Finland Defeats Sweden 4-3 in Back and Forth OT Thriller

Saturday's first rivalry match in the 4 Nations Face-Off did not disappoint. After recent events, the commentator asked the crowd to respect both national anthems, and to their credit, they did. Both the Swedish and Finnish national anthems are beautiful pieces of music.

Today's game featured Kevin Lankinen vs. Filip Gustavsson. Finland swapped out their goaltenders after Saros was torched by Team USA earlier in the tournament. For what it’s worth, the no-goals commercial Saros stars in for Mass Mutual feels almost on the nose now after the 6-1 blowout he suffered against Team USA. This game was a must-win for Team Finland, as they'd be mathematically eliminated with a regulation loss. Maybe I haven't been paying close attention recently, but it looks like Mika has gotten a slight trim. His hair was still flowing behind him, but not quite as much.

1st Period

• It started out extremely physical between the two teams, but it was immediately clear that the two Scandinavian countries had a long history.
• Elias Petterson had some lovely dangles but couldn’t stick handle himself through all the Finnish defenders. His great individual effort had no result comparable to his frustrating NHL season.
• Sweden went to the first power play after pressuring in the offensive zone, and Mikkola was penalized for hooking. Maybe I'll never be used to all the marketing schemes, but Tylenol sponsoring the 4 Nations power play is definitely something. 
• Zibanejad was on the top power-play unit but didn’t do much this time around. He got caught up in a little skirmish with Luostarinen as the puck was being moved around Sweden's zone. He got off the ice shortly after, and Sweden was able to get some actual pressure in the offensive zone. 
• I know I mentioned the game was physical, but it deservingly should be noted that the physicality continued throughout the period with aggressive forechecking and big open-ice hits. 

• Emily Kaplan mentioned that half of Zibanejads's family is Finnish, and there’s a lot of respect between the two countries, but during the game, that was hard to find as they continued finishing their checks.
• An aggressive forecheck by Nylander broke up a Finnish play, and Mika was in the right spot at the right time to snap the puck through Lankinen for the first goal of the game. Please, more of this from him. 

• While there was a lot of back-and-forth throughout this game, both Barkov and Aho really excel at breaking up rushes through the neutral zone. It's no wonder Florida and Carolina are both elite-level teams, with those two players leading the charge.
• Finland's first shot on the net was halfway through the first period, but they scored shortly after. Sweden dumped it in and lagged a little behind in the forecheck, so Finland quickly moved the puck into an odd-man rush. Luostarinen sauced it right over Forsling’s stick to Lundell for an easy goal to tie the game. Florida Panthers are all around. Zibanejad was on the ice for the goal against and was the deepest man in the offensive zone but hustled harder than anyone while backchecking and was the closest forward to catching up to the play.

• Kakko played for Team Finland in this game and made a nifty stick lift play to steal the puck and cause chaos, eventually leading to Sweden taking their first penalty. Finland’s first power play unit had five forwards, and whether it was Sweden's excellent penalty kill or their lack of cohesion, it felt noticeable.
• Zibanejad played on the penalty kill for Team Sweden and was very effective in disrupting play. Sweden did not hold back in pressuring in the offensive zone while short-handed, and Zibanejad often led the charge.
• Nylander and Zibanejad are a great duo. Late in the first, Nylander fed Zibanejad for a prime opportunity that Lankinen got a pad on. Adrian Kempe was also noticeable throughout the game. Playing on the line with Nylander and Zibanejad, his swift skating and puck skills contributed to his linemate's success.
• With a minute to go, Hedman took a tripping penalty that was questionably a dive by Aho. Finland moved the puck around, and Laine fed a pass across to Rantanen, who scored on his first shot of the tournament. Rantanen didn’t get all of it, and the puck fluttered slowly past Gustavsson, who certainly wants that one back. Finland goes into the first intermission, leading 2-1. 

2nd Period

• Ullmark replaced Gustavsson in net for the second period. He had just returned after missing 18 games in the NHL but was committed to playing in the tournament. Zibanejad started the second period for Sweden, and he and Nylander continue to work well together.  
• Throughout the game, Sweden passed up many direct shots and looked to make a fancy pass. Zibanejad was, at times, front and center in this issue. This was very noticeable early in the second as Finland came out ready to play in the second period, looking to build on and maintain their lead. 
• Just a few minutes into the period, Barkov went right around ZIbanejad after he reached with a stick check for a high-danger shot that Ullmark turned away. Finland continued to pressure, and eventually, Ullmark covered it up for the whistle. 
• As Finland continued to dominate the game, Sweden found a way to break through. After some puck magic by Forsberg and Eriksson Ek, Dahlin crashed the net and got an easy rebound to tie the game. 

