Kasperi Kapanen speaks directly about his performances at the Czech EHT tournament.
- In the opening match of the World Cup home games, Finland will face the USA in Tampere on Friday at 16:20.
- Kasperi Kapanen responds to the criticism he has received and sheds light on the USA team through the players he knows.
St. Louis Blues, who joined Leijon in two international matches played in Sweden during Vapu Kasperi Kapanen is one of Finland’s five NHL reinforcements at the start of the World Cup, who are expected to become the team’s leading players.
Kapase’s appearance in the front was severely hampered in last weekend’s EHT tournament, when the counterbalance of one assist point was occasionally seen to be illegitimately phlegmatic.
Kapanen does not avoid the fact that it is necessary to improve.
– A bad weekend, but it will now be put behind. Sometimes there are episodes when it just doesn’t work out. Is it mental or can it be physical or will it not work at all, Kapanen ponders.
– Now I happened to have a weekend like that, he refers to the EHT games, which received quite a bit of public criticism.
– In my opinion, there was too much speculation about it. I will do everything I can to ensure that we have a chance to win and that I can help the team. Yes, everyone in the team knows that.
Kapase has more to say about media operations.
– Even if it’s a bad game, I haven’t had anything really positive written about me in many years. It is an unfortunate fact that there has been quite a lot of negativity there, but you get used to it and you just have to forget it. I know exactly what I’m capable of.
And you sure want to show it off now that the races are starting?
– Absolutely.
Pond chain
Kasperi Kapanen (right) and defender Mikael Seppälä pictured during the Lions’ afternoon training at the Nokia Arena. Jussi Saarinen
The 26-year-old Kapanen, best known as a winger with explosive skating power and goal-hungry, will play against the USA Juho Lammikon leading in a three-way chain, one side of which is stepped on Jere Sallinen.
– They have big bodies, they stay well on the puck and also skate well. I try to use skating as much as possible, Kapanen promises.
– I believe that the game will be made difficult for the Yankees.
Kapanen also gets responsibility in Finland’s second team, where the other players are Joel Armia, Kaapo Kako, Antti Suomela and Olli Määttä.
– Armia has an incredibly good itch, and the others know how to play the game really well. I try to be available, and if you can give me the puck, that’s a good place to score, Kapanen describes his role in the middle of the square.
Penguins acquaintances
Two American players are very familiar to Kapanen. He played this and the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins before being traded to the St. Louis Blues in February.
About the USA players Casey DeSmith and Drew O’Connor were his teammates in Pittsburgh.
According to Kapanen, DeSmith is an underrated goalkeeper.
– He has been a little Tristan Jarryn in the shadow, Kapanen mentions the Penguins’ number one guard, who played 47 games in the regular season with a percentage of 90.9.
DeSmith started 33 games and played in 38 overall. His save percentage was 90.5.
According to the NHL yardstick, the 183-centimeter goalkeeper is on the shortest end.
– Whenever DeSmith was in goal, he played well, Kapanen praises.
– He plays with emotion and is energetic. Little Juuse Saros comes to mind, he compares Nashville to a Finnish star.
– Scoring will be difficult. Gotta get a man in front of the goal.
Winger O’Connor describes Kapanen as a player with skating power.
– Good grip, can handle roughness in the corners. I think he will have a good tournament.
12 NHL men
In addition to DeSmith and O’Connor, the Pittsburgh players also have an experienced forward Nick Boninowho, however, switched to a penguin shirt after Kapanen had already changed to a sheet music shirt.
There are a total of 12 NHL players in the USA lineup.
They are attackers Sean Farrell (Montreal Canadiens), Anders Bjork (Chicago Blackhawks), Matt Coronato (Calgary Flames), Conor Garland (Vancouver Canucks) as well Alex Tuchwho scored his career record points (36+43=79) in the ranks of the Buffalo Sabres.
There are NHL men in the back lines Henry Thrun (San Jose Sharks), Connor Mackey (Arizona Coyotes), Dylan Samberg (Winnipeg Jets) and Nick Perbix (Tampa Bay Lightning).
There are seven AHL men, and there are also three players from the college league NCAA.
– Yankees are always Yankees. They play hard and like to shoot a lot. We have to defend well, use our skating speed and stay on the puck. A man to the goal and the puck after, Kapanen plans.