LW Patrik Laine - Tappara, FEL (2016 Draft)

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Scored again today in Tappara's 3-2 win against Sport. He scored on powerplay, and I read that he just skated through Sport's PK unit and shot just inside the post on the blockerside. Now 4+2 in five pre-season+CHL games.
 
Scored again today in Tappara's 3-2 win against Sport. He scored on powerplay, and I read that he just skated through Sport's PK unit and shot just inside the post on the blockerside. Now 4+2 in five pre-season+CHL games.

Doesn't Tappara have a CHL game tomorrow? Seems kinda weird to play practice game one day before that.
 
Gotta strike when the iron is hot. Tappara also had 4 days time to rest and they don't have to travel for tomorrow's game so I guess it's all good in the hood.
 
Doesn't Tappara have a CHL game tomorrow? Seems kinda weird to play practice game one day before that.

Yes, today's game was supposed to be on Tuesday, if the CHL game was on Thursday, but apparently they played today. And Tappara was only resting Haapala, Järvinen and Karhunen, Laine played with Dixon and Peltola. I will go to tomorrow's game and I'll write about it afterwards, because it's the first time I see Laine play live since his last game with Tappara last season. Personally I've been expecting big things from him, since the skill, shot and straigthforward speed were there last year, and those big boys are always a little clumsy when they're growing.
 
Scored again today in Tappara's 3-2 win against Sport. He scored on powerplay, and I read that he just skated through Sport's PK unit and shot just inside the post on the blockerside.

Yes, a superb goal again. :yo: Play started from the defensive zone faceoff on the PP. AO-comparison jumped up again... he does that kind of things.


Does anyone have a link to the Tappara hockey schedule... Thanks

http://www.tappara.fi/liiga/ottelut
 
I watched the game in a really low quality stream but here's a few notes:

First period
At least 3 good backchecks and couple good checks. Otherwise nothing big as Djurgården had the control

Second period
Laine got a pass in front of the net and was facing only the goalkeeper, tried to pull a "half-ass forsberg" move but the goalie was just able to reach it with his skate.

Another brilliant backcheck by diving in their own blue line and trying to slash the puck away when a winger was about to go around him in full speed and face the goalie most likely if not stopped. Laine managed to reach the puck and opponent fell also, no penalty. Nice defensive play right there.

Before Tappara scored their 1st goal, Laine got a suicide pass from teammate to the center and was pretty much hammered down but he rose quickly and seemed like he wanted a revenge but he kept it calm. And within the next 20 seconds, Tappara scored a goal when Laine was on the ice

On the first powerplay late in 2nd period, Laine had a good opportunity for Ovechkin onetimer but didn't connect as the goalie got his pads on the way. Kid can shoot tho

3rd period
Once again he backchecked the puck from defender in the corner and as he was driving to net, defender had to hook/hold him down and got a penalty for that. On the powerplay Laine gave a bad pass which resulted in losing the puck and killing the momentum of PP

Then for the best play of the game for Laine imo: A coast to coast drive with full speed, past the forecheckers till he was between the 2 defenders, got almost past them but then got hooked down but no penalty. It was a tough situtation for refs and the crowd definately wasn't pleased

Not long after that Laine got into 2vs2 situtation and ended it with a good shot which goalie had troubles to hold on as it bounced in the air from blocker. Just another example of his deadly shot.

In the end, Tappara lost it 3-2 in OT and even though Laine didn't get any points, I'd definately say he was once again one of the best players on the ice. I'm kinda surprised how good he seems to be at getting the puck away from enemy with his long stick.
 
In the end, Tappara lost it 3-2 in OT and even though Laine didn't get any points, I'd definately say he was once again one of the best players on the ice. I'm kinda surprised how good he seems to be at getting the puck away from enemy with his long stick.

Good observation, though many will perceive him to have 'primadonna' tendencies, that is not indicative of his game now.

As pulled as part of his profile from the Lake Placid report where DB ranked him the 2nd best 2016 after Matthews:

Laine has crazy flexibility to stickhandle as close to or far away from his body as needed. He can certainly shield and deke his way around a maze of opponents. His shot is a strength. He needs to clean up his skating, but it is a blemish in the same way it was for a guy like Draisaitl. It doesn’t stop him from creating offensive fireworks. He gets very good power from his strides, but they aren’t quick/fast. He needs to play with more pace, and play harder on the puck consistently. Despite this, an infrequent observation is he excels on the backcheck in forcefully lifting sticks because of his reach, stick length, and arm strength.
 
