WC GROUP F: Apr 30 GDT - Sweden vs. Finland (1-1)

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Sweden vs. Finland
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My prediction: 4-3 Sweden

Looking forward to this game. If Sweden win, they have already qualified for the quarterfinal. Finland hasn't a lot of points entering this game so a win here is important for the Finnish team. Will the Finnish defensemen keep up with Michael Nylander? Will Sweden handle Petteri Nummelin, Sami Salo and the other sharp shooters on the Finnish PP? :)

EDIT: win=game

This a must win for Team Finland. A little bonus added if we win since it is against our arch rivals, Team Sweden. Noronen plays for us but Norrena would be a bad choice either. Team Finland have to help the goalie more. In the Slovakia game that didn't happen and we lost. Still, we played in the EHT finals and won Team Sweden. That gives us a slight edge imo IF Noronen has a good day.

Important points. Must win! Finland takes it 4-2. Last one is an empty netter.

I'm too afraid to watch this game sober. Thank God it's the 1st of May so that's a good excuse to drink myself to death (though not literally, I hope).

Either Sweden wins 4-2, or 5-2 or Finland wins 3-1.

I'm too afraid to watch this game sober. Thank God it's the 1st of May so that's a good excuse to drink myself to death (though not literally, I hope).

Either Sweden wins 4-2, or 5-2 or Finland wins 3-1.

I have 1L bottle of Koskenkorva(+ battery) and Karjala 12pack for this game :) gotta love these annual 1st of May games :banana:

jepjepjoo,
Is it safe to say you will be crawling home? ;) :)
"battery" is that an energy drink?

I bought myself a six-pack Lapinkulta, that will have to do seeing as I have some hockey writing to do afterwards.:)

Is May 1st a holiday of some kind in Scandinavia?

4:2 sweden

Yeap, 1st of may is a good reason to drink while watching the game. I have Liqouritte Royal (tastes like medicine, but is good) and KOFF 12-pack :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

5-3 Finland

jepjepjoo,
Is it safe to say you will be crawling home? ;) :)
"battery" is that an energy drink?

Nah I probably won't crawl far before the cops pick me up and give me a nice warm place to sleep :) yup battery is an energy drink... 50% battery 50% Koskenkorva, but I only have 2 cans so it has to be 100% Koskenkorva at some point :)

gotta love these annual 1st of May games :banana:
Expecially against swedes :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Hyvää vappua! Klara vappen! :jump: :banana: :jump:

it'll be live on german TV. all i can say is "how swede it is". ;)

my prediction is 5-3 sweden and a strong game from alfie. i'm looking forward to this game like a kid who's waiting for candy.

Is May 1st a holiday of some kind in Scandinavia?

Not sure about these particular countries, but May 1st is internationally celebrated as May Day. There are lots of different points to it. Some places celebrate it as Labor Day, especially communist or socialist nations. In many places, including the U.S., it is celebrated as a seasonal holiday, ushering in spring. The combination of a socialist labor day and nature-centric holiday make it the perfect two-punch hippie celebration. :joker:

Not sure about these particular countries, but May 1st is internationally celebrated as May Day. There are lots of different points to it. Some places celebrate it as Labor Day, especially communist or socialist nations. In many places, including the U.S., it is celebrated as a seasonal holiday, ushering in spring. The combination of a socialist labor day and nature-centric holiday make it the perfect two-punch hippie celebration. :joker:

people like me see it as a day in memorial of those anarchists who were murdered by the police in chicago, but nowadays it's the minority.

in german it's "labor day" btw and there are some demonstrations, but most people tend to drink alcohol and have parties.

Finland wins, 4-1.

Is May 1st a holiday of some kind in Scandinavia?

Sort of. There's the socialist/communist bulls*** and there's Walpurgis/Valborg which is both pagan and later christian. It's an excuse to get hammered, like any other holliday up here.

It's some sort of holiday, yes. One of the most pointless one's if you ask me. But, a good excuse to drink hard and make a mess with all sorts of garnishes.

I think most people are doing it same way I am. A "few" beers during the game and then vodka and other stronger stuff afterwards. Especially if we win... or lose.

