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

[Scotty B]

Somehow I got the impression that the USA was at full speed for the whole 60mins and Finland for the 3-4 minutes after the 3-2 goal... Maybe this is unfair, but in any case I don't think that Canada will face a sloppy and slow Finland like today on next Tuesday.

Suomi did a great job of stifling USA attack and keeping everything to the perimeter in the 3rd. Very disciplined, opportunistic squad, with a counterattack capable of giving our young D fits. Won't be an easy win for us . But on the plus side Talbot's looked solid and McD's heating up...

 

[Jopo]

He's getting crapped on? I'm confused...some said he was the best coach with the best system though? So is he good or bad?

There cannot exist situation Team Finland have bad couch. There are pretty good reserve company here in this dvision. KJ isn't most popular coach ever, but he surely knows his gamebooks. Maybe it's his rather 'distant' style and alleged 'conservative' approach to using players in their designated roles that he utilizes more systematically then few last coaches. However, the system itself remains pretty much same and each new coach add their own nuances to it.

Essentially whole system is based from the start to make optimal team to play for the team, and individuals are picked with that aim in mind, and everybody is also expected to play in their roles for the whole.

That approach can be directly in contradiction with fans' hopes and desires, even in case of Patrik Laine's TOI in one single game, which was, after all and regardless of difficulties, winning game. Of Team.

No alchemy here.

 

[PJM]

Hm interesting that's a new one I haven't seen that classification of a rookie before.

It was great to see rookie Tyler Seguin destroy the World Championships last year lol.

I could have sworn that Seguin last year had significantly more NHL experience than Pulkkinen this year, but what do I know.

 

[TheMule93]

I'm happy Larkin is putting together a great tournament after his lackluster final 30 games in the NHL. He seems really rejuvenated.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

I'm happy Larkin is putting together a great tournament after his lackluster final 30 games in the NHL. He seems really rejuvenated.

Larkin is going to be an excellent center for the Red Wings.

 

[Hagged]

There cannot exist situation Team Finland have bad couch. There are pretty good reserve company here in this dvision. KJ isn't most popular coach ever, but he surely knows his gamebooks. Maybe it's his rather 'distant' style and alleged 'conservative' approach to using players in their designated roles that he utilizes more systematically then few last coaches. However, the system itself remains pretty much same and each new coach add their own nuances to it.

Essentially whole system is based from the start to make optimal team to play for the team, and individuals are picked with that aim in mind, and everybody is also expected to play in their roles for the whole.

That approach can be directly in contradiction with fans' hopes and desires, even in case of Patrik Laine's TOI in one single game, which was, after all and regardless of difficulties, winning game. Of Team.

No alchemy here.

This bad?

Well they have a bad couch, have to agree. Luckily their rooster is fine.

 

[Hagged]

Suomi did a great job of stifling USA attack and keeping everything to the perimeter in the 3rd. Very disciplined, opportunistic squad, with a counterattack capable of giving our young D fits. Won't be an easy win for us . But on the plus side Talbot's looked solid and McD's heating up...

Canada will also be playing a back to back against a rested Finland. This way the Canada-USA USA-Finland and Finland-Canada match results aren't all directly comparable.

 

[Scotty B]

Canada will also be playing a back to back against a rested Finland. This way the Canada-USA USA-Finland and Finland-Canada match results aren't all directly comparable.

Tut tut ( unlike last year :amazed ) Canada, having built a big lead, will be coasting in 3rd vs France and will have plenty left in the tank for the morrow...

TOO MUCH for Suomi to handle

 

[TheFinnishTrap]

People seem to be overestimating Finlands capabilities. We have some great forwards this year, but our d-core is mainly from European leagues with two young guys from NA. It's not a coincidence that we always have problems with other top teams, especially North Americans. There was an article about Sami Vatanen and why he's so exceptional in Finland. We implement very organized defensive systems at a very young age, and our game simply isn't so much about reckless forechecking and speed. Our dmen learn to open the game having time to make the play, but when we face teams with fast players and aggressive forechecking, our dmen have a hard time getting the puck out, let alone making a controlled breakout. We saw this as our dmen were constantly hastily throwing the puck along the boards and getting stuck in our zone, especially against that Larkin-line.

 

[Scotty B]

People seem to be overestimating Finlands capabilities. We have some great forwards this year, but our d-core is mainly from European leagues with two young guys from NA. It's not a coincidence that we always have problems with other top teams, especially North Americans. There was an article about Sami Vatanen and why he's so exceptional in Finland. We implement very organized defensive systems at a very young age, and our game simply isn't so much about reckless forechecking and speed. Our dmen learn to open the game having time to make the play, but when we face teams with fast players and aggressive forechecking, our dmen have a hard time getting the puck out, let alone making a controlled breakout. We saw this as our dmen were constantly hastily throwing the puck along the boards and getting stuck in our zone, especially against that Larkin-line.

