GDT: All Encompassing 4 Nations Discussion.

[Blanick]

I know there are larger political considerations affecting things, but I wish there was a Team Russia in this competition. We are missing one more team that would be competitive enough to challenge for the Final, and deprived of seeing a lot of great players.

No doubt. Still though I always feel like Tournaments like these always leave out elite players that aren't from one of the big 5 (Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden and Finland). My thought is keep international tournaments special for events like the Olympics. Replace the AllStar game with a week long series (best of 5) of NA vs World.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

No doubt. Still though I always feel like Tournaments like these always leave out elite players that aren't from one of the big 5 (Canada, USA, Russia, Sweden and Finland). My thought is keep international tournaments special for events like the Olympics. Replace the AllStar game with a week long series (best of 5) of NA vs World.

I feel like the pride in one's country is what will keep this tournament competitive. Once you change it to NA vs. the World I feel like it would turn into an All-Star event.

Nobody has passion playing for "North America' or "The World".

I do wish certain players weren't left out though.

 

[Blanick]

I feel like the pride in one's country is what will keep this tournament competitive. Once you change it to NA vs. the World I feel like it would turn into an All-Star event.

Nobody has passion playing for "North America' or "The World".

I do wish certain players weren't left out though.

That's fair. I just wish the Slovaks, Czechs and Germans had better teams. So many great players that don't get to be a part.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Sweden ties it up! 3-3!

We've got a brand new hockey game!

That's fair. I just wish the Slovaks, Czechs and Germans had better teams. So many great players that don't get to be a part.

I'm curious if the players would be interested in playing for a makeshift group of anyone whose country wasn't selected to participate.

So basically a hybrid of 4 Nations and your idea: USA, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Russia, '& 'The World'.

 

[Blanick]

The main board is already blaming Binnington and calling for a goalie change. Apparently all of Sweden's goals were stoppable.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Great save by Binnington in OT!

The main board is already blaming Binnington and calling for a goalie change. Apparently all of Sweden's goals were stoppable.

Probably should've had the second. First was a screen, possibly a double screen. Blaming him for the D breakdown on the third would be asinine.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Binnington saved their ass in OT. I'm sure all people are going to talk about is Kempe's goal though.

 

[sfvega]

Binner winner chicken dinner.

 

[Blanick]

Canada wins the OT after a great back and forth goalie duel.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Binnington came up huge in OT.

Old man Crosby still has it.

 

[MissouriMook]

Canada wins the OT after a great back and forth goalie duel.

Future Blues forward Mitch Marner with the game winner.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Future Blues forward Mitch Marner with the game winner.

I can't wait to hear people talk about how terrible of a defensive player he is based purely on the fact that he's not 6'2" and doesn't lay big hits.

 

[Robb_K]

Great shot by Marner for the OT winner! Binnington made a couple great saves in OT to keep them in the game. They squeaked by with the 4-3 win. But a win is a win. So it's a good start. USA should slaughter The Finns tomorrow, based on the latter's defence roster.

 

[TheOrganist]

Crosby is amazing. I wish he’d leave Pittsburgh. Binner come up with some clutch saves in OT. I was entertained.

 

[TheDizee]

.885 save pct

its not just the blues D that is the problem

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Mikkola as their #1???? They must have had a lot of injuries.

Heiskanen is on IR.

 

[StlBigFly]

imma guess Canada switches goalies next game? Seems like that’s what I’d do from the start. Then possibly switch back unless the team just looks dominant defensively versus USA.

I feel binner was fine. Embarrassing chicken wing goal sucks but you’ve also got to celebrate elite shooting talent in an event like this. I sat in a discord with Canadian fans - oh wow they like to complain. It was probably the most negative chat I’ve seen for a winning team.

 

[ds774622]

imma guess Canada switches goalies next game? Seems like that’s what I’d do from the start. Then possibly switch back unless the team just looks dominant defensively versus USA.

I feel binner was fine. Embarrassing chicken wing goal sucks but you’ve also got to celebrate elite shooting talent in an event like this. I sat in a discord with Canadian fans - oh wow they like to complain. It was probably the most negative chat I’ve seen for a winning team.

I think if Canada makes a goalie switch and then NEEDS to switch back if Hill has a poor showing against the US would be disastrous. Then they'd be backtracking to Binner. Obviously a chance Hill plays lights out but I just don't see it. The reality is that the US matchup is going to be harder for Canada compared to Sweden (on paper, at least)...and I think it's going to be a real barn burner.

You make the goalie change mid-game if you need to, otherwise Canada just needs to ride Binner. Making a goalie change for the US game and having it blow up in their face would cause a Canadian Constitutional crisis. And no I don't think they'd go to Monty for a must win game 3 against Finland. Risk/reward I don't think they can start Hill for game 2.

For the record, I think if Canada started Hill last night they would still be having the exact same conversation as we're having right now.

 

[joe galiba]

The main board is already blaming Binnington and calling for a goalie change. Apparently all of Sweden's goals were stoppable.

I swear I have heard something like this before...

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

None of Canada’s available goalies are awe inspiring. Binnington’s advantages are that he’s won a Cup, and his puck moving. National all star teams are limited by lack of chemistry from playing together. The defense is likely to get more synced with Binnington’s puck play if they leave him in. But I’m not confident they won’t make a premature move.

