GDT: Group A • Dec. 29 • Finland vs. Canada • Part II

[rduck1]

This is Montreal, Quebec.

Thing is, it doesn't make sense to go out of your way to invite a guy who doesn't speak French to a post-game that's in French. Or would your coaches like to answer some questions in Finnish when the WJC is here?

 

[rduck1]

This is how it should be officiaiting anyway.

Second, he did this in a 4-1 game. I'm pretty sure he would think twice in a gold-medal 2-2 game. Relax. AND, they both got 2 minutes man. Not just Virtanen.

Yeah, that was really more of a both guys going for it type situation. If our player hadn't taken issue with the first shove it wouldn't have gone anywhere. It looked one sided because Virtanen was stronger and didn't have the boards behind him, but the call was correct. Not a big deal.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Yeah, that was really more of a both guys going for it type situation. If our player hadn't taken issue with the first shove it wouldn't have gone anywhere. It looked one sided because Virtanen was stronger and didn't have the boards behind him, but the call was correct. Not a big deal.

I'm sure his grandfather gave young Jake a lecture after the game.

 

[gsharpe]

It's not about being soft it's about not being dumb. Virtanen does this in the medal rounds and say the other guy doesn't retaliate like the Finnish player did you're looking at a major that could swing the game around. You can still be tough and build chemistry without fighting (as much as I hate the Ritchie selection, see the Ritchie hit at the end of the game as proof.). Also quite ironic with Virtanen doing it with his gloves on but I don't mind since taking them off would've really been Pejorative Slured.

But isn't context the whole point of these actions. He doesn't do it in a medal game because this is an entirely different scenario. You can't show the tiniest weakness in front of any teams in the round robin. Especially when you know you are moving on. Suspension is the worst outcome and even then Canada has enough forwards that have been relied on in big games. I think Canada's 7 better forwards can handle an extra minute or two of ice time a game.

But he doesn't get suspended and maybe other teams won't think we're going to just skate away after every little thing like *******. That's when opposing teams might get the idea to take bigger runs at players.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

So? Why does he have to hear the Canadian coach at all? Hire a frigging translator if you care. Also, maybe a life skills coach...

Go ahead an answer in finnish next time as suggested by some. No one cares what he has to say anyway, if he's going to act like a little *****.

Always drama with some countries....

Seems like basic decency and respect to me.

 

[Eye Test Approved]

So? Why does he have to hear the Canadian coach at all? Hire a frigging translator if you care. Also, maybe a life skills coach...

Go ahead an answer in finnish next time as suggested by some. No one cares what he has to say anyway, if he's going to act like a little *****.

Always drama with some countries....

Shots fired! Generalize much?

 

[86Habs]

People really should have no issue with what Virtanen did near the end of the game. I think he got close to the edge, but certainly never crossed it. These actions help set the tone for the kind of team our opponents can expect to play against, sends a message to the Finns that we don't look favourably on that sort of behaviour (should we encounter them again in the playoff round), and also help teams come together. Conversely I'd start questioning the heart of this team if no one had stuck up for Lazar in that instance.

 

[PRNuck]

Ohh and as a Leaf fan I just want to remind everyone. Gauthier had another solid game

Yeah I saw him stickhandle and then pass to someone on Canada without falling! #progress

 

[Sheppy]

Virtanen absolutely did the right thing. You see your captain get crunched like that on a very questionable hit, you should go in there and let the player know that it's not acceptable. It's going to be funny watching the NHL in 3-4 years when you can't do anything when your teammate gets destroyed because the rough stuff is going the way of the Dodo bird.

Virtanen gets a 10/10 in my book for that. I would have done the same thing.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Never change, Canada.

Can any of us Canadians imagine going onto a Russian GDT and seeing their fans rip one of their own players apart for standing up for a teammate, setting a tone and only taking a coincidental minor?

If I was Russian, Finn, Swedish, etc... I would be laughing my ass off at what a bunch of clowns we are for eating our own instead of being proud of the kid for intimidating the opposition and taking a stand.

Hockey is, was and will always be partly about intimidation. If that is too difficult for some of you to stomach, then this is not your sport. Seriously. I am not pulling the "go watch ringette" card, I am saying that if you find standing up for a teammate to be more objectionable because of the risk of (oh, goodness) having to kill off a PP, then you really have no idea what it takes to win.

There are worse things than taking a penalty, or even a one game suspension for that matter, and that is showing the rest of the competition that you will accept them taking liberties and not have your brother's back. It sends a VERY powerful message to the other team that we are playing a bunch of individuals and not a team.

