GDT: Canada vs. Finland | 2/17/2025 1:00 p.m. EST, 7:00 p.m. CET, 8:00 p.m. EET | Tämä on ulkotalo!

[CantHaveTkachev]

gonna need to score a few today as Binnington will let in a couple of softies

 

[Lainestache]

Completely agree - particularly with the "hold on for dear life" part. And that's the best case scenario ;-)! Regardless of outcome, there won't be a larger stage for our players to show what they're made of. And how a country with a population of less than that of the Greater Toronto Area has the highest representation in the NHL relative to its size.

As a Cats fan, I'm pretty happy with how our Finnish players have been performing: Barkov has been as elite as he always is, and Lundell & Luostarinen have been great as well - I loved their goal against Forsling ;-). Even Mikkola has risen up to the challenge on an extremely thin blue line. As someone who doesn't watch them a lot, I've liked what I've seen of Rantanen and Laine, and obviously Granlund. Aho and Hintz however have been pretty invisible so hopefully they come to the party. And cross fingers that Lankinen stays solid. For all the jokes, I actually thought Matinpalo was actually decent.

Still, Canada's lineup fills me with absolute terror. They don't seem to be playing up to their talent levels at the moment - as a team, they seem less than the sum of their (extremely talented) parts. Just our luck if they manage to unlock that during this game...

Yeah Lundell and Luostarinen - Wowza. They have made Laine sometimes look like how he used to look back in the Jets days, and competing and confident Laine is something to be afraid of. Loved his little fight against EEK(is that his nickname?) and the little jab in post game interview where he said that "We are the big brother now" when asked about Finlands and Swedens big brother little brother relationship and how we(Finns) have always been the little brother.

So actually after this post I just might have to change my honorary mention to Laine - If that line keeps rocking and Laine is engaged and fed with chances.. Boom. Even then, it might not be enough.

Anyways, hopefully it's a great game and nobody gets hurt!

 

[robertmac43]

Must win, come on lads

 

[Scandale du Jour]

Binnington starting is... disappointing, but not surprising unfortunately.

 

[IdleTraveller]

Loved his little fight against EEK(is that his nickname?) and the little jab in post game interview where he said that "We are the big brother now" when asked about Finlands and Swedens big brother little brother relationship and how we(Finns) have always been the little brother.

So actually after this post I just might have to change my honorary mention to Laine - If that line keeps rocking and Laine is engaged and fed with chances.. Boom. Even then, it might not be enough.

Anyways, hopefully it's a great game and nobody gets hurt!

That was hilarious! And yes, that L line was rocking. Can't wait for the game to start now, even though it will likely end in tears. With six Panthers on the ice tonight - NO ONE BETTER GET HURT!!

 

[Rude Dog]

This is essentially a semi-final game. If they can't beat the Fins today with their depleted back end, it is what it is. Canada has too many world class players not to break out at some point. I suspect today will be the MacKinnon show

 

[Fenway]

Settled Event 'Canada vs Finland - TD Garden, Boston'

• Fenway
• Jan 4, 2025
• Updated Monday at 11:54 AM
• Views: 254

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[Steddy33]

Canada deserves to lose starting the wrong goalie, again.

 

[Nakawick]

If Makar isn’t 100% then he shouldn’t play or feel pressured to play. Hopefully Canada can win the game and he can come back for the finals with a couple more days rest.

I hope the winner of this game wins the tournament. Will be interesting to see how Canada starts the game. Coming off an emotional game at the Bell Centre to an afternoon game in Boston with probably a quiet and half full building.

 

[FinnLightning26]

If a team with guys like McDavid and MacKinnon can't eat this Finnish defense alive, there's a lot more to blame than the goalie.

 

[Moloch]

MacKinnon and McDavid got shut down the other day. Will hopefully be a different story today as they don't have the USA forecheck to deal with. But the Finns like to clog up the middle of the ice so we'll see

 

[Crosbyfan]

So Binnington it is...why change when he's played up to expectations? He's a bonafide average NHL goalie if you include backups...just like his potential replacements and arguably just as good as them..even if arguably not.

 

[PuckG]

So even if we get past into the championship game, it seems like the Canadians are doomed to have Binnington in net for that one as well with the way coaching has committed to him.

 

[tapi]

Even with Binnington in the net, if Canada loses the whole rosters needs to retire from the game immediately. The skill gap between the teams is literally almost the same as a NHL team going against the AHL Champions.

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Starting the wrong goalie

 

[Dirtyclapper]

What the hell is cooper doing? I hope he's not Canada's coach in the Olympics, do not like these decisions

 

[Crosbyfan]

So even if we get past into the championship game, it seems like the Canadians are doomed to have Binnington in net for that one as well with the way coaching has committed to him.

You are no doubt correct, though ff he lets his two softies in early enough and gets replaced, and Canada ekes out a regulation win...then...maybe not?

 

[amnesiac]

Makar?? Any news

 

[BullLund]

Even with Binnington in the net, if Canada loses the whole rosters needs to retire from the game immediately. The skill gap between the teams is literally almost the same as a NHL team going against the AHL Champions.

Lankinen is no better than Binnington anyway, it's not going to come down to a goalie difference. Canada should honestly be able to overpower Finland's defense, and Lankinen is not exactly an impenetrable wall, the only way they lose is if they make a ton of mistakes that Finland can capitalize on. On paper Canada should have the advantage pretty much everywhere.

 

[francis246]

Even with Binnington in the net, if Canada loses the whole rosters needs to retire from the game immediately. The skill gap between the teams is literally almost the same as a NHL team going against the AHL Champions.

Lol what? This is a wildly crazy take.

More so if they lose Team Canada’s management group needs to understand you can’t grind your way to tournament wins anymore. They found this out the hard way with the WJC.

How nice would Verhaghe, Bouchard, Stamkos, Schiefele look on this roster?

I expect the Olympic roster to have more speed and skill. Bedard and Celebrini will be on the next roster.

 

[amnesiac]

Lol what? This is a wildly crazy take.

More so if they lose Team Canada’s management group needs to understand you can’t grind your way to tournament wins anymore. They found this out the hard way with the WJC.

How nice would Verhaghe, Bouchard, Stamkos, Schiefele look on this roster?

I expect the Olympic roster to have more speed and skill. Bedard and Celebrini will be on the next roster.

Disagree, you need playoff proven 2 way players to face the elite lines….. Bouchard has no place on a team that has much better all around Dmen

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Binnington to start LMAO, expect more softies let in.

 

[LOFIN]

I really struggle to understand what the thread title means

 

[leafsfan5]

Makar?? Any news

 

[Zybalto]

Nice to see Makar out there.