The Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in the Czech Republic from 10 to 26. May. follows events in the app, website, Sports Screen and Sports Radio.
The Finnish men’s national ice hockey team took their second win of the World Cup when Norway defeated Norway 4–1. Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen picks up three selections from Finnish excerpts.
1. Crazy speed to the top of the World Cup
Finland’s youth centers Oliver Kapanen20, and Arttu Hyry, 23, have rushed to the World Cup. They have convinced Lehkonen with their comprehensive playing.
– We got lucky in the accident, when the generational change starts to happen. We suddenly have two really good two-way players in the mid lane. They are good at starts, struggles and calm with the puck, says Lehkonen.
According to Lehkonen, this is really good news for Leijon. For example, Kapanen has scored five goals in three games.
– They have risen to the level of the World Cup at an insane speed. We are even talking about the top centers of the tournament, and that is a positive surprise.
Kapanen is Montreal’s NHL reservation, but his contract with the Swedish club Timrå was announced just before the World Cup. Inevitably, however, the question creeps into my mind, could Kapanen play in the NHL already next season?
– If he doubts even a little whether he is ready, he should take the SHL season under. He has to be one hundred percent sure. However, the first attempt must hit the right spot right away, because there are good centers ahead.
Lehkonen reminds that Kapanen should be able to steal a playing spot either as a Stanley Cup winner From Alex Newhook or from having played in the finals From Jake Evans. From Nick Suzuki and By Kirby Dach Kapanen hardly shows up.
– He could work in Timrå Olli Jokinen with. I could see from this distance that it would be better to prepare for one more year. Why rush if you want to have a long NHL career?
2. The puzzle of the first chain
Finland’s other chain compositions are fine, but the game of the first chain is still falling. To the final set of the Norway match Konsta Helenius relegated to extra striker and Juha Jääskä got back up the chain.
According to Lehkonen, the number one chain has not reached the flow state where it should be. NHL star and captain Mikael Granlund is without the puck too much, and he can’t rhythm the game.
See in the video how Jukka Jalonen comments on Helenius’ situation.
It would be good for the first chain to fall into place soon, because Canada will face off on Saturday.
– Then the series ranking is measured. Switzerland is also a diamond team. It would be nice to win series points so that Finland can even play for the group win, says Lehkonen.
Lehkonen would still put Granlund as a center, because he excelled in the NHL in San Jose on that lot. You need to find two wingers around him.
An expert offers a solution Jesse Puljujärvi and Juha Jääskää. He reminds that the game of the first chain has not worked, because the chain has not had a player in front of the goal. Everyone has wanted to roll in the corners.
– “Pulju” seems to respect Granlund incredibly. He does listen to Granlund’s announcement about where to run. Left and right handedness would also hit. Jääskä would then make space and time with his own work.
Other chains would be Oksanen–Kapanen–Jormakka and Innala–Hyry–Puustinen.
3. Uncertainties acknowledged
According to the expert, it is a positive surprise how well Finland has managed to utilize the blue line. For example, defenders have scored four of the Lions’ goals Oliver Kasken thanks to the shots and the controls that followed them.
Finland has been able to make excellent use of the space left on the blue line.
– Before the games, it was considered a problem how the defenders are able to deliver the puck, because there were problems especially in the EHT tournaments. Finland has taken good steps forward.
See how Kaski comments on his passes in the video.
Before the Games, Lehkonen was also worried about the functionality of the cooperation between defenders and centers. However, the competitions have shown that cooperation has worked both in opening the game and in protecting the own goal.
– Our bottom trio is one of the best and humblest teams in the games.