• Five minutes later into the period, Sweden grabbed the puck and transitioned out of the zone off of some excellent legwork from Nylander. Nylander hustled forward to lead the charge, and as they crossed into the offensive zone, he hit Erik Karlsson, who accelerated to join the rush, with a pass perfectly on the tape. Karlsson outskated Rantanen and shot the puck past Lankinen to take Sweden's second lead of the game. 

• In an offensive break-in, Zibanejad cut right and dropped a pass back to Arvidsson, who got a good shot off but was ultimately stopped by Lankinen. Shortly after, during a faceoff 16 minutes in, Zibanejad was sent out of the circle by the linesmen but still found a way to retrieve the puck and grab the faceoff win for Sweden after Kempe tied up the Finnish center. Zibanejad
• After a great hustle to cancel out an icing by Arvidsson, Finland gained control of the puck and sped into the Swedish zone. Rantanen spun and fed the puck to Maatta on the side of the net. Kakko was creating chaos in front of the net and muscled his way to deflect the puck into the net, arguably Barkov’s goal, who was right beside him, to tie the game yet again.

• Kakko is looking pretty good, everyone breathe and tap the sign.

• The physicality continued throughout this period with big hit after big hit knocking players down, Kempe on Lindell particularly. 
• Zibanejad gave Karlsson a great give-and-go entering into the offensive zone. Sweden cycled the puck, and Zibanejad hustled in deep and tied up a player by the net to allow Nylander space to stick handle in front of the net for a great chance. Zibanejad's strong game continued as he did many little things right.
• At the end of the second period, Barkov was seen limping on the bench after skating slowly off the ice. 

3rd Period

• Barkov was back on the bench and appeared to be just fine, erasing many fans' concerns of a possible injury to their star forward. Zibanejad's line was on the ice to start the third, and Mika won the opening face-off. 
• Kakko was promoted to be on a line full-time with Rantanen and Barkov and didn’t look particularly out of place. Once again, everyone tap the sign.

• Barkov got two minutes for hooking, and Sweden got the first power play in the third period. On his first touch on the power play, Mika fumbled the puck and almost lost it. Sweden didn’t get much going, but he stayed on for most of the power play. As the man advantage ended, Barkov was sent in for a breakaway as he exited the penalty box but was out dueled by Ullmark.
• After winning another offensive zone face-off, Zibanejad's line maintained puck possession, and a few deft touches gave Mika a chance to throw the puck at the net, but the play ended when he was called offsides. 
• Late in the third, Zibanejad picked up speed in the neutral zone and entered the zone. Most people would have thought he could have gotten a shot off, but he made an awkward drop pass that ended up breaking up the play. Overall Zibanejad was having a strong game, but did make a few mistakes like this that a lot of Rangers fans are used to seeing.
• With 5 minutes left in the game, in a scenario that very much feels like the next goal wins, the puck was bobbled by Karlsson and careened to a wide-open Hintz, who had the game on his stick but couldn’t put it in the top corner. 
• Zibanejad learned from his earlier experience and took a shot when given the opportunity, but as the puck came out of the zone, it led to a chance for Finland, where Kakko almost grabbed the win after just missing on a pass from Mikkola. Both teams were buzzing now. 
• Forslund failed to keep the puck in but got laid out into the Finnish bench post-whistle slightly off-screen. Laine and Eriksson Ek were slashing each other and exchanging words, which led to a great quote from Ray Ferraro: “Laine speaks Finnish, Eriksson Ek speaks Swedish, but when they need to communicate, they speak English.” To be honest, I'd put money on either player knowing both Swedish and Finnish, but this is still a rare golden quote from Chicken Parm.
• Vaakanainen, who was quietly steady for Finland throughout the game, also used his body and moved players off the puck. This was especially noticeable in the third. He had Lucas Raymond in a headlock after a whistle when Lankinen covered the puck. I’ll always remember Raymond as the kid who grabbed Cuylle's stick and hit himself in the face trying to get a penalty called. 

• Zibanejad continued to play a good defensive game, knocking Aho and Barkov off the puck in what could have been a dangerous scenario with a minute left in regulation. As scrums were forming after many whistles late in the third, the teams needed extra time to resolve this game. 

Overtime

• Zibanejad won the first faceoff for Sweden against Barkov and had an excellent chance to win the game 20 seconds in, but Lankinen got a pad on his shot. The play came back into Sweden’s zone, and Zibanejad knocked Rantanen down to the ice and off the puck. 
• It needs to be said that Jesper Bratt is such a fast skater. There were moments when he briefly took over the game because of his speed. 
• Kempe had a chance to win the game, and after watching the replay, I’m still unsure how the puck didn’t go in. Right after this, Granlund grabbed the puck, took off up the ice on a 2-on-1, looked to pass, and sent the puck right through Ullmark’s legs for the win. Finland’s chances in the tournament were very much alive. 
• Guy Carbonneau presented the 1st star and player of the game to Mikael Granlund, who had the game-winning goal.