Finns and Vodka...hehe. Don`t ever tell a Finn that you`re going to "drink him under the table" (local expression)...Cause 99 out of 100 times you will be lying under the table or christmas three before him! Believe me...I know! ;)

May 1st is a great day. Labour day...nice speaches and great parties. Huge in Norway, and rightfully so! Workers all over the world---UNITE! Arbeid til alle! Peace - Freedom - Solidarity!

About the game...5-1 Sweden

people like me see it as a day in memorial of those anarchists who were murdered by the police in chicago, but nowadays it's the minority.

Certainly an ugly day. Let us not forget though that many police men were killed or wounded by the bomb which incited the whole mess. My only point here is that lots of people tend to look at one perspective of a historical event and ignore the other, not to say you do. Obviously this does not excuse random return fire upon innocents. That was undoubtedly the goal of the extremist party or person responsible for the bomb. Brings to mind modern day terrorism and how it discredits genuine causes by forcing people to take one of two polar extremes.

If I was a mod, I'd probably yell at myself for going offtopic.

Edit: I failed to mention the point which prompted me to make this reply in the first place, which is that the Haymarket Affair (what I just discussed) played a large role in making May Day the labor holiday that it is today. I wonder how many more ways I could have stuffed the (partial) word "day" into that sentence?

4-2 Sweden

This one should be a beauty to watch. I'll predict a 2-2 tie in the best game of the tournament so far.

I'll predict also a draw, 2-2.

Finnish have bad memories about game against Sweden last year. The game will again be tight, that's quite sure.

Finnish goals: Pärssinen, Söderholm
Swedish goals: Tärnström, Jönsson.

Hmm, Valborg in Göteborg. You know what that means, of course I'm going to see Chalmerscortegen. That means no game for me. :cry:

I guess I have to compensate somewhat it by drinking loads today and tomorrow. Then I'm gonna go like this when Sweden wins it 4-1....... :banana:

I may as well take part in the on-topic discussion... 3-2 Sweden is written on my proverbial hat in the ring.

I cant decide between two scenarios..

Sweden takes a early 5-1 lead, then just as the 2nd period ends, Jokinen skates through the entire Swedish team and scores to make it 5-4.
Then come the 3rd period, Pirnes first equalises to 5-5 and then with 3 minutes to go he scores the game winner, 5-6!

Or b)
Finland wins 4-1 thanks to a Peltonen hattrick.
Peltonen,Peltonen, Jokinen, Peltonen

=)

Things don't look too good for the Lions right now, I'm a bit scared. Neither team can pull back like Russia and Slovakia did, so this has the makings of the most entertaining game thus far, and I'll be...at work! YAY!! :banana:

Finland will come over excited to the game (cause it's almost a "must win" as someone said, and it's against Sweden, and they want to make up for the 5-6 humiliation last year etc...), they will play too aggressive, making more mistakes... defensive errors, stupid penalties (Ruutu :D ) while the swedes will keep their cool (as usual), play solid defense and win it 4-2 with their slick turn-overs lead by Nylander-Alfredsson.

(We've seen that scenario so many times before... and this is one of those times)
:cry:

I'm not a student anymore so I'm still sober at 10 am. :shakehead

This will be a perfect opportunity to watch the game and prepare for the evening...

Don't ask me about the game though...

Finland needs a win and will take it. Should be an entertaining game. Sweden does not have a team nearly as good as Slovakia this year. Finland will not repeat the same mistakes, at least not as many times as against Slovaks.

Finland wins 5-2, Alfie scores both for Sweden.

Sweden gets the first goal.

Wishing for a 2-1 victory for Sweden. Goals by Christian Bäckman and Jonathan Hedström.

The finns have good defensive forwards and probably will hold Alfredsson and Nylander scoreless, but at the moment we have quite some depth among forwards and many can score. Great matchup in goal as well, Noronen vs Lundqvist. Two future goalies.

I think most people are doing it same way I am. A "few" beers during the game and then vodka and other stronger stuff afterwards. Especially if we win... or lose.

Yep, that`s what I`m going to do. Actually we are drinking beer already. Later Finlandia Wodka, oh yeah baby!!

Well, it`s only Sweden we have to beat. I predict we will win 12-0. Jokinen 5, Rintanen 2, Peltonen 2, Niinimaa, Nummelin and Laaksonen will score.

