Exhibition- USA v.s Finland

Can anyone provide an update of this game?

Also, I went to the main site www.usahockey.com

It advertised that they were broadcasting this game live but I didn't see an audio link anywhere. Any help would be appreciated.

Live scoreboard (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_popup.asp?ottelu_id=19906&TID=1254&ilman=true)

I believe usahockey.com's audiocasts begin with the actual tournament. This is just an exhibition game so I wasn't expecting them to have it available.

Live scoreboard (http://www.sm-liiga.fi/finhockey2/sjl_tulospalvelu_popup.asp?ottelu_id=19906&TID=1254&ilman=true)


Thanks for the info. Looks like the first goal was scored by Parise from Murray and Werner. Werner is a guy under alot of people's radar, but is highly skilled. The U.S. should have three great scoring lines. O'Sullivan with Eaves is going to be dynamic.

Thanks for the info. Looks like the first goal was scored by Parise from Murray and Werner. Werner is a guy under alot of people's radar, but is highly skilled. The U.S. should have three great scoring lines. O'Sullivan with Eaves is going to be dynamic.

Yep...I really like your team...(Although I would have felt better if Jimmy Howard was in net for you.)

Russia, Canada, USA....neck and neck...should be a great tourney.

Yep...I really like your team...(Although I would have felt better if Jimmy Howard was in net for you.)

Russia, Canada, USA....neck and neck...should be a great tourney.



I would have felt better with Howard as well, mainly because he would have been more seasoned, but Montoya has the ability.

Its a 1-1 game now Tommi Oksa just scored.

Looks like the U.S. is a little undisciplined. In a tournament like this that can kill you.

Looks like the Finns are up 2-1 and is that Montoya pulled?

4-1 Fins :eek:

I must admit, I am a bit shocked but it is exhibition.

Oh yeah awesome.

I must admit, I am a bit shocked but it is exhibition.



I wonder if the last goal was an empty netter? Anyway, the Finns capitalized on their power plays, which is key in this tourney. I hope the U.S. learns from this and stays out of the box.

Looks like USA took some costly penalties, and only 15 shots on net?

Looks like USA took some costly penalties, and only 15 shots on net?



Not really a surprise given the fact they were killing so many penalties(nine it would appear). It looks like Vicari took the brunt of the damage, reinforcing Montoya as the starter (I would guess).

Did USA have any set lines? If so, what line/teammates did Fritsche have?

wow. the USA took a lot of penalties.

USA's lines

Eaves - O'Sullivan - Moore
Kesler - Fritsche - Sterling
Parise - Murray - Werner
Dowell - Stafford - Booth

wow. the USA took a lot of penalties.


From the way I read it, the U.S. took 18 minutes in penalties compared to the 12 minutes taken by the Finns. A somewhat high number but nothing extraordinary.

This is only an exhibition but it seems to me that the Finns schooled us pretty well.

I hope this team isn't buying into the hype around them because this is going to be a tough tournament with a number of good teams able to win the whole thing, and that of course includes Finland.

I wonder if the last goal was an empty netter? Anyway, the Finns capitalized on their power plays, which is key in this tourney. I hope the U.S. learns from this and stays out of the box.


Not an empty netter..

Looks like USA took some costly penalties, and only 15 shots on net?

Shots on Finnish goal by team in warm-up games:
Austria - 10
Switzerland - 9
USA - 15

I'd like to bring to your attention what I believe will be the underestimation of the tournament:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=6522&mode=threaded&order=0

"The bad news for Finland is that they bolster defensive and offensive units that on paper don’t stack up very well against the Russians, Canada, the Czechs or the Americans. The defense is made up of all 19-year-olds, however none of these seven have been top 100 selections in the NHL entry draft and only three have been drafted in total. Mikko Kalteva was an Avalanche fourth rounder while Kevin Kantee and Oskari Korpikari were both late round selections by Chicago and Montreal respectively. Janne Jalasvaara was expected to be drafted in last year’s entry draft but ended up going undrafted. "

That defence, has complately snuffed out the offense of everyone it's faced thus far. And I'm wagering that it will surprise everybody and be one the strenghts of Team Finland U20 as it goes all the way to the Final..

