GDT: Finland - Czech Republic

[maclean]

19:20 CEST today

A very important match for placement among two teams that have already secured a place in the quarter-finals.

Probably a direct battle for second place, though if Sweden loses against Latvia, first could also be up for grabs.

With Group A also very open, it's hard to say what placement is better going forward, but as this is the last game of the round, that will be known by game time.

Click to read more...

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Will be very interesting to see the final results of Germany-Switzerland, Slovakia-Denmark and Canada-France from the group A before this one.

Finland line-up:

Maalilla:
45 Jussi Olkinuora

Varalla:
29 Harri Säteri

1:
64 Mikael Granlund (A) – 65 Sakari Manninen – 70 Teemu Hartikainen
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 38 Juuso Hietanen

2:
25 Toni Rajala – 51 Valtteri Filppula (C) – 76 Jere Sallinen
41 Miro Heiskanen – 50 Mikael Seppälä

3:
82 Harri Pesonen – 91 Juho Lammikko – 10 Joel Armia
3 Niklas Friman – 2 Ville Pokka

4:
80 Saku Mäenalanen – 24 Hannes Björninen – 12 Marko Anttila (A)
23 Esa Lindell – 55 Atte Ohtamaa

 

[maclean]

Czech Republic will be playing with six defenders, including Jiříček, who has sat out the last couple games, meaning two defencemen are being rested at the team doctor's recommendation. Coach hasn't revealed who, but it is assumed one is Radim Šimek, who took a hard check against the US.

 

[FinPanda]

So both teams will be in quite good position if the games in in regulation.

E: No, only Finland will be fine as long as the game ends in regulation. Not good new for the Czechs unlees they win or the game is tied. Group 1st or 2nd will face Canada.

 

[IceHockeyDude]

So neither team needs/wants to win on regulation if Canada and Slovakia win their games. I wonder how that will effect the game-flow.

 

[FinPanda]

So neither team needs/wants to win on regulation if Canada and Slovakia win their games. I wonder how that will effect the game-flow.

So kind of safest option for Finland is that the Czechs will win the game in regulatin, would mean 3rd place and Germany in the QF

 

[FinPanda]

If Denmark beats Slovakia in regulation, the Finland-Czechs game can also end tied. Then Finland play Denmark as they'll be 3rd in the group.

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Yeah so if Denmark beat Slovakia the best options for Finland are: Lose on regulation (face Germany), lose on OT or SO (face Denmark) or win on OT/SO and yet face Denmark.

 

[FinPanda]

Yeah so if Denmark beat Slovakia the best options for Finland are: Lose on regulation (face Germany), lose on OT or SO (face Denmark).

We don't need to win either in OT to be 2nd since Czechs need 3 points to be ahead of us

 

[IceHockeyDude]

We don't need to win either in OT to be 2nd since Czechs need 3 points to be ahead of us

I know, I added it to my post. You are too quick to respond

 

[FinPanda]

I know, I added it to my post. You are too quick to respond

Hahhaha yea I'm quick when I'm looking at the threads lol

 

[Nate070]

Just try to win the game and then win the next game and so on.. Let´s not go the Sweden-Slovakia route in 2006...

 

[Czechboy]

Loser gets Germany who seem to be locked into 2nd place now after taking Swiss to OT.

 

[Husqvarna]

Finland always play for the win - nothing else matters.

 

[Czechboy]

Normally I'd say this will be the game of the day but that Slovakia-Denmark game should be an amazing low scoring contest to the very end. Also, has big implications on our matchup unfortunately.

Swiss have a great run and get a pretty good US squad as a reward.. that will be a very good quarter IMO.

 

[Nate070]

Double post

 

[canswetoxic]

Just try to win the game and then win the next game and so on.. Let´s not go the Sweden-Slovakia route in 2006...

Oh you mean that final after where Finland lost the Olympic Gold ?

 

[Lepardi]

So kind of safest option for Finland is that the Czechs will win the game in regulatin, would mean 3rd place and Germany in the QF

Just one problem with this scenario: why would Czechia want to win this game? Should Finland try to score on themselves?

I think Finland's best bet is to win in regulation. The odds for that just plummeted when Slovakia scored a couple.

 

[FinPanda]

Just one problem with this scenario: why would Czechia want to win this game? Should Finland try to score on themselves?

I think Finland's best bet is to win in regulation.

Yeah now since Slovakia is clearly winning, now regulation win is the best thing. Regulation loss the 2nd best thing.

 

[canswetoxic]

Finland want to lose, and czechia dont want to win, either way they will meet Canada.

 

[maclean]

I mean you always play to win, I don't think either team will be conflicted about that.

It's harder for us as fans

 

[FinPanda]

Finland want to lose, and czechia dont want to win, either way they will meet Canada.

Finland wants to win or lose in regulation, OT would mean Finland-Canada QF. Czech loss in regulation would mean they play Germany.

I hate when groups go like this, especially when both teams should be fine with the loss option.

Assuming games end this how they currently are:

Finland regulation win
Finland-Slovakia
Sweden-Canada
Czechia-Germany
USA-Switzerland

Tied game (doest matter which team will win)
Finland-Canada
Sweden-Slovakia
Czechia-Germany
USA-Switzerland

Czech regulation win
Finland-Germany
Czechia-Canada
Sweden-Slovakia
USA-Switzerland

 

[vergji]

Has there ever been own goal on purpose at wc or some high level leagues?

 

[Czechboy]

Finland wants to win or lose in regulation, OT would mean Finland-Canada QF. Czech loss in regulation would mean they play Germany.

I hate when groups go like this, especially when both teams should be fine with the loss option.

Assuming games end this how they currently are:

Finland regulation win
Finland-Slovakia
Sweden-Canada
Czechia-Germany
USA-Switzerland

Tied game (doest matter which team will win)
Finland-Canada
Sweden-Slovakia
Czechia-Germany
USA-Switzerland

Czech regulation win
Finland-Germany
Czechia-Canada
Sweden-Slovakia
USA-Switzerland

Now I don't want to win.lol

 

[canswetoxic]

Finland regulation win
Finland-Slovakia
Sweden-Canada
Czechia-Germany
USA-Switzerland

This more likely, I don't think Czech goes 100%.