GDT: Semifinal - May 25 - Russia vs Finland

[BalticWarrior]

All those who said that Russia was the overwhelming favorite throughout this tournament only focused on their 3 "superstar" offensive talents (Ovechkin, Malkin, Kucherov), and didn't look at all at Nesterov, Khaifizullin, Zadorov, and Zaitsev. Aside from Kaprizov, who was a monster when it counted, the overall talent level on the roster is actually fairly modest. Overall, they just lacked the hunger, toughness and discipline that the Finns show, which is why the Finns so often beat them.

Some will blame the coach, but he actually did a better job defensively than Znarok. especially considering the sparse defensive talent he had to work with. What Russia counted on was that one of the best goal scorers in NHL history would deliver when most needed, and that didn't happen. Sorry to bust your theory, Atas, but I didn't see much of the Ovechkin speed that you talked about (you will no doubt post some videos from 2007 showing him flying). He deserves respect for showing up and working hard, but he was a total non-factor in this game and really, the whole tournament.

The Russian roster is about half NHL and half KHL, and that combination just doesn't work very well, from what I can see. Part of it is unfamiliarity, but they just seem to lack the nationalist fervor that some teams like Finland and Canada exhibit. They didn't play badly, but to be shut out in a Semifinal match is embarrassing. I would guess a Finland-Canada match, and I will be cheering for Finland.

 

[torniojaws]

He’s dumb he should be saying how many goals their roster has in their NHL careers which would be a much more impressive number

I just checked, and the skaters in the current Team Finland have combined CAREER NHL statistics as follows:

122 gp
2 goals (both from Lindbohm, in St Louis)
19 assists (12 from Jokiharju in Chicago)

And those are from 4 guys:
Jokiharju (38 gp 0+12, Chicago, 2018-19)
Lindbohm (40 gp, 2+1, St Louis, 2014-17)
Pesonen (4 gp, 0+0, New Jersey 2012-13)
Lammikko (40 gp, 0+6, Florida 2018-19)

None of the three goalies have any NHL experience of any kind. Lankinen has 19 AHL games (this season), Olkinuora has 21 AHL games (between 2012-16)

 

[DoubleGold]

We're going to have to pull off a Lake Placid if we want to win this one, but if someone can do it, it's this team.

No looking back;

Hakkaa päälle!

And Miracle on Ice it was! PERKELE, no matter what happens in the final, I'm so proud of this team and our lord & saviour Jukka Jalonen.

 

[The Cannon of Tesoma]

Where are JJ T-shirts, cheguevarashque JJ-posters, JJ-mugs, JJ-beers, JJ-condoms, and JJ-bumper stickers etc?

Sauli should simply promote JJ to general ranks already, at least to Rank of Colonel. His leadership and planning abilities, achievements, and experience alone would justify that.

 

[Loffer]

Some NHL teams may want to have a look at Marko Anttila, he's clearly clutch, can PK and he's like 6'8" which gets even plugs some ice time.

Only that he should use a longer stick to improve his so-so reach - a bit like Barkov..

 

[Finnswiss]

Congratulations Finland for this win. Before the tournament nobody believed than they can even achieve the quarterfinal now they reached the final game. Wow, well done Suomi!
Btw if the Czechs should win this evening against Canada when was the last time a final game Czechoslovakia-Finland? It must be a very long time ago around the year 2000 I think.

 

[FinnLightning26]

Congratulations Finland for this win. Before the tournament nobody believed than they can even achieve the quarterfinal now they reached the final game. Wow, well done Suomi!
Btw if the Czechs should win this evening against Canada when was the last time a final game Czechoslovakia-Finland? It must be a very long time ago around the year 2000 I think.

I remember a bitter loss to Czechs in 2001.

 

[Barkkonen]

I hope Czechia wins, Canada is not like Sweden or Russia, we somehow respect them too much to play like we need to win.

