GDT: Group A • Dec. 26 • Finland vs. USA

[Systemfel]

2015 IIHF World Junior Championship
Preliminary Round
Group A

December 26
3:00 PM ET • 21:00 CET

Finland
Confirmed lineup.

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

28 Artturi Lehkonen

|

21 Aleksi Mustonen

|

24 Kasperi Kapanen​

| -

10 Juuso Ikonen​

|

22 Roope Hintz​

|

16 Mikko Rantanen​

| -

26 Sebastian Aho​

|

19 Antti Kalapudas​

|

13 Jesse Puljujärvi​

| -

11 Hannes Björninen​

|

29 Otto Rauhala​

|

20 Niko Ojamäki​

| -

27 Julius Vähätalo​

|

-​

|

-​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

23 Alex Lintuniemi​

|

9 Julius Honka

| -

5 Aleksi Mäkelä​

|

6 Joonas Lyytinen​

| -

4 Mika Ilvonen​

|

7 Atte Mäkinen​

| -

2 Sami Niku​

|

-​

| -

Starter​

|

Backup​

30 Ville Husso​

|

31 Juuse Saros​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

G 1 Kaapo Kähkönen​

|

Healthy​

| -

USA
Confirmed lineup.

Left Wing​

|

Center​

|

Right Wing​

18 Chase De Leo​

|

9 Jack Eichel

|

17 Alex Tuch​

| -

13 Sonny Milano​

|

34 Auston Matthews​

|

8 Nick Schmaltz​

| -

14 Tyler Motte​

|

21 Dylan Larkin​

|

22 Hudson Fasching​

| -

11 Miles Wood​

|

7 J.T. Compher​

|

15 John Hayden

| -

10 Anthony Louis​

|

-​

|

-​

| -

Left Defense​

|

Right Defense​

4 Will Butcher

|

26 Brandon Carlo​

| -

2 Noah Hanifin​

|

3 Ian McCoshen​

| -

23 Zach Werenski​

|

24 Anthony DeAngelo​

| -

-​

|

6 Ryan Collins​

| -

Starter​

|

Backup​

30 Thatcher Demko​

|

29 Brandon Halverson​

| -

Scratched​

|

Details​

G 31 Alexander Nedeljkovic​

|

Healthy​

| -

Officials​

|

Referee​

|

Kostantin Olenin | -

Referee​

|

Tobias Wehrli | -

Linesman​

|

Gleb Lazarev | -

Linesman​

|

Bevan Mills | -

Click to read more...

 

[nobuddy]

Practically screaming with excitement.

 

[Fleury3434*]

Super excited for this game. Hoping for a USA win but also excited to see how kapanen performs as a pens fan

 

[Juxtaposer]

Stoked to see Puljujarvi play for the first time. Him vs. Matthews will be a fun matchup.

 

[TychoFan]

Going to see this game live! First ever World Juniors for me, I hope to see a great game.

 

[Garyboy]

Going to see this game live! First ever World Juniors for me, I hope to see a great game.

Have fun. I saw the Americans live on Tuesday night. You're in for a treat. This squad is a lot of fun to watch.

If Saros doesn't stand on his head, this game could get out of hand fast.

 

[Giuseppe Sallo]

Alex Tuch is gonna tear it up this tourney. You heard it here first.

Prediction: USA wins 3-2. Believe in EichelMANIA.

Note: I predict the FINNS will win GOLD, Just gave that gut feeling.

 

[Canada4Gold]

USA have a really good team this year. I'm a little underwhelmed by the fins offense outside of Kapanen and Lekhonen, but they do have good goaltending. I don't expect it'll matter here though, the US will create too many chances for the good goaltending to stop.

5-1 USA

 

[Alexandrov]

USA have a really good team this year. I'm a little underwhelmed by the fins offense outside of Kapanen and Lekhonen, but they do have good goaltending. I don't expect it'll matter here though, the US will create too many chances for the good goaltending to stop.

5-1 USA

As a Finn, so am I. Nevertheless, I am stoked to see Puljujarvi play against his peers. Not expecting anything crazy, but still.

And Eichel! And Tuch! **** YEAH WORLD JUNIORS IS AN AWESOME HOCKEY EVENT!

 

[Koivu 11]

anyone else going to the whole Mtl side?

 

[Dynamo81]

Think the Finns will keep it close for a while. 4-2 USA.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

Woah, USA does not have many returnees (I count 3), but regardless, they have so much talent.

5-2 USA is my prediction.

 

[Bhrangerfan0809]

Looking forward to seeing two top 2016 Draft prospects in this one (Matthews and Puljujarvi).

 

[satchmo]

We are the big underdogs, but crazy things happen (like last year). Go Finland

 

[Petri1981]

7-2 usa

 

[No1Joker]

After this tournament everybody in the hockey world will know who Jesse Puljujärvi is. Go Suomi!

Gonna be a exciting opening game for these teams!

 

[Tormentor]

After this tournament everybody in the hockey world will know who Jesse Puljujärvi is.

That's nothing compared to being best friends with Santa.

 

[FinPanda]

6-1 usa

 

[albator71]

The Finns are very comfortable being in the underdog spot, all the pressure is on team USA let's see how the US deals with that.

 

[Leehh]

That's nothing compared to being best friends with Santa.

Oh my god Finns are truly weirdos but in a good funny way

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

7-2 usa

Finnish optimism or reverse psychology?

 

[OiledUp]

I'm interested in seeing how Roope Hintz does. Like the player and think he'll measure up well to his peers.
His name also looks like 'rope hints' which in my weird brain gets interpreted as suicide suggestions which considering the myth about finns is funny to my, again, weird brain...

USA clear favorites ofc but the finnish goalies were crazy good last year so it's not an absolute certainty. Couple of good transition players in Kapanen and Lehkonen too. The D doesn't look nearly as good as last year though.
USA are my pick for gold so let's see what they got. The goaltending give them the edge over Canada imo.

 

[Petri1981]

Finnish optimism or reverse psychology?

You beat us 9-1 in lake placid so optimism

or what if this happens today, USA wins 1-1

 

[thomast]

USA is clear favourite. It's nice to see Puljujärvi and Matthews battle. I think that those 2 are the best players for the 2016 draft right now.

 

[RobertR]

Suomi 3:1 USA

Saros with 50 saves.