WJC: 2015 — Finland Roster Talk
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I only managed to catch about half of the game, but I liked what I saw for the most part. Obviously the PP was horrid, but I like the general attitude of the team. Husso was very good and Puljujärvi is not in the wrong tournament.
I agree with Arponen on many things, but I don't understand him when it comes to the goaltending debate here: www.jatkoaika.com/maajoukkue/Ottelu...slovakia-otteluun-ykkösketju-herätys/163621
He thinks it's already obvious that Saros is the starter. I'm sorry, but in a situation where you have 2 equally good goalies, you shouldn't make decisions like that based on previous merits, especially when you're talking about developing players. Last year Husso's biggest issue was mental durability, which seems to have improved. He's bigger than Saros, who on the other hand is more athletic, but right now no recent showings indicate that Saros should simply be handed the starter job.
I agree with Arponen on many things, but I don't understand him when it comes to the goaltending debate here: www.jatkoaika.com/maajoukkue/Ottelu...slovakia-otteluun-ykkösketju-herätys/163621
He thinks it's already obvious that Saros is the starter. I'm sorry, but in a situation where you have 2 equally good goalies, you shouldn't make decisions like that based on previous merits, especially when you're talking about developing players. Last year Husso's biggest issue was mental durability, which seems to have improved. He's bigger than Saros, who on the other hand is more athletic, but right now no recent showings indicate that Saros should simply be handed the starter job.
Periwinkle
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Fair enough if you honestly think him shooting helps the team. However, just the pure psychology of sending a player who is having an off game as the important third shooter seems off. His attempt did end up as the worst of all three.
How is it "bashing" to point out lack of effort? Everybody has their bad nights, but what justification is there for not showing good effort, at least? Especially when he is supposed to be one of the leading players?
Good thing is that he can only improve for tonight's game. I'm expecting him to.
edd1e
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Overall pretty good start for team Finland. Luckily there is room for improvement, PP for example.
Kapanen was shell shocked or atleast i hope thats the reason for his poor performance.
Kapanen was shell shocked or atleast i hope thats the reason for his poor performance.
Jussi
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It happens all the time in Liiga or NHL. Players that didn't do anything in the regulation end up deciding the shootout. Kapanen has been decent in shootouts before so it was expected he'd be one of the shooters.
Indeed. But he did have the right idea about how to play them. Both should get one "tough" opponent, Husso against USA and Saros against Canada.
It's actually not unreasonable to think Husso having a slight edge right now. He already has a very good showing on his belt - but it's all a team effort. We've yet no idea how this year's Canada suits on our playstyle. USA seemed to play right into it, making Husso look perhaps even better than he was (don't get me wrong, he was still very good). But if Canada is a bad match, Saros may end up being lit up for little fault of his own. In that case they may very much end up riding Husso going forward. We'll see.
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Periwinkle
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This is not regular season game in a league, this is World Championships.
None of the commentators picked Kapanen to shoot either, if I recall correctly. Obviously it's not them making the call, but there's certainly room for different opinions on the matter.
The shootout requires mental strength as well as skills. Hence I would rather send someone who fares well in it, and has played well, or who at least has not played badly.
Jussi
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Exactly. If we lose to 5-1 (or something similar) to Canada and nothing surprising happens in the games against Germany and Slovakia, Husso is most likely going to be in net in the QF. Of course if Saros shuts out Canada entirely, the net is his. But making a decision based on previous merits as Arponen seemed to do is not sensible in this case.
Periwinkle
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As if NA commentators knew anything about Liiga shootout stats...
I was talking about the MTV Sport team i.e. Finnish commentators...
The Saw Is the Law
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Periwinkle
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Ville231
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Did you watch the same broadcast? I recall Tero Lehterä predicting the shooters would be Lehkonen, Kapanen & Honka. I think Niikko picked Kapanen as well. They both had the same first 2 shooters (Lehkonen & Kapanen).
Even Saukko predicted that Kapanen would be one of the shooters.
Periwinkle
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If so, that would be an instance of me recalling incorrectly.
Whatever the case, Kapanen not only missed, but had a fumbled effort. Take that as you wish.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
McGlassbangers
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Yep. I like Tero Lehterä and Niikko is ok too. But Saukkonen
Taivainen is ok.
Yeah, I don't miss him at all.
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
This is bad, but his "Tshekit tulee kolmella kakkoseen!" in the 2013 WJC is the one I always think of these days when I hear him.
Ville231
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By now it's pretty clear Finns are missing Teräväinen. Mustonen just doesn't look like a true #1 center. And what is up with Kapanen? If he's playing with an injury he should be sidelined. He's hurting the team at the moment. 
Anyways, fortunately Finland has a couple of games left to get their **** together. PP is dreadful, it seems like they can't even enter the off-zone.
On the positive side, Pulju looks really good. Might have been the best individual out there in tonight's game.
Anyways, fortunately Finland has a couple of games left to get their **** together. PP is dreadful, it seems like they can't even enter the off-zone.
On the positive side, Pulju looks really good. Might have been the best individual out there in tonight's game.
Lessons learned today:
- Kapanen can't play for the national team. Don't know why, but he can't. Some switch goes on in his head and he thinks he has to be a hero or something.
- First line needs muscle. Lehkonen, Mustonen and Kapanen lose too many battles one on one to play on the same line. Vähätalo could be a solution.
- Humility. They didn't have it today. Too much dangling and fanciness. It's nice that they have skill, but you still need to outwork the opposition. Possession doesn't count for jack if you can't convert.
PS. This is an angry post. Most likely it's hyperbolic and somewhat nonsensical. Possibly even downright wrong in some respects.
- Kapanen can't play for the national team. Don't know why, but he can't. Some switch goes on in his head and he thinks he has to be a hero or something.
- First line needs muscle. Lehkonen, Mustonen and Kapanen lose too many battles one on one to play on the same line. Vähätalo could be a solution.
- Humility. They didn't have it today. Too much dangling and fanciness. It's nice that they have skill, but you still need to outwork the opposition. Possession doesn't count for jack if you can't convert.
PS. This is an angry post. Most likely it's hyperbolic and somewhat nonsensical. Possibly even downright wrong in some respects.
IMO Pulju needs to replace Kapanen in the 1st.
What the 2nd line needs is more PP time. Pretty amazing that the only one who regularly sees PP minutes from our best unit is Ikonen. Hintz has it too frantically and Rantanen none at all. Is our coaching really that out of touch?
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