USA vs. Finland

[Rabid Ranger]

Tough one to call here. Finland always seems to be in this position, not quite making the finals, but overjoyed to be in position to get a medal, and playing like it matters. Their opponent invariably is someone who underachieved and is down in the dumps. The U.S. is the better team, but can they suck it up and play like it? I have my doubts. I'll go 3-1 Finland, although it pains me to say so.

 

[edd1e]

Tough one to call here. Finland always seems to be in this position, not quite making the finals, but overjoyed to be in position to get a medal, and playing like it matters. Their opponent invariably is someone who underachieved and is down in the dumps. The U.S. is the better team, but can they suck it up and play like it? I have my doubts. I'll go 3-1 Finland, although it pains me to say so.

I think it's a huge let down for every team, Finland included.

And to the guy who said Finns lack individual skill is wrong, the thing Finns lack is depth, defense is terrible and so are few forwards.

Komarov is a liability with those penalties he's taking, Lindgren is disapointing me and so is Joensuu..

 

[psycho_dad*]

Finnish forwards are not half bad really. But the defense is the achilles heel in this team. They are simply so bad with the puck, we can't get the offense going. The guns are there, just nobody to load them up.

Glad that they have done a decent job defensively against sweden and in the 2 first periods of the semifinal. Only Laakso can really play the puck up and support the forwards a bit.

 

[NyQuil]

I'd hit the brakes on the Switzerland issue, I hear Pogge didn't fair too well in that game.

Huh?

Last I checked, you only had to beat your opponent by one goal to get the 2 points.

I guess USA's drubbing of Norway really paid off in the end...

 

[Schenn02]

I WANT Finland to win (Go Tuukka Rask!!!) however my brain tells me the Americans. But still, Go Team Finland!

 

[Shoalzie]

Team USA is done...Finland wins in a rout.

 

[shaner8989]

The US suck. But they should beat a terrible Finland team. Rask is the only bright spot for Finland

 

[Bloggins]

I'm thinking this could be a great game. I give the edge to USA 4-3.

 

[greatwhite101*]

I will be pulling for Finland. They are the underdogs. USA had what?

One solid game against Norway? They could not hang with Canada, were distroyed by Russians, tied Switzerland, got lucky with Czechs and pulled a close game against Fins. Who cares how many 1st round draft picks USA has or may have on this team.
Take away that game against Norway and what do we have... heh
Nothing personal.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I will be pulling for Finland. They are the underdogs. USA had what?

One solid game against Norway? They could not hang with Canada, were distroyed by Russians, tied Switzerland, got lucky with Czechs and pulled a close game against Fins. Who cares how many 1st round draft picks USA has or may have on this team.
Take away that game against Norway and what do we have... heh
Nothing personal.

What do we have? A team that despite seeming chemistry problems:

1) Blew out the Norwegians 11-2.
2) Had a 6-3 lead on Finland with what, five minutes to spare?
3) Had a 2-0 lead on Switzerland and blew it.
4) Was tied with Canada and was even in shots before Canada scored an empty -netter.
5) Beat a determined Czech Republic team 2-1.
6) Was right there with Russia before a disastrous 3rd period.
7) Is still playing for the bronze.

The U.S. underachieved in this tournament, but it wasn't as bad as you and many others are making it out to be.

 

[Diaboli]

The US suck. But they should beat a terrible Finland team. Rask is the only bright spot for Finland

Terrible team? How terrible can they be being in the bronze game?

And Rask is not the only bright spot of the team. Tukonen and Korpikoski have been great as well. Our defence sucks, admittedly, but it doesn't mean that the whole team sucks

Oh yeah, and I predict a 4-3 win for Finland. Lets just hope our D doesn't blow this one up...

 

[Phanuthier*]

To say the US team will be "miffed" is a gross understatement - I feel sorry for their goaltender in the piddly bronze game - It will likely be a rout. US team is angry and the Finnish goaltending will pay for the cause of that anger, however misdirected.

I guess "____" Finland player has a bounty on their head then?

We'll see

I'd hit the brakes on the Switzerland issue, I hear Pogge didn't fair too well in that game. Shouldn't you be worried about the Russian drubbing you're about to take anyways?

The Swiss were a very good team.

And I'm not "worried" about the Russians. I think Brent Sutter will prepare the boys ok, so my input isn't needed and I can just sit on sofa and watch the game.

 

[Phanuthier*]

What are talking about? I've only "predicted" one game. Vs Russia. (and then some side talk about expectations in the game vs Canada)

Why fabricate things?

Well you did go on and on and on ... x 100 about how USA was romp the entire tournament to a gold medal.

 

[Phanuthier*]

The U.S. underachieved in this tournament, but it wasn't as bad as you and many others are making it out to be.

When your the run away favourite (besides maybe alongside the Russians) anything short of gold is failure.

But your right, USA came out of the gate flying, but as a poster in another thread mentioned, its funny how the problems can compound. You tie the Swiss, forcing you to pull the goalie in a tie vs Canada, forcing you to play an extra game and the end result? A fatigued game against the Russians.

It's so important to bring your 'A' game to the table, or the problems can compound.

Playing the Finns will be tough. I think someone above said it best, its like playing a pack of lions. It won't be an easy game for the American's, and with all due respect, I'm not sure some of the characters on Team USA will pull through due to their past histories (Schremp, Bourque ect).

 

[DevilFisch]

This game will not be easy, but the Americans have beaten Finland earlier in the tournament with all these problems and such. I don't see any reason that absolutely won't happen again, outside of Rask doing what he did in the Sweden QF a second time.

I don't think lightning will strike twice, with respect to Rask.

America wins the bronze 4-2.

 

[jcorb58]

To say the US team will be "miffed" is a gross understatement - I feel sorry for their goaltender in the piddly bronze game - It will likely be a rout. US team is angry and the Finnish goaltending will pay for the cause of that anger, however misdirected.

I'd hit the brakes on the Switzerland issue, I hear Pogge didn't fair too well in that game. Shouldn't you be worried about the Russian drubbing you're about to take anyways?

Were you not the guy that said USA would crush all future oponents after the tie too the swiss? USA and Russia were both the pretourney favorites so Canada even being in this game proves you didnt live up to the billing. And frankly we dont care who you cheer for. We are still the defending champs and will give the Russians a good game. We may lose, but i can assure you it wont be because we quit and it wont be because you werent cheering us on. The differance between great teams like what we iced last yr and wanabees like yours this year is great teams live up to expectations. Sorry guys ...better luck next yr. At least the canadians fans attended other games unlike when you hosted the tournament.

 

[Joe MacMillan]

Terrible team? How terrible can they be being in the bronze game?

And Rask is not the only bright spot of the team. Tukonen and Korpikoski have been great as well. Our defence sucks, admittedly, but it doesn't mean that the whole team sucks

Oh yeah, and I predict a 4-3 win for Finland. Lets just hope our D doesn't blow this one up...

I have to agree with this. We do have a pretty good team on paper, but our D is crap. And on the ice it looks like the whole team sucks due to our crap D.

 

[Daily Special]

Were you not the guy that said USA would crush all future oponents after the tie too the swiss? USA and Russia were both the pretourney favorites so Canada even being in this game proves you didnt live up to the billing. And frankly we dont care who you cheer for. We are still the defending champs and will give the Russians a good game. We may lose, but i can assure you it wont be because we quit and it wont be because you werent cheering us on. The differance between great teams like what we iced last yr and wanabees like yours this year is great teams live up to expectations. Sorry guys ...better luck next yr. At least the canadians fans attended other games unlike when you hosted the tournament.

lol why are you raging uncontrollably because somone said they were rooting for the Russians?

Did I say "crush"? I think I meant mince or ruffle or shake maybe even fluff or float

Seriously though I thouht we would roll right through to the final and the reason was everyone and their mailman were saying Russias goaltending was poo , so I bought that. Turns out he was brick wall and the Russian D was excellent. I knew their forwards were the bees knees because I've watched Metallurg Magnitogorsk games, but never knew their goalie was Roy and their D like Calgary's. Hats off to them.

The only reason I'm going spoiler is for the warm reception in Vancouver. Otherwise I'd be cheering for the team that just knocked us out of the semi obviously.

And I personally never "hosted the tournament" no. If I did I think I think I'd split the sections by the nation and make a UN like multi-cultural seating chart just to keep things interesting.

 

[Daily Special]

Hopefully my prediction is more credible: 5-4 USA. Kessel with 2 goals. Schneider will be huge only giving up goals he had no control over. In that sense it will be a carbon copy of the game against Russia.

That sounds closer to how it should go down.

 

[Phanuthier*]

And with that prediction, any credibility you might have had just went flying out the window at 800 mph.

... and it make a big rebound back!

I told ya. Those Finn's are like a pack of wolves, and I didn't see USA bringing their 'A' game. Full credit to the Finns.

 

[psycho_dad*]

I got 6,25 times my money back with this win.


FINLAND RULES!

 

[Bloggins]

Excellent game Finland. Good effort USA.

 

[RorschachWJK]

That sounds closer to how it should go down.

However, that was not how it went down

 

[Phanuthier*]

It's always funny to see someone who gets all cocky and acts so sure of himself be, well... wrong.

 

[Schenn02]

I WANT Finland to win (Go Tuukka Rask!!!) however my brain tells me the Americans. But still, Go Team Finland!

Good, I'm glad I listened to my heart instead of my head.