 

[Chimpradamus]

What? Snoozer of a game? There was chances everywhere, it could have easily been a 8-goal game

He just misses his NHL playoffs where they hug in a manpile for 50 minutes in the corner.

 

[LemurFromTheId]

Where are JJ T-shirts, cheguevarashque JJ-posters, JJ-mugs, JJ-beers, JJ-condoms, and JJ-bumper stickers etc?

Not a big market for that size.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Ok Vorobyov, you stupid bum Russian coach, let’s see some real lines now. Your team is down with 9 minutes left.

Omg Vorobyov is sticking to his inept lines. This guy can’t coach at all.

These were some terrible lines for Russia. WTF is Kucherov playing with Anisimov on the third line?

Why is Malkin playing with Grigorenko instead of Gusev?

This was some awful decision making from the incompetent Russian coach.

I love it.

 

[Husqvarna]

Mikko Lehtonen - Cool as a cucumber on skates.

 

[Jussi]

All those who said that Russia was the overwhelming favorite throughout this tournament only focused on their 3 "superstar" offensive talents (Ovechkin, Malkin, Kucherov), and didn't look at all at Nesterov, Khaifizullin, Zadorov, and Zaitsev. Aside from Kaprizov, who was a monster when it counted, the overall talent level on the roster is actually fairly modest. Overall, they just lacked the hunger, toughness and discipline that the Finns show, which is why the Finns so often beat them.

Some will blame the coach, but he actually did a better job defensively than Znarok. especially considering the sparse defensive talent he had to work with. What Russia counted on was that one of the best goal scorers in NHL history would deliver when most needed, and that didn't happen. Sorry to bust your theory, Atas, but I didn't see much of the Ovechkin speed that you talked about (you will no doubt post some videos from 2007 showing him flying). He deserves respect for showing up and working hard, but he was a total non-factor in this game and really, the whole tournament.

The Russian roster is about half NHL and half KHL, and that combination just doesn't work very well, from what I can see. Part of it is unfamiliarity, but they just seem to lack the nationalist fervor that some teams like Finland and Canada exhibit. They didn't play badly, but to be shut out in a Semifinal match is embarrassing. I would guess a Finland-Canada match, and I will be cheering for Finland.

I think the fact that Russia won their group so easily, without having to really work hard in the games, didn't prepare them enough for the playoff stage. Sometimes you need a loss in the group stage to wake your team up or expose problem areas that you can work on later when the game actually matter. Finland lost in 1995 to Czech Republic and again in 2011 before winning gold.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Russian coach VOROBYOV was terrible, and insisted on the worst line combinations I have ever seen.

He sends out ANISIMOV with the best Russian wingers, Gusev+Kucherov. ANISIMOV isn't going to get it done against the better defensive teams, as I pointed out in the Russia thread MULTIPLE times.

This incompetent buffoon Vorobyov sends out MALKIN with that PLUG named GRIGORENKO all tournament long, that PLUG named GRIGORENKO who couldn't even hack it in the NHL on bad teams and had to go back to Europe.

Malkin+Grigorenko combined for one ES point all tournament, yet this terrible coach VOROBYOV kept them together until the final whistle.

MALKIN+KUCHEROV were dangerous together every second they got to touch the ice together. Same with Gusev. None of these combos was tried all tournament long.

This TERRRIBLE coach VOROBYOV deserves to lose. Way to score ZERO goals with an all-world roster against a team with what, zero NHL skaters? Hilarious!

Congratulations FINLAND, you were the better team. And you showed the terrible coach Vorobyov the error of his ways. I couldn't stomach the thought of this all-star Russian roster carrying such an incompetent buffon to a gold medal. No thanks.

Hopefully we see some real lines tomorrow. Meaning Gusev+Kucherov with Malkin, for starters. I won't hold my breath with this moron running the show, however.

Quoted for truth.