It looks like Vicari took the brunt of the damage, reinforcing Montoya as the starter (I would guess).

Apparently this switch had been agreed before the game, so it wasn't performance related.

Shots on Finnish goal by team in warm-up games:
Austria - 10
Switzerland - 9
USA - 15

I'd like to bring to your attention what I believe will be the underestimation of the tournament:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=6522&mode=threaded&order=0

"The bad news for Finland is that they bolster defensive and offensive units that on paper don’t stack up very well against the Russians, Canada, the Czechs or the Americans. The defense is made up of all 19-year-olds, however none of these seven have been top 100 selections in the NHL entry draft and only three have been drafted in total. Mikko Kalteva was an Avalanche fourth rounder while Kevin Kantee and Oskari Korpikari were both late round selections by Chicago and Montreal respectively. Janne Jalasvaara was expected to be drafted in last year’s entry draft but ended up going undrafted. "

That defence, has complately snuffed out the offense of everyone it's faced thus far. And I'm wagering that it will surprise everybody and be one the strenghts of Team Finland U20 as it goes all the way to the Final..

If I were Finland the only game that would matter in the assessment would be the US game. Holding down the offenses of Austria and Switzerland is no great achievement by any means. Just as the Canadians probably should have been more dominant of Sweden. I don't think that anyone cares what happens against Austria because it isn't a measuring stick.

Great performance by the Finns...but the stiffer competition is yet to come.

Shots on Finnish goal by team in warm-up games:
Austria - 10
Switzerland - 9
USA - 15

I'd like to bring to your attention what I believe will be the underestimation of the tournament:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=6522&mode=threaded&order=0

"The bad news for Finland is that they bolster defensive and offensive units that on paper don’t stack up very well against the Russians, Canada, the Czechs or the Americans. The defense is made up of all 19-year-olds, however none of these seven have been top 100 selections in the NHL entry draft and only three have been drafted in total. Mikko Kalteva was an Avalanche fourth rounder while Kevin Kantee and Oskari Korpikari were both late round selections by Chicago and Montreal respectively. Janne Jalasvaara was expected to be drafted in last year’s entry draft but ended up going undrafted. "

That defence, has complately snuffed out the offense of everyone it's faced thus far. And I'm wagering that it will surprise everybody and be one the strenghts of Team Finland U20 as it goes all the way to the Final..
The games between Austria and Switzerland don't mean anything. Switzerland is a solid squad but they won't challenge for a medal. Austria is not a good team they will get regulated. As for the American game it's only one game and it was an exhibition game.

The games between Austria and Switzerland don't mean anything. Switzerland is a solid squad but they won't challenge for a medal. Austria is not a good team they will get regulated. As for the American game it's only one game and it was an exhibition game.

I meant that, this is an indication, and the lack of "names" actually shows how many of them , or how many of them will (imho), be/already represent late round "steals". And that many of them are underestimated, and underestimation is always hazardous.

USA's lines

Eaves - O'Sullivan - Moore
Kesler - Fritsche - Sterling
Parise - Murray - Werner
Dowell - Stafford - Booth

I know this is jumping the gun, but when the tournament begins and as time goes on if Patrick Eaves and Patrick O'Sullivan are unable to click. Mike Eaves might take Patrick and put him on a line with Brady Murray and Zach Parise. These three played on a line together in prep school for the Shattuck St. Mary's. However, I do know Eaves and O'Sullivan played together on the NTDP Under-17 team.

A chippy game with a lot of incidents behind the play and after the whistle. Sami Lepistö, Patrick O'Sullivan and Eaves were in the thick of things of always.

Finland played excellent D limiting the shots by the US. Toivonen picked up the rest convincingly, easy and fluid. Montoya looked a little shaky but had nothing to do with the goals.

Finnish PP rocked, keep it simple. Just put guys in front and shoot the puck from the blueline.

Bergenheim rested with the flu, Petrell with a sprained shoulder.

