World Cup: 4 Nations Tournament - Team Finland (2025)

[newsportsfan123]

Looks like I was right. American top players were hitting everything and playing their heart out on the ice as I expected from patriotic yankees.

What about Finnish players? Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Rantanen all franchise players on their NHL teams which are Stanley Cup contenders. Zero hits and compete. Cute passes from big scoring chances. As I said generation of primadonna superstars and zero heart. Night and day when you watch them in nhl playoffs. Finnish posters are living in past.

Rantanen has 101 points in 81 P/O games with a Stanley Cup, Aho has 70 points in 74 P/O games with 2 ECF appearances, Barkov has 59 points in 71 P/O games with a Stanley Cup win and loss, Hintz has 57 points in 78 P/O games with 2 WCF appearances and a Stanley Cup loss. This is easily the best generation of Finnish hockey players on playoff experience alone. I think it’s unfair to judge them based on one game and missing some of their top defensemen. I think the best way to evaluate them is the 2026 Olympics.

 

[matsqq]

Up until the second goal from team USA , Finland had USA where they wanted them.

I thought the chances where almost 50-50 until then.

Then USA got more confident and Saros didn't exactly have his best day, could have had 2 of the goals and Finland had a meltdown defensively after that.

I still think Finland can win over Sweden with the same strategy and a bit of luck, even though I guess Sweden are the clear favourites now

Every game lives it's own life so anything can happen.

 

[NotCommitted]

Can't give up two goals within like first 30 seconds of 3rd period. The first was a bit of a fluke, if the shot didn't hit Mikkola's stick, Saros would've had that. The 4-1 goal was just horrible all around, need a big save there but can't give up that kind of scoring chance right at the next shift. Getting beat 5-hole there is not a great look but then again if that goal was scored with a top shelf rocket from that position after that sequence, no one would blame the goalie.

Saros was a big reason it was tight for two periods. Sure, we had our chances as well and score could've been 3-1 for Finland after two periods, or 3-3, or 5-3 or 5-1 for USA... but the underlying stats really didn't favor Finland at all, though I think some of that was probably not getting shots off from a couple good chances they had.

I don't think 6-1 score line does justice to the game both Saros and the team as a whole played for two periods, but then again you gotta play 3 periods. It could've been a different game if they even had a good kill but eventually get scored on, now they give up a fluke goal 15 seconds in and then break down the very next shift.

 

[karhukissa]

It was pretty much even game going into 3rd. Result and that kind of a collapse is something that should never happen with these kind of players. Honestly i'm surprised how well our defense played first two periods.

Well as long as we beat Sweden i'm happy, and i think it'll happen. Barkov, Rantanen, Aho are the ones who really needs to step up big time. Granlund played well, so did Lundell.

 

[elmaco]

Brutal 3rd period, that kind of collapse should not happen at this level.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I would say they hand the ball over to Lankinen. I thought the Finnish D was playing some excellent hockey. Constantly closing the spaces in the NZ and D zone. Arriving with ill intent when they got there. They moved it confidently d to d and up ice.. far more so than the Swedes did early on in their game.

I would not change pairings nor bring in Valimaki. Up front, I thought Laine was engaged.. Not sure if there is a move to make.. just go at it again and play the same game. Try to get one on the PP.. really struggled with entry did PP1.

 

[SantosHalper]

It wasn't that bad but it wasn't a full 60-minute effort, couple of very easy goals. Anyways, forwards! Change the lines and goalie, this is good practice for the Olympics.

Hintz - Barkov - Laine
Teräväinen/Lehkonen - Aho - Rantanen
Teräväinen/Lehkonen - Granlund - Kakko
Luostarinen - Lundell - Armia/Haula

or

Hintz - Barkov - Laine
Kakko - Aho - Rantanen
Lehkonen - Granlund - Teräväinen
Luostarinen - Lundell - Armia/Haula

Lindell - Mikkola
Määttä - Jokiharju
Välimäki - Matinpalo
Vaakanainen

- Urkki looked slow, Välimäki in.

PP1
-----------Hintz----------
Laine----Kakko------Barkov
----------Lindell-----------

- Put Lindell in the 1st unit, he was delivering puck to the net with good percentage.

PP2
------------Lehkonen-----------
Aho------TT/MG/Lundell-----Rantanen
-----------Jokiharju/Välimäki----------

 

[PrimumHockeyist]

It was pretty much even game going into 3rd. Result and that kind of a collapse is something that should never happen with these kind of players. Honestly i'm surprised how well our defense played first two periods.

Well as long as we beat Sweden i'm happy, and i think it'll happen. Barkov, Rantanen, Aho are the ones who really needs to step up big time. Granlund played well, so did Lundell.

Finland played one helluva game for 39 minutes and 57 seconds.

 

[red devil]

 

[Canucks LB]

Kevin Lankinen is about to make an extra million dollars on his contract when he dominates this tournament

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Hey Ferraro Finns aren't chasing the game anymore.

 

[Flinkkis]

We've got a keeper issue.

