PGT: 9/24 Canada vs Russia - Canada advances to final with a 5-3 win over Russia

[trilobyte]

I think Canada showed that they are beatable, if only the US had built a proper team with focus on speed and skill they could have won this thing.

Do you think Torts had a lot of influence in choice of roster and it was a Tortorella team, him favouring a grinding style?
My question is sincere, because there were some very good U.S. players left behind.

 

[Frank the Tank]

The Toews line was the teams best possession line despite being buried in their own end. It was pretty damn masterfull.

The combination of Toews and Doughty dominated the Russian top line of Ovechkin-Malkin-Semin in the 2010 QF match-up as well. Good to see they can still do it 6.5 years later.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Crosby was really good in 2014 and yet the points did not come like they have this tournament. Finally finding him a compatible LW in Marchant (who can play at the pace required at this level, unlike Kunitz) has made a significant difference. Bergeron has always been great with Crosby.

I agree. Marchand is a great fit with Sid. You can't just stick a star or a fourth line grinder with a player like Crosby and expect things to happen. The guy on his wing needs to be fast and willing to go to the open areas. He needs to be physical but not someone who is going to put another player through the boards. Smart but also play a north-south game. Decent hands but more importantly get pucks on net or back to Sid. Marchand and Bergeron fill all of these qualifications.

 

[nucks88]

Behind that laugh is serious concern. Keep whistling past the graveyard, the day of reckoning will come for Canadian hockey and it will be at the hands of the mighty eagle.

Oh I am sure that the rest of the world is catching up to Canada and it is good for the game. Am I concerned? Not really. I know that a Canadian hockey player no matter how much of a star will always go that extra bit to win. Can you say the same for an American? They sure haven't lately. Maybe have a real close look at that graveyard.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Do you think Torts had a lot of influence in choice of roster and it was a Tortorella team, him favouring a grinding style?
My question is sincere, because there were some very good U.S. players left behind.

I think the grinding style is what what management wanted and that's why they picked Torts. I have no doubt tho that torts is the main reason Jack Johnson is on the team and maybe Dubinsky. Johnson wouldn't make USA's C team he is a bad NHL d man.

 

[Siberian]

Too much depth and young talent on this team Canada. Russia needs to get younger if they wanted to beat Canada at this level.

 

[nowhereman]

I think Canada showed that they are beatable, if only the US had built a proper team with focus on speed and skill they could have won this thing.

If you're complaining about the players your team didn't take to the tournament and blaming that for your team's poor performance, you never had a chance in the first place. Canada was missing Benn, Seguin, and Keith and left Subban at home (a player who's better than any defenseman on team USA). Yet, they still haven't missed a beat.

The only way the US could match up against Canada is if they were allowed to take the 5 best players from every other team in the tournament.

 

[Crosbyfan]

All respect to Russia. Solid tournament. Gave Canada a go. The combination of dangerous scorers and Bobrovsky in net gave them a shot, but more than that great compete level the right to the end.

 

[kevy999]

Yeah, that i can probably back up for. Don't forget that Canadas team is very stacked and better than Russia. I think Russia put up a fair battle.

Yes i believe Russia really did work hard and wanted to win and i would not bash them. I think they have so much talent up front but just don't have up to par defense and maybe they need to play a different system and not use coaches from Russia who never coached in the nhl. They were just over matched as a whole this game but i thought they put in a good efffort and gave Canada a scare for a bit.

 

[DearDiary]

The Toews line was the teams best possession line despite being buried in their own end. It was pretty damn masterfull.

Toews had the easiest matchup of anyone. Ovechkin was a pylon and Malkin playing like he's 50 years old.

 

[General Zodd]

Behind that laugh is serious concern. Keep whistling past the graveyard, the day of reckoning will come for Canadian hockey and it will be at the hands of the mighty eagle.

In what lifetime there Mr. Bean?

 

[Bixby Snyder]

If you're complaining about the players your team didn't take to the tournament and blaming that for your team's poor performance, you never had a chance in the first place. Canada was missing Benn, Seguin, and Keith and left Subban at home (a player who's better than any defenseman on team USA). Yet, they still haven't missed a beat.

The only way the US could match up against Canada is if they were allowed to take the 5 best players from every other team in the tournament.

I'm sorry but that is not only wrong but incredibly insulting. I am done with this conversation. Good Night.

 

[TLeafsFan]

This is great for the state of hockey!

Play best the powerhouse!

GO CANADA GO!!!

 

[Boxscore]

Crosby right now is playing on a different level than anyone else in the tournament. I've been critical of Sid often, but right now he's as dominant against the world's best since I watched 99 and 66 in 1987. Gotta give credit where credit's due.

 

[Hank Plank]

Toews had the easiest matchup of anyone. Ovechkin was a pylon and Malkin playing like he's 50 years old.