GO FINLAND GO :yo:

An interesting fact:
When a journalist asked what Team Finland head coach Raimo Summanen thinks about the Sweden game, he replied: A helluva party. :D

BTW, this game will decide how Team Finland games are going to end imo.

Actually we are drinking beer already. Later Finlandia Wodka, oh yeah baby!!

no kidding!?



I predict we will win 12-0.


:) :D

Swe 6 Fin 4

mmmmmmmmmmmmm RINGNES...right rangers?

6-5 Sweden.

Well, it couldn't be better way to start celebrating the 1st May than winning Sweden. Finland wins 3-2, goals by Hentunen, Peltonen and Pirjetä.

Klara vappen, spara vatten :joker:

Swe 6 Fin 4

mmmmmmmmmmmmm RINGNES...right rangers?

No No No No No.... Ringnes is Danish. I would never drink that. They took our beloved TOU from us!

I`ve got Hansa in the fridge today...

No No No No No.... Ringnes is Danish. I would never drink that. They took our beloved TOU from us!

I`ve got Hansa in the fridge today...

shaddapyourface rangers, Ringnes rules

8 minutes to game start. Unfortunately no Andreas Johansson on the ice :(. Johan Höglund will replace him today.

If Höglund doesn't score playing with Nylander, he has nothing to do on this team. If he is a failure, bring in Kahnberg! I'd love to see him with Axelsson and Nylander.

Samuel Påhlsson vs Olli Jokinen. Great matchup by Hardy.

mediocre first period. Finland definitely the better team after 5 minutes. Lundqvist has been very good in net for Sweden. Very impressed by the Finnish forwards and their forecheck. They look like the Swedish forwards did against Russia.

'''''hoping for a better second period'''''

Decent first period. Both teams were very carefull at start, then Finland started to take things over. Sweden had a few good chances also. Lots of hooking, unfortunately the only call was on Esa Pirnes from Finland. Ref could have taken out a few swede hooks as well, there certainly were some.

Nothing spectacular yet, Rintanen hit the post once and Hentunen hit Lundqvists mask once.

Nothing spectacular yet, Rintanen hit the post once and Hentunen hit Lundqvists mask once.

nylander's scoring chance was a nice try. unfortunately he wasn't able to finish his move.

1-0 Finland
What a slapper by Petter Nummelin, Lundqvist wasn't quick enough with his glove. The shot would have likely gone over had not Lundqvist tried to save it :(

1-0 Finland
What a slapper by Petter Nummelin, Lundqvist wasn't quick enough with his glove. The shot would have likely gone over had not Lundqvist tried to save it :(


horrible ....

we don't need more goalies who wants to do a "Tommy Salo" :blush:

second period over.
Sweden the better team in this one and with definitely more quality scoring chances. Finland scored the only goal though. Game is getting better and more interesting.

Alfredsson and Nylander showed some chemistry in the end of the second, hopefully they will score a goal or two.

Didn't like Påhlsson's play on Finland's goal, if he had hit Nummelin instead of going away it wouldn't just still be a tie, Nummelin would be afraid of the puck.

This does not look good :shakehead

Noronen is playing good, and the Finnish team is playing very good defence at the moment and we can't keep the puck in the zone ....

We Score !

:handclap:

Heja Sverige :banana:

Wow. Sweden scores with their goalie pulled, the puck went left post - right post - left post -- and then in! :eek:

edit: What's with these new, funky-looking buttons anyway? Don't like 'em!

Wow. Sweden scores with their goalie pulled, the puck went left post - right post - left post -- and then in! :eek:



Typical... :cry: :banghead: :mad:

Referee was ****. No call on any swedish hooks. And what a surprise...these lucky sons of ..... score a goal that hits 3 (!!!) posts before it goes in.

I really can't cope with the swedish LUCK.

Wow. Sweden scores with their goalie pulled, the puck went left post - right post - left post -- and then in! :eek:

edit: What's with these new, funky-looking buttons anyway? Don't like 'em!
who scored? what time?

Haha! 1-1! :clap: :razz:

who scored? what time?

Christian Bäckman sent the puck on goal with like 50 seconds to go...

4 swedish players in front of the net ....and the goalie pulled

Christian Bäckman, 19.05
I would be more angry had not Sweden grabbed at least one point in this game. Sweden had basically all the offense in the second and third period.

I was at times very impressed by the Finnish D, which I understand hasn't been that good earlier in the tourney.

who scored? what time?