 

[jj cale]

All those who said that Russia was the overwhelming favorite throughout this tournament only focused on their 3 "superstar" offensive talents (Ovechkin, Malkin, Kucherov), and didn't look at all at Nesterov, Khaifizullin, Zadorov, and Zaitsev. Aside from Kaprizov, who was a monster when it counted, the overall talent level on the roster is actually fairly modest. Overall, they just lacked the hunger, toughness and discipline that the Finns show, which is why the Finns so often beat them.

Some will blame the coach, but he actually did a better job defensively than Znarok. especially considering the sparse defensive talent he had to work with. What Russia counted on was that one of the best goal scorers in NHL history would deliver when most needed, and that didn't happen. Sorry to bust your theory, Atas, but I didn't see much of the Ovechkin speed that you talked about (you will no doubt post some videos from 2007 showing him flying). He deserves respect for showing up and working hard, but he was a total non-factor in this game and really, the whole tournament.

The Russian roster is about half NHL and half KHL, and that combination just doesn't work very well, from what I can see. Part of it is unfamiliarity, but they just seem to lack the nationalist fervor that some teams like Finland and Canada exhibit. They didn't play badly, but to be shut out in a Semifinal match is embarrassing. I would guess a Finland-Canada match, and I will be cheering for Finland.

One might want to consider thoughtfully who they should support.

 

[Yakushev72]

They have to have KHL stars there to pump their joke league up.

Your comment suggests that there are better Russian players in the NHL who aren't invited to the team so that they can give away roster spots to the KHL. I see no evidence of that. And guys from the KHL like Kaprizov and Gusev were among their best players. I would actually love to see them experiment with forming a national team from KHL rosters who can play together and are on the same page. A big advantage that the Finns have is that they all come up through the same system and they are all on the same page. Of course, there is also an overwhelming psychological advantage in being a big underdog that worked to the Finns favor today.

 

[SaltNPeca]

Anttila is a perfect example of a european player who will never get his shot because he wasn't good early. When people talk about the NHL being an overrated league, I would say it's somewhat true when it comes to it's bottom 6 forwards and lower tier defensemen. Top guys are all there because it's the best league but the bottom guys are often there because they're north american and they end up hanging around the system. Chris ****ing Thorburn still had a job this year. Nobody goes fishing for a bottom 6 player overseas so either you make it early or that's it.

Agree.

But what did Anttila do to warrant a shot at a bottom 6 job in the NHL? If I'm not mistaken he now has 2G in 9 games in this tournament. He pumped in a rebound today. Sorry I didn't watch all Finland games maybe he blocked a lot of shots, had a crazy FO%, or is the spiritual leader of the squad?
He's got NHL size, but has been putting up <20 points the last 5 years.

Take a look @ Jiri Dopita. Also over 6' good European player. He led his league in scoring at age 28, then again at age 30, he then put up a 30 goal season and was picked up by Philly. He plays ok (only ok), then is dealt to Edmonton which is a disaster. At age 35 he goes back to Czech.

I would argue it's just logistics, culture, and style why the NHL teams favor AHL players. They can scout these guys playing on the same size rink in a very tough and physical league. I would say it doesn't matter if the player is American, Finnish, or Japanese. What matters is they are in North America playing in the AHL or not. The bottom 6 should play tough and be reliable.
Maybe an elite NHL European Scouting staff could pick up quality bottom 6 older guys out of Europe, but right now no one's doing it. It's also the case some Europeans struggle with integration and go back home (even look at young Jesse Puljujärvi right now or arguably Laine).
imo it's still the case if a guy like Anttila wanted to crack the NHL he should have gone for something like a 5 year grind in the AHL in his 20's.

 

[Murky]

I hope this is the very last time Russia invites Ovechkin. What a whack ass performance again. And what adisgrace losing with that roster. Zero winning mentality.

I cannot disagree more. He had several chances and he created a few more. Ovy did his part. Now, if you want to talk about Malkin that is another story.

Russians did not score a single goal and that cannot be on any single player. They were unlucky as they had a lot of chances and they even made something out of nothing many many times during the game due to their incredible skill alone. Russians had no luck tonight. None. Of course that does not take anything away from the Finns who hit the post and had the puck literally on the goal line so they were not really lucky either - they were just tenacious.

