Mikael Granlund set out to take revenge and will very likely get suspended, says the expert – “Mike’s face was full of tears” | Sport

Finland will meet Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships on Thursday at 9:20 p.m. follows the match moment by moment in the application and on Urheilu’s website.

Finland’s preliminary series ended with a scoreless match, when the Great Britain’s victory over Austria secured Leijonat’s place in the quarterfinals. Finland lost to Switzerland 1–3 and will face Sweden in the quarterfinals in Ostrava.

Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen highlights three takeaways from the Lions’ situation.

1. Undisciplined action from Granlund

Finnish captain Mikael Granlund took an undisciplined run out in the closing moments of the game when he struck with a cross stick Andrea Glauser to the head area.

Moments earlier, Glauser had tackled Granlund’s reversal in the middle area. It was very clear that Granlund set out to avenge the situation.

– An unruly trick. He didn’t know how to control his emotions and was boiling over in the dome for no reason. These have rarely happened to Mike, but now he got into a situation as bad as it could be. However, he is the team’s captain and number one center, Lehkonen updated.

According to Lehkonen, Granlund had been in a slightly worse position in Glauser’s tackle situation when he had shot the puck from behind. According to the expert, Glauser’s tackle was pointless, but not worthy of a freeze.

– Mike was upset. He coldly set out to take revenge, says Lehkonen.

Granlund started by hitting Glauser once with a crossbody to the back. According to Lehkonen, players distribute these very often, because they can often be solved with only a two-minute cooldown, no matter how hard you hit.

– When the situation escalated, he tried to cross his chest and thought that the opponent would pull his hands forward or give a cross himself. It then clicked from it to the neck area.

– It was completely pointless. In retrospect, it can be said that avenging insults will be more expensive than tolerating them.

2. Worrying situation with the lions

Granlund’s act was so drastic that Finland may have to play against Sweden without its captain. For example, bans have been handed out in the SM league for similar blows to the neck and head.

Expert Lehkonen also thinks it is very possible that Granlund will be suspended for the next match.

– Let’s just say that with 95 percent certainty he is suspended.

The setback would be huge for Finland. The expert reminds that Granlund’s attack chain was the only one that could create scoring opportunities in the opponent’s end.

– There were also signs of life in the superior force. It’s pretty impossible to replace him if the suspension kicks in.

According to the expert Oliver Kapsen and Arttu Hyryn led chains have been completely blacked out.

– It is worrying that Kapanen’s field can’t get anything done. They have had rough games against top teams.

– Hyry has completely sipped and his chain hasn’t produced anything for a long time. Hannes Björninen the field takes care of the defensive duties, and you can’t even expect any kind of offensive stuff from them.

3. Lions the mighty underdog

Sweden, which is buzzing with NHL stars, goes into the quarterfinals as a really big early favorite. This position is emphasized by the fact that after 2022, Finland has not been able to beat any top country in the World Cup.

– Finland has not got a top-level position, but it has been possible to beat smaller countries. On top of all that, self-confidence is not at a terribly high level in the attacking direction, says Lehkonen.

In the defensive game, Finland has been able to keep the top countries in less than ten goal positions, but in the offensive end, the Lions have not been able to accomplish much. Lehkonen tells why.

– The quality of the defenders’ passes is really bad. Pair operation under pressure and even on control outputs does not work at all. Breaking passes are completely absent.

It is worrying for Lehkon that these control outputs do not produce anything at all. The endgame of the offensive zone is also ineffective.

– Now the opponents have caught the blue line very carefully, so Finland can’t even use defenders. In the initial series, it produced a few goals and now the opponent has scouted it.

– The corner game against bigger countries sucks. Finland has brought two puckless forwards close to help, but those situations have actually always ended in the loss of the puck.

Although Finland has defended well in the tournament, against Sweden the standard will rise again by a notch or two. According to Lehkonen, Sweden has never before been such a big early favorite against Finland as it was on Thursday.

Therefore, according to Jalonen, Finland must be able to fight for every loose puck or at least make it difficult for Sweden to get them.

– The first player must also always go under all the ice hockey, says Lehkonen.

However, the lions have one place to strike.

– In Sweden, there are quite a lot of artist packs who like to play the puck, wander and search for insanely great breaking passes. Finland has a knack for making good exploits when you’re active. The legs have to work.