Denmark, which had qualified for the tournament this season, moves down one level. It went winless in Minnesota.