GDT: 9/20 - Finland vs. Sweden - 3 PM ET

[Phil McKraken]

Why is sweden playing a passive box? This isnt the 80s anymore.

Because Finland keeps winning the face-offs; automatic loss of box size.

 

[Chimpradamus]

Very close game. Could easily be Finland up with 1

That's why we have Hank. He's used to playing behind teams playing bad hockey. Anything else is gravy.

 

[BusQuets]

Very close game. Could easily be Finland up with 1

Should have at least 2 goals. Bad finishing on scoring chances is killing Finland right now.

 

[llwyd]

Swedes just put in that higher gear for 1minute, scored then leaved the game. Dangerous. Are they just dont what to win?

I wonder if it wouldn't be bit more complicated than that... If they could win this at will, they would have already. In fact had Lundqvist had a similar day as Rinne the other evening, they would be now probably trailing.

 

[zeke]

that's a sexy goat.

 

[Brun0]

sweden is a slow team, we have to start to skate again


they are gonna have a hard to onwards anyway

 

[Nordic*]

Yeah, very one-sided... Sweden has simply been so supreme that I don't understand why we even bother.

Sweden has been very underwhelming, you have every chance to come back in this game!

 

[DoubleGold]

Should have at least 2 goals. Bad finishing on scoring chances is killing Finland right now.

That's the Finnish curse for you.

 

[Gsus]

If Rinne was in the Swedish net it would be something like 6-1 for Finland already.

 

[bDtKarlsson]

Sweden's first period: 3/10

Sweden's second period: 6/10

Sweden's third period: 9/10?

Possible overtime: 12/10?

 

[BusQuets]

That's the Finnish curse for you.

Pulju would have scored and pushed 3 swedes in the net at the same time.

 

[Mestaruus]

This is the first time in the tournament and prep games Laine-Barkov is getting PP1 time. Finally.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Yeah it's pretty sad how bad Vatanen is in as simple of a thing as just passing the puck properly to Laine on the PP.

Vatanen is supposed to be the offensively skilled, smooth skating PP QB. Whatever he does should end up in Laine's wheelhouse, that's our best chance.

It's amazing how little Laine has got to shoot in 2 international tournaments. Same thing in the last WHC. Nowhere near as many shots as he should have. I guess Finland just doesn't know how to deal with a legit sniper, one we've really never had

What they have to understand is it doesn't matter if the defending team take Laine away. Just like Ovie, he can put the puck in the back of the net even if it doesn't seem like the perfect shot opportunity. Besides, these guys have the skill to work the puck to him for a good chance.

What else is there really ? Nobody's going to score from the half-wall and Vats can't hit the net in this tournament.

Put Risto in, he proved in the NHL last year he can score from the point. Just have RR and Laine fire the puck like no tomorrow.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Come on guys. This is Sweden! Where's the emotion? Where's the passion? Komarov needs to destroy someone. Get in their faces and make their life hell. Bodies in front of the net and shovel some garbage in. If you want to win this, you need to pay the price in the war zone around the blue paint.

Agreed. where's that physical grinding Finnish hockey? it's where Finland strives

 

[EK47]

Yup. I never understood the controversy and tonight we're seeing why. I don't know if Markström would have shut Finland out after the chances they've had so far.

It's just very uncommon not to ride the hot goalie granted this goalie situation is not exactly ordinary, and while Lundqvist has been great this game it wasn't unreasonable to question his shape considering the last games before this one.

 

[Matti_A]

That Strålman goal really annoys me, shouldn't have happened, Granlund should have stayed in front of the net and Tuukka needs to keep his pad down.

 

[BusQuets]

Laine has probably lost more puck battles in this game than Matthews in the whole tournament + exhibition games.

 

[Nordic*]

Possible overtime: 12/10?

Two ++ = -, so 12/10 equals 2/10 and a loss in OT??

 

[Irishguy42]

That Strålman goal really annoys me, shouldn't have happened, Granlund should have stayed in front of the net and Tuukka needs to keep his pad down.

Sometimes you need greasy goals to beat good goalies.

 

[BB88]

Laine has probably lost more puck battles in this game than Matthews in the whole tournament + exhibition games.

He's also been our best forward with Barkov and Aho.

Board battles is where his timing is off, needs to make quicker plays.

 

[ijuka]

The thing is, it's just not about Laine shooting the puck. When a guy like Risto shoots from the blueline it could make a big difference if someone actually blocked Hank's vision.

I don't see why a guy like Risto should even shoot from the blue line. Finland has no one else who has a shot. We don't need Risto banging the puck against the boards.


All that needs to be done is a very basic PP with this system. You pass between Barkov and Vatanen, threatening to pass to Jokinen until the box becomes smaller and smaller. Then you pass a proper pass so that it goes past the middle, causing the opposing goalie to have to move sideways to get in position to save the Laine one timer.

Everyone knows Jokinen likely isn't going to score via a pass there anyway, but they have to respect it because even Jokinen can do it if he has all the room in the world. However, you don't have to actually pass there more than once like every 3 PPs.

It's the most basic of the most basic things and it -should- be the standard goal of the Finnish PP but they haven't been doing it. It's like they half-ass it with no plan, everyone doing whatever they feel like doing.

 

[Nordic*]

Sure, Vatanen might screw up now and again, but he does more with the puck then the rest of your defencemen combined.

He is basically a poor man's Karlsson.

 

[Lempo]

You think there's any chance Teemu & co lock Marjamaki out of the locker room for the period break and then lock him in for the 3rd...?

 

[BusQuets]

He's also been our best forward with Barkov and Aho.

Board battles is where his timing is off, needs to make quicker plays.

How is that possible when he loses the puck every time he has it? Doesn't make sense.

 

[bDtKarlsson]

That Strålman goal really annoys me, shouldn't have happened, Granlund should have stayed in front of the net and Tuukka needs to keep his pad down.

Defensemen supporting the offense is one of Swedens strongest sides. We saw it when Hedman scored against Russia and now with Strålman. Not the easiest thing to prevent, especially when H. Sedin is behind the goal controlling the game.