GDT: May 11 • Finland vs. Belarus

[Keke]

I don't think I've EVER witnessed Team Finland scoring on all tries in a shootout.

In 2011 we were amazing in the shootouts. And yes I see where this is going

 

[JJTT]

Immonen was terrible in the 2-2 goal. Loses the faceoff and lets the Belarussian guy stand in front of Rinne without doing anything..

And it was Immonen losing the goalscorer in 1-0 goal too..

 

[Jussi]

Stepanovs penalty shot was amazing!

Getzlafian deke.

 

[QnebO]

In 2011 we were amazing in the shootouts. And yes I see where this is going

That's actually true!

We went to overtime against all the "weaker" teams.

But this was micky mouse showing from us. Flegmatic at times.

 

[glue]

Canada dodged.

Exactly how Canadians feel about Finland lol

 

[llwyd]

But this was micky mouse showing from us. Flegmatic at times.

Well, yes, this tends to happen in these tournaments - there is basically no top country that doesn't stumble against these weaker ones. And we actually won this match and will avoid Canada. Actually pretty much ok then.

 

[QnebO]

Well, yes, this tends to happen in these tournaments - there is basically no top country that doesn't stumble against these weaker ones. And we actually won this match and will avoid Canada. Actually pretty much ok then.

And Slovakia still has chance if they beat USA. And that Canada dodged was really good thing.

 

[Stats01]

I think we can all agree that both Canada and Finland are breathing a sigh of relief after this one.

 

[QnebO]

I think we can all agree that both Canada and Finland are breathing a sigh of relief after this one.

Well, with that roster of Canada, all I can feel is bit honored if Canadians think that way For us, its huge deal.

But I get it, because there's always an actual chance that we beat Canada.

 

[aphyro]

Well, with that roster of Canada, all I can feel is bit honored if Canadians think that way For us, its huge deal.

But I get it, because there's always an actual chance that we beat Canada.

It's something with Finland they allways play their best hockey against us or Canada

 

[JaysCyYoung]

Thrilled not to be playing the Finns in the quarters. Regardless of the perception of their on-paper roster quality, they always play exceptional systems hockey and are more than the sum of their parts. Coupled with elite goaltending from Rinne and the fact that they always get up with huge motivation whenever they play Canada and I'm just relieved to avoid them...

 

[FinPanda]

So most likely Sweden-Finland QF..

 

[QnebO]

So most likely Sweden-Finland QF..

If that is the QF, I cant believe how pissed of I will be if we lose. It'll be end of the world.. But if we win the opposite! Gotta stay out of HF to not get banned.

 

[aphyro]

If that is the QF, I cant believe how pissed of I will be if we lose. It'll be end of the world.. But if we win the opposite! Gotta stay out of HF to not get banned.

And there goes my dream final

 

[Matti_A]

Well you know, with Mike Smith in net our goal scoring woes wouldn't be a problem.

No offense to anyone, but Smith is really what is keeping Canada from being a slam dunk world champion this year, he is that bad when it comes down to it.

But anyway, the important thing is to finish among the top-4. It doesn't matter who we'll face from the other group, I mean pick your poison.

And yes, the Swiss are absolutely just as difficult for Finland as Canada, Sweden or the Czech's.

 

[QnebO]

Well you know, with Mike Smith in net our goal scoring woes wouldn't be a problem.

No offense to anyone, but Smith is really what is keeping Canada from being a slam dunk world champion this year, he is that bad when it comes down to it.

I saw Pasi Nurminen arguing about the same thing with some video evidence, and he is right. Smith isn't even actually "playing" goalie at all, as nurminen says. He is just waiting in the paint and hoping his size will block the puck, only element being position, but also lacking north south positioning almost completely. Goalie couldn't be less agressive. According to Nurminen, that's wrong way to play goalie. Smith is playing to my eye exactly like Henrik Karlsson was playing the year before he came to Jokerit. Year in Jokerit and his much better. Karlsson literally changed his playing style in few months.

