While a talented squad, the Czechs got pasted by Canada and have gone nearly a week of both exhibition and round robin games without a win. We keep our focus on one shift, one period, one game at a time. Once an NHL partner, ESPN had been out of the hockey-broadcasting business for more than a decade before the tournament began.
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When it’s all said and done on Tuesday night, everyone will recognize the folly of leaving Phil Kessel, Tyler Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Kevin Shattenkirk and Justin Faulk at home.
Stability in goal could be the difference in a short tournament with just three preliminary-round games for each team. The Europeans, for example, may well have bonded after two embarrassing pre-tournament losses to the young North America lineup.
With the buildup to the U.S. “[You] just have to learn from it, wipe the slate clean, come into the next game full of confidence and play the way you know you can”. “They’re exciting and nervewracking but the biggest thing is you can’t let the nerves get the best of you, can’t let the emotions get the best of you”. “But that’s our job – to spoil the party, right?”
We asked Eichel-proud product of the USA development program-if he’d rather being wearing red, white and blue instead of black and orange.
Before the pre-game hype machine turns Tuesday’s ballyhooed Canada-U.S. showdown into the type of WWE production more fitting of Vince McMahon than Gary Bettman, the most daunting obstacle standing between the Americans and tournament success can be found in the blue paint of the Canadian goal crease, not a wrestling ring. They respect the game and the older players in the game, but they have a little more courage to go out and play against them.
Look for Team Canada to try to create turnovers in the US zone with an aggressive forecheck, as tight, five-man units give Team USA’s blueliners little room for transition.
Team Canada, though, presents a tough matchup problem for Team USA because its strength is down the middle with Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Jonathan Toews and Ryan O’Reilly centering lines.
Team USA outshot Team Europe, 35-17, including 12-5 in the second period when Team USA was outscored.
Still, give Tortorella this: Awash in such noise, he remains publicly committed to his ideals. Detroit Red Wings netminder Petr Mrazek had designs on stealing the game for the Czechs.
If Byfuglien’s physical style of play can disrupt the well-oiled machine that is Team Canada, Team USA will already be in a better position. 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 always go with gut on my team”, Tortorella said. “We’ve certainly realized that we have a pretty special thing going here”. “We’re going to come and that’s no secret”. But blood bath? I don’t want to call it that. “I can’t wait and I think our players can’t wait for this game to start”.
The right way, of course, is a matter of opinion. “You’re overthinking it”, said coach John Tortorella. The tournament is officially underway, and while some teams have performed as expected, other teams have proven to be a bit of a surprise. But he’s prepared to try.
More Kane could be a formidable challenge for Canada, and underestimating the US would be a mistake.
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One of Captain America’s less heralded superpowers is clairvoyance. “I think we’re relishing the underdog role, being in Canada, going into the hornets’ nest Tuesday night”. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to happen, but the American staff knew they couldn’t match the elite skill of Canada and, instead of trying to keep up, they chose to build with the intentions of slowing them down.
