Finland vs USA. Will the Finns be able to start the home tournament with a win?
Already the first game day of the World Hockey Championship gives fans the game of two championship favorites. The hosts of the tournament, the Finnish team, will play with the US team on May 12. The meeting will take place on the ice of the Tampere Dec arena.
The Finnish national team is the most progressive hockey team in recent years. This is eloquently evidenced by the results of the Finnish squad at major international tournaments of recent times. Olympic gold in 2022, when Russian hockey players were beaten in the final with a score of 2-1. At the last three World Championships, the Finns have been in the final three times, taking gold twice and losing once in the decisive match to the Canadian team. In all these tournaments, the national team was led by Jukka Jalonen, who is now on the coaching bridge of the national team.
Judging by the composition, the Finnish team is quite capable of repeating last year's success and once again become the first at the home World Championship. The Finns have retained the backbone of the championship, adding to the composition of several star representatives from the NHL. First of all, it is worth noting Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen, with 55 abandoned washers, who became the third scorer in the regular season in the NHL. Also from the NHL came forwards Kappanen, Kakko, Armia and defenseman Olli Myatta from Detroit. On the eve of the start of the World Cup, the Finns took part in the traditional stage of the Eurotour - the Czech Hockey Games. In a four-team tournament, the Finns unexpectedly came last, beating the Czechs 3-2 and twice losing 1-2 to the Swiss team and 3-4 to the Swedes.
USA
The Americans at any hockey tournament are considered a shadow favorite, although in recent years the North American team has not had any special achievements. The maximum that the US team has achieved in the 21st century at world championships is bronze medals, the last of which happened in 2021. The Americans were close to bronze a year ago, but lost in the semifinals to the future champions, and could not get together for the match for third place. As a result, a major defeat 4-8 from the Czech team and the final fourth place.
The Americans are going to the upcoming World Cup in a rather experimental line-up, where the bet is made on young hockey players. 8 hockey players at once spent the current season in the Student Hockey League, having practically no experience of playing at an adult level. Of the experienced hockey players, it is worth noting Pittsburgh forward Nick Bonino and one of the best snipers in the Buffalo Alex Tuck. The Americans did without control fights, so in Finland the Stars and Stripes will play practically from the sheet.
Our Expert Predictions & Analysis on Finland vs USA
FinlandThe Finnish national team is the most progressive hockey team in recent years. This is eloquently evidenced by the results of the Finnish squad at major international tournaments of recent times. Olympic gold in 2022, when Russian hockey players were beaten in the final with a score of 2-1. At the last three World Championships, the Finns have been in the final three times, taking gold twice and losing once in the decisive match to the Canadian team. In all these tournaments, the national team was led by Jukka Jalonen, who is now on the coaching bridge of the national team.
Judging by the composition, the Finnish team is quite capable of repeating last year's success and once again become the first at the home World Championship. The Finns have retained the backbone of the championship, adding to the composition of several star representatives from the NHL. First of all, it is worth noting Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen, with 55 abandoned washers, who became the third scorer in the regular season in the NHL. Also from the NHL came forwards Kappanen, Kakko, Armia and defenseman Olli Myatta from Detroit. On the eve of the start of the World Cup, the Finns took part in the traditional stage of the Eurotour - the Czech Hockey Games. In a four-team tournament, the Finns unexpectedly came last, beating the Czechs 3-2 and twice losing 1-2 to the Swiss team and 3-4 to the Swedes.
USA
The Americans at any hockey tournament are considered a shadow favorite, although in recent years the North American team has not had any special achievements. The maximum that the US team has achieved in the 21st century at world championships is bronze medals, the last of which happened in 2021. The Americans were close to bronze a year ago, but lost in the semifinals to the future champions, and could not get together for the match for third place. As a result, a major defeat 4-8 from the Czech team and the final fourth place.
The Americans are going to the upcoming World Cup in a rather experimental line-up, where the bet is made on young hockey players. 8 hockey players at once spent the current season in the Student Hockey League, having practically no experience of playing at an adult level. Of the experienced hockey players, it is worth noting Pittsburgh forward Nick Bonino and one of the best snipers in the Buffalo Alex Tuck. The Americans did without control fights, so in Finland the Stars and Stripes will play practically from the sheet.
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