Czech Republic game, the Canadians looked like a team operating with the sharpness and fluidity of a group that has now played together in two Olympics competitions.
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Germany’s Leon Draisaitl potted the overtime victor as Team Europe edged Czech Republic 3-2 on Monday to close in on a spot in the World Cup of Hockey semi-finals. After losing their first game of the tournament to Team Europe, coupled with Team Canada’s throttling of Team Czech Republic, Team USA’s chances at advancing took a major hit, after just one game. With Europe’s overtime win against the Czech Republic on Monday, the USA must beat Canada. “(But) we”re going to play the game the right way. So if there is a silver lining to Team Europe winning in OT, it’s that. And to feel as if I was ready pretty much mentally and physically and then going to the doctor and not being able to, it was pretty crushing. Coach John Tortorella also has to be questioned about not playing Dustin Byfuglien or Kyle Palmieri unless he is going to confess to any injuries they have. “We know that we can play with them when we play our game, and we’ve got to get to that game right from the puck drop and stay with it until the horn blows”.
Using the Americans’ 1996 World Cup of Hockey championship roster as a blueprint, this roster was built with the concept of players buying into defined team-first roles.
This game, like every other in the World Cup, can be seen live on ESPN.
“It’s Canada and the U.S.”, Canadian defenseman Jay Bouwmeester said.
As is his custom, Tortorella refused to discuss his lineup after practice. Marian Gaborik, Leon Draisaitl and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare scored on US netminder Jonathan Quick, who finished with 14 saves. “I just think Abby has given us some forechecking. Generally I think everyone believed in each other and that we could do something here”.
Change goes beyond different forward lines and defensive pairings.
Both of Sweden’s goals came in the second period, as Gabriel Landeskog and Victor Hedman scored just over two minutes apart. One of the goals he gave up was on the power play so it’s tough to fault him too much for that one.
“We’re not done with these two games, we want to continue into the next game and bring a high level and compete onwards”. “There’s no pictures on the scoresheet”. But even among that All-Star talent, top-line center Sidney Crosby is standing tall and elevating his teammates’ play. Mike Modono tweeted and later deleted a post saying the tournament should be awarded now to Canada, which crushed the Czechs, 6-0, in its opener.
Babcock insisted that Canada knows what’s at stake and won’t get “fatter” with confidence after rolling over the Czechs. Is Quick one of the greatest American goalies of all-time?
“You saw the first couple of (exhibition) games against them”, Weber said.
How the US numbers compare with that of other Olympic delegations is hard to say – let alone how they compare with the number of TUEs granted by the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball because of differing standards and reporting practices.
“We’re going to come, that’s no secret”, Tortorella said. During Canada’s pre-season opener on September 9 in Columbus, Weber was wall-papered into the boards by Team USA’s Ryan Kesler, who was ejected for his cheap shot.
More Kane could be a formidable challenge for Canada, and underestimating the US would be a mistake.
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“It’s just willing to be there”, Tortorella said. “When you play Canada, it’s more of a clash”. “I can’t wait and I think our players can’t wait for this game to start”.
