Mikko Rantanen’s return to the lion shirt after a five-year hiatus did not go as hoped, when Finland collapsed against the USA to a 1-4 loss due to a goal.
– After the first set, it was a bit rough. We played quite a lot without the puck, at least the second set. But only the first game, so this is an upward direction, said the brightest NHL star in Finland and the entire games.
– Doesn’t that improve the chemistry too?
Mikko Rantanen joint play in the first chain Sakari Manninen and Teemu Hartikainen with produced promising blanks, but the finishing was only successful on the last mentioned occasion with superiority.
At the beginning of the third period, Rantanen uncharacteristically wasted the open space provided by Mannen’s cross pass.
– It was a great pass from “Mane”. I don’t know if I missed the puck, but this one happened to happen, Rantanen lamented.
More skating
However, Finland’s weak premiere did not make Rantas worried.
– Well, no, yes. Really just the first game, and the chains are new. It seemed that there was a little bit of tension, he assessed.
– Skating was not quite at the level of the Yankees, and we were always one step behind. They always got to skate with the puck into the area and didn’t have to throw to the end. That’s why they got that attack frenzy.
– We had a little delay when we had to apply pressure. There were no longer attacks, but it was ten seconds and then we started to defend again. But head on: let’s watch a little video and learn from it.
A different game
Mikko Rantanen believes that the Lions will already rock for Saturday’s match against Germany. Jussi Saarinen
Rantas has a little bit of learning – or getting used to – after a break of years in the European way of playing and in a wide rink.
– It’s a little different, of course. Maybe this first game seemed a bit like I was a bit out of sorts at times.
– Ours can improve a lot, but let’s try not to think too much and get the flight weather and the chain’s game rolling by tomorrow.
According to Rantanen, it’s good that the next game comes quickly: Finland will face Germany on Saturday in a match starting at 20:20.
– It’s nice to be able to immediately try again after a disappointing loss.