WC: Canada vs Czechs semi final!

[Czechboy]

David vs Goliath

We have a great spine with our 3C's... Krejci, Hertl and Kampf

I think out goalie is better (not fact but my opinion)

We have nothing to match Chabot.

Pasta is probably better than Barzal.

Everything else from the forwards, d and Canadian winning heritage is on Canada's side.

We are definitely the underdog. Swedes smoked us. So did Finn's.

I am quite excited. Good luck to both.

If we win we end a 10 year medal drought.

If Canada wins they are in their 6th final in 7 years. 'Just a vacation and don't care' my ass!

Click to read more...

 

[Gereth]

I actually trust Czechs with this one. They just need to score first.

 

[AKQJ]

36	Logan Thompson		2	Lukas Dostal
60	Chris Driedger		50	Karel Vejmelka
90	Matt Tomkins		94	Marek Langhamer
2	Zach Whiteloud		5	David Jiricek
5	Nick Holden		6	Michal Kempny
6	Travis Sanheim		9	David Sklenicka
28	Damon Severson		17	Filip Hronek
33	Ryan Graves		24	Jan Scotka
61	Dysin Mayo		47	Michal Jordan
72	Thomas Chabot		51	Radim Simek
			84	Tomas Kundratek
10	Nicolas Roy		10	Roman Cervenka
13	Matt Barzal		12	Jiri Cernoch
16	Morgan Geekie		13	David Vrana
17	Adam Lowry		19	Jakub Flek
18	Dawson Mercer		20	Hynek Zohorna
19	Drake Batherson		44	Matej Stransky
22	Eric O'Dell		46	David Krejci
24	Dylan Cozens		48	Tomas Hertl
34	Cole Sillinger		52	Michal Spacek
44	Max Comtois		64	David Kämpf
73	Noah Gregor		67	Jiri Smejkal
77	Josh Anderson		88	David Pasternak
80	Pierre-Luc Dubois		91	Dominik Simon
93	Kent Johnson		95	Matej Blümel
HC	Claude Julien		HC	Kari Jalonen

On paper it looks much worse than Canada - Sweden. Canada seems to be stronger in almost every aspect. I like goalie situation better, also defence, group of forwards as such and coaching too... if I could see any favor for Czechia it would most probably be the first line. Pastrnak-Krejci-Cervenka is goooood! But Canadian guys Dubois-Barzal- Batherson showed their class in destroying Sweden... So not even that is 100%. Dominik Simon is on the list of players, but in real life he is back home. If anything the Czech team is more even (or balanched) than Sweden, but is it enough? I must say on paper it looks all Canada after all!

 

[NyQuil]

It will be interesting if the Czechs score first and then play patiently - capitalizing on Canada's eagerness to even things up.

 

[Old Man Jags]

Tough one. After the psychological boost Canada would have received by coming back the way they did, they will be even more confident and even bigger favourites… but I like to be optimistic! Probably won’t do much good though.

 

[ORRFForever]

Canada is the better team on paper (even in Europe on the big ice) and I'm not sure it's close. Having said that, as others have said, if the Czechs can do what the U.S. did today (get an early lead, collapse in front of the net and get strong goaltending), they can certainly win - we've lost to lesser teams.

If this was a best of 7, Canada wins in (4 or) 5.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Let’s go CANADA

 

[AKQJ]

It will be interesting if the Czechs score first and then play patiently - capitalizing on Canada's eagerness to even things up.

Sweden tried that. Did not work at all...

 

[Puck Dogg]

Canada has more depth throughout their roster but Czechia has the best player of the two in Pastrnak. Krejci is also still a world class player. Hertl and Vrana are sleepers. There's not much offensive support in Czechia defense. Hronek hasn't been producing as leader of the defense should but neither has Chabot. Both can have shaky goaltending on a bad day.

I'd say Canada to go through to the final 65%-35%.

 

[jj cale]

Like today, I think Canada will likely have to score at least 4 goals to win it. Pasta, etc are gonna get their looks and bury some on our goalie IMO.

 

[NyQuil]

Like today, I think Canada will likely have to score at least 4 goals to win it. Pasta, etc are gonna get their looks and bury some on our goalie IMO.

Important to stay out of the box.

 

[jj cale]

Important to stay out of the box.

Yep, gotta keep those things to a minimum. Czechs have the weapons to really make us pay for too many of those.

 

[ORRFForever]

I worry about the big ice. When shots aren't going in, it seems like the net is a mile from the blue line and players can't get to the net. Needless to say, I'd feel more comfortable on NHL ice.

Having said all that, it's just the World Championship - which is my 2nd least favourite tournament.

 

[Czechboy]

Like today, I think Canada will likely have to score at least 4 goals to win it. Pasta, etc are gonna get their looks and bury some on our goalie IMO.

