Guessing Saros will start the next game. He will get a chance to bounce back from that bad GWG and a shot against a tough team.
WJC: 2015 — Finland Roster Talk
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If they stick to their original plan, he will.
Though I suppose it'd be somewhat understandable if they didn't. I agree in principle that only a moron would let one minor mishap decide things going forward. However, when you've got two goalies as good as this, you usually don't have much more than those small margins to decide who's the one going forward... so you may have to look into those minor mishaps regardless.
Periwinkle
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Finland has 2 losses and is facing top 2 toughest team in the tournament. I don't think this is the time to see if Saros can bounce back when Husso played very well against USA and their track record this season has been almost identical.
It was a difficult game for Saros, no doubt but it's hard to justify playing him against Canada, imo.
It was a difficult game for Saros, no doubt but it's hard to justify playing him against Canada, imo.
No, it isn't. In fact this is very much a situation where neither call is a wrong one.
It's not a do-or-die situation either. If it was, I'd be edging Husso too since you need to make sure every little thing goes your way. But since there's still room to gamble, I won't be complaining no matter what they decide.
6 nights out of a week we would have won it, but sometimes the bars and bounces arent with you.
Kapanen is just cancer in every line/pp where he is. I truly hope that its just a pressure, and not an attitude problem.. But Im having deja vu from u18 last year with him.
Maybe drop him to second, or even to fourth line. First line Lehkonen - Hintz - Rantanen?
Puljujärvi was great, and most of the nights he also would have buried those chances..
All is open still, and if/when we meet Sweden im confident that our guys can pull it off. Granted not the favorite to win it, but that suits us better.
Kapanen is just cancer in every line/pp where he is. I truly hope that its just a pressure, and not an attitude problem.. But Im having deja vu from u18 last year with him.
Maybe drop him to second, or even to fourth line. First line Lehkonen - Hintz - Rantanen?
Puljujärvi was great, and most of the nights he also would have buried those chances..
All is open still, and if/when we meet Sweden im confident that our guys can pull it off. Granted not the favorite to win it, but that suits us better.
Periwinkle
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Playing Saros would essentially mean banking on the WJC success of last year, and the coaches have stressed they are not looking back to the previous WJC's. Playing Saros would also mean they are thinking there is potential for him to play better than Husso. There very well might be, however it is not at this point supported by their track records throughout the season or how they've played in this tournament (even when fully acknowledging Saros had a difficult game to play). Taking also into account the situation -two losses, team must be feeling down on confidence- I don't get why add the extra "?"-factor when Husso played very well, and against another NA team.
If Saros start, I certainly won't complain as he's a great goalie, I just think all things considered Husso should start.
If Saros start, I certainly won't complain as he's a great goalie, I just think all things considered Husso should start.
Ville231
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Exactly, at the moment I'm very happy that we're in a group with US & CAN. I have no trouble with facing Swe/Rus in QF. Especially RUS would be a perfect opponent for Finland.
I wasn't arguing Husso shouldn't start, just saying that you're wrong by claiming that it's hard to justify Saros starting - you just did so yourself.
And that was my point. Both can be justified and both justifications are equally valid. Which is why the smart thing to do is just wait and see what Jortsu & Kipper decide.
If we end up getting the 4th seed and Slovakia is 3rd, it'll be a shame that the SWE/RUS game likely deciding the other group isn't the last one for those teams... that would have been another riot to watch.
I don't think it matters much which goalie we throw out against Canada. Let's face it, most of us are expecting a loss anyway. Saros wouldn't have a lot to lose. Yes, Slovakia's GWG was a softy, but we should've never ended up in a situation where one goal like that determines a game against a much weaker opponent.
I personally would be cautious for making too big changes to line-up. Second and third line looked good even against USA and made a lot of chances against Slovakia too and pretty much looked like first and second line.
