GDT: Group B - May 9 - Finland (3) vs USA (2) (MOD WARNING - POSTS 26 & 275)

[garnetpalmetto]

Mod warning

Good morning all,
Just a fair warning to all that the GDT should be about the match itself between the two teams, not turn into an argument between Matthews/Laine supporters about either player. Anyone who attempts to derail the thread into such will be banned from the thread.

 

[stokes84]

It would be nice if Finland's coach would see the big picture for his country and match up Barkov vs. Matthews. Coaches never see beyond the moment though.

 

[skillhockey]

It would be nice if Finland's coach would see the big picture for his country and match up Barkov vs. Matthews. Coaches never see beyond the moment though.

He will play who he thinks is enough. might go with 3rd or 4th line. What other centers they had, matthews might not be top guy. Yeah larkin, well, who knows. Koivu might go against larkin and barkov is our offensive going against weakest line.

 

[usahockey22flyers]

Totally watching this one at work...boooo ya

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

First real test for Team Finland.
Don't know that much of Team USA but Matthews is the guy who i'll keep an eye on today.
I didn't see him in U20 WJC's because i didn't attend Team USA games.

Laine won't get open scoring chances today.
So Finland will need scoring help for Granlund,Pulkkinen,Aho, Barkov, Koskiranta,Komarov and Jokinen perhaps Lindell and Pokka also.

Koskinen is clearly 1st goalie of Team Finland.
Let's see how he plays today.

This game will be tough and overtime or shootout contest isn't surprise today.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

I don't trust Koskinen one bit. Hoping Saros starts. And I'm hoping these idiotic experiments Jalonen has will stop. Just let the lines play which are clicking.

I don't know is KJ lost his mind or is he totally idiot. I thought that last.
There's no clue to keep Pulkkinen in 4th line he isn't workhorse he's sniper who scores goals.

Pulkkinen should play with Granlund.
They were deathly combination in U18 and U20 teams so they should play together.
But Jalonen is so stupid he even don't know that.

Honestly said Finland should change those lines.
Something like this would be good.

1st Laine Barkov Jokinen
2nd Aho Granlund Pulkkinen
3rd Komarov Koivu Rantanen
4th Pyörälä Koskiranta Pihlström / Lajunen.

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

Interested in seeing Laine. Haven't seen him play at all. Was very impressed with Matthews seeing him for the first time in this tournament.

 

[Urbanskog]

Should be an easy game for Finland.

 

[ViD]

Would be a fun game if the USA had a real team

5-2 Finland

 

[jj cale]

Shame i'm going to miss this one because of work but I don't see a problem for Finland in this one.

5-2 or 6-2 I say.

 

[Territory]

Finland should win. Hopefully it's a good game.

 

[Brewsky]

Wow that US team on paper just doesn't look good at all, I expect a strong win by Finland. Guessing 4-2.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Would be a fun game if the USA had a real team

5-2 Finland

Not sure how you come to that conclusion. True, USA is not their A squad in terms of the guys available.

But Finland is in a similar boat. No Ristolainen, Maatta, Vatanen on defense. Lehtera, Teravainen, Filppula missing from the forward group and the top Finnish goalies are either still in the playoffs or not with the squad.

It seems like on paper both teams are fairly evenly matched. If not a slight advantage to the USA.

 

[FiLe]

It seems like on paper both teams are fairly evenly matched. If not a slight advantage to the USA.

Finland certainly has more of their heavy hitters involved than USA has theirs. Given that most of the rest in the Finnish squad are KHL veterans, they do have the edge on paper.

But once we get on the ice, I expect it to be closer than most folks here think.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

Poor USA...that team sucks, that need to put Matthews with better players too.

 

[TheBigThree]

Really looking forward to this, laine and matthews. I think usa will lose though.

 

[Canuckistani]

Finland 5-2. Laine with a goal and an assist, Matthews with a goal.

Should be a good one.

 

[BB88]

It would be nice if Finland's coach would see the big picture for his country and match up Barkov vs. Matthews. Coaches never see beyond the moment though.

It would be nice if the coach would play the best players the most, and fix that bottom6.

 

[William H Bonney]

No Kyle Connor or Jake McCabe in today's game.

 

[Heldig]

No Kyle Connor or Jake McCabe in today's game.

Weird.

 

[Ducks Nation*]

No Kyle Connor or Jake McCabe in today's game.

USA so screwed

 

[Plural]

Would be a fun game if the USA had a real team

5-2 Finland

I don't know man. US team is fast and there is some skill. These fast young guns will give hell to our D. Larkin and Matthews being the scariest ones. We can win, but this is not some walk in a park. Barkov and Koivu need to keep the puck in oz and cover for their wingers. US guys will counter-attack fast and straight when getting a chance.

 

[TheFeistyFinn]

No Kyle Connor or Jake McCabe in today's game.

oh...well we should win this one pretty easily unless something weird happens.

 

[Rheged]

No Kyle Connor or Jake McCabe in today's game.

Injuries? Or just wanting to cycle other guys through the lineup?

 

[antiqueslivers]

Awww what no connor!?!? Doesnt he have 2 pts in the tourney already??