 

[Reality Czech]

I think if Canada makes a goalie switch and then NEEDS to switch back if Hill has a poor showing against the US would be disastrous. Then they'd be backtracking to Binner. Obviously a chance Hill plays lights out but I just don't see it. The reality is that the US matchup is going to be harder for Canada compared to Sweden (on paper, at least)...and I think it's going to be a real barn burner.

You make the goalie change mid-game if you need to, otherwise Canada just needs to ride Binner. Making a goalie change for the US game and having it blow up in their face would cause a Canadian Constitutional crisis. And no I don't think they'd go to Monty for a must win game 3 against Finland. Risk/reward I don't think they can start Hill for game 2.

For the record, I think if Canada started Hill last night they would still be having the exact same conversation as we're having right now.

I get what you're saying and don't disagree per se, but I bet they will start Hill in the next game. Not necessarily because Binner played badly but I think they'll wanna give both goalies a taste of the action in this tournament. If it's the US team and Hellebuyck, I probably wouldn't say the same thing but I don't think there's a big enough talent gap between Hill and Binnington to ride one guy the whole way. Basically an audition to see who gets the net in the final game. But it's not an easy decision either way.

 

[Brian39]

Binner wasn't at the top of his game, but was 'good enough'. I didn't love the way he drifted toward the middle of his crease and gave up the short side on the screened 1st goal. I wouldn't call it a bad goal, but I thought he didn't make the best selection to that situation. The 2nd goal has to be stopped in a tournament like this. He also had a couple sloppy post seal plays where he didn't get his mechanics completely right.

But he fought through his mechanical issues, fought off a couple shots that he didn't see cleanly, and then made a few huge stops down the stretch. If Canada had only scored 2 goals and lost 3-2 in regulation I think we'd see Hill in net Saturday. But that isn't what happened and their offense gave Binner the chance to demonstrate that he might not be perfect but can make the saves when it matters most. Canada entered this tournament knowing that their goalie wasn't favored to provide the 'best' goalie performance on any given game of this tournament. But they also have a good enough team that they can win without their goalie outplaying the other guy so long as their goalie plays well and makes a couple big stops.

Binner was good enough in game 1 and made his best stops at the biggest moments of the game. He bent but didn't break. If this was the Price/Luongo or Roy/Marty days where the next man up was a top 5 goalie in the league then I'd sit him down for game 2. But Adin Hill is not that guy and is far from a lock to give you a better performance than the one Binner just gave them.

I think in a 3 game tournament you have to go back to the guy that you deemed your best option for game 1 when he is good enough, but not great in that game.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I think if Canada makes a goalie switch and then NEEDS to switch back if Hill has a poor showing against the US would be disastrous. Then they'd be backtracking to Binner. Obviously a chance Hill plays lights out but I just don't see it. The reality is that the US matchup is going to be harder for Canada compared to Sweden (on paper, at least)...and I think it's going to be a real barn burner.

You make the goalie change mid-game if you need to, otherwise Canada just needs to ride Binner. Making a goalie change for the US game and having it blow up in their face would cause a Canadian Constitutional crisis. And no I don't think they'd go to Monty for a must win game 3 against Finland. Risk/reward I don't think they can start Hill for game 2.

For the record, I think if Canada started Hill last night they would still be having the exact same conversation as we're having right now.

That's exactly what I think should and will likely happen. Binnington wasn't bad enough to necessitate a change and he saved their ass multiple times in OT. His is who they thought he was, a flawed goaltender who can make the big save in the big moments. Hill hasn't been good lately either so it would probably be a lateral move to go to him.

Run Binnington out there, give him a chance to win the biggest game of the prelims. If Binnington plays poorly against USA, turn things over to Hill, either mid-game against USA or prior to the Finland game and ride him the rest of the way.

You go to Hill now and he gets lit up by the Americans, now you've got two goaltenders with busted confidence to choose from. The two points against Sweden in all likelihood assures a trip to the finals so it really doesn't matter what happens in the USA game (assuming you don't lose to the Fins who are led by Mikkola on defense). If Binnington plays well against the Americans, you've got your starting goalie for the rest of the tournament. If he doesn't, you don't want him starting what will likely be a USA-Canada Final so it becomes Hill's net. Easy.

 

[Brian39]

I get what you're saying and don't disagree per se, but I bet they will start Hill in the next game. Not necessarily because Binner played badly but I think they'll wanna give both goalies a taste of the action in this tournament. If it's the US team and Hellebuyck, I probably wouldn't say the same thing but I don't think there's a big enough talent gap between Hill and Binnington to ride one guy the whole way. Basically an audition to see who gets the net in the final game. But it's not an easy decision either way.

A regulation loss to USA could very well end their tournament.

USA getting regulation wins against Finland and Canada plus Sweden getting 1 regulation win and 1 OT win against Finland and the USA. That would be at least 6 points for USA and at least 6 points for Sweden. Canada got 2 points last night, so a regulation loss vs the USA would cap them at 5 possible points.

Canada absolutely can't use the USA game as a 'give a guy a taste of action' game.

 

[Reality Czech]

A regulation loss to USA could very well end their tournament.

USA getting regulation wins against Finland and Canada plus Sweden getting 1 regulation win and 1 OT win against Finland and the USA. That would be at least 6 points for USA and at least 6 points for Sweden. Canada got 2 points last night, so a regulation loss vs the USA would cap them at 5 possible points.

Canada absolutely can't use the USA game as a 'give a guy a taste of action' game.

That's a whole lot of ifs. Guess we'll see what happens but I'll be surprised if Binner starts every game. I don't think their chances of winning go down with Hill in net. It's pretty much a wash and I like Binner.