The Americans, meanwhile, outshot Europe 35-17 in dropping their first game of the tournament, but weren’t happy with the quality of chances they generated against Jaroslav Halak.
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The line of Sidney Crosby (1-2-3, +4), Brad Marchand (1-2-3, +3) and Patrice Bergeron (1-0-1, +2) combined for 3-4-7 and a +9 rating to propel Team Canada past Team Czech Republic in its tournament opener.
That motivation was evident in the first pre-tournament game between these two teams, when Team USA center Ryan Kesler was ejected for hitting Canadian defenseman Shea Weber from behind, and officials missed another unsafe situation when American T.J. “Tuesday, is our championship game”.
If there is anything we know for sure, it’s that you never underestimate a team who has their backs against the wall. But Tuesday, in a game the Americans have to win, Weber vows that revenge will be the furthest thing from his mind. That is our championship game. Still, we got the two points, and that’s what we wanted.
Those are the two options facing Team USA tonight. Europe controlled play in the second, but did not end up controlling the scoreboard. “Playing [in Canada], against them”.
Regardless, having your best offensive player defending is not an optimal situation for Team USA.
On Monday, Mike Babcock, coach of Team Canada, spoke of his job at the helm of the tournament favourites as if it were a networking opportunity above all. Even while recognizing that management omitted offense-oriented puck-movers such as Justin Faulk, Keith Yandle and Kevin Shattenkirk from the roster, the onus is on this team’s defensemen to be much, much better in that department Tuesday, even as they will surely be under sustained pressure all night. “Guys want to really relish this moment because it could be really the last time we get that opportunity to win one of these global tournaments”.
Tortorella said the club must embrace the adversity confronting them.
The heavily-favoured (as they spell it) Canadians split the two pre-tournament games against the rival Americans. “Maybe the game’s getting so young that we have to put them back out as coaches when they make those mistakes, and they feel that, they feel a little more confident”. “If guys aren’t willing to play, aren’t doing the things, we’re going to have a pretty short bench”, said Tortorella.
Carey Price turned aside 27 shots to record the shutout. They [also] have courage to make some riskier plays in the game.
“When we moved it up, we were spread apart and standing still”.
So Pietrangelo said he was happy to see the World Cup of Hockey providing the game of his life with a rare moment of bigger-stage exposure.
Honorable mention goes to Todd McLellan for starting Matt Murray on the second night of a back-to-back, something Murray did just once this past season in the National Hockey League in his short time in Pittsburgh.
— Criticism surrounding Team USA roster is more than fair and comes with the territory.
“I’ve played with some good players in Detroit and it’s similar to him”. Patrick Kane, Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise and Blake Wheeler have to raise their levels of play. Here’s a classic exchange to open the presser with ESPN’s Scott Burnside. “You’re overthinking it.” Insists US lineup not set.
As the news conference concluded, Tortorella looked at Burnside and said, “Sorry, Scotty”. Let’s watch the bruising American team kick the collective butt of those old and washed up Europeans. The criticism of Team Europe was that it was just Anze Kopitar and that’s about it. We expect their best and we look forward to it. Hindsight is 20-20, of course, and Bobrovsky also played the second night of a back-to-back. It’s been a great experience to play in this tournament here and on the off-day go home to spend time with family and friends.
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“That’s not my decision”, Byfuglien said. “It’s going to be a blast”.
