According to Urheilu’s expert Ismo Lehkonen, the US team was underestimated in the media. The Lions need to improve their defensive play in particular.
In the opening match of the World Cup, Leijonat lost to the United States with a score of 1–4. Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen highlights three selections from the Lions’ excerpts.
1. The US is underestimated by the media
Before the tournament, the standard of the US team was talking in the media. While there were 20 NHL players in the country last year, now there are 13 of them. There are five of them in Finland.
The United States lacked, for example Brady Tkachuk, by Quinn Hughes, by Tage Thompson and Johnny Gaudreau top players like
– Some of the media strongly, I emphasize the word strongly, underestimated the USA team. This was obscured, even though there are quite a few NHL players there, says Lehkonen.
According to Lehkonen, the US skating power gave Leijon big challenges, especially from the second set. The expert also highlights the coach of the United States for the second time in a row by David Quinn the role.
Quinn had created a really effective Game Plan to annoy the Lions.
– It must be taken into account that Quinn was paying tuition for this tournament last year. Because of that, I had a gut feeling that they have a very dangerous team.
Reporter Henri Pitkänen and expert Ismo Lehkonen bundled the Lions’ highlights in the Sports screen as follows.
2. There is plenty to improve here
Finland was constantly in trouble in the second set. Finland especially lost the struggles, which must improve significantly in the next match against Germany.
There was something good in the game. Finland scored 6-1 in the opening set. According to the expert, Finland certainly played at the level of the top five and the team was prepared very carefully.
– There was no arrogance whatsoever. Not a single superior attack on your own.
A break changed everything. Finland’s defensive play stopped.
– Playing personal defense was boring. Finland retreated, sliding into formation in the defense zone.
– The lions must be hungrier and immediately get hard game. Now Leijonat lost organizing the struggles. There must be a clear improvement in them.
Finland’s offensive game was completely lacking due to poor defensive play.
– The United States increased the skating power in the attack in terms of those without the puck, unbelievably. They even played the puck without a place to play at maximum speed. Because of that, Finland received insanely good attacks from the assembly line.
3. Getting used to NHL reinforcements
As far as individuals are concerned, there was much room for improvement. However, Lehkonella noticed that, for example, there was a lot of scolding in the EHT matches Kasperi Kapanen tingled.
– I watched one and a half episodes of Kapa. I was full of fear, but Kasperi seems to be serious about these games. The other NHL guys have to get used to the small rink. They need to get more done.
For example Mikko Rantase and Kaapo Kako was searching in its own chains. There is a lot to do both with the way of playing and getting used to the rink.
– When the tempo was what it was, they still had some work to do in finding chemistry and pairings.
In addition to defensive play, there is plenty of room for improvement, for example in center play. According to the expert, especially the center forwards’ offerings in the middle lane were really lacking.
Lehkonen also sees that some of the defenders were clearly excited to fight.
– I don’t know if it came as a surprise to some of the defenders that the United States is so strong in skating. The tempo was absurd in the last two sets.
During the last two sets, Finland was unable to capitalize Jukka Jalonen familiar delay starts from the playbook.
– Would there have been five minutes left in the last set when we got to the control start during the last two sets, Lehkonen was amazed.
Finland’s World Cup tournament continues on Saturday against Germany from 20:20.
– If I think about this tournament further, this was the best medicine that a doctor can prescribe. This makes the Lions jump properly. Each player has to compete on a personal level and put the best in the counter all the time.