After suffering an embarrassing 10-0 loss to none other than their Nordic rivals Sweden on home ice last year, the Finns came out in their 2015 opener firing on all cylinders, especially on the power play.

The Czechs certainly didn’t make it easy on themselves from the outset of the game, starting their U18 campaign by taking three consecutive penalties, the last one resulting in a power play goal from Joonas Niemela.

Libor Hajek scored less than two minutes later to tie the game, but the Czechs, who ended up amassing 30 total penalty minutes, simply didn’t give themselves a chance. The second and third period saw Finland score five unanswered goals, four with the man advantage.

Forward Patrik Laine had three assists and a goal to lead the Finns on the scoresheet. Defenceman Vili Saarijarvi finished with two goals and an assist, and forwards Petrus Palmu and Jonne Tammela each had a goal and a helper. Goaltender Veini Vehvilainen turned aside 26 of 27 shots in the win.

Finland has a date with tournament hosts Switzerland tomorrow, while the Czechs will try to rebound against Latvia. Both games are in the Swiss city of Zug.