When Finland took World Cup gold two years ago, it was sensational as it was with a team completely without NHL players.
This year, the Finns have only two players (Arttu Ruotsalainen and Olli Määttä) from the North American league, but seem to be on the track during the World Cup in Riga as well.
After 2-1 against Germany on Saturday, the fourth victory in five matches, Jukka Jalonen's men are the first team ready for the quarterfinals.
The remaining matches against Latvia and Canada can not change that.
Finland dominated the match against Germany, but there was no easy three-pointer.
Super talent Anton Lundell splashed 1-0 in powerplay in the first period, but the Germans equalized in the second through Korbinian Holzer.
And in the third period, Germany got a great position to take the lead, when Iiro Pakarinen was shown too high club.
But despite good pressure against the Finnish goal, the Germans did not get a hole in Jussi Olkinuora.
Instead, they took a cold shower as soon as the numerical superiority was over.
Finland broke in the middle zone and switched quickly when Anton Lundell came in a two-on-one position together with Arttu Ruotsalainen.
Lundell put the puck on his backhand and served perfectly Ruotsalainen, who lifted 2-1 into the net.
Germany took out the goalkeeper in the final minutes, but Finland resisted.
With two games left to play, Finland tops Group B with 13 points, one ahead of the United States.
Kazakhstan is third on 10 points (one match left to play) and Germany currently has the final playoff spot on nine points.
Behind that, both Latvia (8 points) and Canada (6 points) still have a chance to advance.