I watched the game in a really low quality stream but here's a few notes:

First period
At least 3 good backchecks and couple good checks. Otherwise nothing big as Djurgården had the control

Second period
Laine got a pass in front of the net and was facing only the goalkeeper, tried to pull a "half-ass forsberg" move but the goalie was just able to reach it with his skate.

Another brilliant backcheck by diving in their own blue line and trying to slash the puck away when a winger was about to go around him in full speed and face the goalie most likely if not stopped. Laine managed to reach the puck and opponent fell also, no penalty. Nice defensive play right there.

Before Tappara scored their 1st goal, Laine got a suicide pass from teammate to the center and was pretty much hammered down but he rose quickly and seemed like he wanted a revenge but he kept it calm. And within the next 20 seconds, Tappara scored a goal when Laine was on the ice

On the first powerplay late in 2nd period, Laine had a good opportunity for Ovechkin onetimer but didn't connect as the goalie got his pads on the way. Kid can shoot tho

3rd period
Once again he backchecked the puck from defender in the corner and as he was driving to net, defender had to hook/hold him down and got a penalty for that. On the powerplay Laine gave a bad pass which resulted in losing the puck and killing the momentum of PP

Then for the best play of the game for Laine imo: A coast to coast drive with full speed, past the forecheckers till he was between the 2 defenders, got almost past them but then got hooked down but no penalty. It was a tough situtation for refs and the crowd definately wasn't pleased

Not long after that Laine got into 2vs2 situtation and ended it with a good shot which goalie had troubles to hold on as it bounced in the air from blocker. Just another example of his deadly shot.

In the end, Tappara lost it 3-2 in OT and even though Laine didn't get any points, I'd definately say he was once again one of the best players on the ice. I'm kinda surprised how good he seems to be at getting the puck away from enemy with his long stick.

I really appreciate this! Feels so weird hearing "Laine" and "good back check" or "played well without the puck" in the same sentence
 
Just got back home from the game. Can't say it was Laine's best game, not a very good one actually. Then again, he could've scored a hat trick and drawn 3-4 penalties. To me, he seemed like a deer in the headlight for the most part of the first two periods. Luckily he didn't get injured, since his knees looked like a twister a couple of times he was hitted. And DIF players weren't too merciful to a top scorer with a junior helmet.

I think the key areas in his development are training explosiveness and lower body muscle. And then using the muscle. And to me, that says good things. I mean, there isn't too many super strong 17 y o hockey players.

If he gets the same minutes he's now getting, I'd be shocked if doesn't put up more goals than any other Tappara forward. Well, Haapala could give a challenge - I think he's NT bound.

The coast to coast play was awesome, last time I saw that kind of play live was about a year ago... But it's not really a compliment that it was by D. Kolomatis.
 
Interesting to hear that he's able to go coast to coast with relatively weak foot speed. Trying to think of an NHL'er like that. Kinda sounds like Jagr in his older age.
 
Interesting to hear that he's able to go coast to coast with relatively weak foot speed. Trying to think of an NHL'er like that. Kinda sounds like Jagr in his older age.

His speed is not that weak though. His skating has really improved, but acceleration and agility could still use a lot of improvement.
 
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Good to hear that Laine has seemed to correct his glaring holes: Skating, back checking etc. It was really beginning to sound like he was just another crazy-hypes Finn(I.e Rajala, Joensuu) until he started to pick up his game this year. Look forward to seeing him progress throughout 15-16 and beyond.
 
Laine making into the frontpage of Finnish sportmagazine before the season has even started. Hype is real.

"The lovely ******* - being selfish is virtue when talking about Patrik Laine" is the direct translation of the title. Unfortunaly I haven't been able to read the magazine yet, anyone care to share if there's anything interesting?
 
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Laine making into the frontpage of Finnish sportmagazine before the season has even started. Hype is real.

"The lovely ******* - being selfish is virtue when talking about Patrik Laine" is the direct translation of the title. Unfortunaly I haven't been able to read the magazine yet, anyone care to share if there's anything interesting?

Nice to see Laine having some recognition, even though it's in the crappy excuse of a magazine like Urheilulehti.
 
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In Urheilusanomat (Finnish sports magazine) they said that if Laine doesn't get the icetime needed he might even jump to CHL middle of the season.

Makes sense. I know people will say he should shut up and just do what he's told even if it means he'll be a 4th liner for the rest of season, but I'm a fan of him just doing his thing rather than letting himself become another grinder for the national team.

Selänne and Kurri are history, Finland needs a Laine more than anything.
 

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