Does Finland have chances?
- Thread starter ShaneDoan
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ShaneDoan said:
Obviously Finland can compete with the best in the world.
However, even though they went to the Final of the World Cup, I am still not completely sold on them as an international powerhouse, simply because they seem to lack top-end talent and top-end depth. Saying that though, they do play very well as a team, and sometimes that is all that can matter.
If I had to bet money, I say that they finish 3rd in their group (with Canada and Czech Republic taking 1st and 2nd). Then I think that Finland will lose to either Sweden or Russia in the first elimination game of the medal round.
But that is just a preliminary prediction, and probably does not mean much 3 months before the Olympics even start.
ferns8916 said:
I think that in the final will be Russia and Canada. But definitely Finland can beat Swedes.
They are always underdogs and I'm sure they like it that way!
I hope they do good in the tournament (untill they meet Russia)
I hope they do good in the tournament (untill they meet Russia)
ShaneDoan said:
What makes you think that?
Now that Sweden has Lundqvist in net they have a very scary team IMO.
Riddarn
1980-2011
- Aug 2, 2003
- 9,164
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Sweden always looses to Finland in best-on-best tournaments. It happened in the Olympics in '98. It never got that far in '02 (because as we all know, Belarus did them in befor Finland got a shot) and they did it in the World Cup in '04. It will happen again.
Of course Finland has great chances. They were excellent in the World Cup and playing on big ice will only help them since they are excellent skaters and hard workers. Stricter rule interpretations will also help them.
Of course Finland has great chances. They were excellent in the World Cup and playing on big ice will only help them since they are excellent skaters and hard workers. Stricter rule interpretations will also help them.
They sure do.Finland will have 4 good,solid lines to go with great goaltending.With a good game plan executed at a high level,it's a recipe for success.
therealdeal
Registered User
- Apr 22, 2005
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The chances get better every year. Right now Team Finland is improving more than most of the top 7 nations. If all our players are healthy in Turin, it will be the best team ever. Last year in the WC we missed Sami Kapanen and in the 2002 OGs we missed Saku Koivu.
Personnally, based on hockey (and not some rosters and depth discussions), Finland is just as good as Sweden.
I think all of the big 7 (Can, USA, Cze, Svk, Rus, Fin, Swe) have good enough skaters to take home the gold. If any of those teams have a red hot goalie (like Hasek in 98), they will probably win it all. Right now Lundquist, Kipper and Hasek look pretty scary, so Finland definitely has a shot!
Canada has a lot of great goalies, but nobody who is "on fire" right now in my opinion, and that has me a bit concerned!
Canada has a lot of great goalies, but nobody who is "on fire" right now in my opinion, and that has me a bit concerned!
edd1e
Registered User
Mr Kanadensisk said:
I have to agree. Every one of those countries has a change to win gold, but top picks to that race are Can,Rus,Cze after that Sweden is the first that comes to my mind, if they have solid goalie.
i think finns has the best defense ever in the Finnish Olympics history, also i would rank our goalies very high. So.. looking at those things i think Finland has chance to get some medals.
Jazz
Registered User
With the essential-goaltender factory pumping out goalie after goalie in Finland, I don't see how they can't be counted as a medal contender in any tournament from now on.
USA isn`t good as earlier so Finnish have better chances. And if Finland get best players they really can beat Swedes and Czhecks. Canada might be too strong though
GKJ
Global Moderator
- Feb 27, 2002
- 195,276
- 45,017
Jazz said:
Exactly...there is depth in net where there has never been depth before. There are quite a few quality goalies who can play for the team
Kiprusoff: goes without saying, the #1 job is his to lose
Lethonen: with all groin problems he has had, is a question mark, depends if he is even playing in the NHL
Toskala: some here think he could probably start for some NHL teams
Markkanen: has been alright, a bit inconsistent at times
Niittymaki: has been about as good as Markkanen but has little international experience, could benefit by being on a successful team. Could be the Flyers starter by the time the Olympics roll around.
roshiajin said:
At forward, Sweden is clearly better. Finnish blueliners, however, are currently a notch above Sweden's. Goalie situation has evened out due to Lundqvist's emergence. Basicly it's a wash, I'd say.
Right now I don't have much faith in Westerlund's coaching. I don't know much about Sweden's coaching, though many people are pleased with BÃ…G.
Like someone mentioned, Finland will need to play as a Team, that's the only way for us to get anywhere.
i don't know about that.Sweden will have a defense of likely Lidstrom,Norstrom,Ohlund,Backman,Jonnson and you fill in the blanks.That's as good as Finland's i think.Boucicaut said:
cyclops said:
I see your point but not all of those guys have been playing quite as well as they used to. I think a core of Sami Salo, Joni Pitkänen, Teppo Numminen, Toni Lydman, Kimmo Timonen, Ossi Väänänen and Janne Niinimaa is a notch above them currently. There's a nice balance of offensively minded and stay-at-home guys and a nice balance of youth and experience too.
I think Niinimaa isn`t good thing if he plays in Torin. He has made number of hazards in international competitions...best defensemen in now must be Pitkanen and Salo.
Rupert Giles
Registered User
Riddarn said:
Sweden always looses to finland in best-on-best??
Sweden clearly won 4-1 or 5-2 or something in world cup 96,
a one goal loss in 98, and then 4-4 in world cup 04, they didnt "do it" in '04.
Rob
Registered User
At some pont I would love to see the Swedes face off against the Finns in the playoff round. I really believe that it is the greatest rivalry in international hockey.
Pepper
Registered User
- Aug 30, 2004
- 14,703
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Rob said:
That happened in Nagano '98...What a day, people were so nervous that day before the game. The game started at noon and I remember the whole university shutting down, classes & lectures cancelled with everybody watching the game from tv or giant projector screen. When Selänne scored first time the whole place went crazy, when he scored the 2nd the whole place exploded, when game ended with Forsberg's shot just missing the net people started yelling, screaming and jumping up and down.
Ahh the memories.
Great memories. Great tournament that, Finland got bronze and we still can be proud of that. Sometimes im bit anger that Finland loss the Russia (read Bure) in semi-final...
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