Reactions
Sami Pietsalo (Player of the Game, Finland): The Slovaks are good players, they’re a really fast team, and we need to keep our game simple against them. We needed to play better defence, especially at the start, but they got a fast goal. (On the goal) I just tried to shoot it as hard as I could and fortunately it went in. It feels good to score a goal, and after we talked in the dressing room that if we scored on the power play we might get back into it, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Lukáš Piják (Player of the Game, Slovakia): We knew it would not be easy. We started pushing the Finns from the start, we wanted to score a quick goal, and we did it. The game was pretty evenly played, but in the end we were ahead. Of course I am glad to get this award, but the team being successful is more important to me.