WJC: Why did Finland win?

[FinRuutu]

- TT, RR and KK
- good game plans perfectly executed
- hard work

add JS and we have a winner.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

3 Things important for winning this short tournament:

1. Goaltending
2. Familiarity
3. Solidarity

There wasn't one player bigger than the team on this squad.

 

[Kranix]

Canada neglected to scout Finland's pluckiness.

 

[Erikfromfin]

Worlds best prospects. We could still send guys to this team imagine having Barkov in that finland team. Mamma mia. Everygame would have been 10-0 win.

 

[Ohashi_Jouzu*]

Worlds best prospects. We could still send guys to this team imagine having Barkov in that finland team. Mamma mia. Everygame would have been 10-0 win.

You really don't want to play the game of "what if everyone's teenaged NHLers were available"...

 

[Kulleroinen*]

Finland played a boring but effective defensive counter attack hockey against the best team in the tournament and it worked.

Very similar style to Russia's tactics vs Sweden the last years.

They simply have to play this boring way because we are so good offensively with a Detroit Red Wings like puck possesion.

Finally, Finland's goalie was great.

Better team won, deal with it.

 

[crunchyblack*]

Haapala

 

[TimeZone]

I was really happy seeing Finland win. True Cinderella story

 

[WarriorofTime]

Great top line, everyone played the defensive system perfectly, and phenomenal goaltending.

Great underdog.

 

[matzz]

They played very good defence
Our goalie played alot better than the Swedish one, that looked very nervous
Superb coaching
They played for the lion on their chest, alot of will

 

[jgoud*]

Worlds best prospects. We could still send guys to this team imagine having Barkov in that finland team. Mamma mia. Everygame would have been 10-0 win.

True, if the States played Finland (with Barkov) but had Trouba, Jones and Galchenyuk, the score would have looked something like that.

 

[WarriorofTime]

True, if the States played Finland (with Barkov) but had Trouba, Jones and Galchenyuk, the score would have looked something like that.

It is impressive that for such a small country without much depth to begin with, Finland was able to win with Barkov and Maatta in the NHL. It shows that this wasn't just a case of everything aligning perfectly but that this particular age group was very strong and had a lot of heart. Give props where they're due, that's 50 % of Finland's eligible 1st Round Picks missing.

 

[trick9]

This JWC though, and I don't want to take anything away from them, but they weren't the best team and they played an unbelievably boring hockey in the final. Just a meat wall infront of the goalie, and then go on an odd counterattack. 90% of their "shots" were wrister towards Dansk from outside the blue line.

It's called playing through your strengths.

And that last statement is just wrong. Finland limited most of the Canada's and Sweden's shot to bad angle shots which were easy for Saros to pick up. There is a reason Sweden couldn't get anything done unless they were on the PP.

 

[Nordic*]

That's what I call a speech of poor loser, Finland were the best team and that's why they are the world champions in u20s. Show some respect!

Sweden faced Finland twice in the WJC and outplayed them both times.

Yes, won the gold, congrats

 

[TheFeistyFinn]

Sweden faced Finland twice in the WJC and outplayed them both times.

Yes, won the gold, congrats

if losing is outplaying then yeah they did. Finland just played perfect team game and won. so by any logic that makes sense, Sweden was not/can't be better team. Sweden only controlled puck more but hardly generated anything 'cause of Finland's kickass defence.

 

[YARR123]

Sweden faced Finland twice in the WJC and outplayed them both times.

Yes, won the gold, congrats

If that makes anyone on Swedish side content, then congrats goes to them. However I doubt anyone is, it's more of a way to deal with a tough loss to tell yourself that "we were better" If by outplaying you mean possessing the puck more, then ok, but you do realize that to win a hockey game you need to score goals? If you don't, chances are that the other team will.

 

[NarcoPolo]

They scored more goals than Sweden, Therefore they were better

 

[GTA]

They played for the lion on their chest, alot of will

What the hell does this even mean...It's the same as when people say they had more 'heart'.

 

[FinRuutu]

Sweden faced Finland twice in the WJC and outplayed them both times.

Yes, won the gold, congrats

Only big numbers count.

Possession, shots, PP-time, hits etc etc. don't count if you don't score. Big numbers count and big numbers showed 3-2 to Finland, so Finland indeed was the better team.

Goaltending and ability score when opportunity presents it self are part of the game too and marks of a good team. Finland doesn't have as good individuals but played with perfect game style to compensate, better team effort that already worked on Russia, Canada and last but not least on Sweden.

If you are saying that Sweden was a better in that game you are partially right, in some aspects of the game Sweden was better, but did not do what needed to be done in the end. Finland was better when and where it mattered, hence the outcome.

Karri Kivi should be named King of Finland and coach juniors, mens and womens team.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

They took their best players who were able to attend. Players like Nurse and Domi didn't sit at home because of some coach's preference.

 

[that is unfortunate]

They're the greatest hockey power.

 

[Stoat]

Finland has never won a best-on-best tournament, and this isn't likely to change anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Not won, but damn consistent.

1998 Olympics, Bronze (Big Rink)
2004 World Cup, Silver (Small Rink)
2006 Olympics, Silver (Big Rink)
2010 Olympics, Bronze (Small Rink)

So, in the last 16 years 2002 Olympics are the only best-on-best tournament Finns haven't been on the medals.

Same period of time: Canada 3 medals (all gold), Czech Republic 2 medals (gold and bronze), USA 2 medals (both silver), Russia 2 medals (silver and bronze), Sweden 1 gold

So, even if you count gold better than any other, Finland still tops USA and Russia.

And I believe that Finland has legitimate(by this I don't mean favorite) chance in winning gold in any best-on-best tournament.

- Stoat

 

[Keeptdos]

Not won, but damn consistent.

1998 Olympics, Bronze (Big Rink)
2004 World Cup, Silver (Small Rink)
2006 Olympics, Silver (Big Rink)
2010 Olympics, Silver (Small Rink)

So, in the last 16 years 2002 Olympics are the only best-on-best tournament Finns haven't been on the medals.

Same period of time: Canada 3 medals (all gold), Czech Republic 2 medals (gold and bronze), USA 2 medals (both silver), Russia 2 medals (silver and bronze), Sweden 1 gold

So, even if you count gold better than any other, Finland still tops USA and Russia.

And I believe that Finland has legitimate(by this I don't mean favorite) chance in winning gold in any best-on-best tournament.

- Stoat

2010 Bronze

 

[Lacaar]

Trapasaurus Rex run to perfection.

The new age of hockey played to perfection.

Clog up the middle. Try hard. Skate fast. Clog up that middle.

Take puck to the net, you never know what will happen.

Skate fast.. limit teams time with the puck once they cross their blue line.

Clog up the middle... like Clog it up.

They played it great. Looked like the L.A kings out there.

 

[Stoat]

2010 Bronze

Oops. Thanks for correcting.