Naylor predicted 5-4... I say 2-1

 

[jj cale]

Naylor predicted 5-4... I say 2-1

I'd be surprised at that outcome but your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Czechboy]

[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD]36[/TD]
[TD]Logan Thompson[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Lukas Dostal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]60[/TD]
[TD]Chris Driedger[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]50[/TD]
[TD]Karel Vejmelka[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]90[/TD]
[TD]Matt Tomkins[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]94[/TD]
[TD]Marek Langhamer[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Zach Whiteloud[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]David Jiricek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Nick Holden[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Michal Kempny[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Travis Sanheim[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]David Sklenicka[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]28[/TD]
[TD]Damon Severson[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Filip Hronek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]33[/TD]
[TD]Ryan Graves[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]Jan Scotka[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]61[/TD]
[TD]Dysin Mayo[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]47[/TD]
[TD]Michal Jordan[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]72[/TD]
[TD]Thomas Chabot[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]51[/TD]
[TD]Radim Simek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]84[/TD]
[TD]Tomas Kundratek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Nicolas Roy[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Roman Cervenka[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Matt Barzal[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Jiri Cernoch[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Morgan Geekie[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]David Vrana[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Adam Lowry[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Jakub Flek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Dawson Mercer[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Hynek Zohorna[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Drake Batherson[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]Matej Stransky[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Eric O'Dell[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]46[/TD]
[TD]David Krejci[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]24[/TD]
[TD]Dylan Cozens[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]48[/TD]
[TD]Tomas Hertl[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]34[/TD]
[TD]Cole Sillinger[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]52[/TD]
[TD]Michal Spacek[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]44[/TD]
[TD]Max Comtois[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]64[/TD]
[TD]David Kämpf[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]73[/TD]
[TD]Noah Gregor[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]67[/TD]
[TD]Jiri Smejkal[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]77[/TD]
[TD]Josh Anderson[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]88[/TD]
[TD]David Pasternak[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]80[/TD]
[TD]Pierre-Luc Dubois[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]91[/TD]
[TD]Dominik Simon[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]93[/TD]
[TD]Kent Johnson[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]95[/TD]
[TD]Matej Blümel[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]HC[/TD]
[TD]Claude Julien[/TD]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]HC[/TD]
[TD]Kari Jalonen[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

On paper it looks much worse than Canada - Sweden. Canada seems to be stronger in almost every aspect. I like goalie situation better, also defence, group of forwards as such and coaching too... if I could see any favor for Czechia it would most probably be the first line. Pastrnak-Krejci-Cervenka is goooood! But Canadian guys Dubois-Barzal- Batherson showed their class in destroying Sweden... So not even that is 100%. Dominik Simon is on the list of players, but in real life he is back home. If anything the Czech team is more even (or balanched) than Sweden, but is it enough? I must say on paper it looks all Canada after all!

Why do you like goalie situation better?

 

[ORRFForever]

Naylor predicted 5-4... I say 2-1

For whom?

 

[Altimus]

I hope Canada wins 6-3. It won't be a blow out, but expect Canada to net two en goals. Canada needs to trap thier way past this team. Drake with 3 points.

 

[AKQJ]

Why do you like goalie situation better?

90% sure in this game the starters will be Driedger and Vejmelka. I guess the season in NHL has been creating my belief that Driedger is a bit more solid. Specially his last season in Florida, not this one in Seattle gave me that feeling. Though Vejmelka had some really good games in Arizona, there were also some medicore ones too. From Thompson I remember in this Worlds this highlites featuring desperate football save. I actually like Dostal, but doubt he will get a chance. Maybe 3 goalies together I'd even prefer Czechs, but it is one game and one against one I believe in Driedger.

 

[maclean]

This is a tough one. Canada should be heavy favourites, but they've looked very mortal at times, so you never know

 

[ORRFForever]

This is a tough one. Canada should be heavy favourites, but they've looked very mortal at times, so you never know

I agree. It could go either way.

 

[Mestaruus]

I feel like OT win for the Czech team on this one.

Canada shouldn't let Czech on the PP or it will be trouble. Kari Jalonen seemed to play Pastrnak+Krejci+Cervenka pretty much for full 2 mins per a PP. At least it seemed that way. Kind of smart thing to do. Similar to the way that Sweden won U18 gold with, with just one PP unit basically.

Canada's chances to win will increase by a lot if they can stay out of the penalty box. Czech hasn't been super dangerous on even strength so far.

 

[Gold Standard]

Finally, the medal games,.. the money games. the final weekend games, where I'm not distracted by work BS. fire up the BBQ and enjoy a few pops.

 

[Lartsaman]

Hope the best for the czechs but Canada knows very well how to ruin a day.

 

[Czechboy]

90% sure in this game the starters will be Driedger and Vejmelka. I guess the season in NHL has been creating my belief that Driedger is a bit more solid. Specially his last season in Florida, not this one in Seattle gave me that feeling. Though Vejmelka had some really good games in Arizona, there were also some medicore ones too. From Thompson I remember in this Worlds this highlites featuring desperate football save. I actually like Dostal, but doubt he will get a chance. Maybe 3 goalies together I'd even prefer Czechs, but it is one game and one against one I believe in Driedger.

I took a quick look at Vej vs Driedger... he played more NHL games, had the same save percentage almost (.898 vs .899) and his save percentage here is higher (driedger is sub .900 here too).

At best, I'd call that a tie going into the game.

I've been joking all tournament that playing for Arizona uniquely qualifies you to play in front of the Czech D.loln