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World Juniors Finals Prediction

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Zack Kelly

Zack Kelly

Registered User
Jan 1, 2019
300
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With U.S.A Trumping Russia and Finland stomping Switzerland the finals are finally set U.S.A vs Finland.
To begin i'm going to be outlining each teams most outstanding players thus far in the tourney, who is hot, who is not and who to watch out for.

U.S.A Top Players:
Ryan Poehling
Jason Robertson
Josh Norris
Jack Hughes
Mikey Anderson
Cayden Primeau

Whos Hot?:

Cayden Primeau stopped 34 of 35 shots to clinch the win in the semi's for USA (who were out-shot) and 18 of 19 shots in the semi's. with a GAA of 1 since in the bracket stages he has looked amazing in both games being solid as a rock

Mikey Anderson is a +3 and has 2 assists in 2 games since bracket stage while leading his team in ice time convincingly over those 2 games. he has been a rock for U.S.A and its hopeful he stays that way

Whos Not?:

Ryan Poehling was on fire early in the tourney but has been held pointless in his last 2 games U.S.A needs him to show up and put some pucks in the net for this massive finals game

Quinn Hughes has been fairly invisible, not hurting his team but not generating much either, over his last 2 games he is one of only 2 players on the team yet to have a shot on net and has a neutral +/-

Watch Out For:

Jack Hughes was firing the puck a ton in the last game leading the team with 8 shots that game if he keep that up into the next game he is bound too find the back of the net

Finland Top Players:
Aleski Heponiemi
Aarne Talvitie
Jesse Ylonen
Henri Jokiharju
Urho Vaakanainen
Oskari Laaksonen

Whos Hot?:

Aleski Heponiemi has 6 points in the last 2 games and is a +5 while averaging about 21 minutes of ice time over those 2 games.

Aarne Talvitie Coming off of a 2 goal performance against Switzerland and having an assist in the game before and holding up a +4 +/- and leading his team in shots he will be a force to be reckoned with in the finals

Whos Not?:

Laaksonen I hesitate on putting in here because he has been playing strong defensive, but hasn't done almost anything offensively with one shot and no points in his last 2 games. although he has a +3

Kaapo Kakko has had a decent tourney in total not great but not bad. with a lack of ice time in his last 2 games he hasn't had much time too shine but with just 3 shots, one assist and a neutral +/- he hasn't done a whole lot in the last couple

Watch Out For:

Rasmus Kupari is very skilled and has tons of talent, he has had a good run this tourney as well, he lit it up against Switzerland with 3 points and a +2 Finland hopes he gains more confidence from this game and continues to find players to find the net and put the puck in himself

Result:
This is going to be a good game each way and I wouldn't be surprised with either team winning but i'm going to give the slight edge too USA just because Cayden Primeau is comming off of argueably his best performance of the tourney and if USA can ignite their slumping talent in Poehling who was in talks for tournament MVP earlier. I expect a low scoring game in favor of U.S.A

Winner: U.S.A
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An immense challenge for Finland to take on US on small ice. Beating Canada was a big surprise and the Finnish team has been improving as the tournament progresses, victory is not impossible but unlikely.
 
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Esko6 said:
An immense challenge for Finland to take on US on small ice. Beating Canada was a big surprise and the Finnish team has been improving as the tournament progresses, victory is not impossible but unlikely.
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finland has multiple players who are used to the small ice surfaces and they have a couple of NHLers/NHL prospects who have played in the NHL, I think you're underestimating them to be honest
 
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Don't want to start a separate thread for all-star teams and best F/D/G yet, but was browsing through the stats and it's really close. Five players tied for the scoring lead 2 of whom are playing in the gold medal game and one in the bronze medal game. Another four players one point behind (2 in GMG, 2 in BMG), and another 5 players one point behind them (2 in BMG). Overall 14 players still playing within 3 points of the tournament lead. As for goalies, every single one of the teams in the QF except for Slovakia has a #1 goalie with a sv% over .922. That's unheard of. Two goalies are over .955 (Kochetkov and Dostal). The second goalie in the BMG has a sv% of .938 (Hollenstein). The finalists have a sv% of .947 (Primeau) and .933 (Luukkonen).

Currently I'd say the frontrunners for best F are Kurashev, Talvitie, Robertson and Poehling (in no particular order) with an outside chance for Heponiemi or another American if they have a great final game. I find it unlikely that a Russian will be named best F but it's likely one or two of Kostin, Denisenko or Kravtsov will be named to the All-Star Team, pending the final game.

Best D is between Romanov, Alexeyev, Jokiharju and Anderson.

Best G will probably whoever wins the GMG unless it's a high scoring game in which case it's anyones guess. Hollenstein will get consideration for his play up until the SF and for leading Switzerland to it's best result since 1998, but Kochetkov might win it over him if the statistical difference grows to big in the BMG.
 
Finland officially accepts the underdog position (and wins due to that position).
 
I think you're missing Tolvanen from Finland's top players. He was the best player on the ice vs. Canada. I think the US has been gaining confidence as the tournament has progressed. Big win over the powerhouse Russians. My prediction for the final US 4 Finland 3
 
Quinn Hughes has not been invisible. Disappointing maybe but I notice him making an impact every time he's on the ice..

And watch out for Jack Hughes with all of his wet noodle shots.
 
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SakicHOF2012 said:
I think you're missing Tolvanen from Finland's top players. He was the best player on the ice vs. Canada. I think the US has been gaining confidence as the tournament has progressed. Big win over the powerhouse Russians. My prediction for the final US 4 Finland 3
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i was almost going too ad him but i couldn't, he hasn't been good all tourney he has had a couple last games tho
 
Honka is a liability. Wish we didn't have to use him. Team USA have more fire power imo. 5-2 for USA.
 
I feel like we are due for a one crazy game.

So either that or a boring 1-1 draw.
 
If the U.S. plays with pace I like their chances. If they slow it down like they did the second half of the game against Russia they will lose. The team is made to go full speed as often as possible. If they choose to slow the pace they will fall right into what Finland likes to do.
 
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