Who will replace Mikael Granlund? The expert predicts Konsta Helenius, 18, a giant role against Sweden | Sport

Finland will meet Sweden in the quarterfinals of the World Hockey Championships on Thursday from 21:20. Expert Ismo Lehkonen tells how Leijonat can achieve a surprise victory.

Finland will meet Sweden in the quarterfinals of the Men’s Ice Hockey World Championships on Thursday at 9:20 p.m. follows the match moment by moment in the application and on Urheilu’s website.

Leijonat goes to the World Cup quarter-final against Sweden as an underdog. Finland’s first series went low-key and ended with big headlines.

Sports expert Ismo Lehkonen highlights three selections from the Lions’ World Cup quarter-final.

1. Who will replace Granlund?

Finnish captain Mikael Granlund was banned for one match for his foul play against Switzerland.

Granlund was sent off in the closing moments of the Switzerland match when he hit with a cross stick Andrea Glauser to the head area.

Ismo Lehkonen says that the great promise of the Lions Konsta Helenius18, replaces Granlund as the first-string center forward.

Lehkonen would keep the berths of the first chain the same, ie Jere Innala and Iiro Pakarinen would play with Helenius.

Helenius has only played three matches in the World Cup tournament with an output of 0+1=1.

The experienced Pakarinen could spot the weaknesses of the inexperienced Helenius, especially in defensive play.

– Pakarinen can play the center game on the defensive end. He is a righty player who also takes starts with a pretty strong percentage.

According to Lehkonen, Granlund’s absence is most visible in the number one dominance, which has worked well in the Czech World Cup tournament.

– However, Finland’s success rate of superiority is 20, that’s fine. The number one advantage has created many situations.

2. NHL stardom

Sweden is one of the biggest favorites to win the World Cup. Tre Kronor has won all seven of their matches in the tournament.

The team’s player material is famous compared to Leijon.

Even a casual ice hockey follower knows star defensemen, for example Erik Karlsson and by Victor Hedman.

The Swedish team has NHL experience as much as 8,147 regular season games, while the corresponding number in Leijon is 2,271.

– If this was a series of matches, Leijon would have a pretty quick start. Sweden has experience, skill, fast feet and hands, Lehkonen summarizes.

However, clichédly, anything can happen in one match.

3. This is how Finland can win

Winning the match is not an impossible task for Finland. It wouldn’t be the first time that Leijonat struggles to win in the quarterfinals after a low-scoring first series.

Lehkonen lists theses with which victory over Sweden is possible.

– Defensive play must be at the maximum level on an individual level. Finland has defended well in the tournament and allowed even the top countries only 10 goals, but it needs to tighten up.

Of course, good defensive play is not enough if the Lions’ difficulties in attacking play continue.

Lehkonen says that defenders and central forwards need to clarify the division of labor in opening the game. In addition to this, the movement of the attackers without the puck must be as hard as possible.

– As a bonus, I would throw in the fact that now you have to shoot from every position, when the line is open even a little. Through the shots, you can then hit the second puck in.