“We have a little too many players in the group”

Losses to Sweden, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and again to Sweden today. The balance of the last four matches of the lions is a bitter read on paper. Finland has last celebrated its victory on May Day from Austria with 4-2 goals in the Czech EHT tournament.

Head coach of the national team Jukka Jalonen however, is not very worried as the games have been smooth and the four-week preparation run for the World Cup has gone as planned.

– Games have been won and lost. Usually, if you lose and are smart coaches, you will learn a little more about losses than about wins. That is still the case, of course, Jalonen told Sport after the game.

The lion pilot was not completely satisfied with the match of the day. Sweden came into the game sharply and hit Max Fribergin and Joakim Nordström scored 2 to 0 on the scoreboard after five minutes had been played.

– A little wet start. Then we healed, but maybe not quite our best. There are, of course, many other things to keep in mind than winning, losing, or drawing this match. Now we have to start choosing the final team. It is in the foremost sense here.

Jalonen will have to think about the line-up of the World Cup, as the Lions line up in the third round of the match against Tre Kronor. Saku Mäenalanen injured his knee after accidentally colliding with the end of Sweden Anton Lindholmin with. Mäenalanen left, limping into the locker room. Also Atte Ohtamaa and Mikko Lehtonen needed patching in the exchange box.

The World Championships for the Lions will start next Friday, when Norway will face off. Not all players involved in the preparation camp will fit into the final team.

– Our own challenge is that we have a little too many players in the group. On the whole, it’s not easy for anyone.

Sports Expert Ismo Lehkonen says Jalosen has a difficult task ahead of him, especially in terms of attackers ’choices.

– It has interesting building blocks in front of Jalonen’s coaching team. Will he take on foot players who are resilient because the tournament is pretty long. Or does he take big fight players there. And what about the middle lane? It has such a puzzle construction that I wouldn’t want to be in Jalonen’s pants because we have a lot of good players on offer.

According to Lehkonen, the Finnish goalkeeper trio and the eighth defender familiar from the Olympics Henri Jokiharju supplemented are pretty clear choices.

Further reinforcements from the NHL are also still possible.

Lehkonen ponders the Los Angeles Kings Olli MäättäBoston Bruinsin Erik Haula as well as Nashville Predators Mikael Granlund and Eeli Tolvanen would be good candidates for the Lions if their teams go on summer vacation after the first round of the playoffs.

The second chain of the Lions was responsible for the pursuit of Finland Harri Pesonen–Sakari Manninen–Teemu Hartikainen. Manninen struck two goals with a wrist shot and brought Finland to a 2–2 tie. Manninen and Hartikainen played together for the KHL team in Ufa. According to Manninen, Pesonen, who has been planted in their chain, is a nice playmate.

– She’s fine. We’ve played with Harry before. Familiar man, it’s nice to play. He is a good gambler and a great person.

The duo played together at the 2019 World Championships, where Finland reached gold. The co-op of the chain worked today. Pesonen made an excellent mask for Manninen’s 2–2 hit and Hartikainen collected two assists.

Joel Kellman scored a third goal for Tre Kronor at the end of the second round. Emil Bemström scored a winning goal at the end of the superiority pattern when Markus Nurmi sat on the ice of the camp. Pesonen roughly scores the last goal of the game for Hartikainen from the next start. The final score is 4–3.

According to Manninen, recent games have solved small things.

– Tight and even game, like before. These are goal games. A little carelessness, but no big things. The ones that get it right. Now the decent games start. Here is the preparation. It’s good when there is snow in the room. It gives a little annoyance.

Team captain Valtteri Filppula38, judges that team negligence in certain situations is understandable when chains and lineups have lived from one match to another.

– Now certain fields are starting to emerge and you can get exercises below. The Finnish gang will leave for the Games with confidence.

Updated at 9.30 pm: Added comments by Ismo Lehkonen.