today 11:34
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Coach Craig Ramsay didn’t have much to blame the players after the close semifinal loss at the Beijing Olympics. The Slovak hockey players followed the match instructions to the point, they were able to defend the Finnish power-ups, but after the collected goal they were unable to assert themselves against the opponent’s organized defense.
The Finns managed to score at the end of the opening period and in the next course they managed to keep a close lead. The second goal into the empty net 40 seconds before the end definitely broke the Slovak effort to equalize.
“We knew that the Finns could win after one opponent’s mistake. We had a good plan to cross the middle zone and use our speed. We had the puck where we wanted, but the opponent didn’t give us a second chance and covered the stops. It was about one mistake. The guys were great at defending the weakening of five against three, ” he said after the match.
Ramsay hoped for help in the form of a power play. However, she did not come in the second match in a row, the Finns played in a disciplined manner and neither had to put on the penalty bench: “It simply came to our notice then. Especially for a fast team. We try to play actively, aggressively. We’re moving, we’re going to the goal. We expected to get a power play because we hold the puck and don’t hand it over, but it didn’t work out. “
After a painful loss, the primary task of the coaching staff is now to wake up and prepare the players for Saturday’s duel for bronze, in which they will encounter either Swedish or Russian hockey players.
“We have more time to think about losing again. We have to turn it around and think positively. We knew in advance that we had two chances to win a medal. We have to stick to that. ” added the Canadian coach.
Slovak hockey players also reached for the precious metal at the “special” Olympics: