World Cup: Sep 4 GDT - Sweden vs. Finland

[Leo Naphta]

Well, I have no clue as to what reason the NHL had in staging the tournament, but this tournament is unfair in at least three respects

1 The final games are always played in North America - this always gives the US or Canada home advantage in the crucial games.

2 The teams in the European group have a far worse schedule than Canada or the US. The European teams will for example have to readjust to a time-zone that is six or seven (in Finland's case) hours off from their normal time-zone in just four days for the semis. If I remember correctly, scientific evidence says that you cannot adjust more than one hour a day while keeping your physical shape 100%.

3 There are only referees from the Canada or the US. As long as the refs aren't from neutral countries, the suspicion will always linger that they are helping the home team.

Having said that, I do think this is a great tournament - certainly bigger than the world championships - even though it is not fair in all respects.

 

[VanIslander]

The European division has Germany. That should even out the imbalance a bit.

And as for the Finn-Swedish game, my two cents' worth is:

Alfreddson and Peltonen were the most dangerous with or without the puck, Modin and Vaananen were the most effective, Selanne and Forsberg the most up and down (across zones and in the quality of play), Koivu and Lidstrom the most energizing, Zetterberg and Lydman the most unlucky.

Overall, a classic clash of styles between the puck-carrying Swedes and the tenacious Finns, though there was a greater than usual contrast in goaltending; an imbalance in defensive defensemen talent in Finland's favour; and a powerplay and penalty kill in Sweden's favour.

----

By the way, I PREDICTED A CANADA-FINLAND FINAL before the tourney began. Evidence of it, on a dated post, can be found here:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=20750&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

The sixth post down the page is:

"MY PREDICTION (Before the tourney begins):

Canada over Finland 4-1 in the final.
Slovakian and Czech teams make it to the semis."

I still think Russia and the U.S. have too many glaring question marks in net and on the blueline to be contenders. And I saw Tellqvist play in Toronto early in the 2002-2003 season: He's an imposter! He ain't no goaltender. Hence, I never thought Sweden had a chance.

 

[Poikilitic]

why is everyone pissed off. its not like we lost.
Well we face Czech, but we stil tied them. Sweden always > Finland.

 

[ClicheGuevara]

Not surprisingly, because the american team isn't playing this weekend.

nah, football

 

[Riddarn]

why is everyone pissed off. its not like we lost.
Well we face Czech, but we stil tied them. Sweden always > Finland.

As I said before, a tie is the same as a loss because we both lost the group and allowed 4 goals from a weaker team. Not to take anything away from the finns, they played much better as a team and more disciplined in their own zone. The swedish coach better do something to the 5-on-5 play or the Czechs will be in the semis without breaking a sweat.

 

[psycho_dad*]

why is everyone pissed off. its not like we lost.
Well we face Czech, but we stil tied them. Sweden always > Finland.

You base this on what exactly? Take last 10 years, sum up all the sweden-finland games and their results...read them and cry.

Last time they clashed with the best possible lineup was in Nagano. Do I need to remind you?

 

[H/H]

It actually feels good that Sweden will face the Czechs. Now we can at least rest assured that Germany won't make us relive Belarus.

 

[SChan*]

It actually feels good that Sweden will face the Czechs. Now we can at least rest assured that Germany won't make us relive Belarus.

thats the only positive thing about it. Because sweden will lose against the czechz. We are due.

 

[Kyri]

Sweden always > Finland.

:lol

 

[Poikilitic]

:lol

6-5 dude
6-5
Anyways was pretty nice coming back and tie it. Especially in the dying seconds of the third.

The whole game, Sweden played Catch up. No time to play offence.
Good Game nonetheless.

 

[Eds]

I couldn't watch all of the game, but I'm happy with the tie. I left the tv with Finland leading 4-3 and I was sure I'd wake up to a 4-5 result for Sweden.

 

[mattihp]

Well, at least Sweden has one goaltender that will get a shutout tonight... This is very off topic but Isaksson is quite possibly the best keeper in the world right now.

Check out the thread in other sports, mr. Homer

 

[Padawan]

6-5 dude
6-5
Anyways was pretty nice coming back and tie it. Especially in the dying seconds of the third.

Dude, one game. That was only one game. If that was your logic then remember world championships in 1995. The Final in Globen. Who won? Excatly, one game in history. Doesn't make a huge difference which team is better now.

