I still get the idea categorizing a loss like this is whistling past the cemetery. Everything you say is true but also ignoring the way they have played. The result against Latvia and Finland beating USA has made it possible that Canada finishes 3rd.
I don't believe for a moment people would lament that. Instead it would be "they can write their wrongs and only medal rounds matter."
Every year is different but collectively with this being a 19 year old tournament. How have you liked the play of the returning players? Those are your leaders and to date it hasn't been great. Saying it whether it's they worst or embarrassing is merely trying to gloss over what happened. Yes a result like that can happen but it really shouldn't.
If my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a bicycle. I mean, what are we really talking about? Team Canada has two shutout wins vs Finland and Germany. They haven’t given up an even strength goal in their three games.
This team is structured for goal prevention, not goal scoring. There has been endless discussion regarding the players they didn’t take, mostly because of the scoring prowess of those players but those players also have deficiencies defensively.
I will agree that the returning players have been disappointing from a scoring perspective but the team overall has played well defensively. They limit chances and rarely have given up a second chance opportunity meaning the goalies only have to make the first save.
I get it that Chicks Dig the Long Ball and that scoring is sexy but goal prevention is what usually wins and this is the reason why they strategically pieced this team together the way they did.
USA plays more of a free flow games and it showed in their Germany matchup. They scored 10 goals but gave up 4. They lost to Finland mostly because Finland also plays good defence and the USA had a tough time getting to the net while also being able to cover their own net.
We are in a Pool that generally values goal prevention. Germany and LAtvia are strong enough to be competitive and they are really trying hard not to be scored on. They are not opening up at all. They are collapsing really well. Finland is somewhat similar except they have some more elite depth that will allow them more 5 on 5 scoring opportunities than Germany and Latvia.
Team USA is less worried about being scored on. They are looking to score. Canada should be able to contain them. They should also be able to exploit their lack of care and attention to defence. Some of the holes we have not seen vs the previous three opponents will be seen against USA unless they change their style specifically for the Canada game.
I’d like to see the Canadians play a little more consistently physical, especially down low on the opposition defence. Rush in a little heavier. I’d also like to see Cameron shorten the bench a bit and start to shy away from rolling 4 lines 5 on 5. Settle into three lines and roll them to get some more momentum going. Use the 4th line as an energy line to go crash and bang when necessary. Now that we are into the tough portion of the schedule, I think we may see that more now.