WJC: Team Finland 2019 U20 WJC Roster Talk

[kelsier]

It's not an excuse, it's a fact. Did you watch the game even? Kupari/Heponiemi/Nyman spent at least a minute in their own zone AT LEAST ONCE, so that increased their ice time above expected.

Come again? Why would I go onto specifics about shift lengths and what not if I didn't watch the game? Furthermore I never even claimed that the first line didn't struggle long shift(s) at their own zone. Yet your not only explaining, but justifying the lack of TOI for the second unit with first line spending over a minute on the defense "AT LEAST ONCE". Like seriously? There's 60 minutes in one game so even if they had two or three struggling moments that wouldn't explain the distribution. It doesn't even seem like you're aware of what each of them played. I'll break it down for you:

Heponiemi 19:54
Kupari 17:30
Nyman 14:54

Tolvanen 16:35
Kakko: 13:30
Lundell: 14:15

Now I already explained the peak in Hepo's TOI but other than that, even the first line didn't play that much despite of these lengthy shifts you referred earlier. What does that tell you? We know Finland didn't spend the entire game at the penalty box, nor did the 1st line eat all the minutes that could've been shared with 2nd line (look at the player TOI above). There's only one answer that can be backed up by both statistics and simple observation (watching the game), the ice time was distributed quite evenly between all lines, far more so than in a normal hockey game where team runs four lines and the top six get to play more minutes than lower bottom six. That's completely on Ahokas and for someone failing to take a note on that even while watching the game to me sounds just plain strange. Cause I didn't even have to check the game statistics to know ELK didn't play much. When a team is trailing goals going into the third period the coach should do couple of things i) utilize the scoring lines with more and extended shifts ii) tighten the core players and if necessary scratch the low performing players and especially if you need more than one goal, cut down to three lines. None of that really happened. Then when people wonder why did we lose this one? Sorry but a line playing "at least once" lengthy shift doesn't really cut it. There were even two players from third line that played more than Kakko on a game that we were trailing since the first period. So again, the end result was a sum of bad decisions due to incompetence.

 

[JJTT]

New PP units:

Kupari-Talvitie-Heponiemi-Tolvanen-Jokiharju

Lundell-Puustinen-Kakko-Ylönen-Laaksonen

Hopefully this means Nyman is out of the lineup.

 

[kelsier]

New PP units:

Kupari-Talvitie-Heponiemi-Tolvanen-Jokiharju

Lundell-Puustinen-Kakko-Ylönen-Laaksonen

Hopefully this means Nyman is out of the lineup.

Kind of strange they don't use Honka on either since after all, that's where his strengths were supposed to be in the begin with. I certainly hope you're right about Nyman though, Talvitie would be far better addition even on 5vs5. He's been one of our best forwards in these games.

 

[julkki]

Kakko playing 13:30 in a game with extremely high stakes speaks volumes about the lack of coaching. Ahokas was beyond terrible last year and it would seem he continues the trend and despite of having one of the best rosters at hands from the recent years. He has no fkin idea how to utlilize the team and get most out of the players. I kept noticing the very short shifts the lines played throughout the game. The first line could occasionally play a bit longer but second line was treated like they were the third or the fourth line and the TOI shows this quite clearly:

Eeli Tolvanen - 16:35
Anton Lundell - 14:15
Kaapo Kakko - 13:30

If I didn't watch the game I'd be blown away seeing the numbers, but I watched it and couldn't but help to think what the heck was happening. The difference for Tolvanen vs the other two came from the powerplay mostly, where Lundell's unit didn't see all that much ice just like on the EV.

The next game will be against Canada and knowing who's going to be standing behind the bench and "leading" the team, there's no point to hope for anything but a ticket home. I truly hope this is the last frigging time we have to see Ahokas dealing or handling any of our jr teams on the international stage.

*Oh and wtf is Nyman still doing in the top six? If I'm playing an online game and I notice someone from my team snoozing I'll tell them to wakethe*kup, but in this case it's the coach dozing so it's pretty much game over*

Kaapo should get more ice-time but that wouldn't make a difference in the big picture. First line should be stepping up, but the case seems just to be that they just aren't good enough to do that.

 

[kelsier]

Kaapo should get more ice-time but that wouldn't make a difference in the big picture. First line should be stepping up, but the case seems just to be that they just aren't good enough to do that.

Yeah and that's also precisely why. At least we'd get better odds for winning something at least, but I guess it's getting a bit too late for that now. We'll find out soon enough.

 

[fr9dd9]

Last game in the best hockey event off the season might be tonight, I really hope Ahokas are preping hes team correct, and that they are feeling great all the players. Lets give Canada the hardet game of the tournament, no matther what the score board says.

 

[CLW]

I hope Canada doesn't plays the neutral zone trapping game Sweden and the US used to kill us with. If Finland's forwards can get in among the Canadian D-men we have a chance.

 

[theVladiator]

Kind of strange they don't use Honka on either since after all, that's where his strengths were supposed to be in the begin with. I certainly hope you're right about Nyman though, Talvitie would be far better addition even on 5vs5. He's been one of our best forwards in these games.

I think Honka's strength is relative to his draft class. The real test is whether he brings anything extra to PP compared to Jokiharju and Laaksonen. I think the answer is, quite obviously, no. Plus, I think Honka is still finding his game and is prone to big gaffes. You do not want to give up shorthanded chances at this level if you can help it.

