Finland’s under-20 men’s national ice hockey team has risen from the quagmire it sank into in its first two games of the World Cup tournament.
After all the difficulties, Nuoret Leijonat first defeated the competition host Sweden in a wonderful way. The tournament format favored Finland when they faced Slovakia in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Playing in their white uniform for the first time in these games, Finland took what was offered. Slovakia finally fell captain Jere Lassilan with a wonderful overtime goal to make it 4–3.
Urheilu’s ice hockey expert Top Nättinen considers Finland a well-deserved place in the World Cup semifinals, even though the team’s play contained cosmetic flaws in the quarterfinals.
– In my opinion, Finland was just that much better in the quarter-finals. There were challenges in scoring and with personal falls in defense, but that team is now in good shape. A team of Finland’s level must be in the World Cup semi-finals, he says.
In this article, expert Nättinen goes through the three most important points regarding the Slovakia match and the continuation of the tournament.
A basic Finnish principle as the backbone
Nättinen especially considers Finland’s opening match against Slovakia excellent. Nuoret Leijonat was able to stop Slovakia’s quarterback right from the start with good five-man play and effective clearing. The same worked against Sweden before.
– At the same time, of course, when Finland had to focus on the overall rhythm of the game in the match, it could eat attacking play. Sometimes it was difficult for them to get to the first-class goal posts, Nättinen reflects.
– However, that attacking play leaves some question marks in the semi-final. Finland was able to attack with high quality overall only at moments in the game, when it worked really well. However, it is difficult to challenge other top countries.
At the same time, however, playing as a strong five-man team and being disciplined as a group are things that Finland can rely on.
– It is the backbone of Finnish ice hockey and once again the recipe for the success of the tournament. I thought before the games that this team might be even more successful offensively, but that makes them an equally annoying and difficult opponent.
Nättinen also reminds us of one cold fact.
– When you think about Finland’s tournament journey, at this point it doesn’t matter what the game looks like at times. It is enough if the team continues in games where the situation is “win or out”.
Even a second counts when it comes to concentration
There were also weak moments in Finland’s game. Slovakia’s goals, in particular, were caused by the defense end falling asleep, which was otherwise not visible in the tight defense. Getting out of these is an important point for Finland in terms of the future.
Slovakia’s opening goal came from Finland’s lost start, from which it started Niklas Kokon after a shot blocked in front of them, it was Slovakia who was first in the loose puck as well Adam Sykora. Slovakia’s second goal, on the other hand, came after many lost corner battles, when again in front of the goal Dalibor Dvorsky was allowed to freely hit his own loose puck into the goal.
Finland’s defender in the 3–3 draw with Slovakia as well Otto Salin stayed deep to cover the shot. It resulted in the puck bouncing off his stick and into the goal.
– The plays of individual situations in a go-or-out match are exactly the events that decide the outcome of the match or change the direction of the game. None of this is certainly due to the fact that the players did not know that the situations were significant in the match, Nättinen begins.
– Every start, Overpower or long rotation of the opponent always requires an understanding of what it means. That you can focus on those moments. So it won’t be like the start before Slovakia’s goal, where it seemed that the players thought maybe they were just going to knock them out by 1.5 seconds.
In the semi-final, Finland can be that disgusting opponent
A place in the World Cup semi-finals after an apathetic start to the tournament is a good shot from Finland. The game has improved in the rink, while the games themselves have become tougher.
Finland will face the United States in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday. The Americans, who won the B group, defeated Latvia, who finished fourth in the A group, in their quarter-final with a clear score of 7–2.
Expert Nättinen sees that the Young Lions can be a very difficult opponent for the United States. Especially if it wants to turn even more volume on it.
– Finland can be one of the most difficult opponents for the United States in terms of defensive play and its level of commitment. Especially if Finland gets off to a good start in that game and the opening set remains even. The longer it goes flat, the more it can frustrate the United States. Especially when they have gone from victory to victory in a relaxed manner, it is good for Finland to leave as the underdog.
– I think Finland as a team can show that it is an annoying and disgusting opponent, that Finland will not let anyone off the hook. The mental state of the team is so excellent now. After that difficult start, it’s good now to put the pökko in the nest with the fact that Finland irritates, grates and challenges.
Nättinen describes that the tighter Finland makes its opponent play and mentally, the better the Young Lions’ game goes. It has already been seen in this tournament as well.
Urheilu closely follows the under-20 hockey world championships in the application and on its website. Moods are also conveyed on Urheilurutu and Urheiluradio. The match program can be found here.