Team North America Dominates the Finns – Wins 4-1

Posted on September 19, 2016 by Stephanie Judge
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Sunday night the explosive speed and hard charging tenacity of Team North America completely dominated the veterans of Team Finland, besting them 4-1 at the final horn.

While Team Finland is known for the strength of its goaltending, tonight Pekka Rinne was no match for the strength, speed and young legs of Team North America.

Team North America effectively neutralized the offensive skills of Patrik Laine – a key component of their success. Matt Murray was masterful in net, though probably a little  lonely in the second and third periods, as North America offensively dominated the game. Team North America’s assault on Finland’s goaltender Rinne was relentless as the Finns offensive and defensive lines were no match for  Team North America.

Period 1

Both teams came out strong from the drop of the puck, with Team North America playing a fast game, punctuated by quick, smart passes, quickly taking control of the pace of the game and the ice.

Team Finland got the first power play early in the period, but after getting some good looks, it was Team North America who came up strong with the penalty kill.  It would be Team North America who struck first. During a power play, forward Jack Eichel, aka “The Jackal” put one through the five hole of Team Finland’s goaltender Rinne, 5:03 minutes into the period. Future Maple Leaf Auston Matthews and Connor McDavid  had the assists.

At that point, Team North America seemed to dominate the ice with two very real potential scoring opportunities. At 13:34 in the period, Team North America almost notched a second tally, but the puck fell centimeters short of fully crossing the line, when Finn Pokka Ville swatted it out of the paint.

It was a nail biter once again, when Team North America’s Gaudreau hit a ringer  off the post – another narrow miss that would have brought the score to 2-0.

There was another close call less than three minutes in the period. Team North America found the net, but after review, the goal was disallowed for goalie interference, as it was ruled that  Mark Scheifele pushed a Finn defender into Rinne.

period-1

Period 2

Team North America came out ready to play and hammered shot after shot at Rinne. The highlight of the period was Team North America’s two goals in two minutes, though they absolutely owned this period and closed out the second with four unanswered goals.

The first goal of the period came at 5:27 into the period when Gaudreau caught the puck on the back side of his blade and tipped it into the net.

Two minutes later Team North America’s Drouin made it 3-0 as they continued to skate circles around Team Finland.

Team North America notched their fourth unanswered goal 14:37 into the period when MacKinnon knocked one in off an assist from Parayko. It was Parayko’s second assist of the game.

 

period-2

Period 3

The final period brought enhanced physical play, with roughing penalties. As frustrations began to increase, the physicality increased, as seen in Patrik Laine’s crushing hit on Dylan Larkin.

Finally, nearly sixteen minutes into the game, Team Finland lit the lamp, when Valtteri  Filppula stole the puck and found the net for the Finns’ first and only score of the night.

period-3

Sights from Toronto

Team North America’s Connor McDavid has a burgeoning fan base.

Team Finland fans celebrating the World Cup of Hockey experience despite the score.

 

Stephanie Judge

About Stephanie Judge

C-A-P-S Caps Caps Caps!! A lover of all things Capitals (especially T.J. Oshie) Stephanie is an avid fan follow her on Twitter @stpjudge for her latest hockey adventures.
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