The Lions’ title defense now begins. Finland opens the World Cup with a mouth-watering clash – the opponent in the opening match is the USA, who have reached the semi-finals in the last two tournaments.
Finland–USA
Tampere Arena, at 4.20 p.m
Yle Sporten’s live chat from the match starts at 16.00
Finland’s situation: More stable than stable
No reason to worry about the faded genre rope in the Czech EHT tournament. As the WC now starts, the Lions will rise.
There is a great routine and security in the squad. Finland resembles a club team as most of the players are familiar with each other. The powerplay line-ups are, for example, almost the same as in the WC last year.
Emil Larmi, who guards the goal, forges plans together with goalkeeper coach Kari Lehtonen.
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Yle
Kari Lehtonen, Emil Larmi
In addition, Finland has the WC tournament’s biggest star in its ranks. Mikko Rantanen can decide matches on his own.
The big question mark is between the posts. Emil Larmi shone when Växjö won the SHL but is an unwritten card at international level.
US situation: Bird or fish?
The American WC team is not exactly star-studded. For the U.S. to make it to the medal games for the third straight time, the players will have to put on the work gloves. If they have come to Finland for the night shift, it will be a tough tournament.
In contrast to the Lions, the USA is starting the tournament from scratch. The players are unfamiliar to each other and the game system does not appear to be in the backbone.
But American teams have a tendency to light up when they play in front of packed stands. Not impossible that a USA inspired for the day succeeds in putting gravel in the blue and white machinery.
Watch out for: The JVM hero from the home tournament
Kasperi Kapanen has forever been in the Finnish ice hockey heart after his extension goal in the JVM final in Helsingfors 2016.
Kasperi Kapanen has a lackluster season under his belt.
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Yle
Kasperi Kapanen
However, the artist’s soul was not at all on the cutting edge in the Euro Hockey Tour in the Czech Republic and there were even voices that he should be poked from the WC squad.
It didn’t work out that way, but Kapanen has eyes on him at the start of the tournament. He should step up and play more inspired. Otherwise, he may follow the decisive matches from the stands.
Previous meetings: Advantage Finland
Tonight’s match is the 113th international match between Finland and the USA. Finland has won 56 games and the USA 41.
Lately, the Lions have had an upper hand. Finland has won six of the last seven World Cup matches. Last year, Finland won a messy match 4–1.
On the other hand, the US has also delivered some cold showers. Finnish ice hockey friends are trying to put aside the 1-6 loss in the Olympic semi-final in Vancouver 2010 (the game was 0-6 after 13 minutes) and the 1-2 defeat in the home WC in Turku in 1991 that crushed the Lions’ chances of playing for medals.
Finland’s lineup
First five:
96 Mikko Rantanen (A) – 65 Sakari Manninen – 70 Teemu Hartikainen
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 55 Atte Ohtamaa
Second five:
84 Kaapo Kakko – 74 Antti Suomela – 10 Joel Armia
3 Olli Määttä (A) – 50 Miika Koivisto
Third fifth:
76 Jere Sallinen – 91 Juho Lammikko – 42 Kasperi Kapanen
52 Mikael Seppälä – 2 Ville Pokka
Fourth fifth:
29 Ahti Oksanen – 24 Hannes Björninen – 12 Marko Anttila (C)
3 Niklas Friman – 23 Nikolas Matinpalo
Goalkeeper:
33 Emil Larmi
(45 Jussi Olkinuora)
PP1: Lehtonen – Manninen – Rantanen – Sallinen – Hartikainen
PP2: Määttä – Kapanen – Armia – Suomela – Kakko
The tip: Knapp with a solid home win
That Finland will win is a low-oddsman, but the final numbers are more difficult to predict. Will the Americans keep their cool if the fight is out of reach or will the Lions practice the power play several times over?
Based on a reasonably tight clash that ends in a 4–2 home victory.
