The lions also trembled in the second WC match – but it was a party in Tampere when Mikko Rantanen put on a show

It was sweaty, angsty and not a match that Finnish hockey fans had hoped for when the Lions met Germany in the World Cup. Finland still fixed the steak with great effort and won 4–3.

After Finland’s opening loss against the USA in the World Cup, several of the NHL players received stinging criticism. Some were invisible, others careless while some looked lost on the ice.

Perhaps they had taken part in the criticism because in the second game it was the reinforcements from North America who stepped forward when it was most needed.

Joel Armia scored the first goal, Sakari Manninen both equalized and gave Finland the lead in the second period, and Mikko Rantanen provided brilliant preparatory work when Mikko Lehtonen scored the winning goal.

– It is good for both the players themselves and the whole team when the big names step forward. They raised their level compared to the first match and were leading players, says Jukka Jalonen to C More.

Odisciplinerat Finland

It was a game that started very well for Finland and the team took the lead in the middle of the first period. Kaapo Kakko worked the puck to Joel Armia who with a direct shot broke the German score.

Finland dominated for large moments in the first period, but Germany was not harmless. And after 17.45 came the German equaliser. A strange bounce after Marcel Noebel’s shot set goalkeeper Jussi Olkinuora and 1-1 was a fact.

Jukka Jalonen’s national team is usually known for its discipline, but today it was the opposite. Especially in the second period, the team behaved very often undisciplined and took expulsions left and right.

And it was when the Lions had just killed a numerical deficit that Germany took the lead in the second period. The team managed to keep the puck in the attack zone and defender Kai Wissman sent in 2–1.

The man scored two goals

But the Lions shook off that late goal and responded lightning fast. Just over a minute later, Kasperi Kapanen was responsible for a brilliant preparatory work when he served Sakari Manninen, who pounded the puck into the cross.

And shortly afterwards, Finland got a power play and then Manninen struck again. He swept the puck in on a goalie return after Mikko Rantanen’s shot.

But Finland’s leadership did not last the period. Harri Pesonen took an unnecessary expulsion for tripping and JJ Peterka equalized to 3–3 with 18 seconds remaining in the second act.

– We took unnecessary expulsions in the second period and Germany got into the match. At the same time, we could also have received some expulsions with us, many similar situations did not go our way, says Jalonen.

In the final period there were chances for both sides before Finland finally decided – and Mikko Rantanen showed why he is one of the world’s best players right now.

Rantanen spun around as he pleased in the attack zone, put the puck on goal, and then Mikko Lehtonen appeared and scored 4-3.

Germany picked out the goalkeeper at the end but got nowhere and Finland secured their first win in this championship.

– We clearly improved compared to the first match, says Jalonen.