Breaking these lines could result in three working lines but might as well cause even more problems. In third period Jortikka put Kapanen to second line and Rantanen/Ojamäki played in first line and instead of getting couple more effective lines, it caused Roope Hintz's line to disappear.
Powerplay at the moment is even bigger concern than the first line. We can downgrade first line to third line but PP was just awful against both USA and Slovakia. That IMO is the thing that Jortikka needs to put his focus on.
Breaking these lines could result in three working lines but might as well cause even more problems. In third period Jortikka put Kapanen to second line and Rantanen/Ojamäki played in first line and instead of getting couple more effective lines, it caused Roope Hintz's line to disappear.
Powerplay at the moment is even bigger concern than the first line. We can downgrade first line to third line but PP was just awful against both USA and Slovakia. That IMO is the thing that Jortikka needs to put his focus on.
I agree that the 2nd line works a little too well to become a subject of change, but I don't see why so many figure the Kärppä unit is untouchable. Of course in contrast to the 1st they've looked good, but in reality those pieces have not quite been in state to justify having all three conjoined from the hip. Aho and Puljujärvi seem to clinch somewhat, the former has set up the latter a handful of times, but Kalapudas has actually been quite anonymous. Therefore I'd carefully propose trying Puljujärvi in the first instead of Kapanen. Swapping them around might just be enough.
As far as PP goes, I think our biggest concern there is the lack of d-men who can QB an unit. Honka & Lyytinen aren't enough, Jortsu needs to find a couple more. Ilvonen, Niku, even Lintuniemi... give 'em a shot.
Ville231
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Yep, well anything is better than the current situation. Ilvonen-Niku could be the second pairing, in which Honka & Lyytinen play most of the PP. Biggest problem seems to be getting the puck in to the offensive zone.
Against Canada Finland just can't afford throwing away PP-opportunities.
olop
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- Jan 28, 2012
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For me Saros is a logical choice against Canada. If he has succes, we have an amazing back up with self confidence, in case either one has a mental breakdown later on in the tournament.
If he doesn't play well, it's clear that Husso is number one and he doesn't need to worry about it. In my opinion a chance to have competition on goal and two quality goalies is better than going with one goalie, after one game for each.
If he doesn't play well, it's clear that Husso is number one and he doesn't need to worry about it. In my opinion a chance to have competition on goal and two quality goalies is better than going with one goalie, after one game for each.
Sweden will lose their last game on purpose to dodge us and to face slovaks in the QFs.
That could have some curious repercussions to us as well.
Sweden's last game is against Switzerland. And interestingly, the Swiss are currently the 2nd in their group having beaten the Czechs. Because Russia lost a point to Denmark, they could beat the Swiss and still not rise to 2nd seed if Sweden sweeps otherwise. So in a scenario where Sweden tosses a game to get Slovakia, Switzerland may end up winning the other group.
But eh, too early to say. Regardless, there rarely is a situation where the seeding matters as little to us as it does now - granted we make the QF in the first place. I'll take any of Sweden, Russia, Czech Rep or Switzerland over Canada or USA.
I wouldn't make too many changes yet. Kapanen gets one more shot but if this kind of play continues, he should sit in the pressbox during the game against Germany.
I dont know Kapanen a lot, but I Watch last 2 game at WJC...I read bad things about him here and I dont understand why.
1- Ok he dont had a single point...he hit 2 post...made a couple of good plays, I think he's the kind of player that need a better player than him in the team...I try too much and in all due respect, he dont have any supports, who's youre 1rst line center? who can follow Kapanen and give him the puck and recive the puck? Lekonen, but that's all, Kapanen play with older and better player all year long now he looks lost if he dont do all by himself and thats not the best things to do..
