If Sweden wants to advance with a chance at winning the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, they know they have to get through a tough, proven opponent in Team Europe. The team opened the World Cup with a surprising 3-0 win over the U.S and also beat Sweden in pre-tournament play on September 14.
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Finland, to their credit, came out ready to play despite having nothing to play for. Meanwhile Johnny Gaudreau got a chance to avenge that missed penalty shot with a converted breakaway at 13:57 before Nicklas Backstom cut the lead again at 16:28 in the first.
Despite my own preemptive ex-patting on Team USA before the tournament, by the end of Tuesday night’s gore, I couldn’t help but feel the embarrassment, shame and anger creep in as the Canadian fans taunted with “NAH! NAH! NAH!”
Vladimir Tarasenko started things off by converting on a slick feed from Alex Ovechkin.
Evgeni Malkin provided the dagger in the third period with a short-side snipe on Rask.
“We have coaches that have been around for a while, but we became fans [in OT]”, said North America coach Todd McLellan, whose team will advance to the semis if Russian Federation does not beat Finland in regulation Thursday afternoon. The Canadians advanced after a 5-3 victory Saturday night in the first semifinal. Even Mats Zucarello, the five-foot-seven Norwegian whose career embodies the long-shot spirit Krueger was talking about, spent Sunday’s post-game glow acknowledging the daunting obstacle that stands before his team, specifically a Canadian team that hasn’t lost in best-on-best action since 2010 and outshot Europe 46-20 in a 4-1 win in preliminary-round play. We all kept saying, North America reminded us what hockey can be, and what hockey should be.
Three breakaways. Two unbelievable saves.
The team boasts the last two number-one overall picks in the NHL Entry Draft Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs), and the number-two overall pick past year, Jack Eichel (Buffalo Sabres). It’s always compelling to see those two head-to-head.
During the second intermission, he leaned against a hallway wall behind the suite as the Team Europe coaching staff walked by.
“He’s going to, at one point, take over the league”, predicted Chicago Blackhawks and Team Europe winger Marian Hossa. No sport does less to encourage offence, and that’s why North America was such a shock. The 23-and-under team that so many were unsure about turned out to be the best thing about this World Cup. “And what the young players are learning and what we keep telling them is they’re pretty damned good”.
European captain Anze Kopitar pointed to the second period of the pre-tournament game against Team North America in Montreal as the turning point for the team of players unfamiliar with playing with one another. Sweden players said they knew they had to reach overtime to get into the semifinals. Because that’s what Team North America is; they’re pure fun and skill on ice. His charisma, Hollywood good looks and GQ fashion sense have made him as much of a celebrity as an elite goalie. According to Team Russia, it was a “small injury”.
Datsyuk has two assists so far in the tournament and has seen a lot of time on Russia’s top line with Ovechkin and Tarasenko. They were too lovely to live, and we’ll remember them for that, if nothing else. The silver lining for the Finns is that they’re still a national team in transition and the future remains bright.
Both teams seem to be listening to their systems-oriented coaches, though. “We just have to play our game, play structured, don’t (make any) mistakes”. They’ll have to use their strength and defensive play to wear down Team Europe. “Looking at him today he’s one of the best in the world. But I think I can really take the next step and maybe I in Carolina”.
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Led by Aleksander Barkov and recent No. 2 overall pick Patrik Laine, they have a lot to look forward to. No world championships. No Olympic medals.
