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Finns
field strong team
Don't make a mistake and easily dismiss Finland's chances in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. The Finns have announced a team with strong NHL ties, and boast a coach, Raimo Summanen, who once played in the NHL and is thus very familiar with what it takes to win in on NHL rinks. The Finns boast a very well-balanced team with plenty of skill and experience. In fact, it's hard to find an overt weakness on the Finnish roster, which has depth in addition to talent. And in goal, the Finns sport plenty of irony - as well as talent. The leading goaltender for the Finns is Miikka Kiprusoff, named to the team as he prepared to lead the Calgary Flames into Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Kiprusoff is an emerging star in goal, having finally gotten his chance with the Flames this season. During the regular season, he posted a 24-10-4 record with a 1.69 goals-against average. In leading the Flames into the Stanley Cup Finals, Kiprusoff has gone 12-7 with a 1.90 GAA. Here's the first bit of irony. Kiprusoff's probable backup is Vesa Toskala of San Jose. His play with the Sharks was so impressive to team management that it made Kiprusoff the odd-man out and paved the way for his in-season trade to Calgary that played a huge role in the Flames becoming Western Conference champions and Stanley Cup Finalists. For his part, Toskala was 12-8-4 with a 2.06 GAA as Evgeni Nabokov's backup. And perhaps most ironic of all, Kari Lehtonen of the Atlanta Thrashers, is regarded as the most talented of the three, a former first-round selection of the Thrashers who has earned rave reviews for his play in the American Hockey League. He is on target to thrill NHL audiences next season. Lehtonen went 4-0 with a 1.25 GAA in a brief NHL tour this season, so his potential is exciting. On defense, the Finns boast a mix of sheer talent back with considerable NHL experience. The venerable Teppo Numminen once again has been called to action by his country. Playing his first season with the Dallas Stars in 2003-04, Numminen had a tough season, appearing in just 62 games because of injury and a heart abnormality that has been brought under control. Numminen is a longtime veteran of international competition for Finland and his experience is key. Kimmo Timonen of the Nashville Predators is another important player on the Finnish defense. He was a mainstay for Nashville last season, helping the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time. In 77 games during the regular season, Timonen scored 12 goals and assisted on 32 others. Philadelphia's Joni Pitkanen is coming off an excellent rookie season, scoring eight goals and 19 assists in 71 games while going plus-15. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Pitkanen had three assists in 15 games. Ossi Vaananen split the 2003-04 NHL season between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Colorado Avalanche. In 67 games with Phoenix he had two goals and four assists and was scoreless in a dozen regular-season games with the Avs. In addition, he picked up an assist in 11 postseason games. Vancouver's Sami Salo is another Finnish defenseman with considerable experience who boosts Finland's World Cup hopes. In his second season with the Canucks, Salo scored seven goals and 19 assists in 74 regular-season games and had a goal and two assists in seven playoff games. Toronto's Aki Berg is another Finnish defenseman with solid North American credentials. In 79 games with the Maple Leafs last season, Berg had two goals and seven assists. He also appeared in 10 playoff games for the Leafs. Calgary's Toni Lydman just completed his fourth NHL season, scoring four goals and 16 assists in 67 games. An injury limited his postseason status to three games headed into the Finals. Finland's forwards are a mix of current NHL players, along with some Finnish Elite League players. Teemu Selanne of the Avalanche is hoping to use the World Cup as a springboard to a new season. After signing with the Avs to great expectations prior to 2003-04, Selanne slumped to just 16 goals and 16 assists in 78 regular-season games and just three assists in 10 playoff games. Calgary's Ville Nieminen has been a big hit - literally - with the Flames in the playoffs. Acquired from Chicago where he scored just two goals and 11 assists in 60 games, Nieminen was energized by his trade to the Flames, scoring three goals and five assists in 19 regular-season games and another three goals and three assists in 18 playoff games leading to the Stanley Cup Finals. Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu also has been named to the team and he's coming off a solid season, scoring 14 goals and 41 assists in 68 regular-season games and an additional three goals and eight assists in 11 playoff games. Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen also will play for Finland. He scored 26 goals and 32 assists in 82 games for the Panthers last season. Chicago rookie Tuomo Ruutu takes a step up to play with the big boys based on his 23 goals and 21 assists in 82 games for the Hawks last season. Vancouver's Jarkko Ruutu also is on the team coming off a regular season in which he scored six goals and eight assists in 71 regular-season games and another goal in six playoff games. Antti Laaksonen of the Minnesota Wild will play for Finland, coming off a 2003-04 regular season where he scored 12 goals and 14 assists last season. He will be joined by Sami Kapanen of the Philadelphia Flyers, who was a standout last season with 12 goals and 18 assists during the regular season. In the playoffs, Kapanen proved to be quite the team player, shifting to defense when injuries handicapped the team's defense, Dallas' Niko Kapanen also will be on the Finnish team after a disappointing season with the Dallas Stars, scoring one goal and five assists in 67 games. Another Dallas Star headed to the World Cup for Finland is all-around standout Jere Lehtinen, who was limited by injury to 58 games and 13 goals and 13 assists. In five playoff games, Lehtinen was held scoreless. Other NHL players named include Riku Hahl of the Colorado Avalanche and Esa Pirnes of the Los Angeles Kings. They will be joined by Ville Peltonen of HC Lugano, Mikko Eloranta of TPS Turku and Jukka Hentunen of HC Fribourg-Gotteron. Team Finland Roster
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Nieminen
suspended for one game
