GDT: Quarter-final • Jan. 2 • Finland 8, Slovakia 5

[Systemfel]

2012 IIHF U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | QUARTER-FINAL
JANUARY 2, 2012
3:00 PM MT • 5:00 PM ET
23:00 CET • 00:00 EET (JAN. 3)

SCOTIABANK SADDLEDOME, CALGARY
(CAPACITY: 19,289)

Finland
Unconfirmed lineup.

Left Wing | Center | Right Wing

11 Markus Granlund​

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20 Mikael Granlund (C)​

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6 Teemu Pulkkinen​

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27 Joonas Donskoi (A)​

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22 Miikka Salomäki​

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10 Joel Armia​

|-

15 Miro Aaltonen​

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16 Aleksander Barkov​

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9 Alexander Ruuttu​

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14 Roope Hämäläinen​

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29 Otto Paajanen​

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28 Mikael Kuronen​

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13 Markus Hännikäinen​

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-​

|

-​

|-

Left Defense | Right Defense

4 Konsta Mäkinen​

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7 Jani Hakanpää (A)​

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8 Miro Hovinen​

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12 Ville Pokka​

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5 Rasmus Ristolainen​

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3 Simo-Pekka Riikola​

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Starting Goalie | Backup Goalie

30 Sami Aittokallio​

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31 Christopher Gibson​

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Scratches | Reason
G 1 Richard Ullberg|

Healthy​

|-
D 2 Olli Määttä|

Injury​

|-

Slovakia
Unconfirmed lineup.

Left Wing | Center | Right Wing

12 Richard Mráz​

|

26 Matúš Chovan​

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13 Tomáš Jurčo​

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17 Marek Tvrdoň​

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8 Michal Toman​

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22 Miloš Bubela​

|-

10 Matej Hinďoš​

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16 Matej Bene (A)​

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27 Tomáš Matoušek (C)​

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19 Vladimír Dolník​

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20 Martin Ďaloga​

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29 Marko Daňo​

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Left Defense | Right Defense

21 Martin Marinčin​

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25 Martin Gernát​

|-

3 Adam JánošÃ­k (A)​

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14 Peter Čerešňák​

|-

11 Michal Čajkovský​

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6 Peter Trška​

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5 Peter Bezuška​

|

7 Mário Kurali​

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Starting Goalie | Backup Goalie

1 Juraj Šimboch​

|

30 Dominik Riečický​

|

-​

Scratches | Reason
G 2 Richard Sabol|

Healthy​

|-

Officials

- | -

|Slava Bulanov

|Brent Reiber

|Nicolas Fluri

|Dmitriy Sivov

Click to read more...

 

[Edmontonoil]

Should be a close game! Prediction: 3-2 finland

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Fins smoke em and then beat the Swedes!

 

[BLBarmada]

Should be a close game! Prediction: 3-2 finland

I agree, I like Simboch and I like the Slovaks, but the Finns are all around better. They will solve Simboch early, the Slovaks don't have the firepower.

However if this game turns into a defensive affair then the Slovaks will hang around for a good while.

 

[Mara]

I can't see Slovakia being more difficult than USA or CZE so it all depends on Aittokallio. If he plays on his normal level the Slovaks will have a hard time scoring and it will be something like 2,3,4 - 0,1,2 for Finland. If he has a bad day it can go either way.

 

[zorz]

Win of Slovakia would be fun to see, but I don't see that happening. They would need a ton of luck + Finnish goalies with the worst day of their life.

 

[llwyd]

Slovakia can play well defensively, they certainly will have potential for a surprise. But if we don't freeze in this key match of the tournament, our greater talent should tell. I think this will either be a very painfully difficult match for us or then a relatively simple one with a comfortable lead already in the 1st period, no middle way...

 

[The Saw Is the Law]

I hope they win this easily and have some energy left for the game against Sweden

 

[Temego]

6-1 Finland. Granlund with four or five helpers.

 

[Doothpick]

Let's go Finland! Hoping the big guns will come through tonight.

 

[Dr Awesome]

Finland in OT

 

[pouskin74*]

i think 6-2 for finnland

 

[Lapa]

5-1 Finland. Pulkkinen scores a hattrick, "Kulta-Mikke" with 3 points.

 

[Ivan13]

Suomi, with another good/great game from Aittokallio.

 

[alko]

Exactly 3 years ago Slovakia surprised USA.
Slovakia and Finland played 2 times in Quarterfinals, i think 2001 and 2003. Both games lost. Now its time for the win.
This 2 games were also on 2. January. So another point, this should be the lucky game for us.

 

[slovakiasnextone]

It´s unlikely, but revenge for the 2010 Olympics would be very sweet.

 

[begbeee]

Just prepare yourselves for upset

 

[Mara]

Just prepare yourselves for upset

It's gonna get ugly out there. I'm hoping to see blood, sweat and tears, glass-shattering tackles and insanely offensive celebrations after each goal.

 

[Nordic*]

Fins smoke em and then beat the Swedes!

In what, spending time in a sauna?




Either way I hope it's a tough game, preferbly overtime

 

[IceHockeyDude]

Slovakia is a nice opponent but you guys dont stand a chance, Finland will grill your sorry ass!

 

[llwyd]

I'd say 3-1 for Finland, the last goal to an empty net in 59.25. Shots 44-25, periods: 0-1, 1-0, 2-0. First period shots 14-4. (Of course, I hope for 7-1, first period 3-0...)

 

[Temego]

In what, spending time in a sauna?




Either way I hope it's a tough game, preferbly overtime

He obviously wasnt serious. I mean, when's the last time Finland won Sweden in hockey?

 

[armyjoe]

He obviously wasnt serious. I mean, when's the last time Finland won Sweden in hockey?

 

[Spawnisen]

It's gonna get ugly out there. I'm hoping to see blood, sweat and tears, glass-shattering tackles and insanely offensive celebrations after each goal.

^

Aittokallio and out first line will win this for us, or lose it.

5-2 win

MiG 1-2

 

[FiLe]

Slovakia certainly seems to have found a boost of confidence after they beat the Swiss, but it's - once again - worth noting that they allowed four in their own end. Only game in which they've let in less than three was vs. Latvia.

Unless Aitokapalo croaks royally and starts hoovering like a cheap Latin maid, they need to figure out their own end before they start thinking about yet another upset.


Note that I'm not saying here they won't be able to find that solution, just stating what it's going to take. Anything can happen in just one game of hockey, after all.