I thought Malkin was the best player on the ice sans their goalie. He was driving to the net and at least trying unlike his dead weight line mates.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Behind that laugh is serious concern. Keep whistling past the graveyard, the day of reckoning will come for Canadian hockey and it will be at the hands of the mighty eagle.

Let's get serious about this for a second...

After '96 we were told that there was going to be this massive flood of great American players that would follow in the footsteps of Modano, Hull (a Canadian but whatever), Leetch, Richter, Roenick...

What the heck happened? For all the prospects that keep showing well at minor and major junior level tourneys, it hasn't really made for a lot of elite professionals. At least, not on the level of the players I mentioned.

I have to think hockey is being played by more kids in the USA than ever, but it seems like the superstar well is a little dry right now (with respect to Kane, of course). Matthews looks great, but will he just be another Parise - a guy who looked to be all world but is just...good? You're going to need ten great Matthewses to beat Canada.

 

[Rugbyplayer*]

Yes i believe Russia really did work hard and wanted to win and i would not bash them. I think they have so much talent up front but just don't have up to par defense and maybe they need to play a different system and not use coaches from Russia who never coached in the nhl. They were just over matched as a whole this game but i thought they put in a good efffort and gave Canada a scare for a bit.

Znarok isn't Russian.

 

[b in vancouver]

I don't completely disagree, but I also think his role has changed from being a part of the machine in other tournaments to being himself in this one.

I would accredit that to a loosening of the reigns by Babcock and the fact that this tournament is less intense because of its nature, at least so far. There is not the same need for stifling defence on the small ice.

This is the same reason that whenever I hear quasi-hockey fans cheer the idea of big ice as this wheeling and dealing brand of hockey, I say they have it exactly backwards. Big ice requires more system and less creativity and fore-checking, not the other way around.

I also think a lot of the credit goes to Bergeron and Marchand. On that line he's just one of three players and doesn't have to try and do everything himself - so is able to be in better position and trust his line mates more As good as Crosby's playing (and as great as he is) I'm more impressed with that line as a whole than just him. They just seem to fill in each other's gaps, are all puck hounds that love creating turnovers, shoot, pass, play d, win board battles... opens a lot of room for Sid to do his thing.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that Sid tries harder when paired with Bergeron - or plays against him. It's like there's a competition of who can be the hardest working player on the ice. - with Sid having the clear advantage in talent.

 

[Boxscore]

Malkin and Ovechkin were unimpressive the entire tournament, let alone tonight.

Tonight team Russia consisted of... Bob, Zaitsev, Orlov, Panarin and Kucherov. Everyone else... blah.

 

[Hank Plank]

Znarok isn't Russian.

Yes he is born in Soviet Russia.

 

[kevy999]

Crosby right now is playing on a different level than anyone else in the tournament. I've been critical of Sid often, but right now he's as dominant against the world's best since I watched 99 and 66 in 1987. Gotta give credit where credit's due.

no i don't think you should bring the Great one into this. Sid is playing great but Gretzky was in a class of his own . As far as a different level than anyone in this tournament well remember he is also playing on the best and deepest team so he also has good teammates to make him look good too. But he has had a very good tournament so far and i hope it continues.

 

[kevy999]

Znarok isn't Russian.

Wasn't most of the coaching staff Russian and coaching in Russia?

 

[Scandale du Jour]

no i don't think you should bring the Great one into this. Sid is playing great but Gretzky was in a class of his own . As far as a different level than anyone in this tournament well remember he is also playing on the best and deepest team so he also has good teammates to make him look good too. But he has had a very good tournament so far and i hope it continues.

Team Canada is an impressive machine as a whole, but Sid has definitely been the best player so far. If he keeps this level during the finals, he will win MVP.

 

[Bixby Snyder]

Let's get serious about this for a second...

After '96 we were told that there was going to be this massive flood of great American players that would follow in the footsteps of Modano, Hull (a Canadian but whatever), Leetch, Richter, Roenick...

What the heck happened? For all the prospects that keep showing well at minor and major junior level tourneys, it hasn't really made for a lot of elite professionals. At least, not on the level of the players I mentioned.

I have to think hockey is being played by more kids in the USA than ever, but it seems like the superstar well is a little dry right now (with respect to Kane, of course). Matthews looks great, but will he just be another Parise - a guy who looked to be all world but is just...good? You're going to need ten great Matthewses to beat Canada.

USA hockey hit a bit of a dry spell as far as top end talent in the late 90's to mid 2000's and there are a few reasons why that was but I am not going into that now it would just take too long and it's getting late. USA hockey has corrected these issues and the elite talent is coming and there is a lot of it on the way. You don't have to believe me because it will become apparent soon enough. The past 2 drafts have been strong for the US, this upcoming draft is somewhat weak but next few after that are huge again for US talent.

 

[flaneur]

And if cows had wings, we would need bigger and stronger umbrellas...

blink. LOL. I've never heard that saying before. Is that a Quebecois bon mot?