The glory of a draw will be restored and the game will be considered hockey, writes Jussi Paasi.
Ah, how great! There were two teams in Kaukalo on Wednesday playing hockey.
That was not the case in the previous match of the Lions, where the USA fooled around, snarled and forgot to respect the game – and sometimes also the opponent.
Sweden came into play against Finland so that it was not clear to anyone what it was all about. The Lions have been harassing Tre Kronor in recent years in a value race that is guaranteed to despair. The most recent example was seen at the Beijing Olympics.
The grip on the western neighbor was so strong at first that the home crowd teased themselves to be quiet. The opening paint went to the exact right address.
In the second installment, Finland had decided to give value for the fans’ ticket money. The performance of the Finnish defenders was handsome to watch. First Mikko Lehtonen leveled. Then Lehtonen and Sami Vatanen decided to become attackers. Lehtonen put the ball on a plate for him and instead of hitting it with his right foot it cannoned of his left shin wide of the goal.
In the third installment, the confusion of our beloved contenders became exactly what you expected to agree. The audience again tensed their mouths almost in a hurry. In the minds of older supporters, one might be haunted by one of history’s bitter encounters with Tre Kronor. For example, home competitions from 1991 or 2003.
And so it was, of course, that Sweden rose to the levels.
The scores now stand at 2-2. History repeated itself. The same numbers were reached between Finland and Sweden at the Tampere World Championships in 1965. Checkmate “Minor” Keinosen the draw was a sensationally good result for Leijon.
In the 2022 Games, a fine, tight, and honest struggle was finally pulled down the toilet bowl.
Now I made another small update to my opinion. In my confinement a year ago, I was thinking that if you have to do this hustle and bustle far from the heart of hockey, then you will be busy even in the early series of the Games. No, it doesn’t fit there either.
Three to three will be played in a beanie if no more friends have appeared on the scene.
The match between Finland and Sweden was a classic example of how the sport changes when two players from both teams are removed from the pitch. The only goal is to stay in the puck all the time. Then the team that controls the game will do anything so as not to lose the puck. That is, he withdraws from the attack area to his own head if necessary. Cheers, how interesting.
And then another five (!) Shooter winning goal competition as the “crown” of the game.
What’s wrong with the draw? In a good old draw!
Why couldn’t the first division match end in the World Cup? I can’t come up with any reason to force the game to find the tournament winner at this point.
When the evening games start really late at the World Cup, it is in no one’s interest for them to be intentionally prolonged.
In the initial blocks, the extension could be waived altogether. If you don’t give up, then overtime – and in the playoffs, overtime – you have to play five against five. Or if you are forced to prune players, then four against four.
Restore the glory of a draw. And the game is considered hockey.