Head coach of the Finnish national team Antti Pennanen ‘s hockey expert did not surprise with his Wednesday player selections Ismo from Lehko.
After the release of the team, the discussion is mainly about what Patrick Laine placed among ready-made radar pairs.
– What if Teuvo Teräväinen to drop by Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen alongside? And then Laine raises it Alexander Barkov and Sebastian Ahon to play with, Lehkonen spins the wild chain option out loud at first, but ends up with a different solution at the end.
Lehkonen guesses that Laine has been in contact several times, and at the same time also talked with the Montreal coaching team. Apparently, everyone has given the green light and trusted that there is enough time for that February cup.
– Of course in Montreal it is known that they are not going to any playoffs, Lehkonen says about the situation of Laine, who played his opening game of the season on Tuesday morning.
The expert expects that Laine’s playing in the current chain of Canadiens will be lumpy and sticky. Laine was the best of the three right away in his opening game of the season. How does a person from Tampere adapt to a situation when the result does not necessarily come very often?
The expert only missed Kotkaniem
Carolina Hurricanes Jesperi Kotkaniemi absence was the thing that caught the expert’s eye about the attackers.
– I would have liked Kotkaniemi to have been in the lineup, because he has played a strong early season.
– In the last few games, he has been moved to the four chain in the NHL, but otherwise he has been very strong in five-on-five games and played quite reliably for ten to twelve minutes per game.
According to Lehkonen, Kotkaniemi could also be good at starting point and understrength.
– When you think about Finland’s bottom courts, the young player would not have taken it as a problem if the minutes are a little less. If this is compared to, for example, to Mikael Granlundif he suddenly has to play twelve minutes in a chain of four, Lehkonen states.
Radar pairs and centers
According to Lehkonen, the center section of the Lions has a clear role and is strong. According to him, players like Barkov, Hintz, Lundell and Haula offer the team a good starting point.
– Then, however, there are double harnesses in the team, such as Clearing–Sharp, Lehkonen–Rantanen and Monastic–Lundell. We then start to drill suitable piers for these.
Lehkonen sees that Dallas’ Roope Hintz is at least easy to throw in the same chain alongside Artturi Lehkonen and Rantanen.
According to the expert, there are good centers available. The middle lane is quite clear, and played well. He would put Aho and Teräväinen as wing forwards.
Goalkeeper trio Juuse Saros, Kevin Lankinen and Ukko-Pekka from Luukko Lehkonen maintains an elite level for the tournament.
– There are no problems in the cashier department, not at all.
Hakanpää out of shape, Välimäki displaced Jokiharju
Regarding the defense, Ismo Lehkonen mentions Jani Hakanpää a previous knee injury as a potential concern, but otherwise sees Finland’s defense as strong.
– Hakanpää is quite unfit. What is his health condition? So, in principle, there are five players on the left side in the six playing decks, which creates problems in terms of gameplay. However, here is the relief that Miro Heiskanen has played a lot on the right side, Lehkonen points out.
of Buffalo Henri Jokiharju didn’t fit into Lions, unlike Utah’s Juuso Välimäki.
– Välimäki brings fighting toughness, size, hardness in front of the goal and the same basic playing. This is probably where the difference with Välimäki and Jokiharju has been made, the expert thinks.
– Jokiharju played the early season games well in itself. In my opinion, he was on the winning wall all the time on his own, and did not lose in a duel.
The pieces fall into place quickly
Lehkonen emphasizes that coach Pennase has the challenging task of finding fast-working chain formations in a limited time.
It is made easier by the fact that all the players have a strong desire to face the international elites and are looking forward to the tournament.
– I look forward to assemblies in the language of water. I wouldn’t want to be in Pennanen’s place, because then everything has to fall into place right away.
– There are only two days to actually train, and if you count the ice training times, then it’s like fifty minutes the first day with flight stress and the second day the other fifty minutes. A common note and chemistry must be found very quickly, reminds Lehkonen.
The attack chains of Ismo Lehkonen and Jussi Paas in the radio broadcast:
Aho – Barkov – Teräväinen
Rantanen – Hintz – Lehkonen
Laine – Lundell – Monastery
Granlund – Haula – Second
The Finnish team is explained in more detail in Areena in the new episode of the Ikan änäri podcast, which will be published on Thursday morning at 06:00.