WJC: Dec 26 GDT - Belarus 4 vs. Finland 3 - Regulation Final

Game start: 15:00 local time | 16:00 Finnish time | 9 AM EST
Liveticker: http://www.iihf.com/Hydra/Tournaments_07/output/w20/hydra.iihf.com/IIHF_Core/jsp/content/web_output/index.jsp@compId=96

My bet is a 3-0 win for Finland.

Goals: Lindgren, Laakso, Joensuu, Rask starting with a shootout!

5-1 Finland.

My bet is a 3-0 win for Finland.

Goals: Lindgren, Laakso, Joensuu, Rask starting with a shootout!
I'd like to have a shutout more than a shootout... ;)

6.45 Belarus 1-0

18. STEFANOVICH, Mikhail
(19. VIOLENTIY, Dmitriy)
(23. KOSTITSYN, Sergei)

6.45 Belarus 1-0

18. STEFANOVICH, Mikhail
(19. VIOLENTIY, Dmitriy)
(23. KOSTITSYN, Sergei)

and it was a power play goal.

Sergei Kostitsyn continuing his style of play so far... An assist and a roughing penalty! Lots of penalties so far in this one...

19.57 Finland 1 - 1 PP1

22. KOMAROV, Leo
(11. HUHTANEN, Tuomas)
(6. KURKI, Mikael)

Shots 4-12 for Finland :)

Leo Komarov.. now thats a Finish name. Isn't he from Estonia?

Is anyone watching the game? How is Sergei Kostitsyn playing?

Leo Komarov.. now thats a Finish name. Isn't he from Estonia?

http://hockeysfuture.com/prospect/leo_komarov

"Komarov was born in Estonia but moved to Finland at a young age."

30.45 1 - 2 PP1 Finland 13. LEHTONEN, Mikko
(2. LAAKSO, Teemu)

:handclap:

Nice to see Bambi scoring in the first game after not-so-good (0+1 in seven games) tournament last year. :)

Leo Komarov.. now thats a Finish name. Isn't he from Estonia?

Estonian-finnish with a russian name ^^

45.20 2 - 2 PP1 Belarus 14. ILIN, Yuriy
(18. STEFANOVICH, Mikhail)

48.18 3 - 2 SH1 Belarus 23. KOSTITSYN, Sergei
(12. MUSIENKO, Pavel)

:shakehead

God damn belarussians score a SH goal!

Rask having a bad day?

4-2!! What The **** is going on!!

52.57 4 - 2 EQ Belarus 18. STEFANOVICH, Mikhail
(29. SYREI, Aleksandr)

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

edit. Jyssy was faster.

sweet...

Maybe time for a timeout?

good thing they arent broadcasting this game in finland! this team sucks!!!!!! :help:

this better be a wake up call for the next game!

Looks like Härmä will get the start in the next game...11 shots, 4 allowed...Not good..

Remember what Tolvanen aka Tolvana aka Dummy said, we should be happy if we make it to the next rounds! He has given the team a permission to lose with his fatalistic statements.

Looks like Härmä will get the start in the next game...11 shots, 4 allowed...Not good..Yeah, well stats don´t always tell the truth... And don´t know where you got those 11 shots, there were already 10 saves in two first periods according to summary.

this team sucks!!!!!! :help:

I believe that in this case the coach and his tactics sucks. Not the team. :banghead: :help:

4-3, but is it too late?

Lehtonen 4-3

Too little too late...

We probably would have won this game with better goaltending :p:

4-3 was the final score. Not the best way to start the tournament I might say. No we must win either the Czechs or the Russians. Is it possible to fire the coach in the middle of the tournament?

Honestly the the result isn't overly surprising.

Team Finland's fotunes rest solely on the back of Tuukka Rask. If he has an average game we lose against every team in this tournament.

The cold fact is that Belarus has better forward prospects than Finland.
They have future superstar Grabovski and Kostitsyn up front, we don't have any legitimate prospects, just future 3-4th liners. We've been waiting for Joensuu how many years now?

anyone see the game live? Im in helsinki and they decided not to broadcast it, which was a good choice. Anyways its only the preliminary round. I am assuming Rask was abit shaky? how did the rest of the team look and how bout the defense?

Were the goals lucky bounces or nice ones? :banghead:

Rask 7 saves on 11 shots. Wait until the Bruins fans wake up and hear about this one...:sarcasm:

Rask 7 saves on 11 shots. Wait until the Bruins fans wake up and hear about this one...:sarcasm:

Too bad Niity wasn't 18 or 19......oh wait, that wouldn't of helped.:sarcasm:

Was the Kostitsyn goal a pretty one?

Honestly the the result isn't overly surprising.

Team Finland's fotunes rest solely on the back of Tuukka Rask. If he has an average game we lose against every team in this tournament.

The cold fact is that Belarus has better forward prospects than Finland.
They have future superstar Grabovski and Kostitsyn up front, we don't have any legitimate prospects, just future 3-4th liners. We've been waiting for Joensuu how many years now?


I see your are upset, but Grabovski and Kostitsyn don't have much potential.

