Source : WTVA.com
Tolvanen, the Nashville Predators’ 2017 first-round pick, scored two more goals to lead Finland past Norway, 5-1, Friday at the Gangneung Ice Centre in PyeongChang, South Korea. It’s Team Finland’s second win of the preliminary round.
“I like scoring every game,” Tolvanen told reporters, “so that’s a big thing for me. I don’t know, I just go out there and have fun and try to play my game.”
The 18-year-old Tolvanen has three goals and three assists through two games in PyeongChang.
Then, at 5:32 of the second period, Tolvanen found himself on a break on Haugen and beat the Norwegian goaltender with a forehand-to-backhand deke, slipping it through Haugen’s five-hole.
Tolvanen’s second marker was the game-winner. He scored twice on six shots on goal and was a threat to score every time he had the puck.
“It’s amazing. It’s a pleasure,” Finland captain Lasse Kukkonen said. “It’s a privilege to be on the same team with him and I get a chance to enjoy watching him play.
“Everybody can see he’s enjoying the hockey. He’s playing the hockey that everybody wants to play, having fun and doing the things he loves out there.”
After a torrid start to the 2017-18 season in the KHL – 16 goals in his first 28 games – Tolvanen hasn’t registered a goal for Jokerit since Nov. 24, 2017, or a span of 18 games.
So far, so good as Tolvanen is emerging as the early star of the Olympics.
“Eeli is a great player with an unbelievable shot,” Finland head coach Lauri Marjamaki said. “He brings us so much, his open-minded game and fearless (approach). And the whole atmosphere is excited because Eeli is on our team.”
A disallowed goal in the second period from Norway shifted the momentum fully into Finland’s favor. Factor in the 12 penalty minutes by the Norwegians, plus the two power-play goals from Finland, and it’s a losing formula.
“I don’t think it did but it looks like it did,” Norway defenseman Jonas Holos said of the disallowed goal. “After that, Finland took over the game completely.
“It was a good call by the referee. You can’t let stuff like that bug you. We took too many penalties. It is tough to kill that many penalties. It drains your energy.”
Norway winger Patrick Thoresen, formerly of the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers, opened the scoring in the first period, depositing a loose puck past Finland goalie Mikko Koskinen on the power play.
Thoresen’s goal was Norway’s lone against Koskinen, who made 21 saves in the win.
Lepisto’s goal was his second of these Olympics.
Haugen allowed five goals on 29 shots. Through two games, the Norwegian goalie has allowed nine goals on 57 shots.
“We played well the first two periods,” Haugen said, “but the lack of discipline was tough, especially against this team. It was frustrating. We were not disciplined enough.
“But the referee is the same for both teams and I guess, the other teams are managing to understand how he calls the games.”
Finland returns to action Sunday against Germany at 7:10 a.m.
Norway faces Germany Saturday night at 10:10 p.m.
