Everyone was in love with these North American kids, youth, speed, and incredible, incredible skills.
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Certainly, the team missed Ekblad in a 4-3 loss to Russian Federation.
The six-foot-two 210-pound American – who turned 19 on Saturday – played on a line with Connor McDavid and Mark Scheifele. Gaudreau began the scoring in the second period, with Drouin following, and finally MacKinnon sliding one past Pekka Rinne to cap the evening’s scoring for the 23-and-unders.
In the World Cup of Hockey, you’re either TNA or you’re rooting for the wrong team.
So going into this game, could these Young Guns keep the winning train going against the Russians? “When stuff like that happens, you have to try to make it up to your teammates, and unfortunately we came up a bit short”. It was raw speed and skill mashed up into one. Meanwhile, Austin Matthews was streaking down the center of the ice, edging toward the far post. Matthews spun and whipped the puck on net.
“Twenty-five percent of our players come from outside North America”.
In the first piece of news I think you won’t find very surprising about this game is that North America outshot Finland.
Team North America has classified Ekblad’s ailment as an upper-body injury. After looking listless, Russian Federation came out of the mid-period TV timeout looking like a different team. “They’re young guys. They’re going to come and play”. Just 50 seconds later, the scene would be repeated, in somewhat freakish fashion. Nikita Kucherov was ready, knocking the puck out of mid-air on the first bounce, and past a surprised Murray.
That was when a North America clearing attempt hit high off a stanchion and bounced right to Kucherov’s stick. The TV commentators speculated that Murray would be pulled, and the coaching staff should likely have followed that advice. It was unclear if Murray was screened, or simply surprised.
Vladimir Tarasenko said the Russians were guilty of over-passing. North America goaltender Matt Murray didn’t have his finest night, getting the hook after allowing four goals on four consecutive shots. And based on the quality of hockey they are playing, that might not be a bad thing.
For the North Americans, the third period was all about missed opportunities. Team North America entered the third period up 4-0. North America controlled the play after the 4th Russian goal, but they were not able to overcome their unfortunate 2nd period. He was one of the best pitchers in the league during the first half of the season but over his last 10 starts he is 3-6 with a 5.47 ERA. We made too many mistakes.
The final 17 minutes was a flurry of North American offensive pressure, and Bobrovsky denials. In fact, Bobrovsky had to stop McDavid as the second penalty expired. North America’s greatest strength is their forward depth and they take advantage of that. Again, however, Bobrovksy was the unmovable object, making tremendous saves on serial rebound chances.
In many ways, Monday’s contest was a clash between the best-established offensive talent in the game and the top youngsters adept at the same. North America made it a torturous night for Finland, which had nine players back from the bronze-medal team in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
In a final match of the group stage, Russia’s team will on September 22 play Finland, and North America will play Sweden September 21.
In other Monday action from Group A, surprising Team Europe edged the Czech Republic on Leon Draisaitl‘s overtime goal.
“I think some hockey god got on our side, and we just got good luck”, said Kuznetsov, who made a “FIFA” inspired wing-flapping celebration after his goal. In the exhibition schedule, in two games, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ netminder posted a 2.93 GAA and a.923 save percentage. Sep.
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“Honestly when I scored I thought we were in, maybe we shouldn’t have (celebrated) so hard”, said MacKinnon.
