Did the Finnish players start to physically whistle? Pekka Virta does not buy this explanation as it is.
Petteri Rimpinen, chosen as the best goalkeeper of the Games, had to surrender four times in front of the USA’s shots. PDO
- Finland lost the under-20 hockey World Cup final with a 3–1 lead, when the USA scored a 4–3 golden goal in overtime.
- Iltalehti’s expert Pekka Virta considers it humane that the game changes in the lead position.
- However, this should not happen. Virta hopes that the Ice Hockey Association will analyze the matter carefully.
The Young Lions exceeded expectations in Ottawa, and the World Cup silver is a wonderful achievement for a team that was generally not considered even a medal contender.
However, the decline in the performance curve seen in all three playoff games also left question marks in the air.
In the playoffs, Finland lost 16-52 shots in the third set and overtime and 2-4 goals.
Did your fitness let you down?
– Amazing first 30 minutes, Pekka Virta times the final match against the USA.
– We dared to attack, we dared to defend by attacking and staying on the puck. We advanced together as a front of five players, as a result of which, after good direct attacks, we were able to continue attacking with everyone present and help nearby.
– Then we come to the question of eternity, whether faith or physics ends, Virta states.
– Well, if the physics ended, it ended after 13 minutes in the Slovakia game, after 40 minutes in the Sweden game and after 30 minutes in the USA game, he points out.
– In the final, though, it returned for a moment in the last set, where there was again a better five-man game, even turning back and attacking together from there. We got some longer follow-up attack as well.
Puck control
As a whole, however, the USA led the game in the third period and also in overtime.
– After a strong game control in the leading position, the opponent got possession of the puck for the third time in a row. Or was it allowed? Virta ponders.
– It’s human, and for a long time in the sport, it has been customary to play deep in the lead position, three down and so on. But then we give up the tool and give the opponent joy in the game and energy, which at the same time decreases from ourselves.
– My instructions in those moments are always to attack, devil! Nothing changes, stay on the puck and help is still nearby. But if at the same time another order is on, that three behind, let’s stay inside the game and play the ends deep, then there are not enough players in the attacking area to fight for those first pucks. Then we always come down and give the game to the opponent.
According to Virra, the USA final was a good example of this.
– When we stayed on the puck and played long attacks, the performance was absolutely superb for 30 minutes. Thereto Emil Pieniniemen a great 3–1 lead goal, but during the last ten minutes of the second period, Finland was never in the attacking zone for more than three seconds.
– It’s hard to buy that such a total change would have been due to the fact that physics has now ended, Virta says.
Game options
At the end of the game, the young lions had their helmets down. The silver was still a great achievement. PDO
Finland consciously or subconsciously began to make sure.
– Fatigue certainly played a part, but that is also directly due to the running of the game and the game choices. When you always receive again, there is no attacking game of your own at all. It kills mental and physical energy, Virta knows.
– At the same time, that relaxed smile and “let’s burn” attitude disappeared. Creative and courageous performances were lost when the goalkeeper’s saves were watched with sighs and remaining in defensive positions.
Petteri Rimpinen phantom-class saves took Finland to the ninth minute of overtime, when Teddy Stig scored the USA’s 4–3 championship goal at the end of the drive.
Top competitions
– The opponent’s strengths and good performances are always important, and I don’t mean that Finland should be able to dominate the game for 50-60 minutes, Virta elaborates.
Virta wants to emphasize that Finland played top competitions.
– The coaching team reacts well between games to things that need to be improved, and at their best the team played absolutely wonderful puck, he thanks.
However, the question remains as to why Finland’s grip on the game was more or less strained in each of the three playoff matches.
– The Ice Hockey Federation could make it a sports director Olli Salon under the leadership of a comprehensive analysis for everyone – and not least for the makers of Suomi-kieko, Virta suggests.