Great save on Kovy but I gotta say Kovy makes it look so easy, like he was toying with Quick on some of those shots. As a Devil fan I miss that guy. _
Lol me to, USA up 2-1 and Russia scored 2 quick goals and I felt like I was a jinx, but then the goal was waived off! _
Yikes. we really lost. I was very unimpressed with our offense. We had ZERO forecheck. Hopefully we play better when it counts
This did count. And we really won. Give credit to the Russians, their defense owned us on he boards especially when we dumped it in and tried to get something going. Russia was very undisciplined as our only goals came on a power play, but I'll take it. Kovalchuk scared the hell out of me coming in quick you just didn't know what he was going to do. Quick stepped up I'm so glad we didn't start Jimmy Howard or Ryan Miller, though I think Miller gets the start tomorrow to give Quick some rest.
Right now it looks like it will be US, Sweden, Russia and the winner of Finland/Canada skipping to the quarters. Unless Finland/Canada goes to OT, then it would come down to goal differential for that 4th spot between Russia and the loser Fin./Can..
Hopefully I won't be eating my words with us taking on Slovenia. Canada doesn't scare me as much after their showing against Norway aka Team Matt Zuccarello. Sweden and Russia are legit and maybe even Finland depending on how they play against Canada. Aleksander Barkov is going to be something special
Yeah, we didn't play that well. No forecheck and the dead weight was getting too much ice time. I'm not really comfortable with Orpik, Carlson, Callahan and Brown on the ice. If anyone needs a day off then give it to them tomorrow against Slovenia, otherwise I'd roll with this for the rest of the tournament Lines: JVR/Pavelski/Kessel Parise/Kesler/Kane Pacioretty/Stastny/Oshie Brown/Backes/Callahan Pairings: Suter/McDonagh Martin/Shattenkirk Fowler/Faulk I think Bylsma needs to cut down the rotation after the game tomorrow. Roll the top three lines with Backes rotating in on all three lines. I don't want to see Callahan or Brown on the ice. Those two make me really nervous. I liked the Suter and McDonagh pairing. Martin and Fowler have really impressed me so far more than I expected. I'd try to roll with 5 D-Man. Give Faulk a chance as the 6th in place of Carlson who isn't good enough for this level. Orpik needs to be relegated to 7th D-Man again. He was badly exposed in this game.
Callahan was all over Ovechkin all game and drew a penalty in the closing minute of regulation. Not sure we're seeing the same things. I think we let up on the forecheck because of the speed the Russians had through the neutral zone. Malkin and Kovalchuk flying through there, they backed off a bit on the defenseman.
I caught the last few minutes of the third period, OT, and the shootout. How about Oshie taking all the sudden death shots? Russia was alternating Datsyuk/Kovalchuk.
I thought he played very well, but I am still very worried when he is out on the ice. OTOH, Dustin Brown is starting to get on my nerves. That guy is dirty. I will root for him for the rest of the tournament, but he is such a dirty player. In the 3rd when he lost the puck, he decided that it was best to knee Tarasenko rather than trying to get the puck back. That penalty was so dumb, and it gave the Russians a PP where they scored a goal.
Looks like its set up for a USA/Canada or USA/Russia finals if we get that far. If everything goes as planned for the rest of the group stage, the seedings will look like this 1. Canada 2. Sweden 3. USA 4. Russia 5. Finland 6. Doesn't Matter 7. Doesn't Matter 8. Doesn't Matter The USA caught a huge break with potentially facing Sweden in the semi's instead of Russia or Canada. It would be very tough to beat both for the Gold. Now the USA only has to beat one of the two to win gold if all things go as planned for the rest of the group stage.
we had absolutely no chances 5 on 5....I was very impressed with Russia's D---unless it was our poor offense, not sure.
Sweden finally pulled away from Latvia Slovenia with a dirty hit in their win over Slovakia, will likely be down a player for their game against the US.
Agreed I was so pissed at Brown for that penalty. He was called on a seemingly phantom penalty earlier, but that one on Tarasenko was blatant and cost us. Switzerland is surprising me..up 1-0 in the 3rd and Jonas Hiller has yet to give up a goal in three games.
Swiss win and advance with Sweden out of the group. Hiller's second shutout. Czechs and Latvians are out.
Oops yeah Hiller didn't play against Sweden and they lost 1-0. Still though, two shutouts when he has played.