The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that Nieminen had been suspended for one game for a hitting-from-behind incident involving Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Calgary GM/coach Darryl Sutter said the suspension was expected."It holds up exactly to what happened in the playoffs to date. It's expected," said Sutter. Asked what having Nieminen out of the line-up does to his team Sutter joked: "One less Finn. Fewer vowels." The incident occurred at 15:47 of the third period. Nieminen was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct. It has been a huge topic of discussion in Tampa Bay as radio talk shows work people into a lather over the "goons" from Canada.During his media conference Sutter's cell phone rang. "It's probably New York calling again. They probably want to talk to Canada's team." Sutter was not happy with the suspension and wasn't afraid to talk about it. He didn't single anybody out but referred to New York and the media plenty. "Was it shocking to you that they suspended him? No. It wasn't to us either," said Sutter. "As I said, we have seen it all through the playoffs. We have lost three players total to injuries that there was a total of two minutes called. So fine, we know what we're up against. "We're the underdog. We've said that. I am not saying it now to make a point, but it's dead on true. We're the little team that wasn't supposed to be here and a lot of people don't want us to be here and to make sure that we're not successful. We know that." "Nieminen used his forearm to deliver a forceful hit from behind to the head of his opponent," said NHL Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "This hit was more severe than any of the other plays that were brought to our attention during the Final. This was a hit that clearly crossed the line and was directed at the head. Even if Lecavalier is able to play in Game 5, this type of hit must be subject to supplemental discipline." Veteran Dave Lowry is expected to draw into the Flames line-up because of the suspension. In an interview with media in Tampa Bay, Campbell elaborated on the supsension and addressed the issue of why Cory Stillman was not suspended for his high, hard elbow on Marcus Nilson in Game 1 of the series."People ask a question, where is the
line? And when does a hit go from two minutes to five minutes and when
does a hit go from five to a suspension. In this case, none of our
antennas were raised, and none of your antennas to be fair, to ask the
question, are you going to suspend Cory Stillman after that game after
that period, next day," Campbell told the media. "One of those hits where our antennas were raised. Our reaction was there as soon as the hit was made, unlike the other ones, which were part of the play and didn't bring a response right away to us, that something was wrong. That's the difference." Nieminen had been suspended previously in this year’s Stanley Cup playoff (Game 5 of Western Conference Semifinal series against Detroit) and is considered a repeat offender. Nieminen will miss Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, June 3 at Tampa Bay. He will be eligible to return for Game 6, June 5 at Calgary. Nieminen had a disciplinary hearing with the NHL on Tuesday. Lecavalier did not return to Game 4 but was on the Lightning bench when the final horn sounded. He needed 10 stitches to close a cut on his head. He is expected to play on Thursday. The Lightning refused to comment on the incident.Nieminen was also suspended for Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-final against Detroit for a hit on goalie Curtis Joseph. The Flames won that game 1-0 in Detroit. |
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Suspended
Nieminen ready for Game 6 return TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Calgary Flames forward Ville Nieminen vows his suspension will not affect how hard he'll play in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. ``I tell you one thing, I will be well rested and almost arrested,'' Nieminen said Thursday morning. The Finnish forward skated with his teammates, who were getting ready for that night's Game 5 -- a critical contest in the tied series that Nieminen is not allowed to play in. Nieminen was suspended for one game by the NHL on Wednesday because of his check from behind that drove Tampa Bay Lightning star Vincent Lecavalier into the boards and glass. He wouldn't comment on whether he felt the punishment was deserved. ``It's not the players who decide suspensions. It's people somewhere else who decide suspensions,'' said Nieminen, who has four goals and three assists in the playoffs. The play happened with just over four minutes left in Calgary's 1-0 loss to Tampa Bay on Monday that evened the best-of-seven series. Nieminen was given a major penalty and was ejected. The Flames were forced to play the remainder short-handed. It is the second time in these playoffs that Nieminen has been suspended for a Game 5. In the second round against Detroit, Nieminen was forced to sit out after he ran over Red Wings goalie Curtis Joseph with 4 seconds left in another Calgary loss. ``Of course I feel bad,'' he said. ``Is there some other things in your life that if you look back you would've not done? I think everybody in this room has those kind of things. It's unfortunate that I have the last one.'' Nieminen said he was tentative about looking for big hits when he got back in the lineup against Detroit. But the key for him and his teammates is to play with energy while remaining in control. He thought that was lacking in Game 4 of the finals when Lightning goalie Nikolai Khabibulin frustrated the Flames in Tampa Bay's 1-0 victory. ``We probably got a little bit overexcited and we starting looking around again to who is going to score one or two or three goals,'' he said. ``That's been our problem when we don't get our team scoring ... we are too excited as a team at times. ``At the same time, if we are not overexcited I don't know if we would be this far.'' Nieminen is eligible to come back Saturday in Game 6 when either the Flames or Lightning will be one win away from capturing the Stanley Cup. ``We're losing a guy who is bringing a lot of energy and excitement into the locker room,'' said Martin Gelinas, who took Nieminen's spot on the second line with Marcus Nilson and Shean Donovan. Calgary is 3-0 in Game 5 in the playoffs, winning each time on the road. Whatever happens Thursday night won't be seen by Nieminen. He said he will be in attendance, but will be looking for other things to do. ``It's tougher because of the situation right now,'' Nieminen said. ``Last game when I got suspended I watched one period. I'm not going to watch any of tonight. I can't. ``It's a lot easier to be out there than watching the game on TV or in a press box. I had enough hot dogs already.'' Flames coach Darryl Sutter said Nieminen didn't accompany the team on its flight to Florida on Wednesday, but that wasn't true. When asked why he wanted to make the five-hour journey, he had a simple reply. ``Because there was a seat available in the plane for me,'' he said tersely. ``Any other good questions like that?'' |