First five
Nummelin - Kukkonen, Lehtinen - View School - Peltonen
The leading link is equally successful in both the majority and the minority. Spends the most time on the site, has the best indicator of utility. Both Enkhaelov defenders - Petteri Nummelin and Lasse Kukkonen - act aggressively and will not yield in martial arts to even the most dimensional forwards of rivals. With the realization of the numerical advantage, either Nummelin or Kukkonen goes on ice together with grenadier Pekka Saravo, who has a crazy throw. A huge plus attack: the experience of team captain Ville Peltonen, who knows how to take on the game at the crucial moment, and the individual skills of Jere Lekhtinen, who scored the winning bullet in the quarterfinals to the Americans. During the tournament, Mikko Koivu and Petri Kontiola tried on the spot of the central striker, but in the end Yari Vyuhkola got a foothold. His game with partners from the NHL looks the most organic: the forward of “Karpat” not only scores on his own (in his account - three goals), but also skillfully assists.
Second five
Laamanen - Saravo, T. Ruutu - Koivu - Kallio
The main discovery in the Finnish team is the defender of Saravo. A versatile player, reliable in any combination - both with Mäntyule and Laamanen. Often comes out in the majority, scored a beautiful and very important goal for the Americans. From time to time, he changes positions with right-handed forward striker Tomi Kallio and is active on the spot. Laamanen is mainly focused on destruction and, on occasion, insures Saravo when he is fond of attack. The three of the attack in this combination had only two matches - with the Swedes and the Americans, but had already proved themselves. Especially dangerous forward “Chicago” Tuomo Ruutu. From his most powerful wrist throw the goalkeepers of the national teams of Russia, Switzerland and the USA suffered. What is noteworthy, in all these matches Ruutu opened the scoring goals for his team.
Third five
Cederholm - Berg, Hentunen - Kapanen - Miettinen
Aki-Petteri Berg enjoys unquestioned authority. When the Finnish leader Nummelin was injured in a match with the Americans, it was Berg who took his place in the first link. The phlegmatic Tony Söderholm perfectly complements the cocky partner. Of the forwards of this link, only Jukka Hentunen has scored so far. Miettinen, Pärssinen and Jarkko Ruutu take turns in the position of the rightmost one.
Fourth five
Bergenheim - Kontiola - Pärssinen (Pyueryalya, J. Ruutu)
The Finns, like our previous rival, the Czechs, play in three pairs of defenders, so the fourth link consists only of forwards. The focus is on the experienced Jarkko Ruutu, who can successfully play in any combination. Jet Lasse Pyerjalya often goes on the ice, but Timo Pärssinen, who started the championship in the second link, does not enjoy confidence.
Goalkeeper
Kari lehtonen
At the preliminary stage, the Finnish goalkeepers played in turn. But in the quarterfinals, Erkka Westerlund opted for Kari Lehtonen. And I was not mistaken. The match with the Americans, despite the four goals conceded, the Atlanta goalkeeper can add to his asset: he repeatedly helped out partners, and in the shoot-out series he simply enchanted the goal. In the semifinals, most likely, Lehtonen will play again, not Frederic Norren, who conceded five goals from the Russians.
Star
Petteri Nummelin
A true leader and lead the team. It seems he never gets tired. Goes on the ice in the majority and minority. I have already scored three goals. At the end of the match with the Americans, he received a painful injury. With difficulty, with the help of partners, he stumbled to the bench, but did not leave the team at a crucial moment and even executed a bullet.
Special brigades
12 of the 24 goals the Finns scored in the majority, including three - into the gates of the Russian team. The usual combination of forwards, as a rule, comes to the realization of an extra player, but the defenders change. Especially dangerous is the combination of Nummelin - Saravo. In the minority, the Suomi team also acts very confidently: they conceded only five goals.
Summary
In the quarterfinals, the Finns with great difficulty - on shootouts - beat the young, hungry to victory American team. And although they were constantly leading in the score with a difference of one puck, the Americans were perhaps closer to victory. It’s enough to recall how the barbell rang in overtime after the throw of Paris ...
This does not mean at all that on Saturday with the Finns the Russian team will not be difficult. No, it will be even harder. Beating such a team once is not an easy task, and twice in one tournament - encore - and even more so.
At the preliminary stage, the Finns taught the lesson of the Russian national team, which considered that a three-goal handicap after two periods guarantees victory. I would like to believe that that Finnish lesson did not pass for the Russian team for nothing.