The Yanks will play the Czech Republic on Thursday night in the final round-robin game in which they will attempt to avoid finishing with the worst record in the eight-team field.
Advertisement
Those are the two potential juicy matchups facing Sidney Crosby and Team Canada in the upcoming semifinal at the World Cup of Hockey, thanks to a convincing 4-1 victory by the Canadians over Team Europe on Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre. This was done because of an obsession with beating Team Canada; can’t outskill them, so we’d better outgrit them, the thinking went. “And we put ourselves behind the 8-ball”. We don’t want to limit our role and our ability because we are the fourth line. Who’s team showed no passion, motivation, any word you want to come up with to play a sport in general.
Now it sounds like there will be some carryover into the regular season between former Team USA teammates, and perhaps some extra fireworks this season between the Bruins and Penguins spurred on by athis World Cup of Hockey brouhaha. Mark Masters and TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger have more.
Team Canada was also lead by superstar netminder Carey Price, who made 34 saves through three periods. “Those comments don’t get lost in the fray”.
In a response to a tweet directed at him, Ryan responded at [at sign] b_ryan9 that he would “kill U.S. hockey with kindness and maybe they’ll let me play over 35 adult worlds if I’m not a defensive liability by then”. “I’m not going to change anything with my game”. The Americans wanted to play a game built on grit and physicality. They’ve got the puck almost all the time.
USA players circled the game against Canada as the biggest game of the tournament as soon as the schedule was released.
O’Reilly was asked how he thought it might feel like for other teams to defend this four-line attack.
“That was pretty special, I’ve waited a long time”, he said. After Canada scored twice in 14 seconds in the first period, the wind went out of Team USA’s sails, and the drop in energy and motivation was obvious.
Tortorella’s team selection had been questioned before the tournament even started, with prolific National Hockey League scorer Phil Kessel one of a few notable exceptions left off the roster.
“There is definitely a fantastic future coming here”, Tortorella said Tuesday night. “It’s the favored team to win this tournament”.
“Whatever team we do face, it’s going to be highly skilled”.
Team USA built around grit were supposed to be created to beat Canada. Led by Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews, North America is loaded with young fire and about the only team in the tournament with the speed to contend with Canada.
The Canadians defeated the Americans 4-2 to guarantee Canada (2-0) and Team Europe (2-0) a spot in the semifinals. “It’s such a short tournament, you don’t have many chances to make any mistakes or have any letdowns. I don’t plan on getting into the managing business”.
Having already booked a ticket to the semifinals, first place in the pool is the carrot left for Canada. Bob must have felt right at home in this game. It’s what happened in Vancouver and Sochi.
Lots, if you believe Babcock. “I think we let some people down”. It was a game where we hit a couple posts, they get some bounces and those games are going to happen against good teams.
“We didn’t get the job done”.
Sure, Team Canada was sloppy at times in the USA victory.
Advertisement
Although the USA dominated the medal count at the Rio Olympics – winning golds in everything from basketball to boxing to BMX – it still can’t compete with Canada when it comes to hockey.
