GDT: 2018 WJC • Game 18 • Group A: USA (5) - FIN (4) F

[jasonr90]

Woll starts for USA; Brown, Lockwood out as expected:

Bad news about Lockwood. We need brown for the playoffs

 

[LeafChief]

So is Woll considered the starter at this point? Surprising considering Oettinger got the Canada game and won.

 

[jasonr90]

Today would be an even more interesting day for both groups if they still did the 6-team Playoffs

 

[Dominance]

Americans had next to zero offensive zone penetration 5 on 5 vs Canada. If Finland can be patient and stay true positionally I think they’ll win...so long as they don’t take lots of penalties.

 

[Plub]

Americans had next to zero offensive zone penetration 5 on 5 vs Canada. If Finland can be patient and stay true positionally I think they’ll win...so long as they don’t take lots of penalties.

That isn't accurate at all.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

 

[SI90]

I wish they would switch Bellows and Tkachuk. Bellows has a lot of familiarity with Anderson and Mittlestadt is a great playmaker and can find Bellows in great shooting position.

 

[FiLe]

FIN lineup.

Luukkonen (Lehtinen)

Heiskanen - Välimäki
Juolevi - Jokiharju
Vaakanainen - Salo
Kotkansalo

Vesalainen - Räsänen - Tolvanen
Heponiemi - Ikonen - Koivula
Innala - Kuokkanen - Tuulola
Jääskä - Koppanen - Nurmi
Kupari

 

[Fried Tree Sap]

Wanting to see a Finland win for the USA-Sweden quarter. 3-2 Finland.

Then again, if the U.S. wins it looks like we'd get a U.S. vs Russia quarter final instead. Either way, it should be good.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Then again, if the U.S. wins it looks like we'd get a U.S. vs Russia quarter final instead. Either way, it should be good.

Yeah the U.S is gonna be involved in a really interesting QF no matter what....My personal preference is to see Sweden and the States take one or the other out early lol

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Should be an easy victory for the USA but expect the officials to do their best to 'even things out'.

 

[behemolari]

Scandinavians will combo US out from their home tournament, first Finland wins and Swedes will finish em. Loving this!

 

[illone84]

Scandinavians will combo US out from their home tournament, first Finland wins and Swedes will finish em. Loving this!

Noridc power! Finland wins 4-3.

But then Sweden will lose to Russia to avoid playing USA

 

[Gsus]

Should be an easy victory for the USA but expect the officials to do their best to 'even things out'.

Sure.

 

[Kyndig]

"Another upset"

You guys lost to Slovakia. Finland beating you is not an upset.

USA is favored to win this game, any other outcome=upset...Its quite simple really. I never said it was on the level of losing to Slovakia, so don't put words in my mouth.

USA also beat Canada, which beat Finland..so your point is? I don't see how that is at all relevant.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Victory is ours! Tolvanen will finally show mittlestad and co who the top dog from 2017 draft is and hatter!

 

[JustaFinnishGuy]

USA is favored to win this game, any other outcome=upset...Its quite simple really. I never said it was on the level of losing to Slovakia, so don't put words in my mouth.

USA also beat Canada, which beat Finland..so your point is? I don't see how that is at all relevant.

Why do you think USA is a clear favorite to win? I wouldn't bet on either to win this game, it's a coin flip at the most.
Both USA and Finland got Canada cornered at points in their respective matches. Massive offensive outbursts against teams like DEN and SVK do not really tell the full picture anyway.

 

[Dominance]

That isn't accurate at all.

Really? Besides the man-advantage situations, I do not recall the Americans having any open shooting chances within the boundaries of the circles.

 

[maacoshark]

Really? Besides the man-advantage situations, I do not recall the Americans having any open shooting chances within the boundaries of the circles.

The US got most of their quality scoring chances on the pp when Canada took 5 consecutive penalties. 5on 5 the US had some control in the offensive zone but didnt get alot of Hugh scoring chances. 2 of the 3 goals the US scored was on the pp and one of those was a 5 on 3.

 

[behemolari]

Noridc power! Finland wins 4-3.

But then Sweden will lose to Russia to avoid playing USA

wouldn't be the first time

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Really? Besides the man-advantage situations, I do not recall the Americans having any open shooting chances within the boundaries of the circles.

Tkachuk’s game tying goal was 5v5. The only other even strength goal in the game was scored by Canada to make it 3-1. All other goals were scored on the powerplay.

 

[behemolari]

USA is favored to win this game, any other outcome=upset...Its quite simple really. I never said it was on the level of losing to Slovakia, so don't put words in my mouth.

USA also beat Canada, which beat Finland..so your point is? I don't see how that is at all relevant.

USA beat Canada which beat Finland which beat Slovakia which beat USA.. you see there is no favourite really

Def Finland >> USA
Off USA > Finland
Special plays USA > Finland
goaltending equal

 

[SanDogBrewin]

I wish they would switch Bellows and Tkachuk. Bellows has a lot of familiarity with Anderson and Mittlestadt is a great playmaker and can find Bellows in great shooting position.

With the extra Dman I expect lots of line changes, except for the #1 line. Especially if the Mittlestadt line is the only line producing scoring chances.

 

[Tryblot]

USA is favored to win this game, any other outcome=upset...Its quite simple really. I never said it was on the level of losing to Slovakia, so don't put words in my mouth.

USA also beat Canada, which beat Finland..so your point is? I don't see how that is at all relevant.

Do you know what an upset is? USA beating Russia in 1980 was an upset, Slovakia beating USA this year was an upset, Denmark (I think) beating Finland last year was an upset.

USA beating Finland is not an upset. Finland beating usa is not an upset.

 

[Kyndig]

Do you know what an upset is? USA beating Russia in 1980 was an upset, Slovakia beating USA this year was an upset, Denmark (I think) beating Finland last year was an upset.

USA beating Finland is not an upset. Finland beating usa is not an upset.

"An upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win (the favorite), is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom."

Last time I checked even 51% is a majority and I bet if polled it would be even wider than that.