 

[FiLe]

If Slovakia doesn't beat USA and the Czechs indeed finish 3rd in their own group, it might actually be more beneficial for us to remain in 3rd place. Reason: No travel.

The Czechs will remain in Prague regardless of their placement, so whoever draws them will have to travel. So if the QF was Finland vs. Sweden, the Swedes would have to head to Ostrava for that game.

 

[Minttu]

Well, yes, this tends to happen in these tournaments - there is basically no top country that doesn't stumble against these weaker ones. And we actually won this match and will avoid Canada. Actually pretty much ok then.

You are right. Thank you. I needed to hear this.

 

[Matti_A]

I saw Pasi Nurminen arguing about the same thing with some video evidence, and he is right. Smith isn't even actually "playing" goalie at all, as nurminen says. He is just waiting in the paint and hoping his size will block the puck, only element being position, but also lacking north south positioning almost completely. Goalie couldn't be less agressive. According to Nurminen, that's wrong way to play goalie. Smith is playing to my eye exactly like Henrik Karlsson was playing the year before he came to Jokerit. Year in Jokerit and his much better. Karlsson literally changed his playing style in few months.

I'd almost want to say "What the hell were they thinking?" bringing Mike Smith along with the disastrous season he had in the NHL this year. Old merits perhaps, he was ok a couple years ago at the WC's.

But I guess they were out of options? Steve Mason maybe?

 

[BB88]

Well you know, with Mike Smith in net our goal scoring woes wouldn't be a problem.

No offense to anyone, but Smith is really what is keeping Canada from being a slam dunk world champion this year, he is that bad when it comes down to it.

But anyway, the important thing is to finish among the top-4. It doesn't matter who we'll face from the other group, I mean pick your poison.

And yes, the Swiss are absolutely just as difficult for Finland as Canada, Sweden or the Czech's.

We can't score against weaker teams so how are we suddenly going to stop that against Smith? Also we wouldn't spend too much time on their D-zone due to their roster.

 

[rduck1]

I'd almost want to say "What the hell were they thinking?" bringing Mike Smith along with the disastrous season he had in the NHL this year. Old merits perhaps, he was ok a couple years ago at the WC's.

But I guess they were out of options? Steve Mason maybe?

Luongo, Ward, Hutchinson, Mason, anyone eliminated in the first round, a KHLer like Sanford, even a top junior goalie from the CHL... Plenty of options even if the top names decline. I think they still have a roster spot open for a goalie too, so Dubnyk might also be an option. He has always been more than happy to represent Canada in prior tournaments. They could be waiting for Price though...

 

[Mestaruus]

So from a Finnish homer's POV, Norway-BLR game just got interesting. Norway upsets BLR on regulation. If that happens, then Slovakia needs 3 points from USA to knock off BLR from the 4th place. In order for Finland and Russia to battle for the first place of the group USA can only get 1 point max (OT/SO lose). Then Finland needs to beat the very tough Russia to win the group and face Switzerland in the QF. It's all going to happen tomorrow!

 

[jcbio11]

So this means Slovakia needs a 3 point win and Belarus needs to get 0 points in their last game vs. Norway. I am not a fan of those odds. That Norway game which they led 0 - 2 after the first period is going to bite them in the ass now.

Anyway good for Belarus, they're playing some good hockey this tourney and if they do manage to get that 1 point vs Norway, they definitely deserve to advance more than Slovakia does.

 

[Faterson]

Belarus deserves to move on in any case, but it may well happen that they won't. I see Slovakia's chances at around 10%. Belarus has less than 18 hours of rest between its last 2 games, and they played hard in this game against Finland, and the game even went into overtime. This may come back and bite Belarus in today's game against well-rested Norwegians.

As to Slovakia, they're fully capable of defeating the US in regulation, if they play as well as they did against Russia. I think Slovakia currently has a 5-game winning streak against the US at the Worlds, although some of those 5 games (I think) went into overtime, and the US squad, despite being so young, appears to be stronger than in previous years. On paper, though, Slovakia looks like at least an equal opponent.