Our D are really young too & none of them are named Ekblad!

Your forwards + quick transition could give them fits...

 

[Lempo]

Our D are really young too & none of them are named Ekblad!

Your forwards + quick transition could give them fits...

Wasn't that kind of the prediction towards today's game? Skilled forwards versus a bit shaky back end on both ends.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Great period by Matthews.

As for Finland I am becoming more and more worried about defence and goaltending. Our forwards are top notch but there are too many question marks in other areas. If we don't improve Canada is going to tear us apart.

Even Finland U20 team had serious issues with defence and goal-tending ( Vehviläinen).
In World Juniors preliminary round games ( Russia,Slovakia,Czechs)and against Canada in quarterfinal.

Question What was the result?
Answer it was gold medal.

Question2 why same can't happen now?

 

[snipes]

Even Finland U20 team had serious issues with defence and goal-tending ( Vehviläinen).
In World Juniors preliminary round games ( Russia,Slovakia,Czech's)and against Canada in quarterfinal.

Question What was the result?
Answer it was gold medal.

Question2 why same can't happen now?

The Finns are favourites against Canada. I'm excited to see how it goes against McDavid and co.

 

[Lempo]

Tut tut ( unlike last year :amazed ) Canada, having built a big lead, will be coasting in 3rd vs France and will have plenty left in the tank for the morrow...

TOO MUCH for Suomi to handle

... is there anyone with a name and an ego but not the points yet from the tourney to match them in your team?

Just asking for no particular reason.

 

[Canadian Finn]

The Finns are favourites against Canada. I'm excited to see how it goes against McDavid and co.

Don't think I can recall a time when the Finns were favoured over Canada....then again, the last world Juniors were damn close.

Going to be a great game to close the round robin.

 

[snipes]

Don't think I can recall a time when the Finns were favoured over Canada....then again, the last world Juniors were damn close.

Going to be a great game to close the round robin.

Finns like being underdogs and I'm not going to give it to them

This is mens level not WJC though. Should be a good game, it will determine who finishes first. Canada brought a pretty good team this year. One day at a time, things are really starting to click though.

 

[illone84]

The Finns are favourites against Canada. I'm excited to see how it goes against McDavid and co.

No way!!!!

Canada is always the favourite.

I think Can will win that game 4-2. But if Finland stays out the penalty box, I could see it being a closer game, going either way 3-2.

 

[snipes]

No way!!!!

Canada is always the favourite.

I think Can will win that game 4-2. But if Finland stays out the penalty box, I could see it being a closer game, going either way 3-2.

I really hope Canada stays focused and brings their best. Things are coming together, it will be exciting and I'm glad we'll get our toughest test right before the knockout games.

 

[Lennu32]

This bad?

Well they have a bad couch, have to agree. Luckily their rooster is fine.

 

[Bruce Granville]

A fine rooster, indeed.

But we are not France.

 

[schmiedi]

After the 2-0 lead nothing will happen when this terrible Koskinen make his job.
It´s shame to have this goalkeeper in.

I don`t understand why we they don´t bench him.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

Laine cant drive a line himself


I said after the Juniors in comparing Pulju to Laine that Pulju plays like he can own a line. Laine on the other hand will be more complementary. Not that it means anything pointwise.

This means you havent seen the Liiga playoffs at all

 

[Lempo]

This bad?

Well they have a bad couch, have to agree. Luckily their rooster is fine.

That's not bad couch at all. You obviously can see the owner has not gotten rid of it, and why should he because it looks pretty damn comfortable, the soft bits are intact still; it's a full-sized one you really can stretch yourself on, and it seemingly being at the end of its life-cycle makes you really not care if there is a misfortune spillage of a beverage.

You could watch the hell out of IIHF World Championships on a sofa like that.

 

[WeberStreit]

That was a nice game. My thoughts:

Laine: Hasn't got a ton of ice time. He doesn't drive the game as much as Matthews does. He got outplayed by Matthews on EV. But on the PP, he looks like a mini Ovechkin. He has a termendous shot and as soon as he touches the puck, you just think, that he'll score.

Matthews: He plays like a veteran. Never out of position, has a lot of poise and makes the right decisions. It's just too bad, that he isn't getting any offensive help from his linemates. Right now, I'd pick Matthews first. He's a center who can drive the play, plays already a quite good 2-way game and has a high hockey IQ. Laine may have have the higher peak, because he's deadly when he has a open shooting lane, but Matthews is more complete.

 

[FinPanda]

TSN article about Laine was awful.. It's not just him, it's team Finland.