GDT: Gold medal game: Finland vs USA; Jan 5., 2025; 19:30 EST

[NyQuil]

Haven't seen that posted a single time

Those fans show up at the end of the tournament only.

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Lets go US

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t think this American team is that good and didn’t have them winning the tournament, but this Finland team isn’t it. How they got to the final is legitimately hilarious and encapsulates that they tend to play well when the expectations are on the floor.

I can’t see Finland winning another game against one of the top teams. Too many obstacles. USA just seems less flawed and the better bet, but I think it’ll be close. Finn’s always play the USA tough in big games and often pull the upset.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

We shouldn't have made this far if we are totally honest.
Last 2 elimination games vs Slovakia and Sweden have been
more or less surviving when much more skilled team has dominated against us.

Rimpinen has stand on his head and he's a '' god mode''
some point that mode comes to an end of course i hope that won't happen now
but the fact is that Finland played only defense vs Sweden whole 3rd period and
most of overtime so that means Finland has played mostly only defense about
30mins without any offensive game it is exhausting to just defend
and hang in there when other teams ( Slovakia and Sweden )
have controlled game and dominated.

Yeah yeah Finland played earlier semifinal so they have ''rest advantage'' vs USA
but does that matter? no it won't because playing 69,22 minutes vs Sweden
before the game was over took a lot of energy from our players so that
will show some point in this game too.

Who ever wins gold tomorrow morning that team has totally earned it.
This 2025 Finnish U20 WJC team is full of winners already and they have exceeded all expectations.

Final score prediction.
USA wins 4-3 in overtime and takes gold
U20 WJC gold medal clinching scorer and USA's national hero Cole Eiserman.

 

[king89]

We shouldn't have made this far if we are totally honest.
Last 2 elimination games vs Slovakia and Sweden have been
more or less surviving when much more skilled team has dominated against us.

Rimpinen has stand on his head and he's a '' god mode''
some point that mode comes to an end of course i hope that won't happen now
but the fact is that Finland played only defense vs Sweden whole 3rd period and
most of overtime so that means Finland has played mostly only defense about
30mins without any offensive game it is exhausting to just defend
and hang in there when other teams ( Slovakia and Sweden )
have controlled game and dominated.

Yeah yeah Finland played earlier semifinal so they have ''rest advantage'' vs USA
but does that matter? no it won't because playing 69,22 minutes vs Sweden
before the game was over took a lot of energy from our players so that
will show some point in this game too.

Who ever wins gold tomorrow morning that team has totally earned it.
This 2025 Finnish U20 WJC team is full of winners already and they have exceeded all expectations.

Final score prediction.
USA wins 4-3 in overtime and takes gold
U20 WJC gold medal clinching scorer and USA's national hero Cole Eiserman.

Last period against Sweden was bad but before that we have played as good or better than our opposition (Slovakia & Sweden) and don't forget the US game. I don't get this downplay of Finland all the time.

 

[SantosHalper]

PLAY FREE BIRD!!!

Thank you USA
You are my best friend
You are the peacekeeper
You are the legend

 

[Master P]

Its time!

 

[jj cale]

Can the Finns keep pace for 3 periods? I don't think so. I think the goalie has hidden a lot of this teams failings so far but won't be able to do that tonight. They can't afford a 10 minute lapse in their play in this game let alone a whole period like yesterday, and they were even given a pass in the first 2 periods by what appeared to be an overly patient and lacklustre Swedish team through 40 minutes. I think they got the best opponent they could hope to get yesterday that has allowed them to be in this gold medal game. But they won't have that luxury tonight and I think it will become apparent pretty quickly in this game.

I'd love to be wrong but I just don't see it.

 

[Tuoppi]

Why these games can't be at a better time for the European audience? Ottawa is in East. They play European prime time NHL games in Florida and in other places many hours earlier and this in an international tournament not a North American thing.

 

[Bruce Granville]

This will be a walk in the park for Team USA.
No way Finland beats them twice within a few days.
And Augustine is better than Thelin…

 

[Buttermilk]

And Augustine is better than Thelin…

Against Finland Augustine was weak and bit insecure. We will see...

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Those fans show up at the end of the tournament only.

Oh, those are called trolls. Pay them no mind

 

[gritdash60]

Huge college superstars vs. kids from Finland. USA is the clear favorite for this one, but i think first goal is very meaningful, even more so than normally. Will be a good game, my prediction is 5-1 USA.

