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!

[Bruce Granville]

Sorry Finland everyone wants to see the rematch. Think Canada takes this one in a dominant fashion.

I agree. Finland never loses twice to a team, so the rematch on their ice would be great for Team Finland.
And to prevent more animosity to build up…

What happens if Sweden and Finland wins in regulation? Its USA that wins this tourney right? They have beaten the top dogs, and Finland with a better score?

Edit :
It will end like
USA 6p , 2 reg win, 1 loss
Finland 6p, 1 reg win,, 1 OT win, 1 loss.
Sweden 5p 1 reg win , two tied (OT losses)
Canada 3p, 1 OT win. Thats that.

Right?

Current state of Swedish hockey…?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

How do you figure? Centre depth is probably the only area where Canada is stronger than the US.

Yea I have USA ahead everywhere but down the middle. McDavid - Mackinnon - Point is pretty ridiculous.

 

[NyQuil]

Yea I have USA ahead everywhere but down the middle. McDavid - Mackinnon - Point is pretty ridiculous.

And Crosby as an alternate centre.

 

[Bruce Granville]

By "ulkotalo" do you mean "huussi"?

I read the whole thread in search for an answer…
She‘s better in liking posts than writing them, eh?

 

[bennysflyers16]

How about not treating Cirelli like he’s prime Mario today. Cooper needs to be replaced.

 

[le_sean]

lol Binnington announced as starter.

 

[leafsfan5]

Well, we need to prepare for at least 1 softy allowed

 

[red devil]

 

[IdleTraveller]

I have a feeling that Canada will be in all-in mode straight from the opening puck drop and if we ain't ready, the game could be over in the first period. But if we are able to hold on to our dear lives for one and a half period and not take any stupid penalties, we might just end up netting the first goal and then it just could be downhill for Canada after that. It has happened before, clear and obvious favorite go down a goal or two and end up getting a bit too angry and it costs them.

So it's either a blowout like 5-1 to Canada or a more tighter game, 2-3 to Finland.

MVP of the game for Finland: Barkov. Honorary mention to Aho, if they end up splitting Aho and Hintz and he finally gets going.

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...

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Finland wins by working harder and playing as a team

4-3 FIN

 

[red devil]

 

[Gravity]

Is Cooper an American double agent? Why the hell would you go back to Binnington?

 

[FlyguyOX]

Finland wins by working harder and playing as a team

4-3 FIN

Agree. The way the US grinded out the win vs Canada is basically how Finland plays, except they play that style even better. If Finland can keep it close early then it'll be a tight battle.

 

[Roo]

I hope they win, but if they don’t, it’s solely on Cooper for failing to make necessary adjustments.

 

[TheDoldrums]

He absolutely has not played great, he has a negative goals saved against expectation. Any goalie could give this team a chance to win with how little they allow. Sigh.

 

[Puckstopper]

Unless you have a prime Carey Price, I'm not sure why they don't give other guys a chance. Even Brodeur and Luongo had to split starts back in the day.

 

[featherhawk]

It’s going to be Hill’s net. Binnington would lose.

hope so, binnington is washed

 

[Moloch]

 

[The Blue Baron]

John Pooper Cooper.

What an idiotic decision.

Binner in makes Scooper a Sinner!

 

[leafsfan5]

A pre-pandemic cup will carry Binnington for the rest of his career

 

[SillyRabbit]

Cooper just blew Canada’s chance at winning this tournament.

 

[CrazyJoeDavola]

News on Makar?

 

[featherhawk]

The issue now is that Hill hasn't played in 10 days, so does Cooper risk sending him in relatively cold?

If I was coaching I'd make the switch and take my chances. If Hill gets off to a bad start then Binnington, who played just 2 days ago and is clearly in game shape, can jump in and pray Canada recovers.

What's going to haunt Cooper is if Binnington starts today, lets in a few bad ones and Canada doesn't recover even if he's pulled. Or, if Binnington's not very good today but Canada still wins and then he really has to go back to him for the final (see above about "cold" Hill)

That is why if you did not have a clear cut number 1 you split the two guys you think are the number 1a and 1b goalie... I start Hill tonight despite not having a game in 10 days...Cooper is the only one to blame...Binnington is not even the best goalie on the blues... PLAY HILL

 

[featherhawk]

Is Cooper an American double agent? Why the hell would you go back to Binnington?

Well he certainly does not want to give the club he is coaching the best opportunity to win the game tonight, that is for sure. What a sad state Hockey Canada is. They should emulate what the US national devt team is doing...

 

[Rude Dog]

The NHL style of play of allowing obstruction/interference to be allowed has ruined this tournament. The hockey has been awful. The skill has been completely removed. Whichever team can take advantage of that will win and good on them I guess but the entertainment value of these games has been disappointing.

When I saw Torts behind the US bench, I knew this would be the result. Coaches get paid to win. But sadly fans pay the coaches salary indirectly and too many have forgotten the plot. Hockey is meant to be entertaining.