Ice Hockey World Championship 2022 – Slovakia Finland – opponent performance
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The Slovak hockey players sealed the promotion to the quarterfinals in the last match against Denmark, who defeated 7: 1. They fight for the semifinals with the best team of the B-group and the opponent, whom Slovakia last defeated when the forward Adam Sýkora was not in the world yet.
The Finns are very happy after the first Olympic victory. The team is based on the conquerors of golden Beijing. The goalie trio, six defenders and eight forwards were strengthened by talented NHL players. And the result so far? In the basic group, only one loss after the raids with the age-old Swedish rival. In total, they collected only five goals, in four matches their opponent did not beat them even once.
GOALKEEPERS
He caught the largest portion of matches Jussi Olkinuora, the best goalkeeper of the basic part of the tournament. The Finns led to five wins, in four duels he scored a clean account, in one he collected only once. The experienced 31-year-old goalkeeper of the casino grew up in overseas competitions, he caught three seasons in Liige, Finland, and another three in the KHL.
He made his national team debut at the 2019 World Championships and, as a result, with a win and a net account. He has one gold and silver medal in the collection from the world championships, but the winner is also missing the last title of the Olympic hockey tournament in Beijing.
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Finland – Czech Republic
Source: SITA / AP
However, he is not irresistible for Adam Liška, whom he met in a handful of matches during his time in the KHL. The Slovak forward attacked his net for the last time in 2019, when a puck arrived at the gate after a quick penetration through the defense.
The team’s two is Harri Säteri. He claimed the victory over Latvia in the tournament and kept the Finns in the game against Sweden until the raids. He won gold at the Beijing Olympics when he never lost once in five games and scored more than one goal. He also helped his return to the NHL when the season he started in the KHL ended in an Arizona Coyotes jersey. He caught both Olympic matches against the Slovaks, Pavol Regenda and Miloš Roman found the recipe for him in the group match.
He remained an alternate Frans Tuohimaawho has ten years of experience in the highest competition.
DEFENDERS
After the fall of the Dallas Stars, two reinforcements arrived in Finland and the coach dismissed the formation. The only unchanged first pair. Mikko Lehtonen is the most productive defender with eight points in seven matches. He made his NHL debut a year ago, with 26 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets, in which he scored 6 assists.
In the last season, he works again in the KHL in the SKA St. Petersburg jersey. He has many years of experience from the highest Finnish competition, in which he won the title in Sweden. In his career, he won both the junior and senior world victories and the Olympic tournament. On the blue line he plays together with Juusom Hietanenwith an experienced defensive veteran who has remained with most Finnish medals since 2005.
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Ice Hockey World Championship 2022: Finland – Sweden
Source: SITA
In the second pair, there is reinforcements from overseas Miro Heiskanen. The Dallas Stars defender has made the fifth and best season in the NHL. He scored 36 points in 70 points. Martin Fehérváry’s peer does not hesitate to play actively even in front, in the senior national team the home championship is his third big tournament for him, but he still lacks precious metal. He’s making him a partner Mikael Seppälä, responsible quarterback and fresh champion of the Finnish league.
The third formation covered their backs against the Czechs Niklas Frimanwho, after a successful Olympics, earned his debut at the championship and Ville Pokka, sacrificing defensive back, who does not hesitate to throw between the goalkeeper’s shot. His efforts have already helped with two club titles in Finland and the KHL and several tournament medals.
We joined in the fourth pair Esa Lindellbek Dallasu Stars a Atte Ohtamaa, an experienced representative and captain of the Kärpät club from the domestic competition. Finland also has Sami Vatanenwho returned to Europe after nine seasons in the NHL. He did not play the last match against the Czech Republic due to illness.
ATTACKERS
Nine shooters have already been found among the thirteen attackers. Offensive leaders are the most productive Mikael Granlund with eight points. The creative wing of the first attack has taken place in the NHL for 10 years, breaking the 60-point goal for the third time in its career in the last season. After falling out of the playoffs, he managed to play six matches and immediately became one of the team leaders.
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Ice Hockey World Championship 2022: Finland – Czech Republic
Source: SITA
The interaction with the center works well for him Sakarim Manninen, he gained a point per match from mutual cooperation. In Beijing, in the absence of NHL players, he was just on the offensive tug of the national team. The pair are extremely capable Teemu Hartikainena former NHL player who dominated the KHL’s 64-point profit in the 2020/2020 season.
Goalkeepers must be careful Toni Rajalu, who has settled in the Swiss League for the last four years. So, with four accurate hits, he is the best Finnish shooter. He manages the goals in the second formation of the center Valtteri Filppula.
Former Tomáš Tatar and team captain finished the last season in the last league in the NHL, where he scored almost to the match. With five goals and three assists, he pulls the attack to the second gold this year and himself to the prestigious Triple Gold Club. He only lacks gold from the world championships to become a member.
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Ice Hockey World Championship 2022: Great Britain – Finland
Source: SITA
The Montreal Canadiens also enjoy productivity Joel Armia from the third attack. Not to forget the hidden hero from Beijing Hannes Björninen, who decided to win Olympic gold. He has one of the top three throwing successes in the tournament.
MATCH WITH SLOVAKIA
Finland is the most unpleasant opponent for Slovakia. Out of 17 mutual matches, the players from the Tatras succeeded only three times, drew once and left the match 13 times as a loser. The only coach who did not feel the bitter taste of losing was František Hossa, who stood on the bench with two wins. One was born under the influence of Ján Fill.
Craig Ramsay is still waiting for his first. After the failures of the domestic championship in 2019 and Beijing 2022, this time a quarter-final opportunity awaits him. And again, it will not be easy. Finland has the oldest team in the tournament, which surpasses the Slovak in all aspects of the game.
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Juraj Slafkovský (Slovakia), hockey player Peter Čerešňák (Slovakia) and Joonas Nättinen (Finland)
Source: TASR
In addition to greater speed, they will have the opportunity to create a spectator backdrop that takes them from the women’s first match to winning the title at home. With the current form of the Finns, it’s hard to imagine that any opponent could prove their way to the golden double.
MUTUAL MATCHES WITH SLOVAKIA AT THE WC IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
2019 Slovakia – Finland 2: 4
2016 Slovakia – Finland 0: 5
2015 Finland – Slovakia 3: 0
2013 Finland – Slovakia 4: 3 / quarterfinal
2013 Finland – Slovakia 2: 0
2012 Finland – Slovakia 1: 0
CHANCE ON THE WORLD
The Finns have set out for the second gold this year. Worse than the medal result is from their unexpectedness.