Comment: Konsta Helenius is now Leijoni’s most interesting player

Zürich

Finland–Great Britain 4–0 (1–0, 2–0, 1–0)

The lions the biggest challenge at the hockey world championships is currently protection from the scorching sun and drinking enough water. Heat of up to 30 degrees has arrived at the WC Zurich.

Kaukalo was once again unaware of the challenge, when the United Kingdom of Great Britain became a partner in the leisurely waltz of a summer evening.

To continue the winning streak, the Lions toyed with the British late on Friday with a score of 4–0.

The final result instead, the biggest interest in the match was focused on the renewed number one chain of the Lions, where Alexander Barkov alongside, six different wingers were already introduced during the tournament’s five matches.

He was the second one raised by Tappara Konsta Heleniuswho even earlier this week played in the NHL playoffs.

Helenius opened his scoring account with the first pass in his first change. After that, during the match, he had a drive through, a couple of posts and a whole lot of other dangerous places, but the point of the opening change ended up being the only one of the evening.

The number of points in this match was irrelevant in itself. In any case, Helenius immediately gave very promising signs of his abilities.

The young rooster brought speed, quickness and cunning game intelligence to the rink, which was seen, among other things, in a couple of good possessions and sniffing out the pass positions between the defenders.

Helenius is currently the most interesting individual in the Lions’ team. In fact, he is one of Finland’s most interesting World Cup players for a long time.

The reason for this is that the man from Ylöjärvi is right now on the threshold of a big breakthrough to the top of the Puck World.

63 points in 63 AHL games of the season is an exceptional number for a 19-year-old player.

Even more extraordinary is the way Helenius stormed into the NHL playoffs last week. Even straight into the deciding games of the second round series between Buffalo and Montreal – and as a center forward.

During his four matches, Helenius scored two goals, but considering all the situations he created, it was even a bit unlucky. Helenius was one of the most visible players on the court in the matches.

Compared to those matches, Friday night’s Britannia game was as intense and demanding as the work team’s Sunday games, so let’s still consider Tuesday morning’s standoff game as the strongest demonstration of Helenius’ abilities this week.

Two a year ago in Prague, at the age of 18 years and 1 day, Helenius became the youngest World Cup player in the history of Finland. Even at that time, he had become a brute from Mikkeli’s Jukurs. Now a completely different player, who has incentives up to NHL playoff glory.

Of course, Raakile Helenius is still barely 20 years old, but now it is much clearer in his playing why he is becoming a new Finnish star player in the NHL for a long time.

Hardly a superstar, but a star with 70-80 power points nonetheless. In the AHL, Helenius hardly plays a single game during his career.

In these Leijon Takuu still has a lot of joy in the games from Helenius. Even though only Britain was against, Barkovin, Helenius and by Mikael Granlund The NHL troika seemed to find a connection right away and built several clever combinations.

Like his chain mates, Helenius is a versatile all-round player, but right next to the conscientious Granlund and Barkov for this wobbly guy For Vaahteramäki Eemel opens up a perfect place to execute his villainous hooks in the direction of attack.

Next the show is scheduled for Sunday evening. After all, the opposition improves a couple of notches from Britain, but another clear victory for the Lions can be expected against Austria.

The first and at the same time the last test of proper condition of the group stage is on the program on Tuesday, when the Lions and the ecstatic host country Switzerland decide the group victory.