Finland’s first team played a big role in the winning game against Germany. Mikko Rantanen appeared for the first time in the WC tournament.
Leijonat took their first win of the first group on Saturday, when they beat Germany 4–3 in a thriller. Finland’s number one chain emerged, which also decided the match for Leijon.
NHL star Mikko Rantanen flashed his skills for the first time with a fierce individual performance. Rantanen (0+2) got into the knot of several players in the final set, after which Mikko Lehtonen (1+1) hit Rantanen’s loose puck handsomely into the upper corner.
The first chain was the best of the Lions. Center Sakari Manninen scored two beautiful goals in the match.
Germany had clearly learned from the US. Like the United States, Germany got the Lions into trouble in their own area by skating hard.
Germany constantly skated with two, even three players to the Finnish defenders, and it did not give Finland a chance to rhythm their attacking game.
Finland’s weakness seems to be puck control in its own area. That is, in the area where it has excelled for many years.
Lions on the prowl
Germany got spoils from the fighting victories and thus also scoring opportunities. Leijonat was at its hardest in the second set, when Germany, who had won two consecutive victories, struck after the second victory ended to take a 2-1 lead. Kai Wissmann’s on the finish line.
After that, there were enough events. Germany’s Nico Sturm hit the post, after which Manninen struck Kasperi Kapanen from preliminaries to game levels with his overpowering shot.
Less than two minutes later, Manninen scored again, this time with the upper hand from Mikko Rantanen’s loose puck.
Played cheerfully in the set after Finland’s lead goal Kasperi Kapanen hit the post in turn. A few minutes later John Peterka overtook Jussi Olkinuoran already for the third time in the match.
Germany bounces back
In the opening set, Leijoni’s first chain got spins led by their first chain, while Rantanen and Teemu Hartikainen were able to utilize their large size in wing battles.
The Lions got a taste of the goal when Kaapo Kako struck back quickly, and Joel Armia shot the puck into the net from the second wave. Later in the set, Germany got a well-deserved equalizer at the end of their good period, though by Marcel Noebels the hit bounced through two defenders and Olkinuora into the net.