GDT: Quarterfinal • Finland vs. Canada • Part IV

[thepuckmonster]

What's frustrating about Virtanen is that he's one of the few guys (only guy?) with real NHL experience.

He should be the most professional guy on the team.

His NHL experience is really overblown.

I agree he needs to be more professional just because he's a vet but he's playing 8-9 minutes a night in the NHL and only 20 games.

 

[dmacgreg37]

IIHF officiating has always been this way. Even the penalties of punching the opposition should have been known to the Canadian players that anything literally goes to the penalty box. Just a bad Canadian team this year that lacked discipline while making the annual mistake of not icing their best available players in this tournament.

Doesn't say anything about missing the calls the other way.

I'm not saying that's what cost us the game, by any stretch, Finland was the better team today, and in this tournament in general.

I can understand a 19 y/o being frustrated by somethign that seems to inconsistent.

 

[NeverForget06]

LMAO

Did you watch the same game?

Don't listen to that guy. You guys deserved it and I will certainly be cheering for you against the swedes

 

[Crosbyfan]

Virtanen, even if you're thinking it, you probably shouldn't say it in the media

Was he thinking that before or after taking the stupid penalties?

 

[McClelland]

Marner WILL NOT be in the NHL next year

This and maybe not the next either! Babcock do not rush prospects see the wings!

 

[Maplebeasts]

If you say so. Ontario?

Nova Scotia actually.

 

[McAsuno]

Doesn't say anything about missing the calls the other way.

I'm not saying that's what cost us the game, by any stretch, Finland was the better team today, and in this tournament in general.

I can understand a 19 y/o being frustrated by somethign that seems to inconsistent.

Missed calls happen every damn game. As an oiler fan, I can tell you how badly the officiating gets in our games. Although they have a right to be frustrated, at the same time, its pretty ironic to see him complain while taking dumb penalties at the same time.

 

[HerculePoirot]

The Mike Johnston vibe is strong with Lowry. IMO, naturally.

 

[dmacgreg37]

Missed calls happen every damn game. As an oiler fan, I can tell you how badly the officiating gets in our games. Although they have a right to be frustrated, at the same time, its pretty ironic to see him complain while taking dumb penalties at the same time.

Of course it does. Hopefully he'll learn from it.

 

[Bob Clarke Fan Club]

Say what you want about our guys not being 19 but Finland is succeeding with their youngsters.

Makes their effort that much more impressive IMO. Drew some great penalties and played disciplined.

 

[NyQuil]

His NHL experience is really overblown.

I agree he needs to be more professional just because he's a vet but he's playing 8-9 minutes a night in the NHL and only 20 games.

I don't think it's as much about the icetime but more about being around professionals and gaining that professional understanding.

If you've been to NHL training camp(s), and played closed to 20 games in the bigs, you should know better IMO.

Even if you don't expect him to go out and lead the tournament in scoring, you do expect him to have better control at key moments.

 

[sansabri]

Truly sad comment by Virtanen. You gotta be more professional than that.

 

[NyQuil]

Missed calls happen every damn game. As an oiler fan, I can tell you how badly the officiating gets in our games. Although they have a right to be frustrated, at the same time, its pretty ironic to see him complain while taking dumb penalties at the same time.

Not to mention, Marner tied the game up on a weak tripping call where the Canadian player just kind of jumped in between the Finnish d-man and the net.

The officiating wasn't great, but it wasn't great both ways.

I don't really blame the players for diving once it became apparent that the referees would call on the reaction and not the infraction.

 

[Marlander93]

Virtanen, even if you're thinking it, you probably shouldn't say it in the media

What a surprise. JV does something stupid again. Enjoy Europe buddy.

 

[jaloviina]

Say what you want about our guys not being 19 but Finland is succeeding with their youngsters.

well its normal if you are on the top you can feel the followers coming and overpowering.

 

[chipsens]

And then, afterwards, the truth comes to light...Its actually spelled "Dave Lowrainenin"

 

[dmacgreg37]

What a surprise. JV does something stupid again. Enjoy Europe buddy.

People keep saying this, but does anyone actually think his game translates to European leagues?

Generally it's smaller, skilled forwards who make their way over. He'll make it in the NHL or he won't, but Europe will not be his next stop.

 

[thepuckmonster]

I don't think it's as much about the icetime but more about being around professionals and gaining that professional understanding.

If you've been to NHL training camp(s), and played closed to 20 games in the bigs, you should know better IMO.

