Antti Suomela was the winner of the game in extra time after a goalless draw at Lillehammer. Finland are world champions after their win at home last year.

Finland was without some of its biggest stars in both prep and WC. Many of the best will be in action in the NHL playoffs, which are just around the corner.

Finland took the lead after barely three minutes when Atte Ohtamää scored behind Henrik Haukeland with a shot from the blue line.

Five minutes from the end of the half, Andreas Martinsen equalized after careful preparations by Michael Haga and Ken André Olimb.

After two goalless periods, the match had to be decided in extra time. There, Soumela became the winner of the match. However, Norway believed that Finland should have been sent off while establishing a goal, but the referee let play go. The two teams meet again for the game at Lillehammer on Saturday.

Norway meets Kazakhstan in the first ever World Cup match on May 13. Additionally, Canada and the Czech Republic are among the group which has a total of eight teams. WC hosts Latvia as well and all of Norway’s games are played in Riga.

Norway saved its place in the elite WC ahead of Great Britain in last year’s championship. The team that finishes last in the pool drops to division 1.

[ Manglerud Star og Grüner vurderer å slå seg sammen ]

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Match facts:

Ice hockey, WC warm-up match

Norway – Finland 1-2 ef (1-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1).

1049 spectators

Target:

Period 1: 0-1 (02.45) Atte Ohtamää, 1-1 (15-37) Andreas Martinsen (Ken André Olimb, Michael Haga).

2. Period: None.

3. Period: None.

Overtime: 1-2 (60.36) Antti Suomela (Ahti Oksanen).

Expulsion: Norway 4 x 2 minutes, Finland 4 x 2 minutes.

The teams meet again on Saturday.

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