 

[elmaco]

Huge college superstars vs. kids from Finland. USA is the clear favorite for this one, but i think first goal is very meaningful, even more so than normally. Will be a good game, my prediction is 5-1 USA.

Finnish kids play vs. men in the Liiga. The college aspect is not going to mean a damn thing.

 

[gritdash60]

Finnish kids play vs. men in the Liiga. The college aspect is not going to mean a damn thing.

Yeah but finnish kids are kids who play in 3rd line and such, USA players are the superstars of their teams and also in life. A big difference in mindset i think, really cool to see who prevails.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Toughest game so far for the Finns. Beating the same team twice in the same tournament is hard. With that said, if there is one team that can beat the Americans it’s Finland.

Come on Finland, bring the Gold back to the Nordics.

 

[elmaco]

Yeah but finnish kids are kids who play in 3rd line and such, USA players are the superstars of their teams and also in life. A big difference in mindset i think, really cool to see who prevails.

It's gonna be a real hockey battle. As far as what the Finns think of college players, they laugh at the notion of still playing against juveniles.

 

[king89]

Yeah but finnish kids are kids who play in 3rd line and such, USA players are the superstars of their teams and also in life. A big difference in mindset i think, really cool to see who prevails.

We got several players who play big roles in Liiga and AHL so I don't know what you are talking about. Kiiskinen for example leads his Liiga team in scoring..

 

[Bruce Granville]

Against Finland Augustine was weak and bit insecure. We will see...

It was on purpose so they get to take out Sweden.

 

[gritdash60]

It's gonna be a real hockey battle. As far as what the Finns think of college, they laugh at the notion of still playing against juveniles.

Nah we love the opportunity to get a degree while playing. More kids should go for it, it's just such a different place to play than in Finland. I've seen the facilities and if i had a kid i would say "do everything you can to play college hockey in USA" lol

The difference what i tried bring up, is that in US the kids are superstars, in Finland they really are not, they are just kids who do sports. And that's not a stab at US, it's just how it is.

 

[elmaco]

Nah we love the opportunity to get a degree while playing. More kids should go for it, it's just such a different place to play than in Finland. I've seen the facilities and if i had a kid i would say "do everything you can to play college hockey in USA" lol

By all means it's great, i'm only commenting on the mindset of purely hockey perspective.

 

[gritdash60]

Really hope im wrong, but my prediction: Carey Terrance scores at least 2 goals, USA wins 5 or 6 to 1,

By all means it's great, i'm only commenting on the mindset of purely hockey perspective.

Yeah probably best keep it only on that. Sorry im overthinking stuff, my bad.

 

[elmaco]

Really hope im wrong, but my prediction: Carey Terrance scores at least 2 goals, USA wins 5 or 6 to 1,


Yeah probably best keep it only on that. Sorry im overthinking stuff, my bad.

No problem buddy. I should've specified i meant what the Finns think of college players in terms of hockey pedigree, not college in general.

 

[Sane]

Nah we love the opportunity to get a degree while playing. More kids should go for it, it's just such a different place to play than in Finland. I've seen the facilities and if i had a kid i would say "do everything you can to play college hockey in USA" lol

The difference what i tried bring up, is that in US the kids are superstars, in Finland they really are not, they are just kids who do sports. And that's not a stab at US, it's just how it is.

I strongly disagree with you. You dont seem to have any idea how big thing hockey is in Finland. For example our star players from previous tournaments are all over the media etc. And for this team there is guys like Rimpinen, Kiiskinen and Helenius Who are (Helenius was Last year) big names in Liiga. And for example Kiviharju was well known when he was something like 15 yo because he was something like wonderkid before injuries. I also dont understand downplaying this years Team Finland. There is a very deep offense this year without any real stars though. Guys like Alasiurua and Hemming (1st rounder) are very good players to play as a fourth liners etc. Offcourse they have outperformed to be in a final but for me it is not that big of a surprise.
But for tonights game I believe that US Will win after epic battle by a goal or two. Hopefully i am wrong.

 

[Oak]

Yeah but finnish kids are kids who play in 3rd line and such, USA players are the superstars of their teams and also in life. A big difference in mindset i think, really cool to see who prevails.

Also in life ...