The lions’ stock would rise – Finland is the second most likely medalist

Milano

The lions the situation at the Olympics has already changed radically during the tournament.

After a rough start, it seemed strongly that Finland would immediately be on a collision course with the giants Canada and the USA in the playoff table. In that case, the success of the Lions would not have been in sight.

After the shock loss to Slovakia in the opening match, the Lions’ camp reportedly held quite strict advice – and the course turned.

After the group stage, the situation is now that tough-minded Finland is the second most likely medalist of the tournament, right after Canada.

This at least the NHL data service thinks so Hockeystats.comwhich now gives the Lions a 64 percent chance of a medal — Canada 81, USA 63, Sweden 29, Germany 21 and Slovakia 18.

How can Finland be ahead of the USA’s NHL stars? Because the USA has to face Sweden right away in the quarterfinals.

In the championship probabilities, Canada (39%) and the USA (30%) are still clearly ahead of the third-favorite Lions (14%).

Lions progressed as the best group runner-up directly to Wednesday’s quarter-finals, where at 7:10 p.m. the winner of Tuesday’s quarter-finals will face Switzerland-Italy. So most likely Switzerland.

Although Switzerland is one of the top countries, Finland goes into the quarterfinals as a clear early favorite thanks to both the player material and the rest advantage.

Switzerland, which swears by the name of a highly committed and long-term national team, has also grinded the World Cup with almost the same team every year. You can find it there Roman Josin and Nico Hischierin like NHL stars, but the material advantage is still clear in favor of the Lions.

Switzerland also had time to experience a heavy blow in this tournament, when the sharpest fang of its attack Kevin Fiala suffered a season-ending injury in the Canada game.

Insuring After the victories in Sweden and Italy, Leijonat sails into the playoffs with a strong tailwind.

In recent games, Finland’s game has rolled convincingly on a wide front. When necessary, both slow and fast rhythms, versatility have been found in playing.

Most importantly, Hair in Saros after fumbling at the beginning, has found a promising rhythm between the posts.

However, not all areas have yet demonstrated their functionality.

Finland’s best player in the initial group stage was the understrength specialist of the foursome Joel Armiawhich also splits the triple chain Kaapo Kako with Leijoni’s top spot in the points exchange (2+2).

Otherwise, the sub-chains performed excellently, but in the real world, the focus and responsibility turns to the top. Most often, the winner is the team whose top players do better.

First star Mikko Rantanen and centers of tip chains Roope Hintz mixed I’m Sebastian didn’t get the best on the table in the initial group stage yet. In the Italy match, Aho and Rantanen certainly got a taste of the points, but the resistance was classless.

In the Slovakia and Sweden games, the number one superiority run by the aforementioned trio did not produce a result either. It has to come in the playoffs.

As a whole Finland’s most convincing area so far has been defense.

Although neither From Miro Heiskas we haven’t really seen anything amazing yet, he is an irreplaceable player for Leijon even when he is a little underwhelmed. Heiskanen and Esa Lindell formed by the top pair worked for almost half an hour in the Swedish fall.

In the second pair of Järkälemäki hosts Rasmus Ristolainen and Niko Mikkola have been excellent in the Olympic tournament.

Ristolainen, who is playing for the national team for the first time in ten years, does not often make headlines, but the Turku native, who has greatly improved his defensive security in recent years, has so far been the Lions’ biggest success in this tournament, along with Armia.

After the top four, the level drops drastically, so the load increases even more in the playoffs. Heiskanen–Lindell clocks almost 30 minutes, Mikkola–Ristolainen more than 20, and the rest only have random exchanges.

In the process it is worth remembering that Leijonat has last won a playoff match of the value tournament in the spring of 2022, i.e. almost four years ago. This group and these men have no experience of winning.

Wednesday’s quarter-final will also be measured by head coach Pennanen.

If Finland falls out of the tournament against the underdog Switzerland and Pennanen Leijonat flops in their third tournament as well, the head coach should not have any conditions to continue in his position.

A victory over a top country and a place in the Olympic semi-finals – probably against Canada or the USA – would be an iron-clad performance from both the team and Pennase, which would dispel the doubts that have been simmering around Finland’s coaching for a long time.