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

[czechcanadian]

He's smart but not truly creative.

You don't know what you're talking about lol

Oh and how about that Zacha guy? He's pretty damn good last time i checked

 

[Dr Pepper]

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.

Stransky.....is that Matej's younger brother? Didn't know he had one.

 

[Swipes]

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.

Yeah the lines look pretty weird. But I imagine they'll get moved around the moment things stop working.

 

[Gaps]

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.

I've been wondering about this too. It could be that Kähkönen has a minor injury and playing him in back-to-backs would be risky, but if that's the case, they should've done as you suggested. My guess is that VV is (and has been for a while) the designated starter in Jalonen's eyes. I hope Vehviläinen plays well tonight but if he starts visibly fumbling the way he did on Monday, he needs to be pulled immediately, and Kähkönen needs to be in net in the QF.

 

[czechcanadian]

Stransky.....is that Matej's younger brother? Didn't know he had one.

Yes it is. He's much better too. Given an "A" rating from NHL Central Scouting

 

[MMANumminen]

I don't know much about the Czech team, who are the best players to keep an eye on?

 

[Dr Pepper]

Yes it is. He's much better too. Given an "A" rating from NHL Central Scouting

Cool, thanks.

I'm sure Dallas already has their eyes on him, then.

 

[King 88]

People really thinking Kähkönen would be better

 

[tade]

I don't know much about the Czech team, who are the best players to keep an eye on?

Pastrnak, Zacha, Spacek, Stransky, Zboril, Lakatos.

 

[Pandaman11]

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

What if the USA is stronger than Canada?

The only "advantage" of 3rd place, one that I already thought of 2-3 days ago, is that in the semis, if I'm not mistaken, you'd face Russia and not Sweden, if one thinks that Sweden would be the harder opponent.

 

[Rexor]

You don't know what you're talking about lol

Oh and how about that Zacha guy? He's pretty damn good last time i checked

He's about as creative as a wooden chair.

 

[behemolari]

Canada is always the favorite.

and being the favourite wont suit for finland at all, problem solved

 

[kudymen]

This is going to hurt and I am not looking forward to it.

The kid line, however, will probably provide a lot of entertainment

 

[kudymen]

Canada is always the favorite.

In that case I would rather play the favorite than the US. Eh.

 

[canswetoxic]

I thought Eetu is injured ?

 

[rduck1]

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.

It's most definitely because of the back-to-back, and also the fact that Vehviläinen hasn't really been tested in a "normal" game yet. Kähkönen will most likely start the first elimination game, and then we'll see what comes after.

 

[Lapa]

People really thinking Kähkönen would be better

That's because he is.

 

[FinPanda]

I thought Eetu is injured ?

He is.

 

[Ville231]

Ok, so it seems like Siikonen is jumping to defence and Repo will take his spot on the 4th line. Keskitalo is the odd man out.

1:
29 Patrik Laine - 20 Sebastian Aho - 9 Jesse Puljujärvi
6 Joni Tuulola - 4 Olli Juolevi

2:
19 Aleksi Saarela - 25 Julius Nättinen - 24 Kasperi Kapanen
2 Sami Niku - 7 Niko Mikkola

3:
21 Antti Kalapudas - 10 Roope Hintz - 15 Mikko Rantanen
13 Miska Siikonen - 18 Vili Saarijärvi

4:
12 Kasper Björkqvist - 28 Juho Lammikko - 23 Sebastian Repo

Goalie: Veini Vehviläinen

http://www.leijonat.fi/maajoukkueet/u20/201516/mm2016/item/15508-suomen-kentalliset-vehvilainen-maaliin-siikonen-puolustukseen.html

 

[FinPanda]

Wow. Finally a good decision.

Edit: Ok, Keskitalo was injured. Not so good.

 

[JJTT]

 

[FinPanda]

So Keskitalo and Sopanen out. Can't say I am sad about it. Less defenseman but at least they are good..

 

[JJTT]

So Keskitalo and Sopanen out. Can't say I am sad about it. Less defenseman but at least they are good..

Yep. Was wondering why on earth Jalonen was rolling the defenseman evenly yesterday even though Niku, Juolevi, Tuulola and Saarijärvi were clearly better than the rest.

 

[Gaps]

Wow. Finally a good decision.

Edit: Ok, Keskitalo was injured. Not so good.

So we've only got 5 dmen left? Great. Sucks for Keskitalo, but he didn't exactly make himself look irreplaceable.

 

[JJTT]

So Siikonen has never played defense, not even as a kid. They couldn't find anybody that has?