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GDT: Finland vs. USA | 13 February 2025 | 8:00

Mikkola-Lindell
Vaakanainen-Matinpalo
Maatta-Jokiharju
Valimaki

One reasonable defender in Lindell, who's more of a #4 than anything. Others are replacement level.

Brutal D.

If Heiskanen was on the team and we could make him play a solid 35min per night, then the D might have been passable. But this lineup is completely hopeless. Especially combined with the fact that Saros hasn't been good and Finnish goaltending in general is slumping.

Finland's forwards are good but They can only out-firepower Sweden, if that. And Sweden has them crushed in D and G.


I'll consider it a win if Finland loses a game by under 5 goals.
 
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ijuka said:
Mikkola-Lindell
Vaakanainen-Matinpalo
Maatta-Jokiharju
Valimaki

One reasonable defender in Lindell, who's more of a #4 than anything. Others are replacement level.

Brutal D.
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Injuries killed their chances to win the whole thing but they can still Suprise in a game or 2. Elite defensive forwards.
 
Nineteen67 said:
Canada has to find a goalie.
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the goalie think is overplayed lol it will be fine

ijuka said:
Mikkola-Lindell
Vaakanainen-Matinpalo
Maatta-Jokiharju
Valimaki

One reasonable defender in Lindell, who's more of a #4 than anything. Others are replacement level.

Brutal D.

If Heiskanen was on the team and we could make him play a solid 35min per night, then the D might have been passable. But this lineup is completely hopeless. Especially combined with the fact that Saros hasn't been good and Finnish goaltending in general is slumping.

Finland's forwards are good but They can only out-firepower Sweden, if that. And Sweden has them crushed in D and G.


I'll consider it a win if Finland loses a game by under 5 goals.
Click to expand...
have faith i learned to never count finland out on international hockey no matter what the line up looks like.. they fight and fight and alot of the times it sinks the other team
 
Nineteen67 said:
US should win this tournament, if last night is any indication.
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You could be right. However I'd argue Sweden might have the best defense of the tournament and they played that way last night. You could also argue Canada might have the worst goaltending.

USA should have the best goaltending and I'd argue second best forward group. Definitely looks poised to be a finalist at the very least.

Anything can happen in a round robin tournament, though. Canada looked electric for the most part last night but I was really impressed by Sweden as well.
 
JoVel said:
If Matinpalo scores even a single point in this tournament, it'll be a hell of a trivia question in the future, because he doesn't even have his first NHL point yet.
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He's been good on the bottom pair in Ottawa.

He's better than Travis Hamonic and Jacob Bernard-Docker and has emerged as probably the best partner for Tyler Kleven.

Doesn't get a lot of points but he has a boomer of a shot so it's possible he could score if he gets the opportunity.
 
Missed opportunity to put both Tkachuks with Eichel.

The curly haired terror line
 
Gizmo Tkachuk said:
Tone will be set when Barkov cross checks Matthew Tkachuk in the head 5 minutes in. No call
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LOL! I love them both but that would be just so hilarious...

On a more serious note, I'm crossing my fingers for a miracle here but it was already dicey before those injuries. I'll be happy if it's at least competitive. Hyvä Suomi!!
 
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This will be a close one too.

On paper USA:s defense is clearly the big difference - but USA often underperforms while Finland overperforms and often have great coaching.

I am not sure how this one will end .
 
I'm going to the game tonight. Rooting for Finland (two Habs on the squad!) and I absolutely cannot wait if Canada-Sweden last night was anything to go by
 
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JohnLennon said:
You could be right. However I'd argue Sweden might have the best defense of the tournament and they played that way last night. You could also argue Canada might have the worst goaltending.

USA should have the best goaltending and I'd argue second best forward group. Definitely looks poised to be a finalist at the very least.

Anything can happen in a round robin tournament, though. Canada looked electric for the most part last night but I was really impressed by Sweden as well.
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I thought neither team was electric. Last night. Battery powered at best.
 
ijuka said:
Mikkola-Lindell
Vaakanainen-Matinpalo
Maatta-Jokiharju
Valimaki

One reasonable defender in Lindell, who's more of a #4 than anything. Others are replacement level.

Brutal D.

If Heiskanen was on the team and we could make him play a solid 35min per night, then the D might have been passable. But this lineup is completely hopeless. Especially combined with the fact that Saros hasn't been good and Finnish goaltending in general is slumping.

Finland's forwards are good but They can only out-firepower Sweden, if that. And Sweden has them crushed in D and G.


I'll consider it a win if Finland loses a game by under 5 goals.
Click to expand...
Mikkola is not replacement level, he is a very solid second pair D-man on a Stanley Cup winner, a #3 if you will (3rd in TOI and is being used in that role). Lindell is also more of a #2 than #4. You people need to watch more Panthers games with these takes on Lundell and Mikkola.

The Finnish D is pretty bad without Heiskanen and Risto, yes. But it feels like it's all people are talking about with this team and its getting exaggerated, like rubbing salt to the Stone-made wound. I'm honestly more afraid that Pennanen's coaching is the real problem, as it's still a complete wild card how he does.

Unless these are anti-jinx comments, in which case carry on.

Saros needs to be on a short leash though. Lankinen has been clearly better lately, so if Juuse is not good tonight, Kevin needs to be in against Sweden.
 
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International Hockey chokers vs International hockey overachievers.

Finland 3-2. Goalscorers Aho, Laine(pp), Lehkonen and Tkachuk M, Connor.
 
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Forwards
=

Defence
USA>Finland

Goalie
Finland>USA

Team play
Finland>USA

Special teams
Finland>>USA

Speed
=

Toughness
Finland>USA

Experience
Finland>>USA

It will be tight but Finland wins 4-2
 
US has a lot of East-West players and Finland has good defensive forwards - they cannot get not too cute. They should be able to attack the weak Finnish blueline with a good forecheck.

Rantanen, Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Laine, International Granlund = plenty of firepower for Finland.

I think US pulls away in the 3rd but it will be a close game.
 
Zalos said:
A lot of people hyping up this USA squad as the best ever put together. Let's find out how they play on the ice!
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US is by far the most underachieving hockey country of the big 6. Two consequential wins and trash performances in the '98, 06, '14 Olympics
and terrible performances in the '06 and '14 World Cuo...lol.

They were actually far more consistently successful from 1980-2002.

1980 Olympic Gold
1981, 1984 Semifinals Canada Cup
1991 Finals Canada Cup
1996 World Cup of Hockey Champion
2002 Olympic Finalist


2002-2024

2002 Olympic Finalist
2010 Olympic Finalist

Looks to me US Players born 1952-72 were far more successful than those born
1973- on.
 
hockey20000 said:
can't say that before we even see them play a game lol.. canada looked good and sweden proved they can hang and fight back the way i see it either canada or sweden can win it... usa probably also but need to see them first.. and finland always performs better on international ice with less talent at every level so yea who knows could upset americans
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Canada has a bit of an edge at forward, but USA has better defense and goaltending. Way better. Colton Parayko is an anagram for Crap Pylon. Doughty's 100 years old and has played 60 minutes of hockey this season. Canada's goalie lineup would look good for a Spengler Cup squad maybe.

I guess we'll see how that works out on Saturday.

The Finns are major underdogs here...but they always seem to come together for international tournaments.
 
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