Czech winger Ondrej Palat came up with a quality chance just 41 seconds into the game and after Crosby was denied on a breakaway Canada took a pair of minor penalties.
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“Listen, that’s not a U.S”. Once an NHL partner, ESPN had been out of the hockey-broadcasting business for more than a decade before the tournament began. That’s going to be a big part of the game. “It’s the channel everybody watches”, Pietrangelo was saying on Monday. After just three days of tournament action, the Americans will be facing elimination Tuesday night. Canadians across the globe were tuned in to the game, knowing that a victory would punch Team Canada’s ticket into the final and a shot at the second consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Coming off a 3-0 shutout of the Americans, Team Europe kept goaltender Petr Mrazek and the Czechs busy Monday afternoon, but couldn’t shake them until the extra period. The most noticeable difference Saturday night was how Canada’s defense corps stood up at the blue line and shrunk the Czech’s area to navigate out of their zone. The players are bigger and stronger. “But that’s our job – to spoil the party, right?”
The U.S. focus has been on Canada, but the host and tournament favorite is focused on itself.
Defenceman Ryan Suter called Sochi a “setback”, and the first game of the World Cup wasn’t a step forward. But the philosophy behind that construction – which showed a preference for grit and left the considerable offensive punch of players like Phil Kessel, Tyler Johnson and Kyle Okposo off the roster – means Tuesday’s game will amount to a sort of organizational referendum.
American head coach John Tortorella described the upcoming tilt with Canada as “our championship game”.
COOL FORMAT: Babcock also praised the tournament format, especially the addition of Team North America.
This game was circled on the calendar long before the first puck was even dropped for the World Cup of Hockey. The Americans seemed frustrated by Team Europe’s passive style, and they made it worse by not driving to the net.
Still, give Tortorella this: Awash in such noise, he remains publicly committed to his ideals.
KANE AND ABDELKADER: Hart Trophy victor Patrick Kane is expected to play on a line with grinder Justin Abdelkader and center Derek Stepan. Tortorella, mind you, said Abdelkader’s practice reps with superior skill players Patrick Kane and Derek Stepan aren’t necessarily a preview of future deployment.
“I’ve never seen a team come together as quickly in my 25 years of coaching”, Ralph Krueger said. “We’re going to come. That’s no secret. It’s a way we’ve been built”, Tortorella said.
As nearly everyone here in Hockey Paradise knows already, the Tampa Bay Lightning are well-represented at the tournament, having twelve players amongst the various teams.
The right way, of course, is a matter of opinion.
“These are going to be tough games”, Krueger said.
Moving on to the Europeans, I already mentioned that they are the oldest team in the tournament. But he’s prepared to try. I think this is exactly what the National Hockey League hoped for when they made up this tournament.
More Kane could be a formidable challenge for Canada, and underestimating the US would be a mistake. They [also] have courage to make some riskier plays in the game.
“It’s a great spot for the Americans to be, in that type of situation, in that type of atmosphere”.
“I said (Saturday night) after you win in the tournaments (like this) the tendency is (to) maybe get a little fat”, said Babcock, referring to overconfidence.
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As the 2016 World Cup of Hockey finds itself in full swing, hockey fans around the world are about to get a glimpse of one of the most anticipated games of the series.
