Finland's 3-2 victory over the United States at the World Championship was in no part thanks to the play of Patrik Laine, according to the 18-year-old.
Laine was held off the scoreboard for the first time in three games after back-to-back three-point performances. Monday's contest featured this year's projected top two draft picks in Laine and Auston Matthews, and the pressure may have gotten to the winger.
"I think this was the worst game for me in a long time and I don't know why," Laine said, according to Michael Traikos of the National Post.
Matthews edged Laine in the head-to-head matchup, recording an assist on Frank Vatrano's first period goal after stripping Laine of the puck.
.@Frank_Vatrano (@NHLBruins) scores, Ast. by @A_Matthews34 (2016 #1 overall pick to be) for @usahockey #IIHFWorlds pic.twitter.com/QDUyNEToR3
— ONE World Sports (@ONEWorldSports) May 9, 2016
"I thought it was offside," Laine said of the giveaway, "that's why I stopped playing and then U.S. guys started to attack and I was like, 'oh shit.'"
Despite edging his counterpart, Matthews' focus postgame was on his team's result.
"We lost, so it didn’t turn out well," he said, according to Traikos. "They’re tough."
Finland sits tied with Canada atop the Group B standings with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, while the Americans sit fourth, having gone 1-0-0-2.