Even if you don't expect him to go out and lead the tournament in scoring, you do expect him to have better control at key moments.

I don't think Jake will be attending any Mensa conferences in the future but I wouldn't read too far into his comments. They're stupid things to say but he's obviously frustrated with himself and his team mates didn't really give much more professional comments on the refs either.

A lot of this goes on Lowry, he didn't manage the team properly and I think that's fairly evident given the undisciplined play and seriously broken plays.

 

[vippe]

Yup he will

He's proving nothing in the OHL. I'd rather him play 12 minutes than skate circles around an entire leauge.

Wont make the leafs a better team. Doubt he plays in The NHL nytt year.

 

[NyQuil]

well its normal if you are on the top you can feel the followers coming and overpowering.

I have no clue what this means.

 

[SAK11]

The D on the team was underwhelming at best. Other than Chabot and Hicketts, I can't say any of the rest played to expectations. Fleury and Dermott were beyond mediocre. Sanheim's a strong offensive d man, but he didn't get going. Cutting Chychrun was a poor decision.

I don't think the selection of this team was the problem. I don't think changing one player for another changes the outcome much. This team was fairly young and inexperienced but the talent was there. The coaching was atrocious, though. The players don't deserve to go blameless but I can't even count how many times I disagreed with the decisions made by Lowry. For example, your complaint about Sanheim not getting it going, that was in large part because of Lowry. He chose to play Hickett's half the game and gave him a lot of the PP time. When Sanehim got his chance today, the PP excelled.
Why Konecny didn't play more is a mystery to all of Canada, he is a heart and soul type of player that should've played twice as much as he did. I even think Stephens deserved more time with him, they two of them played well together.
Beauvillier and Barzal were too talented to be sitting on the bench as much as they did too, especially in offensive situations. The thought that Strome, Marner and Point could carry this team offensively was shown not to be true right from the start, but Lowry kept allowing them to take 2 minute shifts, and double shifting them. This team was deep enough to play 4 lines. In fact, they were at their best when rolling all 4 lines.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

What a game.
Now i truly understand how great tournament world juniors are.

As a Finn i'm really happy that i had chance to go Hartwall Arena in preliminary round and watch our future NHL stars.
I know entire Canada is shocked for this loss and there's might be so many excuses etc speculations what Canada should had done better.

Thank you great game Canada and good luck for future.
We won this time.

This team Finland proved me really wrong.
When i gave a lot harsh and brutal critic after that horrible game against Russia.

I'll learn my lesson about this case and next time i'll believe to my country's team.
Next Monday we'll face your dear neighbors from Sweden that'll be another huge challenge. THANK YOU U20 TEAM FINLAND

 

[McAsuno]

Not to mention, Marner tied the game up on a weak tripping call where the Canadian player just kind of jumped in between the Finnish d-man and the net.

The officiating wasn't great, but it wasn't great both ways.

I don't really blame the players for diving once it became apparent that the referees would call on the reaction and not the infraction.

Yep. Just IIHF officiating in a nut shell. I sure hope they ice the best available players next year. Please don't employ Lowry as a coach either.

 

[HerculePoirot]

Coaching junior hockey takes more active coaching, the players aren't Toews, Lundqvist or Jagr. They don't have the same experience to fall back on when parts of the game starts to fall apart. Kids are a lot more easily rattled.

Makes no sense not replacing a goalie that's underperforming. I mean jeez, even world class goalies have bad games and get pulled. The finnish side acted and the canadian did not. Same with skaters.

Sure Virtanen was STUPID this game but he's 19 and playing under enormous pressure. Coach got to act...

One of the main points that should be noted, as you did, was the pulling of the goalie. The Finnish coach did but the Canadian didn't. A tough call naturally but a necessary one.

 

[stokie]

i think the problem is that the coaching staff played they're top 7-8 guys too much and subbed everybody around them unlike last years team. the other obvious one is taking bad penalties which Virtanen, Strome, Hicketts and Marner were all guilty(and what do you know-they're all part of the Lowry's top 7-8). Hey. I'm Canadian and hats off to Finland, they did what it took to win. Skated. Changed the goalie. and didn't take bad penalties at key times. If anything I feel for the kids that rode the pine for most of the game when the deserved to cut into the other 7-8's 30 minutes of playing time which i might add was on the big ice. McKeown, Konecny, Crouse and a few others I feel for. The others I hope learn something from this.