Finland’s under-20 national ice hockey team lost to the United States 2-6 in the final match of the first group. Finland is therefore the group winner and will face Sweden in the quarterfinals.
With a win, Finland would have been the winner of its group and would have faced Germany.
Sports expert Top Nättinen highlights three things from the excerpts of the Young Lions.
1. The United States in all of the above
Finland was in trouble against the United States from the start, but stayed in the game Joakim Kemellin with a 1–1 handicap. However, the ride was cold in the second set, when the USA jumped out to a 4–1 lead.
Finland still got into the game I flew to Hämeenahon by hitting (1+1), but in the final set, the United States did not let Finland within striking distance.
– There was no doubt about the winner of the match. A bad start, but the superiority goal kept us going. Apart from individual glimpses, there was nothing in Finland, says Nättinen.
According to Nättinen, there was no repetition in Finland’s game, even though the match was already the fourth and most important battle of the tournament.
– There was an amazingly big difference in the input chains. There is certainly some level difference between the players, but now Finland did not benefit from the collective balance and common rhythms, where it has traditionally been good.
– The United States was ahead in everything and sometimes it felt like they were playing a different game. It was so dynamic and fast paced.
Finland made a save on goal Aku Koskenvuo, for whom the loss was the second of the tournament. According to Nättinen, it’s amazing if Jani Lampinen no saves in the quarter-final match.
– What was this playing of Koskenvuo based on? Was Lampinen given a flute? If given, it was the wrong decision. I think that in top sports you should go out and win every game, says Nättinen.
2. Where are the top players?
The Young Lions tournament has been an application. That’s why it would have been important for the team to have gotten something to draw from in the future. However, that did not happen, especially at the individual level.
– After four games, we still cannot find individuals who would support the team. You usually recognize when there is a first or second court on the ice, but now there were four uniformly weak chains.
– For example, I honestly haven’t seen it From Ville Koivu in this tournament.
Since the end of the match against Switzerland, Finland has played practically with the same chains. According to Nättinen, the chain compositions must be changed, even though the next match is a quarter-final battle.
– At this stage, we always consider whether it is worth changing. Now it feels like it would be worth it. It’s always a risk for a quarter-final match, but now it’s already been given a try. No chemistry has been found.
3. What is a mental state?
Nättinen would have expected that Finland would have brought out more of an emotional side in the tournament. At the moment, however, it seems to the audience that the Young Lions are unable to throw themselves into the game.
– How have the players been mentally prepared for the games? It feels like the players are in plaster.
Nättinen wonders if Finnish coaching has focused on talking about the process and playing and has forgotten to support the players on the mental side.
– The feeling left that the players have not been supported or they have not been made to succeed, but to play according to a certain template and trust that it will grind.
According to the expert, Finnish players should be given permission to break the rhythm, throw themselves into the game and surpass themselves.
– It seems that most of the team underperforms. I don’t think it’s just down to the players. How has the team been coached, prepared for individual games and how has the process been carried forward? It seems that it has failed so far.
In the quarterfinals, Finland will face Sweden, who lost to Canada in the final match of the first group 1–5. Finland could also have faced Canada if Sweden had been better in the match.
The expert sees that Sweden is a better opponent for Finland from a mental point of view. However, Nättinen reminds us, Sweden is strong in skating and strong in reacting.
– If Finland remains in the stands, then Sweden will be a formidable opponent.
According to Nättinen, Finland must find the right way to play.
– We prefer to start a goal-scoring competition mentally, and not play zero zero, which stiffens, slows down and passives.
– In the Finland-Sweden match, the mood is already intense. Now the coaching has to take advantage of it and start playing boldly, let the team throw themselves.