Ice-hockey World Championship -13

[Bamboo Grove]

First day today, Germany almost carried on where their football teams had left but an excellent goal by kontiola got us to extra time where we got the Germans just as their player return from the penalty. 3-2 to Finland. I'm sure that goal will be available on youtube later. That was equal to Granlund's goal a few years ago. This is from two years ago. I'll add tonight's when it comes available.
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=18023

[Bamboo Grove]

Hope you can all watch this.

http://www.mtv3.fi/urheilu/mmjaakiekko2 ... ilmaveivin

Press: katso

[johnnyk]

I'm watching the Stanley Cup playoffs. Who would win between the Stanley Cup champion and the "world" champion?

[Bamboo Grove]

johnnyk, I think, club teams and national teams can't be compared very easily. As to NHL, I'm keen to see how Selänne plays for Anaheim. He's 42 and has had another great season.

[migrant]

johnnyk, I think, club teams and national teams can't be compared very easily. As to NHL, I'm keen to see how Selänne plays for Anaheim. He's 42 and has had another great season.

Anaheim 10 minutes away. Get to 5-10 games a year.
I think he'll be a good addition

[johnnyk]

Yes, Teemu is ageless. He scored the winner the other night. Actually these national teams are a grab-bag not real teams at all they are mostly volunteers from teams that were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs at the end of the regular season. Too bad you can't watch it there have been some excellent games so far in the opening round (I assume the signals are not available where you are). Penguins and Blackhawks are the early favourites to meet in the final but its a long hard road to win the last game of the year. Tonight I will watch your countryman Tukka Rask play!

[Bamboo Grove]

About the national teams, johnnyk, I mostly agree with you. However, with the recent rise of the Eastern-European (mainly Russian) KHL, the level in Europe's professional games has gone up quite remarkably. Their season is over so most of those players are playing in the World Championship. I think the last Olympics and the next ones as well, they will have all the NHL players available as well. That will be really interesting.

Now, where you guys able to see that clip of yesterday's goal?

[Bamboo Grove]

Migrant, my youngest nephew (now 25) was a hockey player in his teens. Selänne was his big favourite and as the young man visited California a year ago Christmas time and was able to see his childhood hero to play. That was one of the highlights of the trip for him.

[johnnyk]

BG, the NHL and the IOC are squabbling about the Olympics. Nothing about hockey, its about insurance, travel costs etc. In other words, its about $$$. BTW, Antti Niemi is also playing very very well these days.

[Bamboo Grove]

We've just beaten the Ruskies 3-2. That was like a final. Wow, tonight, at least, I am very happy.

[johnnyk]

Samesame when we play the Ivans, its the most emotional game. Maybe even more for you...the Russkies fired guns at you guys!

[Bamboo Grove]

With Minnesota Wild out of the play-offs Mikael Granlund (one of our heros of 2011) will join the Finland team on Monday. He didn't have a great season in NHL but let's hope he can add a little bit more steal to our team. Mind you, today we had a great game vs Austria, 7-2, with so many players who previously had no points scoring or assisting.

[johnnyk]

BG, lucky for us Canadians that two of the top Suomi goalies are involved in the Stanley Cup and not playing in the worlds.
Antti Niemi and Tuukka Rask have both been playing superbly. Niemi is a finalist for the Vezina Trophy awarded to the top NHL goalie each year.
Two other great Finnish goalies are out of the playoffs - Pekka Rinne (Nashville) just had surgery (hip, I think) and Kari Lehtonen(Dallas) may be resting. We don't get to see much of Lehtonen but the word is he is a superb puckstopper.

[Bamboo Grove]

Come on you Swiss.