Lenny Haminaho showed the New Jersey Devils some moxie amid their comeback in the 2025-26 season, and he’s taking that momentum to the IIHF World Championship for Finland.
Haminaho put in a strong performance for Finland in their 6-2 win over the United States on Monday in Zurich.
The 21-year-old Devils forward finished with two goals and an assist as Finland went 3-0 unbeaten in Group A.
Haminaho opened the scoring at 6:06 of the first period. He stripped the puck from Ryan Leonard in the neutral zone, took it into the American zone on the left wing, and wristed it high to the glove side of Josef Woll, setting the stage for a dominant finish performance.
It was the same type of responsibility that Haminaho has displayed outside the offensive zone for the Devils this season that translated into offense for Finland.
Patrick Puistola made the score 2–1 in the first game by taking a short pass from Haminaho and beating Vol High. Aatu Raati scored a shorthanded goal before the period ended, giving Finland a 3–1 lead on just eight shots. Matt Coronato briefly tied it for the US at 7:44.
In the second period, Haminaho scored again on the power play at 1:26, once again on Finland’s first shot of the frame to make the score 4–1. Saku Manelaanen found the Vols net 31 seconds later. Devin Cooley came as a relief for the Americans.
Ryan Leonard scored for the US on a 5-on-3 power play early in the third to cut the deficit to 5–2. Anton Lundell responded on the man advantage to close out the scoring a few minutes later. Justus Anunen stopped 30 of 32 shots for Finland.
Haminaho, who had two goals and six assists in 33 NHL games with the Devils last season, played on a line with Anton Lundell and Patrick Puistola. Finland outshot the United States despite the Americans having a 32–28 edge in shots.
The win keeps Finland undefeated while the US remains at 1-2.
It was certainly an encouraging game from Haminaho who had a great performance against a USA team loaded with NHLers.
More performances like this from the Devils forward could certainly propel him to training camp over the summer and to help him get off to a big start in 2026-27.
#Devils #leads #Finland #USA
















