After running around in Columbus, there were times Team USA forward Ryan Kesler of Anaheim looked like he was in for a long night.
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The youthful Team North America came as advertised – plenty of speed and skill – and it proved too much for Team Europe in the first pre-tournament test for both teams at the World Cup of Hockey. Jonathan Quick got the start in goal and made 32 saves over the first two periods, staking Team USA to a 3-1 lead before Ben Bishop played the final period.
The eight teams have been split into two groups – Canada, Czech Republic, Europe and US in Group A, Finland, North America, Russia and Sweden in Group B. After three games of round-robin style play, the top two teams from each group will advance to a one-game semi-final. While not disappointed with his team’s performance, Tavares was determined for a better outcome.
“We were pretty happy with our game (Friday), and the difference was we weren’t able to capitalize on our chances”, said Duchene.
If Canada has at least a fair idea of what the Americans bring – Crosby was held out of Saturday’s game as a precaution against injury following Friday’s physical game – the expectation is that Russian Federation will play a more wide-open game.
“It’s not just about beating Canada”, Pavelski said.
The effort is only going to have to improve because before the Canadians know it this tournament will be under way and you can be guaranteed even if the exhibition games are intense theyll get even more hard. Everything was there but the finishing. We know he’s a really good player, great kid.
For coach John Tortorella, it wasnt about the post-whistle pushing and shoving or the intensity that made the tune-up games feel more like the real thing.
(James) Van Riemsdyk came in (Saturday), didnt play (Friday) and I thought he took some of the minutes, Tortorella said. “That’s our biggest weaknesses in the two games, so we have a little bit of work to do as we go through and prepare for the start of the tournament”.
Penalties played a factor.
Tortorella indicated if Pacioretty wants to play more than the 10:05 he saw against Canada at the Canadian Tire Centre, he’d better step it up. Well this year, hockey fans should be very excited to see worldwide play, and get some competitive, pre-NHL-season hockey. I’ve been covering Team Sweden and Finland, but now that I’m back on American soil for games at Verizon Center on Tuesday (Team USA vs. Finland, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Wednesday (Team Sweden vs. Team Europe, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN3), I want to give my impressions of the US team – whether you want them or not.
They also got Team Canada on the board in the second period after Marchand stripped Zach Parise of the puck.
“As you saw both sides the tempo wasn’t almost as fast as (Friday) night”, said US forward Max Pacioretty. When facing up against, say, the bulky offensive prowess of the Russian team, a team like the US would be well advised to try and play a speedy, pesty game. With less than five minutes remaining, Ryan Getzlaf passed from behind the net to Bouwmeester, who scored far side. But general manager Dean Lombardi said he and his staff wanted to build the U.S.to beat the Canadians, and that means more than just beating them up.
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The tournament – held in the Toronto Maple Leafs home arena of the Air Canada Centre – officially begins on September 17 with Team USA and Team Europe facing off in pool play at 3:30 p.m. The mindset is to keep the momentum and not allow Canada’s best players to reach the elite game level. The U.S. scratched D Matt Niskanen and RW David Backes.
