The very thing that puzzled me: KJ seemed to have decided before the game already that Pulkkinen has no longer a spot on PP. Since that makes him purely an ES player, why did he dress in the first place? That benching in the third in favor of Sallinen seemed almost like an insult to injury, not just to Pulkkinen, but Rantanen too.
WC: 2016 Team Finland Pt. II
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BB88
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- Jan 19, 2015
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There's no way he can explain this Pulu-Rantanen situation and sound smart while doing it, this is just so brutal.
LOFIN
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- Sep 16, 2011
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I wouldn't make such a statement yet, when you place a sniper to play in the 4th line grinders spot and don't play the other player at all.
BusQuets
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- Jul 16, 2010
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There has to be some reason for that though? And i was also talking about Lindell and Pokka who were best defensemen on their respective teams. Now they are being outplayed by old warrior Kukkonen,Jaakola and even Ohtamaa.
Jalonen comments on Pulkkinen: "He's gonna score big for us yet."
If this was not mere platitudinous courtesy talk, how about giving him some linemates who can actually feed him then?
If this was not mere platitudinous courtesy talk, how about giving him some linemates who can actually feed him then?
I'd like to see that too, but it seems really hard to do that at the moment. The top-3 lines are working well, and they should be kept intact for now IMO. That means Rantanen on the fourth would be the only option, but that seems unlikely(at least in a way that would keep both of them there).
Mhm. Rantanen-Lajunen-Pulkkinen would actually be a highly interesting line, but it's obvious Pihlström isn't going anywhere. At this stage it's just best to hope Jalonen would have half a mind to see what Rantanen can do in Pulkkinen's place.
I think KJ wants to try that Pihlström-Lajunen-Sallinen again based on the comment of not getting a proper chance to try them in the France game or something. Can't remember what he said exactly.
Rantanen's chance is 13th forward or if one of the forwards gets injured. I guess those are his only chances to get even a single game this tournament, unfortunately.
Rantanen's chance is 13th forward or if one of the forwards gets injured. I guess those are his only chances to get even a single game this tournament, unfortunately.
Pihlström-Rantanen-Pulkkinen line would be as well, but i don't think that KJ is gonna sit Rantanen as a center.
I would like to be wrong about Pulkkinen, but seems like he's not NHL-level player. While he's useful on PP, he's constantly doing wrong decisions on 5-vs-5 play and lacks size. I don't know his current attitude level, but during his Jokerit times he had attitude problems towards both practicing and team mates. I'm not sure if he is good enough to play prominent role in KHL either.
This is shame, because he has elite shot and is very entertaining player in less demanding leagues.
This is shame, because he has elite shot and is very entertaining player in less demanding leagues.
Conspiracy Theorist
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- Jan 30, 2016
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I have been thinking the same thing, his role in this tournament has been energy player who plays also on power play. Player with role in power play should have played himself to top-6 role or atleast top-9
I can´t see Pulkkinen as long term full-time NHL player, even if Wings starts to rebuild.
If I could decide Sallinen has played his last shifts in this tournament, Lajunen should be our 4th line center from now on
I'm not so sure if it's really worth a laugh that some of us have been calling after most of these adjustments for a week or so.Wow. Everything is working so well right now. Well done KJ, you terrible, terrible coach.
But since we have a clean sheet, I guess it's better late than never.
Now, the only outstanding question is, who's gonna start vs. Canada...
I think I'd actually start Koskinen against Canada. We're unlikely to win the game, and the QF is way more important. Of course it'd be pretty great to get an easier QF opponent, but I don't see it happening no matter who we start. So leave Saros on the bench on Tuesday and start him in the QF.
I like how Saros plays but i wonder how good he really is. Canadians are are gonna shoot high and he's kinda short.
Periwinkle
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- Apr 3, 2014
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I'm fairly certain Koskinen will start. He's been given the 1st goalie minutes, Saros played very well the few tough situations he faced but he did not have a chance to light the world on fire or anything, so it should be back to business as usual on Tuesday.
I doubt we will see any other changes tomorrow as KJ gave special mention of the 4th line working well.
One adjustment I would like to see is swap Aho out of the middle of PP, he doesn't have the strenght to battle for the pucks from the middle of the defensive square. Maybe switch Aho and Koivu's places?
I doubt we will see any other changes tomorrow as KJ gave special mention of the 4th line working well.
One adjustment I would like to see is swap Aho out of the middle of PP, he doesn't have the strenght to battle for the pucks from the middle of the defensive square. Maybe switch Aho and Koivu's places?
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This is indeed the safest way to a "good" outcome.
Start Koskinen - > Win with Koskinen -> Koskinen starts the QF, but should matter little since it's an easy opponent.
Start Koskinen -> Lose with Koskinen -> Saros starts the QF.
Start Saros -> Win with Saros -> Saros starts the QF against an easy opponent. This is the best case scenario.
Start Saros -> Lose with Saros -> Koskinen starts the QF against a more difficult opponent. This is the worst case scenario.
So starting Saros would indeed be bit of a double or nothing situation, whereas there's a narrow silver lining no matter what would happen with Koskinen.
What they should do is switch Aho and Jokinen on the PP units. Aho is better as a half-wall playmaker than Jokinen, and Jokinen would likely be better at... well, whatever it is Aho does in that other unit.
But not gonna happen, likely.
On even strength that line's actually quite okay now.
I really don't know what Jalonen is thinking with the PP units. Jokinen and Koivu really aren't anything special as playmakers, yet he uses them on the half wall instead of Aho/Granlund, who could actually feed onetimers to Laine.
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