And Mikko is out of the Worlds as Canada drops Finland with a score of 4-1. Final stats for Mikko (as per IIHF):
8 games, 0 goals, 9 assists, 4 penalty minutes, -1, 20 shots on goal
He was the only forward, who played all games, without a goal on the team. He was also easily he best forward on the team, but I feel he was not properly utilized. He did what he could by creating chances for others and sometimes getting frustrated and trying to do it all by himself. I saw all the games and the line chemistry never really worked in my opinion. The line was Teemu Hartikainen-Sakari Manninen-Mikko and usually backed by Mikko Lehtonen-Atte Ohtamaa. All other guys are long time national team regulars, and used to a certain style of play used by the coach. Especially Lehkonen infuriated me a lot. Rantanen was open so many times on powerplay and he shoots himself at the first blocker etc. The line also didn't play fast enough, quite typical of Europe based players. Probably should have played Rants with either Kakko or Kapanen the whole time and with a different center. Coach Jalonen only changed the line twice for a total of less than two periods, which was of no help.
In other news:
Germany beat Switzerland so Malgin is also out. Hunt is on Team Canada so there is still an Av in the mix.
Latvia sensationally dropped Sweden and the Americans dropped Czechia. Seems likely the final will be USA-Canada, unless Germany or Latvia can pull another upset.
8 games, 0 goals, 9 assists, 4 penalty minutes, -1, 20 shots on goal
He was the only forward, who played all games, without a goal on the team. He was also easily he best forward on the team, but I feel he was not properly utilized. He did what he could by creating chances for others and sometimes getting frustrated and trying to do it all by himself. I saw all the games and the line chemistry never really worked in my opinion. The line was Teemu Hartikainen-Sakari Manninen-Mikko and usually backed by Mikko Lehtonen-Atte Ohtamaa. All other guys are long time national team regulars, and used to a certain style of play used by the coach. Especially Lehkonen infuriated me a lot. Rantanen was open so many times on powerplay and he shoots himself at the first blocker etc. The line also didn't play fast enough, quite typical of Europe based players. Probably should have played Rants with either Kakko or Kapanen the whole time and with a different center. Coach Jalonen only changed the line twice for a total of less than two periods, which was of no help.
In other news:
Germany beat Switzerland so Malgin is also out. Hunt is on Team Canada so there is still an Av in the mix.
Latvia sensationally dropped Sweden and the Americans dropped Czechia. Seems likely the final will be USA-Canada, unless Germany or Latvia can pull another upset.