Who gives a ****. Some lucky moron from blueline with the most lucky goal I have EVER seen.

imagine if Alfredsson would have scored with his shot earlier also, the one that hit the post from the blueline... and Sweden would have won with two lucky goals..
Anyway, not so good game, pretty entertaining but nothing spectacular.

Who gives a ****. Some lucky moron from blueline with the most lucky goal I have EVER seen.
haha, well at least u didnt get beat, like last year ;)

We Score !

:handclap:

Heja Sverige :banana:

What an unbeautiful goal! From goalpost to another and back and into goal! Just cant congrat on this one, sorry. Finns should´ve take this one to home, but no!

Christian Bäckman, 19.05
I would be more angry had not Sweden grabbed at least one point in this game. Sweden had basically all the offense in the second and third period.

I was at times very impressed by the Finnish D, which I understand hasn't been that good earlier in the tourney.

Still sweden played undisciplined and unconcentrated for most of the game. I think the finns deserved to win, actually.

Riddarn,
Well if you look at their fighting spirit and work ethics than they definitely deserved it. Sweden had however twice as many shots as the Finns, twice as many scoring chances etc.
BTW, TV3 had Dick Tärnström as a top 3 in the game.. I thought he was brutal...

haha, well at least u didnt get beat, like last year ;)

I dont recall getting beat last year or any other year.

I sure got beat at unibet :( Had several combos, all with either Finland or Sweden as the winner.. but no tie :( !! grrr ;)

Sweden may have had more shots, but few really dangerous scoring chances IMHO. Finland deserved to win; although I loathe the kind of defensive play they relied on, they did it very well indeed.

And I agree, Tärnström looked bad today. But then again, so did most of the Swedes.

Referee was ****. No call on any swedish hooks. And what a surprise...these lucky sons of ..... score a goal that hits 3 (!!!) posts before it goes in.

I really can't cope with the swedish LUCK.

Agreed. Swedes are always lucky! I hate it

shaddapyourface rangers, Ringnes rules

Du har ingen baller! Går ikke ann å støtte Danmark på den måten. Gjør som jeg. Boikott alle danske produkter bortsett fra den danske salamien...Den er bare for god :D

ZerTheHero,
Agreed, great for Noronen to bounce back after a not so good game against Slovakia. He had one really poor "play", as he just gave the puck away to Tärnström, but elsewise he looked very steady for most of the game.

Three posts? How can you score via three posts? The hockey gods think they're sooooo hilarious. The joke about Sweden tying the game is twenty years old and it Ain't Funny! *Shakes fist at the sky*

*Inhale, exhale*

Noronen makes the defense play bad. Even though he stops a truckload of shots, his shaky play translates to the defensemen's insecurity. What's more, from what I saw on the radio, his mistake and the ensuing Swedish control in the third period stuffed a tennis ball down the team's throat. Given a reason, these guys will choke.

Riddarn,
Well if you look at their fighting spirit and work ethics than they definitely deserved it. Sweden had however twice as many shots as the Finns, twice as many scoring chances etc.
BTW, TV3 had Dick Tärnström as a top 3 in the game.. I thought he was brutal...

Yeah Tärnström wasn't very good but none of the swedish defensemen were, except for maybe Hävelid. Sundin gives me a nervous breakdown everytime he's on the ice, he's a shadow of his former self (2 years ago).

I'm not sure if I like the shots-on-goal statistic as proof of who was the better team. The finnish tactic was to trap and counterattack, which they did very well. They also tried to clear the slot from swedish players and force them to shoot from the outside, and they did that fairly well too. The finns executed their game better accordingly to their gameplan and the swedes didn't. They were unlucky to let that goal in.

Boikott alle danske produkter bortsett fra den danske salamien...Den er bare for god

Ringnes >>> Danskepølse

Oboy, I'm glad I'm not finnish. Lose a point to the swedes on a triple post in the last minute.... I would not be able to breathe normally in days.

Lundqvist looked shaky all game through, more quality shots from the front of the net would've ensured Finland's victory. Very few shots from or near the slot made the job easy for an apparently nervous Lundqvist.

Agree somewhat. He hasn't looked as steady as in the pre-games, but on the other hand, as long as he not let any goals go in I won't complain that much. He can, and will, be even better.

yup, inexperienced Per Hållberg outshined Sundin. Sundin was excellent last season but not nearly as good this season. Looks very slow.

