IIHF World ChampionshipDiscuss International Tournaments like the WJC, Olympics, and World Cup, as they take place, or discuss past tournaments. performances.
Only saw two first periods, but overall: I'm not impressed how Finland played. They could do so much more. They were super lazy and shorthanded play looked just AWFUL. Overall Finland looked way too overconfident. Which is very strange, because normally finnish teams are really hard working and work with good attitude.
Only saw two first periods, but overall: I'm not impressed how Finland played. They could do so much more. They were super lazy and shorthanded play looked just AWFUL. Overall Finland looked way too overconfident. Which is very strange, because normally finnish teams are really hard working and work with good attitude.
I agree. Also, I think the loss of Aaltonen will have a big impact on our team. Aaltonen provided quality depth and now he is gone. He was on fire for the last couple of games as well. I truly hope the team will show up in the next game.
So sad Aaltonen got injured. Still rather him than any of our top6 forwards or dmen. I think Aaltonen is dispite his strong showings replacable and the team won't get weaker that much.
The team was visibly upset over losing Aaltonen, but that kid never gives up and neither should the rest of the team, despite this loss. Nothing has been lost yet, but I trust Armia and Barkov to bring their A game to the next game, it will certainly be much tougher than this one.
Could anybody who watched the game comment on the play of Olli Matta? How has he been thus far, what kind of role has he been playing?
Thanks!
Määttä plays with Rasmus Ristolainen and that pair is for sure the best in Finland's roster. Määttä is also in the PP unit with first line (Salomäki - Granlund - Armia) and Järveläinen. Against Latvia he didn't show anything magical but what I've seen of his playing, he is very safe player and doesn't make any mistakes, confident with and without the puck.
Today Ristolainen was Finland's best defender and I liked what I saw. Best +/- with 1+1, +3. Plays with great confidence and is in the other PP unit with Teräväinen, Barkov, Lehkonen and Aaltonen, who isn't there anymore due to his awful ankle injury. Especially that PP is nice, Teräväinen and Ristolainen are very confident with puck and Teräväinen makes great plays from blue line. Barkov has excellent vision and Lehkonen is great in front of net so I expect much from that PP line, it worked well against USA too.
We just need to change Aaltonen to some other player in that line because of that freaking injury. Leino was there in the last PP and we'll see if he continues there. But I would like to get Pokka to other PP with Määttä in blue line and we could then move Järveläinen to Aaltonen's spot, because he's pretty nifty from his hands. Any thoughts of that?
Only saw two first periods, but overall: I'm not impressed how Finland played. They could do so much more. They were super lazy and shorthanded play looked just AWFUL. Overall Finland looked way too overconfident. Which is very strange, because normally finnish teams are really hard working and work with good attitude.
Yes, God hates us for being so bad lutherians. Instead of wasting lot of energy and pounding +5 meaningless goals we opted to save energy and hunger for more meaningful games. We're doomed, so doomed.
For real, this year we are supposed to play for gold. Not for extra goals versus second-tier countries.
One thing I noticed in particular about Määttä is that he has a penchant for attempting the slap pass to a forward in deep. If he can perfect that move he will be a tremendous PP asset in the future.
Määttä plays with Rasmus Ristolainen and that pair is for sure the best in Finland's roster. Määttä is also in the PP unit with first line (Salomäki - Granlund - Armia) and Järveläinen. Against Latvia he didn't show anything magical but what I've seen of his playing, he is very safe player and doesn't make any mistakes, confident with and without the puck.
Thanks a lot on the report!
Any comments on Maatta's top end/low end potential as an NHLer? I'll be checking in throughout the tournament to get your thoughts, you seem to have a strong eye on the Finnish squad.
We just need to change Aaltonen to some other player in that line because of that freaking injury. Leino was there in the last PP and we'll see if he continues there. But I would like to get Pokka to other PP with Määttä in blue line and we could then move Järveläinen to Aaltonen's spot, because he's pretty nifty from his hands. Any thoughts of that?
