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WC: 2015 — Team Finland

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Lineup at practice per IS

Jussi Jokinen-Aleksander Barkov-Joonas Donskoi
Tuomo Ruutu-Petri Kontiola-Leo Komarov(Juhamatti Aaltonen)
Janne Pesonen-Joonas Kemppainen-Ossi Louhivaara/Leo Komarov
Antti Pihlström-Jarkko Immonen-Teemu Hartikainen
+Harri Pesonen, Juha-Pekka Hytönen

Sami Lepistö-Juuso Hietanen
Anssi Salmela-Esa Lindell
Topi Jaakola-Atte Ohtamaa
Tuukka Mäntylä-Jyrki Jokipakka

Juuse Saros (Atte Engren)

Juhamatti Aaltonen out with flu so Louhivaara practiced instead. I assume Komarov will play on the third line and Aaltonen on the second.

1st PP unit: Barkov-Jokinen-Donskoi-J.Pesonen-Lindell
2nd PP unit: Ruutu-Kontiola-(Aaltonen)-Hietanen-Lepistö
 
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Interesting lineup. I wonder if they really plan on putting Donskoi next to Barkov (not that I'm calling it a bad idea, quite an honor for Donskoi, really) or if it's just some weird rotation effect of JMA being sidelined.

Wings4Life said:
And what additions are still possible to your D?
Click to expand...
None.
 
This allows Barkov/Kontiola lines play more offensive role with Immonen/Kemppainen lines playing the hard minutes.
 
JJTT said:
This allows Barkov/Kontiola lines play more offensive role with Immonen/Kemppainen lines playing the hard minutes.
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Evidently. It seemingly also allows them to run on even strength without mixing up the likely PP units.
 
Why would they pick Anssi Salmela and not put him on the PP? He scored 12/23 of his regular season points on the powerplay this season(5th among SHL defensemen). Lindell has apparently also been put back on the right side at even strength, which didn't work well at all earlier.

Good coaches are weird. They do stupid stuff and then they somehow win. I don't get it...
 
I'm not a big fan of the Jokinen-Barkov-Donskoi-line. The success of JJJ-line in the SM-liiga was based on fast skaters cycling the puck. Can Donskoi be as effective on a higher level when he has to play a different kind of game? I would personally try Pihlström-Kemppainen-Donskoi but unfortunately I know it's not gonna happen.
 
rduck1 said:
Why would they pick Anssi Salmela and not put him on the PP? He scored 12/23 of his regular season points on the powerplay this season(5th among SHL defensemen). Lindell has apparently also been put back on the right side at even strength, which didn't work well at all earlier.
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You know, the PP units have not been reported anywhere. At least I can't find 'em - and I'm quite good at finding stuff. I take those are JJTT's own take on it (and if so, he ought to be more clear about it).
 
Per Iltalehti, the "proper" lines (with Aaltonen penciled in) are:

Ruutu - Kontiola - Aaltonen
Jokinen - Barkov - Donskoi
Pihlström - Immonen - Hartikainen
J.Pesonen - Kemppainen - Komarov

They definitely have some placating going on with the team sheet. :laugh:


Also, one more forward will be cut before the games begin. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say it's H.Pesonen.
 
At least Barkov gets Donskoi to other wing. Maybe he can play with him and JJ can't shut down them both. :sarcasm:
 
FiLe said:
You know, the PP units have not been reported anywhere. At least I can't find 'em - and I'm quite good at finding stuff. I take those are JJTT's own take on it (and if so, he ought to be more clear about it).
Click to expand...

Sorry forgot to post the link.

PP lines were reported by several guys on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ilarisavonen/status/593041380504686592
https://twitter.com/jussipaasi/status/593044700275339264
https://twitter.com/NikoKorkiakoski/status/593042710778540034
 
So would it be JJ on the point... or Pesonen?? Neither makes any sense. Out of those forwards Donskoi makes the most sense to me.
 
It's a status issue, it's not supposed to make more sense than that. When you've got too many forwards who are sort of designated to be there, many a coach figures they must, just because.

Erkka had the same problem in Sochi, when he just had to find OJ a slot on PP. When said unit managed nothing, he finally resolved to replacing him with Määttä and everything clicked.
 
morukara said:
YARR123: To the coach WHC is about winning and not about providing beneficial experience for players. Fans may think differently. I feel you're overrating what Ristolainen can bring on table in WHC on big ice right now. He's not proven solid in these circumstances and as I said earlier, it's all fortune-telling to talk about upsides or potential, because he's been one of the worst defenders so far. You and I have right to believe that Ristolainen would be fine in WHC, but it's just hopeful speculation and KJ can not be blamed for leaving him out.

Worst case is that team loses an important game because of a player who isn't solid enough. It's a good reason to not select such player. You say that RR is low risk - high reward. Preliminary games just proved that he was not 'low risk'. Some have criticized selection of Mäntylä. I don't think Mäntylä replaced RR. I think Lindell took place of RR, and KJ saw less risk and more reward in him. And it's not just necessarily the games, KJ knows also how they've looked in training sessions. We don't know that, and we see only the tip of the iceberg anyway.
Click to expand...

I think this tendencie to always choose low risk type of players ahead of couple high risk, high reward is the reason we usually lose in the semifinals or finals, (and the obvious reason that other teams have better players)
 
rduck1 said:
So would it be JJ on the point... or Pesonen?? Neither makes any sense. Out of those forwards Donskoi makes the most sense to me.
Click to expand...

I don't think none of them will play on the point. More likely a 1-2-2 setup

Lindell will likely stand in middle of the blueline with Donskoi on the left faceoff circle and Barkov on the right side as playmaker. Jokinen/Pesonen in front of the goalie.
 
JJTT said:
I don't think none of them will play on the point. More likely a 1-2-2 setup
Click to expand...
While that's quite an effective setup in the NHL-sized rink, it's always a bit suspect in international one. Unless you've got superb puck possession guys, the risk of turnovers is quite high.

The orthodox 2-2-1 feels a lot safer, and I'm always a bit puzzled when coaches don't do that even when they've got guys who could. Like Salmela and Mäntylä this time round.
 
teddy83 said:
I think this tendencie to always choose low risk type of players ahead of couple high risk, high reward is the reason we usually lose in the semifinals or finals, (and the obvious reason that other teams have better players)
Click to expand...
This is a solid observation. We would not, for example, have won in 2011 without Granlund.

Of course, it's not like cutting Ristolainen removed all the x-factor from the team. Unlike last year, when Teräväinen getting axed pretty much meant Team Boring ahoy, this time we've got plenty of players who can prove that deciding little something: Lindell, Barkov and Donskoi to begin with.
 
Not that I have any objections against Pulkkinen joining the team, but it seems a bit illogical move. If Jalonen figures the team could still use someone who turns the puck into a laser-guided missile, why didn't he just take Palola?
 
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