One player that I thought would get some problems in this tournament is Per Hållberg (although he is a favorite of mine), but he has looked quite good so far. He is offensive but haven't been lost on counterattacks of what I've seen. He should maybe try to get the puck on goal sometimes, instead of always through it down in the boards, but overall, I'm satisfied with his play.

Sundin was excellent last season but not nearly as good this season. Looks very slow.

He looks confused and totally out of sync too. Also he's starting to lose his physical battles as well, which is supposed to be his strong side.

He should maybe try to get the puck on goal sometimes, instead of always through it down in the boards, but overall, I'm satisfied with his play.

agreed. Christian Bäckman is excellent at getting the puck on goal. It has been almost a trademark for him in the NHL this season and I am glad he is successful at this in the WC as well.

Also for a change after having some excellent games, Niko Kapanen looked completly off today. Not a single huge hit thrown and positional play defensively was respectable at most.

What Niko Kapanen have you been watching all these years? He's never been known for hitting.

This hurts.. Finland played great deffensively, but the swedes got a lucky bounce once again.. I nearly got into a fight with my roommate after the game, this is diffucult.. Koivu and Selanne to the team and were getting the gold!!!! Klara vappen kaikille!! And we are off to our student union party!!!! Peace folks! :handclap:

TK79,
Hasn't Koivu already declined to play due to an injury? They mentioned it during the Swedish broadcast.

Ringnes >>> Danskepølse

Oboy, I'm glad I'm not finnish. Lose a point to the swedes on a triple post in the last minute.... I would not be able to breathe normally in days.

Fordelen med øl er at det finnes så mange forskjellige typer. Selv om jeg boikotter Ringnes har jeg fortsatt mange typer å ta av. Det samme kan kanskje ikke sies om dansk salami ;)

Loosing a point like that is always hard..especially to the Swedes. Hopefully their Vodka will help many Finnish people get through the day/night.

Koivu can't play. Too many injuries :P

They didn't seem to stop him in the NHL playoffs though...

Oboy, I'm glad I'm not finnish. Lose a point to the swedes on a triple post in the last minute.... I would not be able to breathe normally in days.

We're already starting to get used to it. Always those lucky B******s tie the game in the last minute or tie the game and get the win. Still, the triple post makes the urband legend even bigger legend. Swedish have unbelievable luck.

IMO these two teams are equal so the result was justified. Team Finland had some bad luck i the first. Second period was Team Sweden's control. We just scored the first one and imo it went in easily. Third period was again Team Sweden's control but Team Finland's tactic allowed those yellow jerseys to enter our d-zone. Team Finland's defence was good imo but the luck just wasn't in our side at the end. I don't know why we didn't get any PP time since there were few situations where the ref could have blown his whistle.

In any case, great game by both teams.

Finland needs a luck implant. Where did you Swedes get yours?

Implant? Yeah right. Bigger titts for Noronen. :) (sorry to be the most unfunny!!)

Anyway im wishing well to ya all! Have a inhuman VAPPU, get drunk, get funky, wfe! Dont think the lions need any Yours one, but thanks anyway!

go finland go!!

We're already starting to get used to it. Always those lucky B******s tie the game in the last minute or tie the game and get the win. Still, the triple post makes the urband legend even bigger legend. Swedish have unbelievable luck.

Yes they do, but it was pathetic to see Finland put 4 guys on their blue line and start defending when it was more than one period left in the game! I mean, teams like Czechs and Slovaks do that all the time, but unlike those teams Finland didn't even try to attack when there was chance for break-aways! They looked like Danes or Germans out there, and of course that strategy would be punished.

I don't like Summanen at all. Not only is he ignoring Jarkko Immonen, Jari Viuhkola and other younger players, but his strategy reminds me too much of the stupid "underdog" mentality that Finland had for too many years until Curre Lindström realized that Finland very well could dominate a game with creative offense just like any other nation.

There is no way Finland can win this tournament with such defensive mentality, when you haven't got the tradition of Czech/Russia/Slovak quick turn-overs and break-aways as support. And it's going to end with a quarter final loss against Canada or Czech republic this time. :cry:

Mr. Slime, you are so right.