Olympics: Semis Game Thread: Slovakia vs Finland
- Thread starter Antiillafire
- Start date
Was expecting a close game and wouldn't have been surprised if Slovakia had won but I didn'r expect Slovakia to outplay Finland so well even thought they didn't get a goal.
At least our defence and goaltending is top class.
Finland will win gold with a boring game and Slovakia will slaughter their bronze medal opponent.
At least our defence and goaltending is top class.
Finland will win gold with a boring game and Slovakia will slaughter their bronze medal opponent.
Well, there's a not much talent in the lineup. We do, after all, have the leading goalscorer of the entire KHL watching the game from the stands. And, to a secondary degree, another skill guy in Rajala. And, ironically, neither are sitting because of their own fault. Covid messed things up a bit and they never really got a fair shake after our workhorses ended up scoring the necessary ones in round robin.
And they aren't getting in anymore unless something unexpected happens. Which does, I must say, give us a cause for a "what if" or two if Finland doesn't pocket that gold.
You get a massive rest advantage for the bronze game against ROC/Sweden which is already played tomorrow. I think that you might even want to get ROC there. ROC might not have much motivation for bronze. It might be a good chance to bet some money for Slovakia's win, if they give good odds for it.
Well Vatanen didn't get offered enough money so he went to Switzerland instead. He probably declined league minimum offer or something and is looking for something more in term or salary. I got a feeling that Vatanen is going back to the NHL next season.
mattihp
Registered User
Finland was playing with fire that game and I didn't like the over defensive approach but it paid off so I can't really complain. Also Finland had the right type of players to pull of a strategy like that. Well it's not much different than what Sweden did to Canada. ROC vs SWE game might be pretty similar to this semifinal game considering that ROC also played 1-0 games against Denmark & SUI before that goal party against the CZE lol. It matters a lot who scores the first goal, but we'll probably see more power plays, so special teams & goalies will decide a lot.
We let the Fins win as payment for developing our prospects. Jokes aside, well played from both teams and good luck in finals.
Slovakian Jagr, Slovakian Rantanen. That's Slafkovsky. I think that he will get some monster minutes in TPS Finland for the rest of the season. I heard that his role hasn't been big enough so far, but that will change. Interesting to see what happens with the draft.
Finland vs Slovakia best on best. The gap would've been bigger than in the game today I feel.
If Jalonen doesn't get a statue soon somewhere, we have to take things into our own hands and make them ourselves.
I believe that the WHC in Finland is played on small ice this spring/start of summer. Maybe it becomes permanent soon. It's same to me really if it becomes permanent or not. If they choose small rink only for international play, then all rinks in European leagues should be changed as well.
FinPanda
Team Finland 2022 WHC champions
The logical place would be in front of the Riihimäki railway station. If not there, then somewhere in Tampere. Perhaps replace that lahtari swordsman near the library. Or in the place of that obelisk on the square in front of the orthodox church, would be suitably close to the new arena.
As for the statue itself, I propose emulating the iconic pose of the goddess Minerva. Etch the lion logo on the shield, replace the spear with a hockey stick, give him a turtle shell as a helmet and make him hold a hedgehog instead of an owl.
RageQuit77
Registered User
How about a sphinx statue with Jalonen's head on that lion. It would look funny with the eye glasses. Jalonen's face reminds me of the cartoon Simpsons characters' faces for some reason (mouth/beard/mustache area). I've always thought so. A Simpson character with eyeglasses on a sphinx sounds epic to me.
Sphinx - Wikipedia
Despite how this tournament ends, if Jalonen gets gold in the home WHC at Tampere, they certainly should put a statue outside the Tampere arena then, but most likely it will be a statue about fat Jutila or Mörkö there instead. Perhaps even Kristian Kuusela.
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Realistically, if Tampere's ever going to erect a statue for a hockey personage, it'll be Raipe.
True. If Ilves gets one then Ojanen for Tappara or is Kuusela ahead of him already?
karhukissa
Registered User
- Apr 2, 2019
- 1,823
- 2,449
This gotta be the most finnish comment ever. First of all what the heck are you talking about? This is not "Nuori Suomi Kaikki Pelaa" tournament somewhere in North Karelia, it's Olympic SF.
Slovakia played well but scored zero goals. Correct me if i'm wrong but you can't win if you don't score.
I'll get back to this comment after final. Then you can act shocked and maybe even drink a cup of coffee for Team Finland (but just black tho, they haven't deserved milk or sugar). And also you can already start to speculate how we won't get medal in WHC with this game.
As Finnish hockey fans, we've seen this story far too many times. In all predictions, Finland's not given much chance. People who don't know Finland expect the other team to take an easy win and advance. But Finland will surprise a lot of these people who can't see past the names on paper; they put up a good, close fight - but still lose in the end.
Wait, what? Yes, it was the same story... except Finland wasn't "Finland". It was Slovakia's turn to play that role. Finland has finally become that other team - may not play their best game, but their routine of winning is still too much for the underdog to overcome, even when the underdog puts up its best effort.
One shouldn't draw any conclusions about the GMG based on this, though, as it'll be a much more even match-up. But I can say that somehow over past the decade Finland has become a team that truly plays to win instead of simply avoiding to lose.
Wait, what? Yes, it was the same story... except Finland wasn't "Finland". It was Slovakia's turn to play that role. Finland has finally become that other team - may not play their best game, but their routine of winning is still too much for the underdog to overcome, even when the underdog puts up its best effort.
One shouldn't draw any conclusions about the GMG based on this, though, as it'll be a much more even match-up. But I can say that somehow over past the decade Finland has become a team that truly plays to win instead of simply avoiding to lose.
I watched the game from the middle of the second third. Why was the Slovak bank always shown with this coach. Never the Finnish one! I know it's not that important, but I found it strange.
Jussi
Registered User
There's also the siima - matto alta tactic, meaning we lure the opponent in by giving a 3 goal lead and then tie it in the 3rd period and win it OT.
GigaChad
Registered User
- Oct 9, 2013
- 1,396
- 1,437
Too bad the NHL players aren't attending this tournament.
I find the WJC and WC tournaments more interesting than this years Olympics, especially now when the games start at 6 am.
WC teams usually have NHL players and WJC players are usually the cream of the u20 crop so winning those tournaments feels better than this.
Can't even watch the final because of my sleep schedule
I find the WJC and WC tournaments more interesting than this years Olympics, especially now when the games start at 6 am.
WC teams usually have NHL players and WJC players are usually the cream of the u20 crop so winning those tournaments feels better than this.
Can't even watch the final because of my sleep schedule