It was a one game. Finns are good at those and this edition seems to be somehow even more Finnish than some others since, they manage to win despite the gargantual lack of high end talent. It's all plugs, basically. Losing one game 0 - 1 to a team like that is no cause for concern. Ovy is still the man - and in my opinion more so than many times before when he turned into a weakness. He has not done that in recent years.

 

[SoundAndFury]

Anttila is 4th liner in the KHL.. What are you talking about him not getting a shot..

 

[Barkkonen]

Agree.

But what did Anttila do to warrant a shot at a bottom 6 job in the NHL? If I'm not mistaken he now has 2G in 9 games in this tournament. He pumped in a rebound today. Sorry I didn't watch all Finland games maybe he blocked a lot of shots, had a crazy FO%, or is the spiritual leader of the squad?
He's got NHL size, but has been putting up <20 points the last 5 years.

Take a look @ Jiri Dopita. Also over 6' good European player. He led his league in scoring at age 28, then again at age 30, he then put up a 30 goal season and was picked up by Philly. He plays ok (only ok), then is dealt to Edmonton which is a disaster. At age 35 he goes back to Czech.

I would argue it's just logistics, culture, and style why the NHL teams favor AHL players. They can scout these guys playing on the same size rink in a very tough and physical league. I would say it doesn't matter if the player is American, Finnish, or Japanese. What matters is they are in North America playing in the AHL or not. The bottom 6 should play tough and be reliable.
Maybe an elite NHL European Scouting staff could pick up quality bottom 6 older guys out of Europe, but right now no one's doing it. It's also the case some Europeans struggle with integration and go back home (even look at young Jesse Puljujärvi right now or arguably Laine).
imo it's still the case if a guy like Anttila wanted to crack the NHL he should have gone for something like a 5 year grind in the AHL in his 20's.

Yeah its logistics. + Our potential bottom6 forwards don't see the benefits to hang around in NA long enough to get chance in NHL when they can make good living in top european legues like KHL

 

[FinnLightning26]

I cannot disagree more. He had several chances and he created a few more. Ovy did his part. Now, if you want to talk about Malkin that is another story.

Russians did not score a single goal and that cannot be on any single player. They were unlucky as they had a lot of chances and they even made something out of nothing many many times during the game due to their incredible skill alone. Russians had no luck tonight. None. Of course that does not take anything away from the Finns who hit the post and had the puck literally on the goal line so they were not really lucky either - they were just tenacious.

It was a one game. Finns are good at those and this edition seems to be somehow even more Finnish than some others since, they manage to win despite the gargantual lack of high end talent. It's all plugs, basically. Losing one game 0 - 1 to a team like that is no cause for concern. Ovy is still the man - and in my opinion more so than many times before when he turned into a weakness. He has not done that in recent years.

This is probably the most Finnish team in Finland's history.

 

[BennsGonnaGetYou]

Juniors 2014 gold & seniors 2014 silver, Juniors 2016 gold & seniors 2016 silver, Juniors 2019 gold & seniors 2019 ?

 

[torniojaws]

Yeah, Anttila showed up as a Captain when needed. But come on, he's not an NHL player except for some special situations, like these two WCH games. During a regular season, he would probably play 5 minutes a game and perhaps something like 2 goals, 5 assists in a full season. And you can find 100 North American players that fulfill that need and have a similar size.

 

[Jussi]

Anttila is 4th liner in the KHL.. What are you talking about him not getting a shot..

Yeah, his lack of speed and physicality and offensive instincts compared to his size and age don't really warrant an NHL opportunity anymore. If he was 3-4 years younger, then maybe.

 

[Sentinel]

Malkin's playing with a plug and he was godlike when playing with good players. Ovechkin's been awful, just like at last WHCs.

He was nothing close to "godlike." "Godlike" would win a tournament by himself (see "Malkin 2012").