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WJC: Gold Medal Game • Pre-Game Discussion

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wirelessflyingcord said:
I wonder if home arena pressure starts to kick in finally...
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There's no pressure. We've already knocked out both Canada and Sweden and won a medal - no matter what happens tonight, the kids have already met all expectations. They should be able to just enjoy the crowd, the atmosphere and the occasion and do a great job on the ice.

That said, it'll be a tough match. 4-3 Finland, I hope!
 
This is a toss up. Should be a wild gold medal game. I'd love to see Svechnikov and Lazarev come back to the Cape with gold medals.
 
Both teams will come fighting hard, I hope it'll be war on ice, but clean one. Changing hits and checks, not giving anything free.. but no head shots or cheap shotting.

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I think it will be a good game but I give the edge to Finland.
The team Russia beat in the Group-stages is no longer there. The defence was suspect (to put it nicely) and VV was not having a tournament he is capable of. Even then, Finland had that game well in control before the collapse.
I hope and believe it is the team that ousted Canada and Sweden that shows up because then Russia will have their hands full.
5-3 Finland with Kapanen empty netter at the end.


just hope the refs stay out of it.....we do not need their help....let them win on their own merits.
 
I don't like to put any expectations. I just go out there (to sofa) to enjoy :D

I think the both teams will want it as much. It's who is readier today, if both are ready then we are really closing whats called a 60min coinflip on ice.. Finland has the crowds advantage, they have pressured the refs very well and been surprisingly loud. Also Finland had few hours more recovery time from their game. But these are still only very minor assets, who gets the controll of the puck and game will be strong.
 
If we get the puck all the time and can have the skill guys skate it in time after another, making a play after entering a zone, we're having much better time.

Sweden tried to kronwall Pulju every single time he was passed the puck in Finnish Zone. If Russia manages to have that kind of jackets on 1st line, we need Rantanen-Kapanen-Hintz succes again.
 
wirelessflyingcord said:
I hope you meant teams as in nations/countries... Probably nobody from these teams will make it to WC.
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Aho has a shot, I'd say. Finish the season even better than he started, get an invite to Skodas and the way for 13th forward in WC is within grabs for him. Maybe even Laine or Pulju if they go lights out to end the season (but I doubt it)..

Tonight, it's Finland's game to lose. (drunk) Home crowd, biggest game of their lives, a bone to pick with the Russians, rejuvenated confidence on the D (and King Kaapo).. Many things to go wrong there, but I think Finland has a very good chance to win if we can keep controlling the puck like we (mostly) did against Sweden. Also looks like there are no mental issues this time, no meltdowns since the first few matches and good fighting spirit throughout the tournament.

For Russians, I guess the key is have they figured out how Sweden stopped Pula-Aho - with the rest of team waking up that needs to happen to have a chance. If they manage it and can keep their heads and play their game (regardless of the score, reffing, etc) they have a good shot at taking the gold. Historically, that would not happen but this seems like a completely new Russian team.

Here's to hoping for a good game, see you at the arena!
 
Russia is favorite with better goalie and defence hope its gonna be close.
 
Two best teams of the tournament. USA didn't deserve the final place. What really worries me about this game is the referees. I've seen some really crappy refereeing in this tournament once again. This shouldnt be happening on this level of international hockey.
 
Russia wins this one. Russian is always a kryptonite to Finland.

But the ref will try as much as they can to give it to Finland.
 
True Hockey Fan said:
I don't see a favorite here, even though Russia already beat Finland and they also beat a strong US team. Finland has some great players, and they play their team-game successfully. I think they have everything for the win. They beat Canada and I think that has given them some confidence :naughty: they have performed the ability to come back from many unfavorable game situations. Their elite line is amazing, but still not the only one that is dangerous, and the whole team is playing with a great speed and effort. I think Finland wins. But Russia was surprisingly good against the States for me, and the US have a very good team here. This will be the game to watch.
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What about Russia's come back with Finland? ) more correctly Finland's loss having a big advantage?
 
Russia has really impressed me: they play ice cool, disciplined hockey under pressure and are lethal finishers. Still, I think Finland is a slight favourite: we have now played against two very quick, big and physical teams with aggressive forecheck - which I believe is the best tactic against this year's talented and creative Finland. Russia will likely leave us more room and time and that might cost them in the end.
 
Tonight boys, we win the WJC at home ice!

Tomorrow is a national holiday so we can party all night long outside because it is only -18 here in Helsinki.

Lets go boys!
 
MightySelanne8 said:
Tonight boys, we win the WJC at home ice!

Tomorrow is a national holiday so we can party all night long outside because it is only -18 here in Helsinki.

Lets go boys!
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I was so happy to woke up today. Only -18 in Oulu. We're going to celebrate the whole night if we win!
 
Russia has four scoring lines and they will not be denied. Even the bum like Svechnikov will eventually produce something! And he was considered the main Russia threat before the tournament.
I am wondering whether the Detroit Red Wings scouts are shaking their heads with disbelief?
 
swetoxic said:
Russia wins this one. Russian is always a kryptonite to Finland.

But the ref will try as much as they can to give it to Finland.
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Actually, traditionally Russia has been a very easy opponent for Finland in international play in men. In juniors, it has been quite grim over this millennium, yeah - only a single win in the last 10 years (2014 round-robin)!

I think you've got the wrong tournament, though, the Butthurtmästerskap 2016 is on Sergels torg.
 
WALLY Spartak Moscow said:
What about Russia's come back with Finland? ) more correctly Finland's loss having a big advantage?
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That was great, but at least with blue-and-white glasses that come back was thanks to the awful mistakes done by the Finnish D/Vehviläinen (who will not be in goal in this game). If we manage to avoid that this time, it should be different.. Here are the goals, if you want to form your own opinion on it.

Either way, that comeback will probably give Russians a mental boost - just as that loss will give Finland a boost. Either way, it'll be interesting to see a strong, disciplined team with the best (or second-best, I don't really care) goalie in the tournament playing in the red and a team with high-end individual skill but careless team play in white.. That's got to be a first, right?
 
I think Russia will win. :D Our boys are battle-hardened right now, they believe they can do anything.
 
perstakli said:
That was great, but at least with blue-and-white glasses that come back was thanks to the awful mistakes done by the Finnish D/Vehviläinen (who will not be in goal in this game). If we manage to avoid that this time, it should be different.. Here are the goals, if you want to form your own opinion on it.

Either way, that comeback will probably give Russians a mental boost - just as that loss will give Finland a boost. Either way, it'll be interesting to see a strong, disciplined team with the best (or second-best, I don't really care) goalie in the tournament playing in the red and a team with high-end individual skill but careless team play in white.. That's got to be a first, right?
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The Finn defence might let them down in this one, it has been shaky. The Finns' 1st line is pretty deadly and no one denies that, but without proper defence, it's hard to win such matchups. We'll see, no one's counting Finland out, of course.
 
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