Maybe it was because they knew they were preventing Sweden from finishing above them in the group. Maybe it was because they were facing the coach who helped Finland win the gold at the 2022 Olympics. Or most likely, maybe it was because there was a giant difference in skill between Finland and Italy. Whatever it was, Finland laid the smackdown on the Italians on Saturday morning.
Sebastian Aho entered the final game of the group stage without a point, enduring a tough third period on Wednesday and proving to be a non-factor in a 4-1 win over Sweden on Friday. Needing a win to improve their chances of earning a bye into the quarterfinals, the top Finnish lines needed a big effort against Italy. Fortunately, they got it.
Aho opened the scoring for Finland with help from a former Hurricane
After two subpar efforts from Sebastian Aho, he finally got his big moment early against the Italians. The Finns were all over Damian Clara, who'd been stellar through two games despite a pair of losses. Mikko Rantanen took an off shift with the Aho line, and he helped facilitate the goal. With a 2-on-1 in front of Clara, Rantanen slid the puck to Aho for the tap-in, getting Aho his first Olympic goal.
Not content with just one, Aho added another in the third period. With the game already well out of reach by this point, the Finns took no prisoners. Capitalizing on a rough line change for the Italians, Aho and Artturi Lehkonen skated into the zone 2-on-0. Lehkonen moved the puck to Aho, who put it between Davide Fadani's pads to make it 9-0.
While Aho was limited to just two points, he could've had so many more. He was an Italian stick away from another goal in the first period. He drew a pair of penalties, each of which resulted in a goal. He would've gotten an assist if one of Rantanen's shots hadn't been blocked before a goal. Aho was on the ice for five of Finland's 11 goals and led the way with eight shots.
This was the game Finland needed before the playoffs
Italy had been a stingy bunch during their first two games. Finland did a number on them that neither Sweden nor Slovakia did. I was about to say that this was the type of game Finland's Top 6 needed, but this was total domination from the top line to the goalie. Juuse Saros only faced 15 shots, but he stopped each one to earn his second straight shutout.
12 Finns recorded multiple points in this game, led by three points each from Rantanen, Lehkonen, and Kaapo Kakko. Aho was one of four players with multiple goals, joined by Kakko, captain Mikael Granlund, and Joel Kiviranta. The Finnish defensive group combined for nine points. Everything that could've gone right for them did. It's almost as if they were letting off some steam.
With Finland's victory, Slovakia, which lost 5-3 to Sweden earlier this morning, claimed the top spot in Group B, securing a bye into the quarterfinals. Winning by 11 goals moves Finland to 2-0-0-1 with a goal differential of +11. Unless another team puts up a lopsided victory, it probably means that the Finns will be the top second-place team, giving them a bye, too. Not bad for a team that came out flat.