The Lions dropped out of the Norwegian ride in the second set and took a purely 5-0 victory in the opening match of the World Championships. Montreal’s NHL helper Joel Armia hit the first goal of his A national team career, and Jussi Olkinuora played the playoffs.
13.5. 22:42 • Updated May 13 23:45
The Lions started the World Championships in Tampere by winning 5–0 goals in Norway (1–0, 2–0, 2–0). Finland’s goals were answered Harri Pesonenpowers 1 + 2 collected Toni Rajala, Hannes Björninen, Joel Armia mixed Jere Sallinen.
The Lions settled the match in a sharp second installment, with the team significantly improving their opening third grip. The Finnish skate moved faster, the Lions attacked with higher quality and Jukka Jalosen the guards also struggled better than in the nervous opening batch where Jussi Olkinuora had to fend off several bad Norwegian places and Finland’s attacks were short.
Finland’s active pressure in the second round paid off in 31.37, when Rajala grabbed a puck from a negligent Norwegian defender in the offensive area. A sharp and accurate shot from a small angle surprised the Norwegian guard Henrik Haukelandinand Finland led 2–0.
More followed a few minutes later, when the Norwegian attack broke into the central region and Marko Anttila from the counterattack, four-chain center Björninen scored an empty goal.
In the final round, the Army raised by the Aces shot the Lions’ fourth goal with superiority Sami Vatasen and Rajala’s feeds. The hit was the first for the Montreal NHL reinforcement in the A-Team career, and the vice-skipper Sami Vatanenwent to pick up the puck for the Army.
– Vatanen asked if it was the first goal. I answered yes, the Army described.
– Of course you feel good. I can’t categorize the order in which the first goals are put.
The final numbers 5–0 shot Rajala and Niklas Frimanin after the preliminary work with his 16th national team hit Sallinen.
In the difficult opening round, Finland got a facilitating opening hit in 18.29 from one of the best attacks in the round. Captain Valtteri Filppula played the puck from the corner to the center for Armia, who extended the puck straight to the right rear post for Harri Pesone. The Langnau striker was able to shout to a loud home crowd by overtaking Haukeland, and the hit was eventually the winning goal.
The match was also colored by the fighters. At the end of the second installment Juho Lammikko rubbed a little on the paintball Christian I joined and both were sentenced to five-minute penalties, however, so that both were allowed to continue the match after the ice. In the third installment Saku Mäenalanen took over Magnus Brekken with, and both flew from the match to the shower.
The verdicts were confusing, as no five-minute penalties for fighting have been seen in international games in the past, so the game can still be continued. However, in the latest interpretations of the IIHF, such penalties can be condemned. The cool of the pond and Kaasastuli was also surprising because many did not even see a fight in the melee.
Lamikko liked the opening level of the Lions World Cup opening.
– I was a little surprised by the five minutes I got. There is really nothing to it, Pond comments.
– I think this was a good and emotional game. Saku (Mäenalanen) defended himself well in the third round. Great hockey match overall.
Olkinuora needed 20 fights for his zero game. The audience at the opening match in Finland at Tampere Arena was 11,413.
Finland will continue the tournament on Saturday at 20.20 against Latvia, which lost to the United States 1-4 in their opening match.
Finland – Norway 5–0 (1–0, 2–0, 2–0)
18.29 1–0 Harri Pesonen (Joel Armia – Valtteri Filppula)
36.06 3–0 Hannes Björninen (Marko Anttila – Ville Pokka)
41.36 4–0 Joel Armia (Sami Vatanen – Toni Rajala) yv
57.56 5–0 Jere Sallinen (Niklas Friman – Toni Rajala)
FIN Jussi Olkinuora 11 + 3 + 6 = 20
NOR Henrik Haukeland 7 + 12 + 8 = 27