Isles-defender Janne Niinimaa has left Finnish World Cup team and doesn't play in the rest of games. The reason for leaving is difference of opinions with coach Raimo Summanen.

IMO it's not huge loss for the team, because Pitkänen can replace Niinimaa easily. But if this is a first sign of bad relationships between coach and team, then it can affect team's performance in rest of games. If other players think it was Summanen's fault that Niinimaa left, it's hard to see them playing 100% every nite for the coach. It's hard to say without knowing the details of what has happened.

Tomppa

Niinimaa for the Finns, Hull for the U.S..... looks like some of the players don't like their fit in a team game. Oh, well.

Meanwhile, Ovechkin scores for Russia, adding to their speed, size, youth, and strength....

Guess that's the way of the world- out with the old, in with the new.

Fin beat Ger 2-1 today.


Hull is a JERK!