When the Russians dropped their first game of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey tournament to Team Sweden last Sunday, chances of advancing to the semifinals didn’t seem great.
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With virtually everyone outside of the motherland rooting diligently against them, the Russians methodically dismantled the offensively feeble Finns today by a 3-0 count, closing the book on North America and securing a Saturday night semifinal date with a juggernaut Team Canada squad. Whether it’s because they fell in love with the team or because they went for the design, it was a huge win for the National Hockey League and, in turn, its players, who receive a piece of the revenue generated by the tournament. Finland was winless for the first time in a senior tournament, scoring only one goal in three games. Although the North Americans have stolen the hearts of the Canadian and American nations with their speed and impressive young talent, the team could easily be eliminated from the tournament tonight. “We all understand that can come with it, I just think on the inside it feels like two hockey games are an indictment of the program”.
North America took the early 1-0 lead 30 seconds into the game on Mathews’ second of the tournament before Trocheck made it 2-0.
If you told me I might be excited for this game a week ago I’d have told you that you were insane.
“The first [few] minutes were probably the most embarrassing part of a hockey game that I have ever been a part of”, said fleet Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson, who somehow was made to look slow and flatfooted.
Awful news for Team North America is now bad news for the Florida Panthers. He is officially out of the remainder of the World Cup of Hockey. I had good times, especially winning the Stanley Cup. No disrespect meant to countries like Slovenia or Germany, but as they were routinely rolled in the Olympics it became clear they’re not at the level of countries like Canada, Russia and Sweden.
He leaves Toronto disappointed, but describes the World Cup of Hockey as a fantastic event and a great way to kick off another NHL season. They made hockey look better than it can look anywhere else; they were an intoxicating illusion in a sport that is built for far more mundane fare. We got (Marian) Hossa.
Pavel Datsyuk’s North American magic show had one final act. We lost one game by one goal, and we could be out. The North American players had no idea there was a distinction. Finland, now winless in the tournament, looks to play spoiler to the Russians, with ambitions of finishing the tournament with a win.
Having these young stars involved on such a grand platform can not only help elevate their games to another level early in the careers but it will help put a face to the name of some of these young stars to hockey fans around the world. The two flashed explosive speed and creativity together alongside Winnipeg Jets star Mark Scheifele or Buffalo forward Jack Eichel, the second pick behind McDavid in 2015.
Whenever you’re apart of a team that is something special, it forges a bond between those involved that can last a long time.
Gaudreau switched up his breakaway approach to restore the two-goal lead for North America.
“Those are a lot of guys that are going to be playing for the US and Canada real soon”, U.S winger Zach Parise said.
“I definitely would like the opportunity to try to make a Team Canada”, he said Thursday afternoon. Now Russia can go through with any kind of win, even in a shootout.
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