WC: 2015 — Team Canada II

[Ilyeu]

Oh that explains how the goalie was even more terrible than usual. 7am hockey.

Put in someone young under 22 whose hungry. Go with a recent U20 goalie, like the Americans did.

 

[Faterson]

Perhaps you were still asleep while watching? I wouldn't blame Jones for any of the 3 goals.

 

[crawz87]

Perhaps you were still asleep while watching? I wouldn't blame Jones for any of the 3 goals.

IMO - 1st goal was on him, not a hard shot, hit the low end of his trapper and went it.

 

[tony d]

Meh, still think goaltending could be this team's undoing.

 

[DrDangles]

Meh, still think goaltending could be this team's undoing.

Agreed

Wish Fleury would have gone. Massive upgrade over what we have and winning a tourney like this would only help his newly found confidence.

I still feel as if we have this in the bag barring a choke job, but if anything kills us it's going to be goaltending.

 

[JackSlater]

They seem to be going through the motions, but still piling up goals against these teams. It will be interesting to see who steps up when there is at least a little pressure, because guys like Crosby and Giroux haven't really tried to carry the play yet. I'm happy with how Ekblad looks on the bigger ice and I think Eberle and Hall have helped themselves by participating this year. If Canada picked teams the way many European countries do, I think Eberle would probably be a lock for Canada in future tournaments. He always puts up points internationally.

 

[1Gold Standard]

They seem to be going through the motions, but still piling up goals against these teams. It will be interesting to see who steps up when there is at least a little pressure, because guys like Crosby and Giroux haven't really tried to carry the play yet. I'm happy with how Ekblad looks on the bigger ice and I think Eberle and Hall have helped themselves by participating this year. If Canada picked teams the way many European countries do, I think Eberle would probably be a lock for Canada in future tournaments. He always puts up points internationally.

tied for 1st in goals for D-men and 2nd in points. Impressive indeed.

 

[xxxx]

They seem to be going through the motions, but still piling up goals against these teams. It will be interesting to see who steps up when there is at least a little pressure, because guys like Crosby and Giroux haven't really tried to carry the play yet. I'm happy with how Ekblad looks on the bigger ice and I think Eberle and Hall have helped themselves by participating this year. If Canada picked teams the way many European countries do, I think Eberle would probably be a lock for Canada in future tournaments. He always puts up points internationally.

It will be interesting to see what Hall's next season, with McDavid, is like. He could be seriously considered as a left winger for World Cup team.

 

[xxxx]

Ekblad remains me of Doughty at 2009 whc. Doughty also looked very good and experienced at that time and was what, 19?

 

[Rob]

Smith makes me very nervous. He comes up with highlight saves but also highlight blunders.

 

[Stats01]

I don't care how good this team looks up front...Mike Smith giving up 2 softies and 1 atrocious goal from behind the goal line today is putrid. I've said this a million times but I don't trust him in a big game at all. We could score 5 goals in the gold medal game and this guy has the potential to give up 6.

 

[Flyers Time]

how has coots looked

 

[MiamiHockey]

They seem to be going through the motions, but still piling up goals against these teams. It will be interesting to see who steps up when there is at least a little pressure, because guys like Crosby and Giroux haven't really tried to carry the play yet. I'm happy with how Ekblad looks on the bigger ice and I think Eberle and Hall have helped themselves by participating this year. If Canada picked teams the way many European countries do, I think Eberle would probably be a lock for Canada in future tournaments. He always puts up points internationally.

There's been no pressure? Down 3-0 to the Swedes in the critical game of the round-robin, and Team Canada owned them the final 40 minutes. They've dominated the Czechs and the Swiss, who are both top teams. There's no concern about their performance under pressure. It's actually been their performance without pressure that's been poor (i.e., vs. France, Latvia).

 

[JackSlater]

Ekblad remains me of Doughty at 2009 whc. Doughty also looked very good and experienced at that time and was what, 19?

Sort of, and that's a good thing. He doesn't have Doughty's insane mobility from 2009, but his positioning has been great and he has a better shot.

There's been no pressure? Down 3-0 to the Swedes in the critical game of the round-robin, and Team Canada owned them the final 40 minutes. They've dominated the Czechs and the Swiss, who are both top teams. There's no concern about their performance under pressure. It's actually been their performance without pressure that's been poor (i.e., vs. France, Latvia).

Fair point about Sweden, but being down early to a weak group of skaters in a game that may only affect seeding isn't that big in my mind. The 2012 team that was similarly talented is on my mind, and they outplayed Slovakia pretty thoroughly only to fall apart in the end in their first knockout game. This team has played much better in the preliminary round than the 2012 team did at least.

 

[Nakawick]

I don't care how good this team looks up front...Mike Smith giving up 2 softies and 1 atrocious goal from behind the goal line today is putrid. I've said this a million times but I don't trust him in a big game at all. We could score 5 goals in the gold medal game and this guy has the potential to give up 6.

Yep, will be an adventure with him, but unless The Habs get eliminated and Price begs to come over, he is our guy. You right though, we are only a couple softies away from elimination, especially against the Russians if we run into them. They have the snipers that can light Smith up.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Babcock on his way to Prague today. I hope he and McLennan go out for drinks and go over some ideas.

 

[JackSlater]

Babcock on his way to Prague today. I hope he and McLennan go out for drinks and go over some ideas.

I've liked what I've seen from McLellan. He's mixed things up appropriately and also allows the team to play in a way that suits his players. Some coaches play the same style internationally even if their players aren't suited to it (Hitchcock) or fall in love with certain players/combinations that might not be optimal (Ruff). McLellan seems to know this is a team that has to go out and score goals, and organizes as such.

 

[tony d]

Yeah, Mcllelan's a good coach, he's done great this year. I wonder once again if Price would join the team if Montreal gets eliminated tomorrow night. What about Subban?

 

[The Mars Volchenkov]

In Custance's recent ESPN Insider article, Nill says they won't be adding anyone else to the team.

 

[Fourier]

At some point you have to go with the players you have. They have made a commitment and it is important to respect that if you want to be able to get guys to go over in the future.

 

[JackSlater]

how has coots looked

Really good, from the gameplay that I have seen. Pretty much always in the right place and the team relies on him in key defensive moments.

 

[Lemonlimey]

Couturier is one of the players that's stood out really well. My boy Matt Duchene seems to be struggling the last few games though

 

[glue]

In Custance's recent ESPN Insider article, Nill says they won't be adding anyone else to the team.

Figured.

On another note, hell of a match between Belarus and Finland right now...its just bizarre when a team like Finland struggles against Belarus, but they always manage to kick Canada's butt in these tournaments. Their tight defensive game and solid goaltending just always makes them a threat in these 1 game elimination tournaments. They better beat Belarus today though, or it will be Canada vs Finland in yet another QF.

 

[Tripod]

Nice to see Couturier getting some love. He has the offensive upside still if given the chance to use it...with good wingers and better zone starts.

Maybe our new coach will see his performance here and give him more of a shot offensively.

 

[glue]

Things starting to shape up here with just one more day left of round robin..

Most likely QF matchups in my opinion - my prediction of the winners in bold:

(1) Canada vs (4) Belarus
(2) Sweden vs (3) Finland
(3) Czech vs (2) Russia
(4) Swiss vs (1) USA

Not totally sure what the semi-final matchups would be based on above scenarios:

Canada vs Russia ?? or Canada vs Finland