Feb 18 • 19:53 UTC 🇫🇮 Finland Ilta-Sanomat

Comment: This man has now been seen – The Lions must make a change

Finland's hockey team, the Lions, secured a dramatic overtime victory over Switzerland to reach the semifinals of the Olympics, but concerns remain about their goalie, Juuse Saros.

In a thrilling Olympic semifinal match, Finland's national hockey team, the Lions, faced a significant challenge against Switzerland, coming back from a two-goal deficit to win in overtime. This victory, while impressive, highlights the resilience of the team, but it also casts a spotlight on the inconsistent performance of their goaltender, Juuse Saros. Despite the achievement, the match revealed underlying issues that could affect their chances in the upcoming rounds.

Juuse Saros's performance during the game raised concerns among fans and analysts alike. He conceded the opening goal to Switzerland and seemed to struggle with another potential goal, further amplifying worries about his form. Saros has had a disappointing season in the NHL, and his lack of sharpness heading into the Olympics has been noted by the coaching staff, who opted to start him in every preliminary round game despite his performance not being at its peak. The hope was that he would find his rhythm in the crucial moments of the tournament.

Speculation is now mounting about whether it would have been beneficial for the team to give backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo more minutes during earlier matches, especially after Saros's shaky outings. With their next game looming, the coaching staff faces a critical decision regarding who will guard the net for the Lions as they strive for Olympic gold amid increasing pressure and expectations from both fans and media. The path ahead for the team is fraught with challenges, making every decision crucial for their chances in the tournament.

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