Magic Denis walls up Finland

Sixteen years ago, when Slovakia won for the last time against Finland at WJC in Ottawa, goalie Denis Godla was 13 and probably could only dream of being a professional player one day. Today the Slovan Bratislava goalie had conquered a place in Slovakian fans’ memory with an outstanding performance to stop Finland taking a golden-three-points to his team.

Less than 24 hours after the shocking debut against Canada, Slovakia has another mountain to climb: current champion Finland, burned by the shootout defeat against US and needy of save points for a rainy day. Teams have faced 11 times at WJC, with 7 victories for Finland, 3 for Slovakia and a draw. The last match was in Ufa two years ago, when Finland trashed Slovakia 11-4 in the relegation round. As recalled, Slovakia has beaten the last time Finland in 2008 at Ottawa, winning at shootout, a victory decisive to send Slovaks to quarter finals and Finland to relegation round.

Slovakian coach Ernest Bokros undressed goalie David Okolicany, replacing him with Daniel Gibl as Denis Godla back-up. Same roster for Finland except in the net, where Juuse Saros, the key player in Suomi success last year in malmo, replaced Ville Husso. Game begins with a slow pace, revived only after 6 minutes, when Sebastian Aho hits the post. A minute later Godla stopped on Kasperi Kapanen shot, before the third Finnish tentative, the right one: at 07:01 Mikko Rantanen finishes a smart pass by Juuso Ikonen, Godla can only deflect the puck in the net. But Slovakia suddenly ties game in the first power play, Peter Cehlarik is alert deflecting a shot by Martin Reway. Slovakia has another good chance at 11, but Robert Lantosi can’t take advantage from a lost puck in Finnish defense. Finland has a long range shot by Aho deflected by Godla and a good chance with Roope Hintz but again Slovak goalie is reactive deflecting the shot. Slovakia has a good momentum in the middle of the period, stopped by a naïve penalty called to Jaros which allowed Finland to settle in Slovakia defensive zone, with Denis Godla ready to deflect or blocked several tentative. Slovakia has then  a minute of 5vs3, very well killed by Slovakian defense, including an outstanding save by Godla on Hintz. Another big save by Slovakian goalie and a chance wasted by Matus Sukel close a good first period where Finland keeps the control of the game without being able to kill and bury the opponent. Slovakia is a different team from the one seen last night, more concentrate and able to create chances and not just defending

Second period opens with a great chance for Miikko Rantanen but the forward misses the decisive touch in front of the net. Somewhat surprisingly Slovakia scores at 26.03 with a long-range shot by Matus Holenda, served by Reway. Finland reacts with a couple of chances and a power play untapped but today Godla takes the cake. After a power play for Slovakia the period ends with Finland besieging opponent’s  defensive zone, but with a sterile superiority that even a power play in the end can turn into a goal.

Jesse Puljujarvi missing a great chance at the beginning of third period

Finalnd has immediately a great chance at the begin of third period but 16-year-old future star Jesse Puljujarvi misses the last deflection and another with Joonas Lyytinen finalizing an elaborate choral move but Godla saves Slovakia breaks the initial siege with a power play untapped.  But is again the Slovak goalie decisive saving by instinct an involuntary deflection by Erik Cernak. At 53 Cehlarik fails the knockout blow hitting the post after a great collective move. Also Finland has a resounding post on its note, hitting by Puljujarvi with 2 minutes to play. Coach Hannu Jortikka calls a timeout and decides to pull the goalie but the last desperate assault is well restrained by Slovakia. Bokros squad deserve to win all things considered, showing a solidity unknown yesterday and a great goalie, obviously elected as MVP along with Mikko Rantanen. Now the road to avoid relegation round, a certain destination after what had shown against Canada, is much easier. Champion Finland has one point after two games, a small booty certainly not expected.

Slovakian players celebrate the hero Denis Godla

After the game goalie Denis Godla was the most sought by journalists in the mixed zone, but the shy teenager rejects the title of hero: “We won because we played well, faster than yesterday, concentrated in defense and without stupid mistakes, that’s all. We know to be worth more than the team trashed yesterday by Canada”

Coach Ernest Bokros is of course less depressed then he was yesterday: "We needed this victory to forget our horrible performance in the opening! I am glad that guys reacted and threw away the defeat with Canada."

"It’s true, we weren’t lucky today, but the responsibility of this loss is, as always, mine.” said an angry Hannu Jortikka

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