World Cup: Sep 2 GDT - Finland vs. Germany

[Riddarn]

If Finland doesn't raise it's game considerably, there will be lots of trouble against Sweden.

Nah, I think it will be Sweden who will have trouble against the Finns.

 

[MrMastodonFarm*]

Nah, I think it will be Sweden who will have trouble against the Finns.

Agreed. Telquist is nothing to get excited about, Kiprusoff is. It will boil down to goaltending.

 

[broman]

To wrap it up, Berg has to go. He single-handedly gifted the Germans with several great chances, first falling for that deke that led to breakaway and then letting that cross pass go through to the unmarked forward. Not to mention turnovers galore. Canada or Sweden even would have demolished us there and then.

I have always been pro Niinimaa but this time even I started to see the wrong in his ways. Too many hasty half-clearances, too much uncertainty, precious little going forward. Still, he gets my vote ahead of Berg. Could be though (& here's hoping) that if Pitkänen comes along he is a better fit for Janne's role, so well prolly have to live with Aki for another day. Still, he gives me shivers every time he gets the puck.

Jarkko Ruutu waited all the way till the second match to show his true colors, great stuff with the back-to-back penalties especially considering the Kolzig interference was so useless. Please Rami, bring forth Laaksonen, or Nemo even?!

 

[broman]

Could be though (& here's hoping) that if Pitkänen comes along he is a better fit for Janne's role, so well prolly have to live with Aki for another day.

Stupid me, forgot about Ozzie the Stud. Pretty please Summanen, Berg would do great is the water-carrier. Or a doorstop. Blade sharpener. Anything.

 

[psycho_dad*]

Great game.

You can't help but appreciate Germany's effort. Besides Kipper, I would probably say Germany had 2 or 3 of the games best players.

How come?

I'd say Lehtinen, Selänne and Timonen were the other stars with their 1+1 performances.

 

[JVR]

Great game.

You can't help but appreciate Germany's effort. Besides Kipper, I would probably say Germany had 2 or 3 of the games best players.

Who were they?

 

[jstreet]

to me it seemed that Finland played well but didn't have to assert themselves much today. Germany never seemed to get a spark going, even though they were down it seemed like they never got into hustle mode.

 

[Moskau]

Who were they?

Hecht, Seidenberg, M. Goc and Lewandowski stood out the most for me.

 

[psycho_dad*]

Not like Sundin though...

No actually it was way better than Sundins backhander. Sundins backhander went in pretty easy and had more to do with bad goalie positioning. Lehtinen's shot was a backhand rocket into top shelf right under the crossbar. Kölzig never had a chance.

But both performances have been nice of course.

 

[JVR]

Here you can see pics and videos of the game.

 

[mikkoz]

I predict the entire 4th-line will find themselves in the pressbox against Sweden along with Aki Berg (who should never have been in the lineup anyway) Eloranta and J. Ruutu were brutal, and M. Koivu didn't show much either.Peltonen also sucked against a more psysical opponent, but he'll be on the second-line anyway.Niinimaa has been much better than I expected after last springs Worlds.. My guess is that the line-up against Sweden will be:

Lehtinen-S. Koivu-Selänne

Peltonen-Jokinen-T. Ruutu

Hagman-N. Kapanen-Hentunen

Nieminen-Hahl-Laaksonen

Timonen-Numminen

Salo-Niinimaa

Väänänen-Lydman

Kipper
The phenom (Lehtonen)

You cant really take Eloranta out of the roster, due to importance of the game. Mikko has better shot than laaksonen, hahl, jruutu or mkoivu and he gets at least 2 very good scoring chances/game.

 

[psycho_dad*]

You cant really take Eloranta out of the roster, due to importance of the game. Mikko has better shot than laaksonen, hahl, jruutu or mkoivu and he gets at least 2 very good scoring chances/game.

Mikko has a better shot than Laaksonen? No he doesnt and he is not a goal scorer in this level anyway...Laaksonen is, at least more than Eloranta. Hahl should play instead of Mikko Koivu just because he is more proven against star players. Berg should maybe be replaced by Väänänen.