 

[Eds]

If that was the logic we'd all know that Belarus is better than Sweden in ice hockey.

 

[mattihp]

Dude, one game. That was only one game. If that was your logic then remember world championships in 1995. The Final in Globen. Who won? Excatly, one game in history. Doesn't make a huge difference which team is better now.

A big difference is also that finns don't go around constantly cursing over the past... I've heard swedes still walking around talking about Belarus...

 

[mach777]

thats the only positive thing about it. Because sweden will lose against the czechz. We are due.

They will do fine vs the czechz, but they will have a hard time jetlagged vs canada in the semis.

Mach

 

[Shack]

6-5 dude
6-5
Anyways was pretty nice coming back and tie it. Especially in the dying seconds of the third.

I'm frustrated for this Swedish luck. Well luck and luck you also need skill.

If we get back to last night, the 4-4 goal was more than luck. It was a work of art by Fobban. He made great move from corner to the front of the net, and Homer made what he does best. Horrible traffic but somehow puck was in the net. This was a perfect play by Sweden.

If we return to 6-5 game, it was not Swedish goodness, it was Finnish collapse. We started to wait the end of the game and forget all of the basic things (like defence). That wasn't luck, that wasn't goodness, that was a mental colapse by Finland.... that was horrible to watch. Yesterday was almost the same, but this time tie was a win.

 

[Petey21]

Dude, one game. That was only one game. If that was your logic then remember world championships in 1995. The Final in Globen. Who won? Excatly, one game in history. Doesn't make a huge difference which team is better now.

I wouldn't say it was just "one game"...

1986 IIHF World Championships in Moscow. Finland were leading 4-2 with 40 seconds left of the game, Anders "Masken" Carlsson managed to score two goals in the last minute to tie the game (this game helped Sweden securing a silver medal).

1991 IIHF World Championships in Finland. Finland were yet again leading 4-2, Mats Sundin repeated what Anders Carlsson did earlier, scoring two goals in the final minute to tie the game (Sweden went on and won the gold medal).

World Championships in 2003. No comments necessary...

 

[Jussi]

I wouldn't say it was just "one game"...

1986 IIHF World Championships in Moscow. Finland were leading 4-2 with 40 seconds left of the game, Anders "Masken" Carlsson managed to score two goals in the last minute to tie the game (this game helped Sweden securing a silver medal).

1991 IIHF World Championships in Finland. Finland were yet again leading 4-2, Mats Sundin repeated what Anders Carlsson did earlier, scoring two goals in the final minute to tie the game (Sweden went on and won the gold medal).

World Championships in 2003. No comments necessary...

Nagano 1998. 2-1, dude...

 

[wilka91*]

They will do fine vs the czechz

are you so sure?

 

[Padawan]

I wouldn't say it was just "one game"...

1986 IIHF World Championships in Moscow. Finland were leading 4-2 with 40 seconds left of the game, Anders "Masken" Carlsson managed to score two goals in the last minute to tie the game (this game helped Sweden securing a silver medal).

1991 IIHF World Championships in Finland. Finland were yet again leading 4-2, Mats Sundin repeated what Anders Carlsson did earlier, scoring two goals in the final minute to tie the game (Sweden went on and won the gold medal).

World Championships in 2003. No comments necessary...

Still, history. Doesn't make a huge difference which team is currently better. I'd say both teams are about equal. The score last night also points to this.

 

[psycho_dad*]

are you so sure?

I dont think Czech have much of a chance against Sweden. Sweden has been good but their goalie situation could help the Czechs.

And yeah...you swedes want to repeat these world championships wins but....when it matters the most Finland kicks ass. Nagano and yesterday! And please keep in mind that Sweden would not have gotten even close to a tie without a very shaky referee.

 

[psycho_dad*]

Lets just let them have the past....since they got no future.

 

[Predatore]

And please keep in mind that Sweden would not have gotten even close to a tie without a very shaky referee.

agreed. Finland dominated this game totally and had it not for the referee the score would have probably been 6-0 Finland, or something in the lines of that.
I hope we get a shaky ref against the Czechs as well.

 

[mikkoz]

without a very shaky referee.

Yes, i wanna see Canada get penalties like that in the last 3 minutes of the game.