It was just one game no need for panic, one strange game tho
It's easy to understand people are PO though, losing this potentially meant losing a free pass to semis. Still, folks need to cool their heels and understand nothing is lost yet.
That being said, it was definitely a good example of what kind of rollercoasters these junior games can be. The momentum just swings from one side to the other completely wantonly.
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Now...
A lot went wrong of course, meaning a lot of fixes need to happen for the next game. Some are easy, some not so. So, where to start...
Our defense actually IS better than that. They just were snakebit for a very simple reason: After those first two Russian PP goals, they were deathly afraid of penalties. Somewhat rightfully so, as we're going to need better PK going forward, but if you're gonna lose the game on special teams, you're gonna lose on special teams. You can't let that affect your basic 5on5 play. Only one who didn't seem to be shy along the boards was Sopanen. Size or skill was not the issue - it was inside their head. In that sense, crying after cageheads like Niemeläinen, as somebody so eloquently did above, would probably be no solution at all. Since younger players are usually even more prone to this pitfall.
Due to the rollercoaster nature of the game, it's actually pretty hard to say who our best forward was. However, it's relatively easy to say who our most even, most mistake-free forward was. That was Saarela. Also most consistent on point, which made me think maybe he needs a promotion... but I'll get on that later.
Then... I'm not saying this is all Vehviläinen's fault, but we're going to need better goaltending than that going forward. After reviewing all of Russia's goals, as painful as it was, I have to say that a goalie more in the zone would have caught a LOT of those. One by one...
1-1 Not his fault, cross-ice pass + world class onetimer.
2-3 It's always tough being one-on-one with an opposing player like that... but it's still something a good goalie *can* cover.
3-3 Not his fault, unlucky bounce from Keskitalo's skates.
4-3 Definitely something he should have caught. I'd say almost inexcusable.
5-3 Another sloppy play covering that post.
6-4 Umm... where was he going? Trying to leap on top of the puck when it was in possession of the opposing player? All he had to do again was to cover that post and trust the D handles the rest.
So... three, maybe four of those were completely coverable IMO. That being said, it's probably not due to lack of skill, but lack of
maturity - like our defensive issues - all mental. Vehviläinen knew he was in a spot to grab the starter spot... and that probably brought a bit of extra shakiness to his game.
There's no reason to beat on the kid too much, but regardless... I think the ball is in Kähkönen's court now.
Now, forwards... let's start with the good, and - more specifically - what's the bad in them. No matter how flashy and entertaining Laine-Aho-Pulju -line is, and I'm certainly not saying they should be broken down, but I still think it's too much to ask if they're put in a position where they're expected to carry the rest of the team across the finishing line. Certainly not in the same manner Mäenalanen-Teräväinen-Lehkonen did two years ago. They're a good unit to have when the game is going our way - the proverbial icing on the cake - but when the kettle is starting to cook and the pressure builds, we're going to need another unit to throw on the ice.
Like I alluded, I'd like to see that line built around Saarela. He could be the guy who - and this is not a slight against Kapanen or Hintz, who were both very good today and on Saturday - jumpstarts Rantanen. Then, finally, we could build yet another line with the main purpose to serve Kapanen.
So, here's what I propose...
Hintz - Saarela - Rantanen
Laine - Aho - Puljujärvi
Kapanen - Nättinen - Repo
Björkqvist - Siikonen - Lammikko
What comes to our faceoff issues, it's perhaps only a partial fix. As a good side, it puts Saarela in a natural position to grab the most important ones. Aho isn't of course very good with them since he isn't a natural centerman, but I guess it's something we just have to overlook because the line does so nice things otherwise. Finally, Nättinen and Siikonen... well, they just need to pick it up, it's as simple as that. And both should have it in themselves. Again, it was perhaps in part just another of those mental issues. When things start going the opponent's way, a young mind just gets extra cute with even the most mundane of things.
It's a good thing the journey is still underway.
