According to Urheilu’s expert Ismo Lehkonen, the Lions have not found any effective attacking trio. He is also concerned about the firepower of the defense.
The Finnish men’s national ice hockey team lost to Sweden on Monday evening in Tampere after a contest for the winning goal with 1–2 goals.
The Lions have behind them the toughest matches of their initial group. The result is a win for Germany and losses for the United States and Sweden. Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen in this story highlights three highlights from the situation of the Lions.
1. Chains don’t work
After three matches, Lehkonen sees that the coaching has to react to chain formations. According to the expert, Finland has not found any effective chain composition.
– Undoubtedly, there are a few signs of concern in the eyes of our people. In Finland, no structural unity has been found in the five-a-side game. And when you look at the four chains, the chemistries don’t always meet, Lehkonen begins.
The expert continues that the chains’ game has mostly been about coercion.
– There isn’t a single trio that can rock. For whom the game would seem like the puck is changing hands, the rhythms would be right and they would have their own games within the games. That’s why it seems that some of the players’ teeth tighten their gums, says Lehkonen.
Lehkonen would, for example, score Turku’s duo, ie Mikko Rantanen and Kaapo Kako to the same thread. In the middle he would place Juho Lammikon.
– I justify Lammiko to the middle lane because he can drive full to the goal and can twist and turn in front of the goal.
Experts have noticed that both Rantanen and Kakko have started to “force” their game. The two haven’t found the kind of agility they had in the NHL.
– They have an unquestionable appeal with the way the Lions play. They are trying to adapt their own playing to that Finnish way of playing. It doesn’t really start rolling in a good way.
Lehkonen also reminds us of the mental chemistry of the Turku duo. The big brother-little brother relationship has been visible in the summer exercises that Lehkonen has held for the people of Turku.
– When Miko and Kaapo also have this big brother-little brother arrangement, then the big brother would be able to pat the little brother on the bum a bit, so that he doesn’t bite his teeth so hard. Let’s play relaxed, says Lehkonen.
2. The defenders’ firepower lost
The defender who played in the Lions’ number one advantage Mikko Lehtonen plays a big role in defense. After him, you won’t want to find purely puck defenders.
Lehkonen is really worried about the defenders’ firepower in the offensive zone. He reminds that in international games, the utilization of the line plays an important role.
– Do we have any packages that have basically produced results other than Lehtonen’s Mikko?
– Today, however, you should be able to shoot with the number one. Takes possession of the puck, immediately moves laterally and gets shots through. I am really worried about this.
3. Kinky arrangement
The Lions cannot go into the final tournament with full confidence. The other matches in the initial group are basically easier, so the team has to wait a long time for the quarter-final battle.
Then there will be a tough opponent, because Finland is not going to win its own group with these results.
– What makes this situation in Finland difficult is that now there are easy ones, so to speak, and suddenly the hardest game comes right around the corner. The arrangement is not easy.
– After two games came to a close, Leijon will have a few more stressful games to face. At the same time, we should please the people of Finland as early favorites with clear goal differences. It may not be as easy as it seems.
However, Lehkonen reminds us of the experience of the Lions. The second oldest team in the World Cup has experience of winning. There are Stanley Cup winners, Olympic winners and world champions.
– If some people know how to deal with this matter.