This was the day I was waiting for as we have essentially all “real… games where the point isn’t to jack your stats as high as you can against F-List goalies and teams to improve your draft stock when scouts look at the sheet and thinks…darn he got 7 points in the tournament! Oh…all combined against Norway and Germany…oh well. Best day by far both in anticipation and actual product. There were some real statement games by the super powers and I got particular enjoyment out of the Sweden-Finland game, not only due to their historic rivalry, but also to see how the excellent Swedish forwards would fare against a top-4 as strong as Finland. That was my favourite game on the day.
America 6 – Slovakia 3
Now the game was a lot closer than the score indicates. This was an excellent game to see and it showed the resilience of this US squad that is inevitably less strong than last WJC, as well as the improvement in the Slovakian squad who are taking a page out of Switzerland’s book and play a really good team game. If Slovakia’s defense was quicker they could be a real dangerous team, but they looked really awkward out there…exacerbated by the fact that the USA fields about 7 guys that are 6’1-6’3 215-225lbs that skate like the wind.
Martin Reway of the Canadiens yet again had a great game. He had about 5 takeaways and even though he was shaken up by an attempted cheap shot by Adam Erne, it only took about 5 shifts before he was back to himself. He scored 2 goals and if I’m not mistaken leads the tournament in scoring (as of writing this). He won player of the game for Slovakia, an honour well-earned and his puck pursuit is inspiring for the little lad. His chemistry with draft eligible 19 year old David Griger is pretty undeniable, they seem to know where each other are on the ice at any moment. Griger is currently playing in the MHL (Russian Junior League) and leads his squad in goals and points.
On the US side two guys stood out for me in particular, 30th overall selection Ryan Hartman (Chicago) and 4th round selection Hudson Fasching (Los Angeles). Both guys played with a lot of heart and finished their checks while getting in the defenses faces. Hartman scored a goal and added an assist with wunderkind 2015 eligible Jack Eichel…a guy who is surprisingly excellent on the draws for a 17 year old in this type of situation. Fasching is fast as hell, a frustrating penalty killer and a guy who was demolishing the slower Slovak defenders on the forecheck. Really liked his game overall.
Even though Stefan Matteau (New Jersey) scored a goal, he and Adam Erne (Tampa Bay) really frustrated me. You can see the skill and the speed/size combo teams crave from both, but they don’t seem to have a brain between them on the ice. Erne threw 3 dangerous attempted hits (reminiscent of taking out Drouin in the Q) and Matteau was one annoyed ref from going to the box half the game…a light trip there, a slash after the whistle there, he can’t seem to control it. Both are big, skilled and above all mean guys who I would take in my prospect system any day, but they need to play smarter because Team USA has a lot of guys that can play ahead of them if needed.
We saw the bad with McCoshen (Florida) this game. Was sloppy on the puck and gave it away like it was candy. Reway himself stripped him on at least four occasions. He’s a real boom/bust kind of guy in his play style, not the best showing for him.
Jon Gillies (Calgary) had a pretty strong game. He kept the USA in it early when the Slovaks had serious pressure on two PP opportunities before the Americans took the two goal lead. That toe save that barely kept it out was sick, great athleticism from the 6’5 behemoth.
The Slovaks can score and they can be deadly, but their goalie is on his knees 24/7 and their defense is slower than molasses. That will be the downfall for them going forward in this tournament against other top squads.
Sweden 4 – Finland 2
[img]http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/830269862.gif[/img]
Ok the gif doesn't work I'll post it in the comments. It was a work of art by Sweden on the 5 on 3, that’s their first goal scored by Wennberg who had a fantastic performance.
As mentioned before this was my favourite game of the day both pre and after. It was great and tense.
Chicago’s 18th overall pick in 2012 Teuvo Terà¤và¤inen was again excellent for Finland and led their attack. He assisted on both goals, but was dangerous for most of the game. Overall the Finnish attack was pretty lack luster; they definitely don’t have anywhere close to the depth in previous years, but Terà¤và¤inen looks great. The thing that kept coming up watching him was his vision, he was making great plays all game, especially on the PP. His was the only consistent line offensively for the team, largely because of him…just such a smart player. Best Finn on the ice for me and he definitely won this round in the 2012 “top… European prospect fight with Sweden’s Filip Forsberg.
Oskar Dansk…worries me. He is not in top form and he has been the weak link in a 2-0 team, not something that bodes well considering neither the Finns nor Swiss are known as offensive juggernauts in this tournament. He can turn it around, he has the ability, just not seeing it right now, and maybe Sweden tries another direction? Speaking of…why did Finland not go with Juuse Saros? I get that he’s tiny, but he has shown he’s a big time goalie in both international comps (U18 Best Goalie Award) and in the SM-liiga (sporting a stylish .930 sv% for HPK)…I mean if it was about experience and age Husso is only 2 months older and has zero international experience starting for Finland. Questionable move and they paid for it.