I am starting to think that Honka is on the team in large part to give him some experience before 2020 WJC.

 

[MarVell]

I think Honka's strength is relative to his draft class. The real test is whether he brings anything extra to PP compared to Jokiharju and Laaksonen. I think the answer is, quite obviously, no. Plus, I think Honka is still finding his game and is prone to big gaffes. You do not want to give up shorthanded chances at this level if you can help it.

I am starting to think that Honka is on the team in large part to give him some experience before 2020 WJC.

I’d at least try him over Jokiharju on PP. Jokiharju is having problems getting the pucks through to the net.

 

[fr9dd9]

F amazing, lets win this tournament now!

 

[king89]

What did i say! Lets go SUOMI

 

[ookhaab]

Awful finishing, but the huge effort all game paid off!

 

[BB88]

Well I doubted them enough and they went out and won.

It's really surprising that level of play was enough to beat Canada, the finishing was really pathetic prior to the last minute of the game.

Need to get better quality on shots for the next 2.

 

[JJTT]

Jeez what a game.

Both Vaakanainen and Jokiharju played over 29 minutes. Interesting to see if Honka gets to play in the final 2 games, Heinola is out for a while, barring a miracle.

 

[chauron]

All right guys, awesome! Upeeta!

 

[king89]

Well I doubted them enough and they went out and won.

It's really surprising that level of play was enough to beat Canada, the finishing was really pathetic prior to the last minute of the game.

Need to get better quality on shots for the next 2.

SISU!
Switzerland next

 

[Blade Paradigm]

The defense can not move the puck; the forwards are sloppy with the puck and imprecise with their passes. The puck movement of the whole team was terrible. Heinola was playing really well for Team Finland; the injury is a shame.

Oskari Laaksonen is atrocious with the puck.

The team out-shot Team Canada, but they have significant holes. Team Finland needs to be careful around Team Switzerland, as the Swiss play a fast, disciplined game -- good enough to day, along with their goaltender, to shut out Team Sweden.

What's up with Lundell's inability to make tape-to-tape passes? The hockey gods smiled upon Team Finland today. They need to pay it back with smarter play in the semifinals.

 

[king89]

What is your problem?

The defense can not move the puck; the forwards are sloppy with the puck and imprecise with their passes. The puck movement of the whole team was terrible.

Oskari Laaksonen is atrocious with the puck.

The team out-shot Team Canada, but they have significant holes. Team Finland needs to be careful around Team Switzerland, as the Swiss play a fast, disciplined game -- good enough to day, along with their goaltender, to shut out Team Sweden.

What's up with Lundell's inability to make tape-to-tape passes? The hockey gods smiled upon Team Finland today. They need to pay it back with smarter play in the semifinals.

What is your problem? go somewhere else end spread your negativity. This team ain't so bad as you are trying to make it look like. Everybody are bullying this team so bad.

Yes this team has holes, like almost every team has. But it aint that bad. Otherwise we wouldn't have won.

 

[FinPanda]

Three playoffs wins against Canada in a row. Nice.

Happy for the boys!

 

[Blade Paradigm]

What is your problem?

What is your problem? go somewhere else end spread your negativity. This team ain't so bad as you are trying to make it look like. Everybody are bullying this team so bad.

Yes this team has holes, like almost every team has. But it aint that bad. Otherwise we wouldn't have won.

Sometimes honesty can be a downer.

Finland is celebrating tonight, but from an observational perspective, this team has had problems all tournament. Everything gets stuck in their own zone because the defense holds on to the puck for too long and can't decide what to do with it. This frequently causes them to get hemmed in for no reason. Potential offensive zone shifts become defensive zone shifts because the team gets stuck in their own zone after some of their line changes.

When they don't see anything, they throw it back behind their own net and then get pressured into losing possession.

 

[Fred McCarthy]

Congrats guys , a very gritty performance . I actually think you will win because you made it this far and didn't play to your potential . Law of average says that potential kicks in pretty quick hear . Super team ..

 

[CLW]

The defense can not move the puck; the forwards are sloppy with the puck and imprecise with their passes. The puck movement of the whole team was terrible. Heinola was playing really well for Team Finland; the injury is a shame.

Oskari Laaksonen is atrocious with the puck.

The team out-shot Team Canada, but they have significant holes. Team Finland needs to be careful around Team Switzerland, as the Swiss play a fast, disciplined game -- good enough to day, along with their goaltender, to shut out Team Sweden.

What's up with Lundell's inability to make tape-to-tape passes? The hockey gods smiled upon Team Finland today. They need to pay it back with smarter play in the semifinals.

It is so painful to watch Ahokas hockey. I hate the slow build up from the back, I don't think it fits small rink hockey at all. But I can't deny it felt good to win. Two more games of this....

 

[FinPanda]

It won't be easy against the Swiss but I believe in our guys.

 

[king89]

Sometimes honesty can be a downer.

Finland is celebrating tonight, but from an observational perspective, this team has had problems all tournament. Everything gets stuck in their own zone because the defense holds on to the puck for too long and can't decide what to do with it. This frequently causes them to get hemmed in for no reason. Potential offensive zone shifts become defensive zone shifts because the team gets stuck in their own zone after some of their line changes.

When they don't see anything, they throw it back behind their own net and then get pressured into losing possession.

I agree to a part with ju, but you are too harsh on the team.

 

[Hostile Offer]

Not a fun team to watch at all, we were lucky but can't be mad after a comeback win like this.