GDT: 2018 WJC • Game 18 • Group A: USA (5) - FIN (4) F

[Woodhouse]

Group A:

United States vs.

Finland
Dec. 31 • 16:00 ET • 22:00 CET
Key Bank Center — Buffalo, NY
TV: Match TV, NHLN, RDS2, TSN 1/3, YLE Areena, YLE TV2

United States
(Confirmed lineup per IIHF.)

23 Kieffer Bellows - 4 Ryan Poehling - 17 Kailer Yamamoto
7 Brady Tkachuk - 11 Casey Mittelstadt - 13 Joey Anderson
49 Max Jones - 9 Josh Norris - 21 Patrick Harper
27 Riley Tufte - 34 Trent Frederic - n/a
10 William Lockwood, 22 Logan Brown

12 Dylan Samberg - 8 Adam Fox
5 Ryan Lindgren - 15 Scott Perunovich
24 Mikey Anderson - 20 Andrew Peeke
6 Quinn Hughes

31 Joseph Woll
30 Jake Oettinger
1 Jeremy Swayman

Finland
(Confirmed lineup per IIHF.)

13 Kristian Vesalainen - 22 Aapeli Rasanen - 20 Eeli Tolvanen
32 Aleksi Heponiemi - 9 Janne Kuokkanen - 12 Otto Koivula
33 Jere Innala - 27 Joni Ikonen - 19 Eetu Tuulola
3 Juha Jaaska - 15 Joona Koppanen - 21 Markus Nurmi
34 Rasmus Kupari

6 Juuso Valimaki - 2 Miro Heiskanen
7 Olli Juolevi - 28 Henri Jokiharju
4 Robin Salo - 23 Urho Vaakanainen
36 Kasper Kotkansalo

1 Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
30 Lassi Lehtinen
31 Niilo Halonen
​

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[JJTT]

Finland finished the game last night vs Slovakia with these lines:

Vesalainen - Räsänen - Tolvanen
Heponiemi - Kuokkanen - Koivula
Innala - Ikonen - Tuulola
Jääskä - Koppanen - Nurmi

 

[1OApick]

Is Brown injured or what?

 

[jimmythescot]

Is Brown injured or what?

Not sure, but Lockwood is.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I'll take the Americans for the W. but it will be a close one, 4-2. A late 3rd. period goal + an empty netter is the difference.

 

[lawrence]

Lockwoods done.

 

[SotasicA]

Who plays with Bellows and Norris?

 

[Kyndig]

Do the Finns play in a defensive shell like they do in the Olympics? Because if they do USA always seems to struggle with that and we could have another upset on our hands.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Do the Finns play in a defensive shell like they do in the Olympics? Because if they do USA always seems to struggle with that and we could have another upset on our hands.

Maybe they do maybe they don't. I don't know what coach Ahokas has planned to USA game.
But our 4th line Jaaska Koppanen Nurmi has been really good.

Luukkonen in the net has been OK but sometimes he allows ''easy'' goals like that 4th goal in Canada game.
Tolvanen has been cold he has had good chances to score but he hasn't been able to put puck in.

If we wanna win this game we can't take penalties at all.
USA's powerplay is so much better than Slovakia's

If USA can eliminate Finland's 1st and 4th lines and our powerplay they should win this game.
Finland hasn't showed their best yet ( Canada games was bad , Denmark was difficult game and Slovakia game was only OK not good)

 

[Hockeyisl1fe]

Scared by Mittelstadt, he is ridiculously skilled.

 

[FinPanda]

Scared by Mittelstadt, he is ridiculously skilled.

Yeah but he is about the only player on their team that I am scared of. Yamamoto is really good too, but I am not that scared of him.

 

[Tryblot]

Do the Finns play in a defensive shell like they do in the Olympics? Because if they do USA always seems to struggle with that and we could have another upset on our hands.

"Another upset"

You guys lost to Slovakia. Finland beating you is not an upset.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Wanting to see a Finland win for the USA-Sweden quarter. 3-2 Finland.

 

[4thlineduster]

Do the Finns play in a defensive shell like they do in the Olympics? Because if they do USA always seems to struggle with that and we could have another upset on our hands.

Being that every outlet I watched pre tournament had the Finns as the gold medal favourite......I'd hardly say them winning today is an upset.

 

[kudla]

Dont think there is a big chance for Finland unfortunately

 

[Hokinaittii]

We are clear underdogs here but it doesn't mean we couldn't pull of a win. But that requires guys like Tolvanen to finally start scoring and our defence has to be as great at controlling the pace as they have shown glimpses of. Still a lot of potential unrevealed from Finns, let's see if this will be the game when things start clicking.

 

[jj cale]

Scared by Mittelstadt, he is ridiculously skilled.

He is skilled but teams have been playing that guy way too soft and he has been getting away with stuff he probably shouldn't be because of it. Take the body on that guy and he can be neutered.

 

[BusQuets]

I think Finland's defense is just too good. I don't think teams have scored against Finland with cycle pressure because the defensemen can keep them outside. If forwards can keep their turn-overs low i don't think Usa has the firepower to score. This Finland team is completely different than the one against Canada.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Dont think there is a big chance for Finland unfortunately

There is always a chance for Finland. Always a tough game against them. Neutral zone will be jammed.

 

[Baxterman]

So assuming that Slovakia beats Denmark

if US wins: 2. US 3. Finland 4. Slovakia
if Finalnd wins: 2. Finalnd 3. Slovakia 4. US is that right?

Does it change if it goes to OT either way?

 

[FinPanda]

OT win is enough for Finland to be 2nd too.

 

[Woodhouse]

Woll starts for USA; Brown, Lockwood out as expected:

 

[jj cale]

I think Finland wins today honestly.With brown and Lockwood out they won't have a better chance and I say they come out fired up and ready to play and take this game.

 

[nucks88]

Wanting to see a Finland win for the USA-Sweden quarter. 3-2 Finland.

Same here....Sweden is my pick for Gold and they seem to be coasting through saving themselves for the medal round...I would love to see them beat the U.S. when it counts...they are overdue for a medal

 

[jasonr90]

So assuming that Slovakia beats Denmark

if US wins: 2. US 3. Finland 4. Slovakia
if Finalnd wins: 2. Finalnd 3. Slovakia 4. US is that right?

Does it change if it goes to OT either way?

No change. the US would need the 2 points if it goes to OT. Only one point we'd be tied with Slovakia and they have the head to head