Antti Pennanen, the head coach of the Finnish national hockey team, has revealed the lineup for the much-anticipated match against Sweden, which is set to take place on Friday. In Thursday's practice, Pennanen confirmed that goaltender Juuse Saros will start, while Mikko Lehtonen has been excluded from the active lineup. In contrast, Nikolas Matinpalo will don the Finnish jersey, highlighting a strategy aimed at enhancing the team's performance on the ice.

The adjustments made by Pennanen do not extend to the forward lines, as he expressed confidence in the first and second lines, citing their effective play. He noted that both Anton Lundell's and Erik Haula's lines have shown promise in their recent performances, which informs his decision to maintain the current configuration. Additionally, Oliver Kapanen is set to join the lineup as the 13th forward, indicating a tactical readiness to adapt during the match.

Following a shocking loss to Slovakia, Pennanen emphasized the team's positive mindset, as they have reflected on the defeat and identified key areas for improvement, particularly in offensive play and transitions. The team's Thursday morning meeting focused on detailing line strategies and enhancing gameplay execution, indicating a proactive approach as they prepare for this critical match against their Swedish rivals. The atmosphere within the team is reported to be optimistic, and fans are hopeful for a strong comeback performance against Sweden.