Too bad Niity wasn't 18 or 19......oh wait, that wouldn't of helped.:sarcasm:

Wouldn't of?

Rask 7 saves on 11 shots. Wait until the Bruins fans wake up and hear about this one...:sarcasm:Well actually Rask had 13 saves but I guess it really doesn´t matter. 13/17 ain´t much better than 7/11. But as we all know, stats can lie. I´ll wait for the report before I´ll start dissing Rask.

wutever, its better to lose now then later, i think the team will wake up next game and beat the czechs, I have a feeling. And I still think Finland will get atleast a bronze.

:clap: :clap:

Was the Kostitsyn goal a pretty one?

You actually think the game was broadcast somewhere?

You actually think the game was broadcast somewhere?

ya in Belarus!!!!!!!

Honestly the the result isn't overly surprising.

Team Finland's fotunes rest solely on the back of Tuukka Rask. If he has an average game we lose against every team in this tournament.

The cold fact is that Belarus has better forward prospects than Finland.
They have future superstar Grabovski and Kostitsyn up front, we don't have any legitimate prospects, just future 3-4th liners. We've been waiting for Joensuu how many years now?
Yeah well... It might not be as big surprise as it would have been in the previous years but every one who´s saying this isn´t a surprise is lying. And we will not lose every game is this tournament even if Rask plays average. Grabovski and Kostitsyn might be better players than any of our forwards but I´d say we still have a better team. Just a bad game from Finns.

Whoopsie. Losing 4-3 against Belarus is never fun.

I see your are upset, but Grabovski and Kostitsyn don't have much potential.

Well, potential or not, Grabovsky impressed the hell out of me at the men's world championships in Latvia. IMO he was among the single-most impressive players in the tournament right along with Sidney the kidney an his linemates Boyes and Bergeron.

I see your are upset, but Grabovski and Kostitsyn don't have much potential.

Why? They are both playing great for their respective teams in the minors (Bulldogs and Knights).

Whoopsie. Losing 4-3 against Belarus is never fun.

Amen to that. ;)

Whoopsie. Losing 4-3 against Belarus is never fun.

WJCs don't count for much :)

We're not Japan or so, so we won't lose against them in bigger competition like say the olympics :))

Stefanovich's stock just keeps rising for the 2008 draft.


To have just turned 17 and scoring two goals, including the game winner against the goalie Bob McKenzie proclaimed was the tournament's consensus number one, is rather impressive. Personally I think Price is the top goalie at this tourney, but that's beside the point.;)

Honestly the the result isn't overly surprising.

Team Finland's fotunes rest solely on the back of Tuukka Rask. If he has an average game we lose against every team in this tournament.

The cold fact is that Belarus has better forward prospects than Finland.
They have future superstar Grabovski and Kostitsyn up front, we don't have any legitimate prospects, just future 3-4th liners. We've been waiting for Joensuu how many years now?

Grabovski?:whaaa?: He's not playing in that tournament. You probably mean Stafanovich? 2 goals and an assist today! He'll be a top prospect for the 2008 NHL draft.

Honestly the the result isn't overly surprising.

Team Finland's fotunes rest solely on the back of Tuukka Rask. If he has an average game we lose against every team in this tournament.

The cold fact is that Belarus has better forward prospects than Finland.
They have future superstar Grabovski and Kostitsyn up front, we don't have any legitimate prospects, just future 3-4th liners. We've been waiting for Joensuu how many years now?

Well, the better forwards lose the shots 17-35 against us. :sarcasm:

Well, potential or not, Grabovsky impressed the hell out of me at the men's world championships in Latvia. IMO he was among the single-most impressive players in the tournament right along with Sidney the kidney an his linemates Boyes and Bergeron.

Grabovski is an average player. His max in NHL is 40-50 points which would be great for him. I know what I'm talkin about, have seen lot of his games. There are many players in Finland with more upside.

Andrey Kostitsyn is talented player, but he also at the very best case would be 2-3 liner. And would not score much.

Grabovski?:whaaa?: He's not playing in that tournament. You probably mean Stafanovich? 2 goals and an assist today! He'll be a top prospect for the 2008 NHL draft.

No, I mean Grabovsky. I was talking about prospects for both countries in general, not just this tournament.

No, I mean Grabovsky. I was talking about prospects for both countries in general, not just this tournament.Either your trying to cover for your own mistake, or your just being really unlogical :dunno:.

Grabovski is an average player. His max in NHL is 40-50 points which would be great for him. I know what I'm talkin about, have seen lot of his games. There are many players in Finland with more upside.

Andrey Kostitsyn is talented player, but he also at the very best case would be 2-3 liner. And would not score much.

Andrei is the the older brother. Sergei is playing in the tourney. Spelling of these names seems to vary on the day of the week and the alignment of the sun and moon.;)

Grabovski is an average player. His max in NHL is 40-50 points which would be great for him. I know what I'm talkin about, have seen lot of his games. There are many players in Finland with more upside.

Andrey Kostitsyn is talented player, but he also at the very best case would be 2-3 liner. And would not score much.

Thats quite the opinion...you're entitled to it..By the way, how do you know these players so well? What insight do you have on these players that a lot of the professional scouts do not know?