How do I know this? Because that is exactly how I would think and how I would coach. I would show the video of Lazar getting crunched and then Virtanen skating away (as some of you would have liked)...and emphasized that in a 4-1 game, this team does not even care what happens to their captain. Go for the jugular.

 

[Mahonkinen]

Gotta agree with fly4apuckguy. When I saw Lintuniemi checking from behind, and after that Virtanen giving him a couple, I though: "Well thats what you get if you do dumb **** like that."

Was it the smartest move? Ofcourse not considering the possibility of suspension. Was it worth it? Well propably, atleast then if you could take that last punch out of it.

Well played Canada. Gotta admit, I was so pissed last night that I truly wish in my heart that USA takes it all This has been not so fun as a Finnish fan haha, gets the best of us..

 

[Steveorama]

I'm quite sure the folks that are ripping Virtanen for standing up for his captain are the same folks who would rip him if he skated away and did nothing.

 

[BusQuets]

Props to Virtanen though if Lintuniemi would have wanted he would have destroyed that guy.

 

[JayKing]

I'm quite sure the folks that are ripping Virtanen for standing up for his captain are the same folks who would rip him if he skated away and did nothing.

Again, you're missing the point. It's not about backing down. You can still be tough without throwing punches with your gloves on.

 

[Stats01]

It's one thing to stand up for your captain it's another to just flip out and rage and throw punches. Virtanen completely lost it. All I'm saying is usually in IIHF tournaments the refs are just waiting to call something like that. He's gotta be careful. Again good for him for standing up for his captain but damn no need to rage out and start throwing punches like that.

 

[jdatb]

It's one thing to stand up for your captain it's another to just flip out and rage and throw punches. Virtanen completely lost it. All I'm saying is usually in IIHF tournaments the refs are just waiting to call something like that. He's gotta be careful. Again good for him for standing up for his captain but damn no need to rage out and start throwing punches like that.

Well I know what you're saying and agree. But since the other dude was also throwing them I think he didn't step over the line.

PS Gauthier played pretty good

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Ohh and as a Leaf fan I just want to remind everyone. Gauthier had another solid game

Another?
He hasn't had one yet

 

[WetcoastOrca]

On Virtanen, I love what he did.
You don't let the other team run your captain without a response.
Sends a message for the rest of the tourney!

 

[xxxx]

Another?
He hasn't had one yet

He has. Against Germany.

 

[Scurr]

Another?
He hasn't had one yet

He played pretty well in the game against Finland... I think we can call it one good game?

On Virtanen, I love what he did.
You don't let the other team run your captain without a response.
Sends a message for the rest of the tourney!

Agreed. I don't think he "lost it" at all. He went in to send a message and took it as far as he had to without going over the edge. I also love Lazar trying to grab Virtanen rather than going after the kid himself. Good stuff.

 

[CanaFan]

Again, you're missing the point. It's not about backing down. You can still be tough without throwing punches with your gloves on.

There's a reason both players got penalties, namely cause Jake wasn't the only one throwing them. He may have thrown the first 'jab' but once the Finnish player threw back it was clearly a case of both players giving. Vancouver had a player take 3-4 jabs to the face in the 2011 SCF without retaliating. I can tell you it was a horribly deflating feeling as a fan. What Jake did was warranted and within the line. Time to let it rest and move on.

 

[FinPanda]

This is such a weird conversation. I think it was right thing to do. I would be happy if some Finnish player do the same.

 

[newfy]

Yeah people need to stop complaining about that play, there was like 3 punches thrown. The hit was much dumber than Virtanen throwing a couple gloved punches at the guy.

A hit like that was one of the biggest reasons Canada won silver the year that Hamonic got his shoulder separated in a finished game with a hit from behind.

 

[Peen]

So? Why does he have to hear the Canadian coach at all? Hire a frigging translator if you care. Also, maybe a life skills coach...

Go ahead an answer in finnish next time as suggested by some. No one cares what he has to say anyway, if he's going to act like a little *****.

Always drama with some countries....

This post is stupid and should be removed

 

[Soups On]

I've never been the biggest Domi fan but he's changed my opinion on him really fast. He's not as selfish with the puck and he's using his speed in a more efficient manner. The Domi line is slaying right now.

McDavid with Virtanen... All I can say is finally. It's been said multiple times but these two with Fabbri needs to be done. Lazar with Petan seems like a wicked combo.

Winnipeg has to be pumped. Morissey has got what it takes to be a top pairing defensemen and Petan is really showcasing his skill against elite competition. Petan frustrated me last year but like Domi, he's picked it up this year.