[GT] 2019 IIHF World Championships (May 10-26)

[Itse]

Finland dominates all of 3rd period, ties it and wins it in OT.

"Worst team ever", LOL ��

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Itse

Finland dominates all of 3rd period, ties it and wins it in OT.

"Worst team ever", LOL ��

What an effort from the Finns, well deserved win.

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by Itse

Finland dominates all of 3rd period, ties it and wins it in OT.

"Worst team ever", LOL ��

I don't understand your point here.

Clearly it is on the paper the worst team Finland has like, ever had? of all the players they potentially could have had there.

But I have to say they play like a team, not a lot of skill but a lot of hustle and energy, I like it.

[bdubbs]

For anyone who watched the Finland vs Sweden game, how did Kaapo Kakko look this game?

[Haplo]

Originally Posted by bdubbs

For anyone who watched the Finland vs Sweden game, how did Kaapo Kakko look this game?

Didn't notice him that much this game compared to earlier in the tournament.

Fun stat: Loui Eriksson was a whopping -8 in 8 games, despite Sweden ending up with a 45-26 goal differential. W. Nylander was best with +16. I've seen some suggestions here of trading Neal for Eriksson, but please God no.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

I don't understand your point here.

Clearly it is on the paper the worst team Finland has like, ever had? of all the players they potentially could have had there.

But I have to say they play like a team, not a lot of skill but a lot of hustle and energy, I like it.

I think it's ridiculous, because even to a VERY casual fan of Euro hockey it's been apparent for a while that you can now build really decent teams from the European leagues, if you're good at building teams that is. Finnish hockey has gone forward so much from what it used to be that it's frankly offensive to just count the lack of NHL players as somehow being indicative of a bad team.

Obviously coaching is a big deal here. Unless I'm mistaken, Jukka Jalonen has already beaten more "big" hockey countries in this tournament than the last head coach won in three tournaments.

So yes, there have been way worse Finnish teams quite recently, and it's been obvious from the moment the puck dropped in game 1 that this team can play. They've beaten Canada, taken US to OT and beaten Sweden now. They have 1 regulation loss in 8 games. That's not just luck or moxie.

(Most likely Russias skill level will be just too much in the next game though.)

[Itse]

This Finland - Russia game is really good, and really tight. Scoreless halfway through, and could easily go either way. It's a game of bounces and nerves now.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Itse

This Finland - Russia game is really good, and really tight. Scoreless halfway through, and could easily go either way. It's a game of bounces and nerves now.

I wouldn’t call it good. Finland is just trapping all game. Boring.

[GirlySports]

Worse team ever is so positionally disciplined.

No penalties taken over 2 periods.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Weitz

I wouldn’t call it good. Finland is just trapping all game. Boring.

LOL what?

Sure, what ever.

[GirlySports]

Finland has more SOG 23-22

[dash_pinched]

Come on Suomi, hold onto this lead.

[OldSam]

Finland scores! 1 - 0.

[Itse]

Gods my heart is trying to burst out to see how this ends...

[GoFlamesGo89]

Finland is playing amazing considering the expectations. The refs seem to be suspiciously shy to call a penalty against Russia..

[GirlySports]

Woooooooooooow

[dash_pinched]

Fantastic result. Somebody rush a defibrillator to Itse lol

[Itse]

WHAT IS THIS I CAN'T EVEN!

What a win <3

[Itse]

"Worst team ever"

Wow, that was rough on the ticker. Sheesh.

What an underdog story. I had a lot of faith in Jukka Jalonen, but I never thought this was possible.

[dash_pinched]

The Finnish fans are going to drink Bratislava dry tonight.