USA demolished Finland

If Finland's start against Canada was great today we had the poorest start, and actually the whole first period, what we have seen from Finland for a long time. There was no moving, no challenging, terrible mistakes in own zone etc. Even the top line Filppula-Koivu-Jokinen was out of balance. With luck and goalie Kari Lehtonen Finland got out of the first period with only one goal allowed. Also USA's bad quality of their shots was one reason. USA played with very fresh moving and aggressive style. They came fast over the neutral zone and pushed Finnish defenders into their own zone, took turnovers and created scoring chances.

"I think our players were very good prepared for the game and every one really were ready to do what it needs to win" said Scott Gordon, head coach of team USA. "I would even say that this results is more our good play than Finland's bad play" a comment that can't be totally agreed.

It took 16:19 until USA could capitalize one of many Finland's own zone mistakes. Mikko Mäenpää tried a hazardous pass from the behind of own goal. Max Pacioretty interrupted it, took a shot which Lehtonen saved but when Finnish forward Jarkko Immonen was only watching from beside Pacioretty scored from his own rebound. At the end Finland got a bit their game going during the penalty of Cam Fowler but that ended when Jussi Jokinen took a stupid penalty for slashing USA goalie Jimmy Howard. 

For the second period Finland had its game a bit better in balance and got rid of the terrible own zone mistakes. Especially Alex Golikoski's penalty after 2.40 into the period helped Finland to get their game going. They had quality scoring chances during the power play but for example Jussi Jokinen needs still too many good scoring chances per one goal and that is not meant to be for a player who is supposed to be a pure goalscorer. Furthermore Finland's scoring seems to lay too heavily on Koivu's line and for example last years great line Pesonen-Immonen-Granlund has disappeared totally from the picture during past two games. After 15.33 USA punished Finland for the second time and again after sloppy game on their own zone. Kyle Palmieri took the puck in the middle of Finnish players and faked also goalie Lehtonen. Couple of minutes later Justin Faulk added another goal for USA after a beautiful power play which opened Finland's box play completely.

For the last period home crowd waited for a bunch of lions who would give everything in trying still to come back into this game. Instead they got a bunch of sheeps who couln't respond at all. After couple of minutes Chris Butler shot for 4-0 and again couple of minutes later Bobby Ryan made 5-0. In this point it looked like Finland will really get beaten up. Luckily for Finland scoring stopped here and Finland avoided bigger numbers. After five minutes Finnish defender Anssi Salmela got major penalty for an really ugly boarding on Alex Goligoski and most likely this tackle will keep Salmela out of the next game.

More bad news for Finland came later in the period when goalie Kari Lehtonen injured in a collision with Bobby Ryan. Lehtonen had to be switched for Petri Vehanen. It is not yet known how serious Lehtonen's injury was.

Jukka Jalonen after the game. Photo Mika Leino

Finland's coach Jukka Jalonen was as surprised as anybody about Finland's poor play: "Our preparing for the game went totally wrong. I don't know why but obviously we were not ready for this game. Of course that is most to blame coaches and we have to analyze this properly. We have one game left, against Kazakhstan, to get our game in better shape and Thursday will be our judgement day. If we win that game nobody remembers this terrible game anymore" and that got Jalonen totally right. Name of the game in World Championships is "win the right games", but Finland has lot to do and not too much time left.   

It was also a sad day for Finnish crowd which showed their opinion after the game by booing heavily to team Finland.

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