On the PP, he did a great job by handling the puck, bring the puck in the zone with his speed and hands, but he didn't had any other option. Finns PP resume at 2 player from what I saw...Kapanen handle the puck, pass to Honka, Honka shoot from nowhere anytime, fowards, dont control the puck...they give to honka, who shoot again from nowhere....that's the Finns PP...
the probleme I saw is youre poor PP, coach needs to change the PP strategies, you're 0 on 10, that kills you
1- Ok he dont had a single point...he hit 2 post...made a couple of good plays, I think he's the kind of player that need a better player than him in the team...I try too much and in all due respect, he dont have any supports, who's youre 1rst line center? who can follow Kapanen and give him the puck and recive the puck? Lekonen, but that's all, Kapanen play with older and better player all year long now he looks lost if he dont do all by himself and thats not the best things to do..
On the PP, he did a great job by handling the puck, bring the puck in the zone with his speed and hands, but he didn't had any other option. Finns PP resume at 2 player from what I saw...Kapanen handle the puck, pass to Honka, Honka shoot from nowhere anytime, fowards, dont control the puck...they give to honka, who shoot again from nowhere....that's the Finns PP...
the probleme I saw is youre poor PP, coach needs to change the PP strategies, you're 0 on 10, that kills you
habsrule4eva3089
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- Nov 22, 2008
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Went to both Finnish games and all I have to say is ...WOW, WOW and WOW.
PULJUJÄRVI...is such a special talent, it's going to amazing to see his progression as the years progress.
And what's with the Finnish players just standing in front of the Arena after their games, are they going to go eat, or it's as if they're told to interact with the fans haha.
Hyvä Suomi! Go Finland, but I think it didn't make sense because they chuckled. Lol.
PULJUJÄRVI...is such a special talent, it's going to amazing to see his progression as the years progress.
And what's with the Finnish players just standing in front of the Arena after their games, are they going to go eat, or it's as if they're told to interact with the fans haha.
Hyvä Suomi! Go Finland, but I think it didn't make sense because they chuckled. Lol.
He tries to do too much on his own. Too many individual efforts. He's very talented, but Team Finland (on every single level) relies on a strong team effort. Work hard and trust your teammates. They are always told to play for the team, not for themselves. When they get it (which they usually do at some point), they defend well, are willing to block shots and don't try to deke their way alone through half of the other team. This is why we've ever won anything in international hockey. I am very aware that many Finnish fans hate the mentality because it mostly breeds 4th line grinders, but it's the reality whether anyone likes it or not.
Kapanen hasn't gotten the message, at least not in the NT. He has indeed played very well this season for KalPa and hasn't been all that bad defensively, but both in this tournament so far and in the U18 WJC last spring he tried to be the hero too hard, didn't really play D and barely utilized his teammates. When a player who refuses to buy into the team philosophy for whatever reason gets ample PP and even strength ice time, that will start bugging the others eventually no matter how hard you wish they wouldn't care. But they do, especially when you're talking about a junior team. Kapanen has to be held accountable, not only because of poor play, but to preserve the morale of the rest of the team.
Watched both the Finland games, team is much better than the results but they have to shake up the lines to get some scoring.
Lehkonen is getting the job done, impressed with his work. Kapanen and Mustonen are terrible linemates for him though.
What about putting Puljujarvi with Lehkonen and Hintz as the top line?
Lehkonen is getting the job done, impressed with his work. Kapanen and Mustonen are terrible linemates for him though.
What about putting Puljujarvi with Lehkonen and Hintz as the top line?
That would mean breaking up all the three scoring lines, so seems unlikely.
On theory though
Lehkonen-Hintz-Puljujärvi
Ikonen-Mustonen-Rantanen
Aho-Rauhala-Kapanen
Björninen-Kalapudas-Vähätalo
- Mustonen and Ikonen have played a together several times in the past and Rantanen played well with Ikonen in the first two games
- Kapanen has played his only good tournament with the national team while playing with Rauhala(2013 U18's). Aho brings some scoring touch
-Kalapudas and Vähätalo bring some offense to the 4th line. Ojamäki sits out as he's been meh.
Loffer
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- Sep 22, 2011
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That would be the way to go. But most likely we shall see nothing like that come tomorrow but same old *****.
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