The action of the Swedish NHL player made Jukka Jalonen boil: "A Finn would never do something like that!"

MILANO.

Finland defeated Italy 11-0 on the Olympic ice on Saturday.

Before Finland’s game, Sweden beat Slovakia 5-3. If Sweden had won 5-2, they would have won the group and advanced directly to the quarter-finals. Now they ended up third in a tight group based on head-to-head comparison.

This result means that Sweden will have to play an extra elimination match, and in the quarter-finals, the team will likely face the United States or Canada.

Moreover, the way Sweden conceded the last goal was inexcusable. Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond took a foolish penalty, and Slovakia scored in the final minute.

Italy’s current and former Lions head coach Jukka Jalonen spoke very openly and directly about Sweden’s blunder.

– No Finnish player would ever take a penalty like the one the Swede took. A revenge penalty two minutes before the end, and that’s the third one. Hohhoijaa, Jalonen said.

– A Finnish player wouldn’t do that. If someone pokes me a bit, I won’t retaliate. That kind of discipline, playing to win and tolerance, Finland is a better team than Sweden. That’s why Sweden hasn’t won anything for a while.

– It’s actually quite a disgraceful act. We’re playing for big stakes; you’re number one if the game ends like this, and if you act foolishly, you might end up third.

– The difference is really huge. You have to play one [extra] game, and even if you win, you’re playing against a team that has rested and is really good.

– I would lose my cool if one of my players did something like that, I can say that straight out. But it’s great that Finnish players are not like that. They understand what playing to win means.

– I don’t know if these kinds of issues have been discussed in the team. There’s more individual sports there than we have.

Jalonen also commented on Canada’s super line. Head coach Jon Cooper put Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini on the same line during the Switzerland game. The results have been devastating.

– Well, that’s a good question [how to stop the line]. It’s not easy to stop them. There’s so much speed skill, individual talent, ability to play together, and scoring efficiency. It’s definitely difficult, Jalonen said.

– The five-man unit that plays against them needs to be able to compete, move, and defend really well. On the other hand, if it’s just a defensive unit, they can attack with another five, which means the Canadians will have the puck all the time, and nothing will come of it.

– You also have to be able to keep the puck yourself, forcing them to defend, where they are not as good. They don’t like to defend. Well, let them defend then. But it’s not easy to keep [the puck] yourself.

Jaakko Perttilä
X: @JaakkoPerttila