 

[mattihp]

You cant really take Eloranta out of the roster, due to importance of the game. Mikko has better shot than laaksonen, hahl, jruutu or mkoivu and he gets at least 2 very good scoring chances/game.

Laaksonen's shot is very much better than Eloranta's. Eloranta has better stickhandling at full speed (and a higher gear in the skating too I might add).

 

[Bacchus]

You cant really take Eloranta out of the roster, due to importance of the game. Mikko has better shot than laaksonen, hahl, jruutu or mkoivu and he gets at least 2 very good scoring chances/game.

There was one breakaway yersterday where I was really glad that it was Eloranta and not someone like Selänne or even Laaksonen cuz I think it would have been a goal then.

 

[gib]

There was one breakaway yersterday where I was really glad that it was Eloranta and not someone like Selänne or even Laaksonen cuz I think it would have been a goal then.

Laaksonen has been added to roster against Sweden! He will replace J.Ruutu, cause Summanen want more speed to the ice. mtv3

 

[mattihp]

Laaksonen has been added to roster against Sweden! He will replace J.Ruutu, cause Summanen want more speed to the ice. mtv3

Grrr... I thought they'd use Ruutu to take down Forsberg and Nieminen to take down Näslund

 

[gib]

Grrr... I thought they'd use Ruutu to take down Forsberg and Nieminen to take down Näslund

Seeing J.Ruutu playing once again I can`t imagine that he could take out Forsberg or Näslund. I haven`t seen him tackle even once during WC and It`s true that he is slow. I would like to see Nieminen on the team, cause I think he is like J.Ruutu, but slightky better in almoust every aspect of the game. Laaksonen in the other hand is obiviously the most skilled player of these three and deserves his spot. Only thing he can`t do is irritate opponent and play physical like Nieminen or Ruutu can do.

 

[mattihp]

Seeing J.Ruutu playing once again I can`t imagine that he could take out Forsberg or Näslund. I haven`t seen him tackle even once during WC and It`s true that he is slow. I would like to see Nieminen on the team, cause I think he is like J.Ruutu, but slightky better in almoust every aspect of the game. Laaksonen in the other hand is obiviously the most skilled player of these three and deserves his spot. Only thing he can`t do is irritate opponent and play physical like Nieminen or Ruutu can do.

Nieminen doesn't take the body quite as well, and he doesn't draw as many penalties, he can hopefully keep swedish forwards neutralized with some good plays in both ways. Oh, and even if points say otherwise... Ruutu is superior in timing and carrying the puck along the boards.

 

[mikkoz]

Mikko has a better shot than Laaksonen? No he doesnt and he is not a goal scorer in this level anyway...Laaksonen is, at least more than Eloranta.

Well i dont bother to checkout the stats, but imho you can use Mikko in lines 2-4 and Laaksonen 3-4. And also Eloranta has more strengh to get himself to scoring postitions and rebounds etc., specially against tougher teams (Can, USA..)
I see Laaksonen more of penalty kill and defensive specialist. Allthough he can score sometimes from brakethroughs etc.

This better shot question, öö do you mean that Laaksonen has a better slapper or..?

Tomorrow we shall see can either of them score.

 

[mikkoz]

Jarkko Ruutu and Nieminen took lot of penalties in exhibition games, Nieminen got some realy easy ones in game against Germany. Is this why Summanen wont let them play?

 

[mattihp]

Jarkko Ruutu and Nieminen took lot of penalties in exhibition games, Nieminen got some realy easy ones in game against Germany. Is this why Summanen wont let them play?

Probably. Except with our penalty kill... Not even Sweden should be able to be any kind of threat...

 

[mikkoz]

Probably. Except with our penalty kill... Not even Sweden should be able to be any kind of threat...

Yes, pk has allways been quite good. But its seems that specially Nemo has a "leima ottassa" from the refs point of view.

 

[HellsBells]

Nieminen should play vs. the Swedes IMO. He is a better player than at least 3 or 4 of the Finnish starters from the first two games.

 

[mattihp]

Yes, pk has allways been quite good. But its seems that specially Nemo has a "leima ottassa" from the refs point of view.

he indeed does, he is a real target for them after his play in the playoffs.

And PK is more than quite good at the moment IMO.