World Cup of Hockey: Team Russia vs Team Finland Preview

New York Islanders Battle: Kulemin vs Pokka for… None of the Marbles. Well, maybe a marble or two. World Cup of Hockey resumes with Russia vs. Finland

The Russian National Hockey Team was once a monster. The literal translation of the Red Army into sport. And, really, they embodied what was the best idealistic hopes of socialism. That the hive-mind mentality could lead to greater collective achievement.

Today’s Russian team is an odd blustery amalgam of interesting parts. They have one guy born when Alexander Yakushev and Valeri Kharmalov were the USSR’s best forwards on a squad that was beating up the NHL’s best. And they have a few players who have no viable memories of the Soviet system.

They’ve been typically uneven during the first five games (including exhibition). Looking unbeatable for stretches, and then spending a period acting like spectators. That shouldn’t be surprising. This has become the Russian Team identity for some time now. It holds for the Olympics, World Championships, and Junior Tourneys as well.

With a win, the Russians should be safely into the next round. No surprise there with Ovechkin, Panarin, Namestnikov, Tarasenko rolling over the boards.

To my eyes, Datsyuk looks like he has slowed considerably, and Malkin has been unimpressive. But there’s no reason to think either, or both, couldn’t just dominate against the Finns. As for New York Islander Nikolai Kulemin, he’s been the better version of himself. Little moments of finesse seeping through in a workmanlike effort.

Keys to Success

Russia’s defense is going to have to do a better job on both ends of the ice to beat Finland and win beyond that. The entire defense has a only single point so far.   And the Russians are getting badly outshot because their defenders are slow to react. That might be partially due to the team speed of their opponents North America and Team Sweden.  But hey, there are no slow teams left to play in this competition so they best step up.

And the Russians are getting badly outshot because their defenders are slow to react. That might be partially due to the team speed of their opponents North America and Team Sweden.  But hey, there are no slow teams left to play in this competition so they best step up.

Finland isn’t nearly the mystery that is Russia. The heirs to the legacy of Selanne and Kurri have only scored one goal. It’s hard to win a game, much less a best on best tournament, with a single goal.

They’ve played fairly well and kept games close. But there’s a reason they haven’t won. I’m not sure why we didn’t see it before, but that roster stinks.

They have a few players that will deserve to be in this tournament in four years, Barkov, Maata… Ok, they have two. Probably Laine. Maybe Ristolainen. But truth be told, guys like Aho, Pokka, Korpikoski, Lepisto, Lindell, Donskoi, Lehtera, couldn’t help a single team in this competition.

I’m not saying Pokka can’t play in the NHL.   But he doesn’t seem like he would be on the top half of most NHL team’s defense squads. Komorov? Should John Tortorella start his own country, Komarov would fit nicely onto the National team.

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All that being said, Finland is one of those nations (Like Hungary and the Czechs) that have a hatred for Russia bred into their bones. It’s not worth reviewing a few hundred years of history in a hockey article, but expect to see some national pride bubble to the surface. I expect to see the chippiest game of the week and the Euro version of tinfoil knuckles and old time Eddie Shore hockey.