U18: 2018 U18 WJC Gold Medal game Finland vs USA game talk.

[ChicagoBullsFan]

This is the game what everyone has waited.
Today Finland faces USA in U18 WJC's gold medal game 3rd time in 4 years.

USA has won all U18 WJC finals 2015 and 2017 versus Finland.
Finland's only win vs USA is from 2016 U18 WJC semifinal in Grand Forks.

Whoever wins tonight that team has deserved gold medals.
This is also probably only game in this tournament where Finland is clear underdog and USA gold medal favorite number one.

USA had big problems with their defence and goaltending in preliminary round but that won't matter anymore. Finland won group B but also that won't matter today.
USA has played well in last games and they have clearly earned to be in gold medal game with Finland.

Finland is only undefeated team in the tournament Finland has won all 6 games.
Yesterdays semifinal vs Sweden Justus Annunen and Finland's defence played really well and Annunen recorded his 1st shutdown in the tournament when Finland won Sweden 2-0.

Finland's 1st line Nordgren Kotkaniemi Kakko has been very good.
All those guys are TOP10 in tournaments scoring lead and Nordgren is best goal scorer of the tournament in 6 games Nordgren has scored 7 goals.

Finland has 4 lines which game make plays and score goals.
Only what isn't worked so well is Finland's 1st powerplay unit.

Finland's captain Toni Utunen has highest plus-minus reading in 6 games +11.
This game will be live broadcast in YLETV2 ( view-able only in Finland).

Click to read more...

 

[kelsier]

Cast a half homer vote for the Finns but it could go either way. It's worth a note that the Finns haven't lost a single game this tournament and it really seems like there's a really good coaching staff behind the talented lineup (which never can't be taken for granted). Couldn't have asked for a better final game to be honest. Both teams can score goals so I'd imagine it's going to be very entertaining game. Also to spice it up and as I've seen already advertised, it's going to be interesting to see Hughes and Kakko go head to head considering next year's draft.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Finland's roster vs USA ( based on iltalehti.fi)
15 Niklas Nordgren - 9 Jesperi Kotkaniemi - 33 Kaapo Kakko
10 Rasmus Kupari - 27 Kristian Tanus - 24 Sampo Ranta
34 Arttu Nevasaari - 22 Anton Lundell - 12 Leevi Aaltonen
13 Konsta Hirvonen - 23 Ville Petman - 21 Jesse Moilanen
19 Lenni Killinen

37 Toni Utunen - 20 Mikko Kokkonen
2 Santeri Salmela - 36 Anttoni Honka
29 Kim Nousiainen - 6 Lassi Thomson
25 Peetro Seppälä

31 Justus Annunen
1 Jere Huhtamaa

 

[Loffer]

Okay, let's go. Ready to rumble in the Cheyabinsk concrete jungle.

 

[razor ray]

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Finland’s top line is good.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

We're dominating. This is unprecedented in Finnish hockey.
The new wave actually looks good.

 

[Huokaus]

Finns looking very good

 

[FinPanda]

Good start!

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Knight has his hands full so far. Has had to make some big saves.

 

[Keke]

Wow. Love the way we play

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Wow. Love the way we play

I hope we can keep this tempo. Last night they played like this in the first period and slowed down for 2 & 3

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

Powerplay. Let's give 'em hell.

 

[Jussi]

Honka!

 

[Huokaus]

Oee! Honka!

 

[Ranksu]

Yes yes yes

 

[Loffer]

Woaah! Usa what, a "fav", paper I say!

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

LET'S GO!

 

[FultonReed]

that was a rocket

 

[Kaako Kappo]

the better Honka scores

 

[ijuka]

I really like Honka. I assume he will be drafted around where Heiskanen was in 2019.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

That didn't look like offsides at all.

 

[FinPanda]

First goal for Honka in this tournament. Can't imagine a better game to score.

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

The kind of penalty that should be whistled always but still isn't,
LET'S CAPITALIZE!

 

[Jussi]

Kakko!