Adding to their woes was coach John Tortorella’s decision to scratch Dustin Byfuglien, who had been one of their best offensive defensemen in the pre-tournament contests.
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“That’s one aspect that nobody would have given us credit for is how well we can play offensively”, Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger said.
The World Cup of Hockey opened with an upset as Team Europe, a hybrid of smaller hockey playing nations, stunned the United States 3-0 on Saturday.
“The Canadian guys are pretty familiar with each other having grown up through the system together”, McDavid said. If Team USA runs into trouble behind Quick, they have the very capable Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils) and Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightning) waiting in the wings. Matt Niskanen, meantime, might have been USA’s most noticeable player. Leading after one period of play, it appeared to be a sound strategy.
“We’ve put ourselves in a spot now we’re chasing”, Tortorella said.
Despite the lopsided shot total and the Americans’ dominant puck possession, Europe was in control for most of the game because of major mistakes. “We had the power plays, we had some chances, we had a few looks”. It was Matt Niskanen to the rescue to sweep the puck away from Team Europe’s captain. Jonathan Quick tried to stay close to home, but Draisaitl and Nino Niederreiter executed a gorgeous play.
Draisaitl doubled the advantage 4:02 into the second, converting a 2-on-none rush following a turnover by Patrick Kane.
Las Vegas odds makers have Team USA listed as a big favorite today at -1.5 goals, or -500 on the money line.
The Americans had some decent chances, but where unable to get totally set up.
James van Riemsdyk almost trimmed the deficit with 5:50 left in the session, but video review revealed that the 27-year-old New Jersey native intentionally redirected the rebound of defenseman Ryan Suter’s point shot past Halak.
Unlike his previous worldwide experience, the World Cup will be played ahead of National Hockey League training camp in September, as opposed to mid-season or following the end of his season.
The goal was overturned on replay.
Goaltending, expected to be a USA strength, was shaky with Quick surrendering three goals on nine shots through two periods. “He’s going to be a great player in this game for a long time”.
The NHL later explained, in part, that the deflection off of Stepan had no bearing on the ruling. According to Rule 67.6 “A goal can not be scored by an attacking player who bats or directs the puck and it is deflected into the net off any player, goalkeeper or official”. Another shot to the gut for Team USA.
“We were probably underestimated going into this tournament”, said former Blackhawks defenseman Christian Ehrhoff, who assisted on Pierre-Edouard Bellemare’s backbreaker that made it 3-0 late in the second. “First of all, no matter what he did it hit Step’s helmet before it goes into the net so I think it should be a goal”.
Don’t let the score be a dictator of Jonathan Quick’s performance for the US.
Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak barely broke a sweat, seeing the puck way too clearly because the USA failed to create enough traffic in front of him.
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Team USA now has some time to regroup before it returns to the ice at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday for a critical matchup with Team Canada before closing out group play on Thursday, Sept. 22, against the Czech Republic.
