GDT: Group B • Dec. 31 • Finland vs. Czech Republic

[Systemfel]

2016 IIHF World U20 Championship
Group B

December 31
11:00 AM ET • 17:00 CET

Finland
Confirmed line-up.

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

29 Patrik Laine​

|

20 Sebastian Aho ”A”​

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9 Jesse Puljujärvi​

| -

21 Antti Kalapudas​

|

10 Roope Hintz ”A”​

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15 Mikko Rantanen ”C”​

| -

19 Aleksi Saarela​

|

25 Julius Nättinen​

|

24 Kasperi Kapanen​

| -

12 Kasper Björkqvist​

|

28 Juho Lammikko​

|

23 Sebastian Repo​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

4 Olli Juolevi​

|

6 Joni Tuulola​

| -

7 Niko Mikkola​

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2 Sami Niku​

| -

13 Miska Siikonen​

|

18 Vili Saarijärvi​

| -

Starter​

|

Backup​

30 Veini Vehviläinen​

|

1 Kaapo Kähkönen​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

D 3 Miro Keskitalo​

|

Injury​

| -

D 5 Eetu Sopanen​

|

Injury​

| -

G 31 Emil Larmi​

|

Healthy​

| -

Czech Republic
Confirmed line-up.

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

29 Jiří Smejkal​

|

18 Michael Špaček​

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9 David Pastrňák​

| -

13 Pavel Zacha ”A”​

|

15 Dominik Lakatoš​

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19 Radek Veselý​

| -

11 Šimon Stránský​

|

14 Filip Chlapík​

|

22 David Kaše ”A”​

| -

16 Daniel Voženílek​

|

26 Tomáš Šoustal​

|

17 Jan Ordoš​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

27 Dominik MašÃ­n ”C”​

|

7 David Sklenička​

| -

20 Jakub Zbořil​

|

23 Jan Ščotka​

| -

4 Ondřej Mikliš​

|

25 Filip Hronek​

| -

12 Alex Rašner​

|

-​

| -

Starter​

|

Backup​

1 Vít Vaněček​

|

2 Aleš Stezka​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

F 28 David Tomášek​

|

Injury​

| -

G 30 Daniel Vladař​

|

Healthy​

| -

Game Officials​

|

Referee​

|

Andris Ansons | -

Referee​

|

Marc Wiegand | -

Linesman​

|

Alexander Otmakhov | -

Linesman​

|

Alexander Waldejer | -

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[Hemsky001]

hopefully both Zacha and Rasner will be back for this game

 

[Zamuz]

I guess it's obvious that Eetu Sopanen won't be playing in this game. Probably out for the whole tournament.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Will the teams be trying to lose to play USA and not Canada?

 

[Brun0]

Will the teams be trying to lose to play USA and not Canada?

doesn't matter, to win-to win all- feel god

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Will the teams be trying to lose to play USA and not Canada?

Rather play Canada than the US if I were them. US is the team to beat IMO.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Rather play Canada than the US if I were them. US is the team to beat IMO.

Canada is always the favorite.

 

[Lapa]

3-0 Finland. Kähkönen with 30 saves.

3-2 Finland. Vehviläinen is starting..

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

First game I'll be attending these games, more impressed with Finland than Czech at this point but expect the Czechs to step it up with the better atmosphere.
3-1 Finland. Last being an empty netter.

 

[JJTT]

7-4 Finland.

Vehviläinen starting per Yle.

 

[Ville231]

hopefully both Zacha and Rasner will be back for this game

Hope so too. I really want to see the Finnish defence tested before the big QF game. Pastrnak alone will also be a good challenge, especially on the pk.

 

[FiLe]

Vehviläinen starting per Yle.

The only sane explanation I can come up for this is because it's back-to-back.

But if this was really the plan, it's extremely weird handling of two supposed "even" goalies by giving one three and the other just one. If they don't want one goalie playing on successive days, but give a "tough" game to both, they should've gone Vehviläinen-Kähkönen-Kähkönen-Vehviläinen. Maybe VV's shutout vs. Belarus changed that plan, and they just chose to ride the supposedly "hot" hand.

Or Kähkönen is hurt somehow and they're saving him.

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

Vehviläinen.. , I'll revise it to 5-4 Finland then.

 

[JS91]

This should be a win. Expecting another high scoring game since the Czech do have some really creative guys that can just destroy our PK once again. Calling 6-4 for Finland.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

I think Finland takes this 5-3 or so.

 

[agent082]

Like this overreacting. Vehvilainen has had couple of bad games, but it's not like he isn't cabable to play better. I have seen some amazing games from him. In a big picture our goalies are equally good.

And yes, I would have chosen Kahkonen too to this game, because he has looked hotter.

 

[HockeyHistorian]

Vehviläinen is good. Hopefully the Finnish PK starts working tonight. Good luck to both teams!

 

[Ghost Bear]

I think these are the lines that Finland should be rolling going forward. Splitting up Kapanen and Rantanen was a good decision.

 

[Wooren]

Will the teams be trying to lose to play USA and not Canada?

So far Canada has been playing poorly (By their standarts) while USA was dominant. I can't see a single reason why would any of Czechs or Finns rather play USA at this point.

 

[Rexor]

This should be a win. Expecting another high scoring game since the Czech do have some really creative guys that can just destroy our PK once again. Calling 6-4 for Finland.

The only Czech player that I'd call creative is Pastrňák (who's been rather meh so far). This Czech team has been looking a lot stronger on defense, with only one goal conceded against Canada in a pre-tournament game and one goal against Russia again. A high-scoring game would favor Finland heavily, although you never know with these young and tactically/mentally weak players.

 

[Wooren]

Zacha, Rasner should play. Tomasek out.

 

[Fragmuffin]

The only Czech player that I'd call creative is Pastrňák

Might want to take a look at this Spacek kid then...

 

[tade]

Czech lines should be (according to coach):

Smejkal - Spacek - Pastrnak
Zacha - Lakatos - Vesely
Stransky - Chlapik - Kase
Vozenilek - Soustal - Ordos
Tomasek (out)

Rasner is back, Vanecek will start.

 

[Rexor]

Might want to take a look at this Spacek kid then...

He's smart but not truly creative.

 

[czechcanadian]

Czech lines should be (according to coach):

Smejkal - Spacek - Pastrnak
Zacha - Lakatos - Vesely
Stransky - Chlapik - Kase
Vozenilek - Soustal - Ordos
Tomasek (out)

Rasner is back, Vanecek will start.

Wow... Talk about spreading the talent out. Don't understand this logic at all. We should be putting the best guys on the top 2 lines. Like hello?! Our offence has been struggling.