Unimaginative offense from both teams. Both played good D and there were little shots from the prime sector and the slot. Neither looked to have any offensive wizards and relied on up&down-hockey with speed.

A couple of pics from the game:
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA_425.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA2.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Al_Montoya2_USA.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Hannu_Toivonen_Suomi.jpg

So Toivonen is a native of Snickers?

I really hope they take the ads off when the games start to count.

So Toivonen is a native of Snickers?

I really hope they take the ads off when the games start to count.They do. The same thing with the men's team. The sponsor jerseys look baaaad.

A chippy game with a lot of incidents behind the play and after the whistle. Sami Lepistö, Patrick O'Sullivan and Eaves were in the thick of things of always.

Finland played excellent D limiting the shots by the US. Toivonen picked up the rest convincingly, easy and fluid. Montoya looked a little shaky but had nothing to do with the goals.

Finnish PP rocked, keep it simple. Just put guys in front and shoot the puck from the blueline.

Bergenheim rested with the flu, Petrell with a sprained shoulder.

Unimaginative offense from both teams. Both played good D and there were little shots from the prime sector and the slot. Neither looked to have any offensive wizards and relied on up&down-hockey with speed.

A couple of pics from the game:
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA_425.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA2.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Suomi_USA.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Al_Montoya2_USA.jpg
http://www.jatkoaika.com/albumit/Liljaniemi2/Hannu_Toivonen_Suomi.jpg



Thanks for the info. Here's another recap of the game:

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/031224_wjc_usafin/


I hope the U.S. got the message that undisciplined play can kill you in tournaments like the WJC's. Things are called fairly tight. If the they got that message, and carry that with them the rest of the way I'll be happy. I know a ton of offense wasn't generated in the game, but the U.S. has some very skilled players, so I wouldn't worry about the team putting pucks in the net.

Team Finland has prepared for a long time - they are a Team with capital T.

Their lines know their roles, d-men and forwards keep the optimum distance between each other, forwards are defensively sound.

Yeah, their preparation this year is unbelievable! I think people underrate them based on the roster. Games aren't played on paper and I strongly suspect Finland will medal this year.

Remember - ALL these kids have played atleast semi-regularly against FULL PROFESSIONALS.

That's not the case for majority of north-american players.

So what?

That part actually doesn't make much of a difference, IMO.

Werner is a guy under alot of people's radar, but is highly skilled.

I have to agree.. hard not being a homer since he's from Maryland and drafted by the Caps.. But I actually got to play with him a few times when I was younger(19 now) at a place called the Ice Gardens. It's our local hockey place..big facility a few times U.S. touring teams have played there. Anyways I played with him a few times in pickup games and the guys unbelievable. He's so fast it's insane. His offensive skills are right on point too but even if they quit developing where they're at he can make it in the NHL on speed alone. I remember him skatign circle around everybody but when I watched him at camp he was faster than Bondra on the ice. The kids got the best wheels in our organization from top to bottom including NHLers, AHLers and Juniors. I see a lot of Bondra in him actually in terms of skill at the age. Bondra came into the league with mainly pure speed and as he cerated chances for himself with the speed made things happen offensively and began to learn his offensive game more and more and eventually became one of the best snipers in the game.

It looks like the U.S. team understands that undisciplined play did and will cost them:

http://www.usahockey.com/usa_hockey/main/home/04wjcdiary_booth/


I'm looking forward to seeing how they respond against Austria.

Yeah, their preparation this year is unbelievable! I think people underrate them based on the roster. Games aren't played on paper and I strongly suspect Finland will medal this year.


Mestis (Div I) was adjusted for this season because an Estonian team was invited to take part.. they pulled out at the last minute meaning there was now a hole in the Mestis schedule.. rather than waste the hole they'd worked hard to create, they decided to give those game-dates to the U20 team.

A great move, both for the kids and hockey in general. Attendances to those games has been above the Mestis average crowds so it really should/could/is worth making a regular event of..

And thus, 1 extra division 1 team would be born simply by playing with U20's who can't make their big team..