What’s also wonderful is that Team Europe, the oldest average team at the tournament, also cobbled together a roster that has them sporting a flawless 2-0-0 record thus far. That game goes Sunday at the ACC.
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The United States was surprised by Team Europe and wasn’t good enough against Canada, leading to two losses and a cascade of questions. Finland’s Joonas Donskoi (27) battles for the puck with Russia’s Evgeni Malkin during the first period of a World Cup of Hockey game in Toronto, on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016.
“It’s a big rivalry”, said Team Canada captain and two-time Olympic gold-medal victor Sidney Crosby. For the past decade, that has been the marquee individual rivalry in the hockey world, the one most fans coveted.
Team Europe, perhaps a little less engaged than it was against the favored Americans in their first game, allowed a sloppy, undisciplined Czech team to hang around Monday afternoon, and it almost cost them. So now the focus will turn to Crosby vs. Ovechkin. But there is no doubt that is the case in this instance. All but two players have produced at least a point, led by Crosby and Matt Duchene with four points apiece. The oldest player on the team is former Hawks and current Blue Jackets winger Brandon Saad.
“I’m not going to sit here and let people tell me this team was a bunch of grinders, because it’s not true”, Tortorella said.
“But I don’t think our structure hurts our creativity at all”, Toews said.
Vladimir Tarasenko didn’t have to think hard to recall his favourite Canada-Russia clash. The pipeline of young talent for next time around?
To those so smitten with the North America kids, it may seem like an injustice that the Russians still have an opportunity.
Its fast, really fast hockey. But Sweden got the point it needed to move to the semifinals, while North America needs Finland to beat Russian Federation today.
Babcock wants his team ascending in short tournaments such as this, getting better to the point of near-perfection by the final. The Canadians never trailed in the game en route to outshooting their opponents 46-20.
Team Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak makes a save in front of Team Canada’s Ryan O’Reilly during the second period of a World Cup of Hockey game in Toronto on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016. “I have a lot of respect for Dean Lombardi, Paul Holmgren and Brian Burke”, he said, speaking of the management team. Hopefully there will be more to come.. On top of that, he’s probably not wrong that the tweet will be remembered by future decisionmakers for Team USA. So when Tortorella rued the lack of quality scoring chances in the first two games, eyes rolled and faces were palmed. I like winning more, though. I don’t want to go much further other than I certainly hope it wasn’t out of disrespect and more being passionate about the colors. “I don’t care. We’re here and we played hard”.
Backes defended the US management team, too, though.
Nathan MacKinnon, the top pick in 2013 and still only 21, dazzled on the overtime victor against Sweden. Not only could the Americans not beat the tournament favorite but they weren’t able to knock them around, either.
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In the long change period, the U.S. seemed to flutter more than flourish and made some mistakes that cost them the little momentum they were able to obtain. We have to be prepared for it. .
