The Ice Hockey World Cup will be played in the Czech Republic from 10 to 26. May. follows the events in the application, on Urheilu’s website, on the Sports screen and on Urheiluradio.
The Lions’ run at the World Cup in Prague started with a narrow 0–1 loss in the winning goal contest against the host Czech Republic. Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen highlights three takeaways from the match.
1. Radko Gudas was a rat
Finland suffered a heavy loss in the third period, when the winger of the quadruple court Saku Mäenalanen had to leave the field due to injury. Mäenalanen tried to tackle the Czech Republic Radko Gudas, who, however, crouched before the tackle. Mäenalanen flew towards the side shoulder first.
After the match, there was no more detailed information about the quality of Mäenalanen’s injury. According to Lehkonen, Mäenalanen’s gestures looked worrying for the continuation.
– It was a rat-like act on Gudas’ part. When crouching in a tackle situation like that, the player goes on a track that goes around the ground. He knew exactly what he was doing, Lehkonen downloads.
Lehkonen reminds that the NHL defenseman himself plays hard and shares tackles. For example, he tackled in the opening set by Mikael Granlund over.
– He could have been a tough guy and taken Mäenalanen’s tackle. I absolutely did not expect such a tough guy to bend down. A crappy act, I don’t appreciate it, Lehkonen continued.
The expert says that Gudas will receive a bigger punishment and a shower command at some point in the games.
– He does a lot of good things, but certain ratties should be left out. He will disturb the Czech play a lot. Gudas is a ticking time bomb.
2. In terms of coaching, a genius challenge
Another telling situation was seen at the end of the second period, when Finland successfully challenged the Czech goal. In the situation David Tomasek was messing around in the goalkeeper’s area and after the inspection, the judges considered that he had disturbed the Finnish goalkeeper Harri Säterin gaming.
The situation has divided opinions among many experts. As a “man of the old alliance”, Lehkonen is of the opinion that the goal should have been accepted.
However, he reminds that the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation IIHF are exact in such situations.
– If you don’t push into the goalkeeper’s area and you go there, and there is even a slight touch, it means that the goal is disallowed. That’s why the video coach had pretty strong foundations and it was a great challenge, says Lehkonen.
However, as a hockey follower, Lehkonen sees that there was no reason to abandon the goal in the situation.
– According to the values of the hockey game, it should have been accepted, but let’s accept it. Rules are rules and must be followed.
– The head coach Even Jukka Jalon was probably of the opinion that there was nothing terrible about it, but when the rules are like that, then of course. You won’t find a coach who wouldn’t have challenged that when the rules are like this.
In the video below, you can watch how Mikko Manner recounted an amusing challenge in an interview with .
3. The first timers surprised
Lehkonen was positively surprised how well the first-timers were able to defend against the Czech Republic. He had thought in advance that the game would have been even more nervous.
Now the nervousness was only visible in the puck play, because the defensive play was at a really good level.
– It was a surprise that the first-timers and the team could defend so well. It’s good to build a sprinkler on that back, says Lehkonen.
In the first two sets, Finland had big problems playing on the puck. Although it improved in the third period, Leijon has a lot to improve in opening the game.
– The defenders have to dare to play with the puck so that we can get openings in the middle lane under pressure. When crossing the central area, the defenders would be able to give breaking passes to the gaps, Lehkonen opens.
The expert considers whether the current chains should also be kept together in future matches. For example by Mikael Granlund According to Lehkonen’s calculations, the first chain led by Lehkonen created only one goal chance in the match.
– It’s quite worrying. It was also a really weak chain in the first set and spun a lot on its own. The puck game did not roll in the second set either.
Lehkonen sees that, for example, pair harnesses Jere Innala–Oliver Kapanen mixed Arttu Hyry–Pekka Jormakka played well together. Coaching, however, has to think about what means it can use to build an intact attacking trio.
If Mäenalanen is on the sidelines, according to Lehkonen Juha Jääskä logically moves to the quad chain. Was in the audience Konsta Helenius could, on the other hand, take a place in the first chain.
– If you would raise Jesse Puljujärvi Alongside Granlund and Helenius and Valtteri Puustinen would fall with Innala and Kapanen, Lehkonen spins the future.
Valtteri Puustinen praised the atmosphere of the World Cup opening match.