The combination of Wennberg (Columbus)-Johnson (Toronto) was excellent. The speed they generated was something to see. As mentioned in the gif above that is Johnson (5) making the play to Wallmark before passing it to Wennberg for the finish. Best line on the ice and very hard to contain for any defender, especially with Ville Pokka and Esa Lindell taking the duties of shutting down the “top… line of Sorensen/Wallmark (Switched on and off) – Forsberg – de la Rose. Love the depth that the Swedes have and the various mixtures of lines they can simply roll out and dominate.
I still feel the Swedes are the class of this tournament, though they could really use some goaltending right about now.
Canada 4 – Czech Republic 5 (SO)
Ya so I was a little quick to say that Sweden-Finland was the best game…well it was the “best… game if you like competitive hockey, but if you like insane heart throbbing mind exploding action…this was the game for you. Canadians everywhere grabbed their pitchforks and watched in horror as the Czech Republic made this not only a game, but a scare worthy of Martin Gerber’s Switzerland. Leading four separate times, the Czechs were forced into OT and got three near breakaways in the extra frame only to lead to a shootout, the first of the tournament. Simon (Undrafted) “Forsberg’s… Patterson and the Canadians lose 5-4 in the shootout…what, the, f. I guess we can’t be arrogant wieners for a few games after this crud. Seriously though, McDavid (Undrafted 2015) is one of the most skilled guys on the team, but if you’re benching him for 45 minutes then shoving him into a do or die that’s dreadful coaching. Hats off to the Czechs the earned it, they earned more than a win, what a great display.
Are you worried fellow Canadians? I am…ugg. That was depressing as all hell. Out worked and just…bleh, this version of Team Canada seems off…I can’t explain it. Plus it goes deeper than simply the usual excuse we have seen the past four disappointments of “The Goalie Sucks.… Patterson (Detroit) hasn’t been good, but this is a team comprised of literally all “top… prospects and more first rounders by far than any other squad even comes close to. The defense is wrong. Player composition, level of play, left hand right hand…I really can’t put it into words, but it’s wrong. They look terrible as a group out there despite the vast amount of talent.
About the only guys that shouldn’t be yelled at violently are Drouin (Tampa Bay), Mantha (Detroit) and Lazar (Ottawa). All three were excellent; the rest of the team was a mixed bag of decent to garbage play (for TC standards). I don’t even really know what to say other than considering the reaction to last year’s fourth place; I can only imagine what is happening right now. These aren’t the Yanks, or the Russians, or any such team…this is the Czech Republic in pre-elimination games, if you put money on this you might have gotten 40-1 odds.
2014 eligible Jakub Vrana had a strong game, including a goal and an assist. Good showing after being pretty much invisible against the USA. Michal Plutnar (Undrafted) had a great game including leveling the referee, he was their best defender by a mile. Very mobile for his size and able to keep up with a lot of the Canadians skilled guys.
My guess is that is the last time we see Jake Patterson, he joins a long list of good goalies who everybody in Canada will despise for all time regardless of what they do from now on due to this tournament. Welcome to the fire Zachary Fucale (Montreal).
Beer time? Ya, beer time. The USA must be either licking their chops or a bit leery of a team with everything to lose for once.
Russia 7 – Switzerland 1
Suffice to say I did not exactly get to see this game as in detail as I would have wished, as my eyes were drawn to the bonfire that was Canada-Czech Republic. The Russians brought out star goaltender Andrei Vasilevski (Tampa Bay) and the top goalie prospect in the world did not disappoint yet again on the world stage. The 19 year old made 25 stops in the win and made it look easy against a Swiss team that troubled Dansk of Sweden to no end. He’s a star just waiting to happen.
A few little notes.
The pairings of
Nikita Tryamkin – Andrei Mironov And Nikita Zadorov – Ilya Lyubushkin
Are fantastic. One of the most physical and intimidating two-way top-4’s Russia has ever iced. I know they haven’t faced a “major… threat yet and will do so later against Sweden and Finland, but they look great in all three zones. The two Nikita’s have really taken their games to the next level.
Mikhail Grigoinvisiblenko scored a late tally causing me to look up if he had been playing the entire game…apparently he had. I’m a big defender of Grigorenko, but man he was invisible until then, this is the kind of thing he pulls a little too often for my liking these days. He’s 19 now and should be dominating these lesser competitions, but he has these long stretches be it games or periods of nothingness.
Damir Zhafyarov the undrafted 19 year old midget has been explosive offensively. He’s the second highest scoring player on the team from the KHL (after Buchnevich of the Rangers) with 7 goals and 11 points for Metallurg Novokuznetsk. Very dangerous off the rush with his speed and looks very good on the PP setting up plays.
The third round Oilers both had solid games. Slepyshev was noticeable most of the game, even had a nice scoring chance shorthanded. Big, bad Yakimov got his first of the tourney, where else but the front of the net on the PP using that 6’4 body. He hasn’t looked bad in his defensive role.
Ivan Barbashev the 2014 expected first rounder added a goal, a laser shot off the rush. He’s hustling, though hasn’t had too much to show for his efforts out there.
Russia is still missing that gamebreaker (They need it to be one of Grigorenko or Buchnevich to be honest), but their defense and goaltending look top notch. Plus they are getting some good scoring from their undersized speedsters like Barabanov and Zhafyarov
Thanks for reading.