Thats quite the opinion...you're entitled to it..By the way, how do you know these players so well? What insight do you have on these players that a lot of the professional scouts do not know?

he is a HF poster, its alomost like talking to GOD. :sarcasm:

Saying that Grabovski and Kots don't have potential must mean that the poster is a Leafs fan.

Did Rask seriously only have 7 saves?? I just saw that on TSN, and I find that hard to believe

Did Rask seriously only have 7 saves?? I just saw that on TSN, and I find that hard to believeRask had 13 saves if that makes any difference.

Haha, 4-3 Belarus... Good game, brothers !

Did Rask seriously only have 7 saves?? I just saw that on TSN, and I find that hard to believe

In Jatkoaika.com the stats were 13/17.

It is not, however, only Rask to blame, if the report in Jatkoaika.com is correct. Belarussia was more effective than Finland in taking advantage on their scoring opportunities. Two goals were made on power play (incl. one in 5-3 PP), one shorthanded when Finland's PP unit let Kostitsyn into a breakaway and one after a 2-1 attack after losing the puck dangerously in the offensive blueline.

The referee got a lot of criticism from the Finnish players after giving penalties for clean tackles.

I can't really understand why Puustinen is not the one to replace Kantola. Is he already back in the NA or what? Almost traditionally scoring seems to Team Finland's main problem and Puustinen would have been the best sniper available.

Rask had 13 saves if that makes any difference.
That's certainly better than 7, but wow.

Just saw three first goals and you can't really blame Rask for them. Two powerplay goals and a breakaway. Well, if had Rask had been in flames, he might have stopped those, but Rask can't be blamed for the loss.

Kostyyy

Saying that Grabovski and Kots don't have potential must mean that the poster is a Leafs fan.

and the guy comparing Grabovsky to Crosby must be a Habs fan, right?

Leo Komarov.. now thats a Finish name. Isn't he from Estonia?

yeah he is a ethnic Russian who was born in Estonia and moved to Finland at a young age.

Team Belarus looks better and better every year. Good for them. They play with a lot of heart

and the guy comparing Grabovsky to Crosby must be a Habs fan, right?

Way to turn someone's post into something he didnt wrote. He didnt compare Grabovski to Crosby. He said he was almost as impressive as those guys in a short tournament.

It doesnt mean he thinks he's in the same league as those players (because he isnt even close), but you shouldnt need to much effort finding some posts praising Grabovski at that tournament on this very board... And praising posts coming from most people, not habs fans.

and the guy comparing Grabovsky to Crosby must be a Habs fan, right?

Reading is fun.

Rask 7 saves on 11 shots. Wait until the Bruins fans wake up and hear about this one...:sarcasm:

Oh we heard. We have a bright future in goal between to finns Hanna and Tukka..:shakehead

Nice job by Belarus'...Now that they will add a team to a Russian League (not sure yet whether it is RSL or the league below, they will get even better!!!!

Grabovski is an average player. His max in NHL is 40-50 points which would be great for him. I know what I'm talkin about, have seen lot of his games. There are many players in Finland with more upside.

Andrey Kostitsyn is talented player, but he also at the very best case would be 2-3 liner. And would not score much.

I have to disagree with that. He's a pretty good player, looked good playing for Dynamo anyways. It's just they can't put all Slavic team in Mtl, or the fans will crussify them, otherwise he's on the team!

Oh we heard. We have a bright future in goal between to finns Hanna and Tukka..:shakehead

Nice job by Belarus'...Now that they will add a team to a Russian League (not sure yet whether it is RSL or the league below, they will get even better!!!!

You guys are ridiculous. Rask has one bad game and all of the sudden he's useless. This was a pretty meaningless game and Finland will bounce back.

I have to disagree with that. He's a pretty good player, looked good playing for Dynamo anyways. It's just they can't put all Slavic team in Mtl, or the fans will crussify them, otherwise he's on the team!


He's looking very good with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL. He's one of the team's top players (along with Andrei Kostitsyn) I have no clue what his future will be but he's a lot of fun to watch, an exciting player that makes things happen in the offensive zone.

I know that the Habs management feel he will be an NHLer but they usually bring their prospects along slowly. I'd guess and say within 2 years Grabovski will be in the NHL and the fans will love him no matter what his name is, although if he changed it to Jacques Grabovski or Francis perhaps, fans would like him even more. :sarcasm: :dunce:

You guys are ridiculous. Rask has one bad game and all of the sudden he's useless. This was a pretty meaningless game and Finland will bounce back.

I disagree after seeing those goals from the sports news. None of the goals was a softie so I say that this was more or less a basic game from a goalie. It is the expectations: we've used to see him saving the sitting muscles of the Dmen and forwards after their mistakes with some unbelievable saves, but this time he was not able to show them.

It would be a (another) bad mistake from Tolvana to change goalie to the next game.

According to sports news Finland´s last goal was scored by Perttu Lindgren (no question about it: http://www.yle.fi/urheilu/mediasali/video/id61141.html ), but Lehtonen remained as the scorer in the official score sheet?