HELENIUS' OVERTIME HEROICS LIFT FINLAND TO GOLD MEDAL
The Amerks forward scored the golden goal in overtime to clinch a 1-0 victory for Finland in Sunday's gold medal game against Switzerland
Jun 1, 2026Rochester Americans forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect Konsta Helenius was front and center in the hockey world stage on Sunday after scoring the golden goal in overtime to clinch a 1-0 victory for Finland in its gold medal game against host Switzerland to bring a close to the 2026 IIHF World Championship.
The lone tally by Helenius capped a dominant run for the Finns, who went 8-1, including six straight wins to open the tournament, with their only loss coming to the Swiss during the preliminary round. Even more impressively, Finland outscored its opposition 40-14 while never allowing more than two goals in each of its eight victories on its way to capturing it second gold medal at the annual event since 2022.
For Helenius, who was added to Finland’s roster following the conclusion of Buffalo’s playoff run, it was his third goal of the tournament and sixth point in as many games. It was also his second straight game with a game-winning goal after coming up with the clincher in the 4-2 semifinal win over Canada.
Despite missing the first week of the tournament, the 20-year-old forward instantly became one of Finland’s top performers while playing right wing on the top line alongside NHL veterans Aleksander Barkov, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and current captain of the Florida Panthers, and Mikael Granlund, now a three-time gold medalist with Finland.
Helenius, who becomes the second straight Sabres player to score the golden goal following Tage Thompson for Team USA in 2025, had a breakout year with the Amerks this past season, leading the team with 63 points in 63 games. One of three different players to represent Rochester at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic, the former first-round pick was the Amerks’ highest scoring teenager in franchise history in a single season, surpassing the 54 points set be Jozef Cierny during the 1992-93 campaign.
Helenius, who was the second Sabres prospect in three years to be named to the AHL Top Prospects Team in 2024-25, made his NHL debut earlier this season, picking up four points (1+3) in nine games with Buffalo. In just his second NHL game against Nashville, he factored in on each of Buffalo's three first-period goals, becoming the seventh Finnish teenager in NHL history with a three-point game. He was also the first Sabres' skater in franchise history with a three-point outing within their first two contests.
He later rejoined the Sabres’ lineup for their final four playoff games in the Montreal series and scored a goal in back-to-back games, making him the youngest Buffalo skater (20 years and five days) to do so since Piere Turgeon.