 

[Mestaruus]

We found our #1 goalie for this tournament and also the line combinations are starting to click. The 3-L (Luostarinen, Lundell and Laine) line was great. No home crowd in Finland-Canada game, although it's quite clear that many Canadians are coming over the border to watch that game.

 

[Esko6]

USA and Canada might be out of reach, but great performance beating the swedes. At least I will have fond memories of this tournament

 

[SantosHalper]

Good game, full 60-minute(and insome) effort and W. It wouldn't have been wrong if Finland would have won in regulation. Like @Mestaruus said, 3L-line looked good, simple straight forward hockey. I'd still do some changes...

Hintz - Barkov - Kakko
Lehkonen - Aho - Rantanen
Luostarinen - Lundell - Laine
Teräväinen - Granlund - Haula/Armia

1st takes the hardest match ups and shutsdown Team Canada. Lehky-Moose connection back going and since most likely Rantanen stays in Carolina start building that chemistry between Aho and him. That will be valuable come Olympics as well. "L's" keep doing what they did and 4th adds secondary scoring.
---------------
BTW
2016 World Cup, 3 games played, 3 losses, 1 goal
2025 4-Nations, 2 games played(so far), 1 win & 1 loss, 5 goals

As we say, "eteenpäin on menty".

 

[hirawl]

Looks like I was right. American top players were hitting everything and playing their heart out on the ice as I expected from patriotic yankees.

What about Finnish players? Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Rantanen all franchise players on their NHL teams which are Stanley Cup contenders. Zero hits and compete. Cute passes from big scoring chances. As I said generation of primadonna superstars and zero heart. Night and day when you watch them in nhl playoffs. Finnish posters are living in past.

Horseshit. Plain and simple.

 

[FinPanda]

Even if we won't beat Canada, I'll still remember this tournament forever. I'm so happy.

 

[BusQuets]

Horseshit. Plain and simple.

I'm correct. The fact that they beat a team with zibanejad as 1st line center doesn't change anything. Canada will show the lazy Finns how a team with real heart plays.

 

[NyQuil]

I'm correct. The fact that they beat a team with zibanejad as 1st line center doesn't change anything. Canada will show the lazy Finns how a team with real heart plays.

I like how when you're proven wrong you just pretend that you weren't and try again.

It's kind of admirable if immature.

 

[hirawl]

I'm correct. The fact that they beat a team with zibanejad as 1st line center doesn't change anything. Canada will show the lazy Finns how a team with real heart plays.

The game happens away from the puck. Practically this whole team is full of players who understand this and play the game accordingly. The right way as they say.

You may call it lazy and I will call that absolute bullcrap.

 

[Mestaruus]

Lehkonen - Aho - Rantanen

Only problem I have with this is that we can't trust Aho's faceoff ability now. Despite of being a great player and one of my favorites, he has a problem with faceoffs this tournament. Rantanen can take some faceoffs too, but I don't know if I trust him either. With faceoff losses, the flow would turn to our own too often and could make this line look poor. Chances are high for that.

 

[SantosHalper]

Only problem I have with this is that we can't trust Aho's faceoff ability now. Despite of being a great player and one of my favorites, he has a problem with faceoffs this tournament. Rantanen can take some faceoffs too, but I don't know if I trust him either. With faceoff losses, the flow would turn to our own too often and could make this line look poor. Chances are high for that.

He's been a bit off in every area. If it doesn't work, put Granlund in there.

 

[karhukissa]

 

[NotCommitted]

Things got interesting with another OT loss for Sweden. I'm obviously rooting for Finland but at this stage it almost feels like there's only good outcomes possible They were so heavy underdogs with that defense, so winning a game is already a pretty good result. Obviously beating Canada in regulation and getting a rematch vs USA would be awesome, but CAN-USA final would be epic. But if Canada-Finland goes to OT... Sweden losing to both Canada and Finland and then beating USA in regulation to get into the final would be kinda hilarious. Even more so if they beat USA twice in a row and win the whole thing.

 

[BullLund]

Things got interesting with another OT loss for Sweden. I'm obviously rooting for Finland but at this stage it almost feels like there's only good outcomes possible They were so heavy underdogs with that defense, so winning a game is already a pretty good result. Obviously beating Canada in regulation and getting a rematch vs USA would be awesome, but CAN-USA final would be epic. But if Canada-Finland goes to OT... Sweden losing to both Canada and Finland and then beating USA in regulation to get into the final would be kinda hilarious. Even more so if they beat USA twice in a row and win the whole thing.

I feel like the window of opportunity is still open for Sweden, despite the two losses. USA won't feel too invested in a game that has no real stakes for them, they'll probably use that game as a way to experiment and also rest some of their stars.

Finland vs Canada can go two ways, it's either Canada just blitzing Finland due to our suspect defense and goaltending, or Finland somehow manages to keep it tight, with both sides playing low-event hockey. This increases the likelihood of the match going to OT, once again.

If Sweden wins against a disinterested USA, and Finland/Canada go to OT, they're both done. Personally I expect Canada to expose the defense and goaltending, which are nowhere near USA's level, but anything is possible.