Will the Lions come back after the stomach splash yesterday? The WC premiere was a pancake. Finland was completely under the ice against the USA, but the Lions can shake off the setback already tonight. The match against Germany starts at 20.20.
Finland–Germany
Tampere arena, at 8.20 p.m
Yle Sporten’s live chat from the match starts at 20:00
Finland’s position: Easy to raise the bar
It can’t get any worse, can it? Finland’s second and third periods yesterday were the worst we have seen from the Lions since Lauri Marjamäki’s stay as national team captain.
But it is important to point out that the loss against the USA was not a disaster. The WC tournament is long and the decisive matches only come at the end of the third WC week. The order for tonight is a victory that indicates that Finland’s playing development curve is pointing upwards. No more no less.
Germany doesn’t have anywhere near as fast attacking players in its ranks as the USA, so Finland’s slightly angular back crew will not be as stressed as yesterday. And that boosts the Lion’s stock significantly.
Finland has not lost two World Cup matches in a row since 2017. That streak will be extended tonight.
Germany’s situation: Are you struggling?
Germany fought bravely against Sweden last night but fell by the odd goal 0-1. The German team showed evidence of a high work ethic but the offense was blunt.
The question is whether, just under a day later, Germany can stand up against a significantly more talented home team.
NHL defenseman Moritz Seider is the great leader of the team. He would easily fit in the blue-white WC defense.
Have the Germans recovered from yesterday’s match against Sweden?
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Germany’s men’s national ice hockey team, WC for men’s ice hockey
Keep an eye on: Finland’s best player
Mikko Rantanen did not play at the top of his skills yesterday. Not even close, and he himself admitted that after the match.
It will take time before he is combined with Sakari Manninen and Teemu Hartikainen, but he makes such high demands on himself that a real ice release tonight would not be a surprise.
Germany must stay away from the penalty box otherwise it will be a difficult evening for the visitors. Despite yesterday’s defeat, there were indications that Finland’s power play may be sharpest in the tournament. And Rantanen’s role in numerical superiority is, as is well known, great.
Will Mikko Rantanen get the game off the ground tonight?
Bild: Tomi Hänninen/Chilipictures
Mikko Rantanen, Finland’s men’s national ice hockey team, WC for men’s ice hockey
Head-to-head meetings: Blue-white dominance
Since the reunification of West and East Germany, the Lions have played against Germany 47 times. No less than 38 have resulted in a Finnish victory. Against just eight for Germany.
Finland won twice by the numbers 2-1 over Germany on the way to the World Cup final in 2021 and eight of the last ten international matches have ended in favor of blue and white.
Finland’s preliminary five
It would be surprising if Jukka Jalonen made major changes to the formations. The starting point is that Finland continues with the same fives as yesterday. And it’s supposed to be Jussi Olkinuora’s turn to guard the coffers
First five
70 Teemu Hartikainen – 65 Sakari Manninen – 96 Mikko Rantanen
4 Mikko Lehtonen – 55 Atte Ohtamaa
Second five
10 Joel Armia – 74 Antti Suomela – 84 Kaapo Kakko
3 Olli Määttä – 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
6 Niklas Friman – 23 Nikolas Matinpalo
Goalkeeper:
45 Jussi Olkinuora (33 Emil Larmi)
The tip: Comfortable home win
Jukka Jalonen is a coach who puts defense first. The expectation is that the Lions tighten up on the defensive and play nihilistically when necessary. Finland has so much more elite talent in the squad that the home team will create significantly more scoring chances and it will pay off. The lions win 3–0.
