According to the expert, the lions’ defensive play was almost at a diamond level. According to Ismo Lehkonen, Lions can play with quality if they want to win the Slovak bronze medal.
Simo Arkko,
Henri Pitkänen
25.5. 06:42 • Updated May 25. 06:55
The Finnish men’s hockey team secured its block victory at the World Championships on Tuesday night at Tampere Arena. Finland won Kari Jalosen coached by the Czech Republic with purely 3-0 goals, so he will play in the semi-finals against Slovakia on Thursday night.
Sports Expert Ismo Lehkonen went through the concrete defense of the Czech match, the first block of Finland and the upcoming Slovakia struggle.
1. The concrete defense did not break
The Finnish men’s hockey team played the third match in the tube without a single hit. After the match, the Czech head coach Kari Jalonen praised the Lions ‘defense as concrete and stated that the Czech Republic could not break the Lions’ hard defense game.
– Kari Jalonen bought the match quite ingeniously. We have seen this in many tournaments Jalosen Jukan a game stencil, which includes a concrete defense. In this game, it was almost at the diamond level except for a few, Lehkonen says.
According to Lehkonen, the Czech Republic even looked bad for most of the match. According to him, it was Finland’s goodness, because the Czech Republic has David Pastrnakin, David Krejcin and Tomas Hertlin star players like. They will be able to play in pairs in high quality if they are given space.
– Finland’s dueling and loose hockey games were at a completely different level than in previous games. It was even the best of the tournament. Finland also recycled the puck smartly in the lead. It was poison and finally took away the game humor from the Czech Republic. Great appreciation for the Lions herd, Lehkonen says.
2. Opponents collided with the concrete
The first block of lions is especially remembered for its strong defensive game. Finland won six of the seven games, and the goal difference was a convincing 25–5.
With Finnish paint Jussi Olkinuora rejected a total of four zero games. He missed just one goal and rebounded with as much as 99 percent confidence. In special situations, the Lions finished eight hits with superiority, but did not allow a single underpower hit.
– Olkinuora is at a good level and with good self-confidence, but of course defending Finland in the top five will help. Alivoima is also 100%. It is good to build through special situations when even superiority has inked so many paints, Lehkonen says.
In the first block, the most difficult opponent for Finland was Sweden, which won the Lions in the winning goal competition 3–2.
– Sweden was skating and stiff in changes of direction. The Swedes gained the self-confidence of the district from it, but I dare say that the herd of lions will intensify even more in all areas if Sweden is at some point at odds. However, it was a regular series where the Lions were not quite at the core, Lehkonen says.
3. Olympic sensation in the face
Slovakia, which won the Olympic bronze at the Beijing Olympics, is the next opponent of the Lions. The semi-final match will be played in Tampere on Thursday from 8.20 pm.
Slovakia defeated France 4-2 in its opening match, but then lost to Germany (1-2), Canada (1-5) and Switzerland (3-5). After that, the team defeated Kazakhstan, Italy and most recently Denmark.
– The tournament in Slovakia started tangled and there was even a stump of panic and crisis. They figured it out and dare say it will become a relaxed, well-prepared and determined team. I think the lions will be able to play with quality if Slovakia is going to win. It’s a hungry group.
– I think that sometimes Slovakia could have been a little underestimated when they have been won so many times. However, Finland has experienced leaders, they are in good spirits and have home competitions. I am confident that each player will prepare himself for the next playoff game 100%.