PGT: Exhibition • North America 7 Europe 4 • 9/11/16 •

[57special]

Let's see how Team NA fares against the Grumpy Old Men on Canada and the US.

 

[Alerion]

Just a few thoughts from tonight's game:

- RNH + MacKinnon has been the most consistent duo through 2 games and the addition of Drouin on the LW has solidified that line as to me the 2nd line for the tournament. All 3 players complement each other nicely and looked great tonight.

-I liked McDavid + Schiefele in the first game and I also enjoyed Matthews + Schiefele tonight so I wouldn't mind seeing those 3 together as the top line. Gaudreau at this point is a better player than Matthews but he and McDavid both like having the puck on their stick whereas Matthews can play a more complementary role and allow McDavid to do McJesus things on the first line while Gaudreau can drive the play on the third line, which gives the team 3 different lines that are incredibly threatening offensively.

-McLellan really leaned on the Rielly - Ekblad pairing tonight as far as the eye test goes. It felt like those 2 were on the ice every other shift and I thought both had strong games.

-Larkin had a solid game and should be bumped up onto at least the 3rd line although I'm not sure how to make space for him. I'd keep him over Miller for sure so it will be interesting to see where NA goes for the game against the Czechs.

I'd like to see the lines shaping up like this for the next game:

Matthews/Gaudreau - McDavid - Schiefele
Drouin - RNH - MacKinnon
Matthews/Gaudreau - Eichel - Saad
Larkin - Couturier - Trochek

Rielly - Ekblad
Murray - Jones
Gostisbehere - Parayko/Trouba

 

[Empoleon8771]

You'd have to imagine Gibson's relatively poor showing further cements Murray as the #1 goalie for this tournament, no?

 

[Puckstop40]

So many posters enjoyed the high scoring game, you should just go follow basketball

 

[TheBigThree]

Matthews is really blowing my mind. He's only 18 years old. I really hope he gets a chance on the first line for next game with mcdavid. It's my dream to see them both on the same line.

 

[Freudian]

Good for the U23 team to get some push back and get pushed to make mistakes. Should bring them back to earth a bit.

Second half of the game it was less run and gun and a bit more cycling and that's what's going to be needed to win games in the big tournament.

Josi was great today. He's such an effortless skater.

 

[snipes]

I love that we have more analysis compared to Canada v USA. This team is bringing is together, easy to root for these kids.

 

[McFlyingV]

These threads are too good. People are making calls on people's careers and how good they are of players based on a couple pretournament games before NHL training camps have even opened. Yeah a guy like Eichel has been pretty bad in the two games, but that's rust not him being a poor hockey player. Never change HF.

 

[Alerion]

You'd have to imagine Gibson's relatively poor showing further cements Murray as the #1 goalie for this tournament, no?

I don't have a dog in this fight at all but to me you can't make a decision off of those 2 games. Gibson was tested significantly more than Murray both in total shots and quality of scoring chances and played pretty well even if he did allow 4 goals. Murray obviously had a strong game as well but Gibson's showing tonight was significantly better than the stat line suggests and thus far NA can't go wrong with either goalie.

 

[Gert B Frobe]

How was Gostisbehere? So many posts about great plays followed by posts about how he shouldn't even be playing. I am sensing bias.

 

[snipes]

Looks like Getzlaf when on a slump. Like almost exactly. Down to the player number.

Agreed. He'll get going eventually, these are kids. We need more chill, ups and downs are part of the excitement.

 

[snipes]

How was Gostisbehere? So many posts about great plays followed by posts about how he shouldn't even be playing. I am sensing bias.

Him and Parayko played very well together I thought.

 

[Roo Mad Bro]

Gostisbehere should be with Parayko. Like that pairing better than with Trouba.

 

[heretik27]

You'd have to imagine Gibson's relatively poor showing further cements Murray as the #1 goalie for this tournament, no?

I think the starter position is Murray's to lose after his playoff performance. They'll probably try Hellebuyck out next game to see if he fits in better than Gibby as a backup. Helle was one of the top goalies in last years World Cup for team USA with 1.37 GAA, .948 SV% in 8 games.

 

[HugginThePost]

Box scores?

 

[Plub]

Just a few thoughts from tonight's game:

- RNH + MacKinnon has been the most consistent duo through 2 games and the addition of Drouin on the LW has solidified that line as to me the 2nd line for the tournament. All 3 players complement each other nicely and looked great tonight.

-I liked McDavid + Schiefele in the first game and I also enjoyed Matthews + Schiefele tonight so I wouldn't mind seeing those 3 together as the top line. Gaudreau at this point is a better player than Matthews but he and McDavid both like having the puck on their stick whereas Matthews can play a more complementary role and allow McDavid to do McJesus things on the first line while Gaudreau can drive the play on the third line, which gives the team 3 different lines that are incredibly threatening offensively.

Matthews definitely wants the puck on his stick. I don't see him every playing a "complementary role" on any line. That doesn't mean it won't work, but he isn't a player that will be best used as just being a passenger, he's best when he's doing Matthew's things. Similar to JG and Eichel.

I think that line can work, but it can fail just as easily as two of the three need the puck to make the plays. Not to mention while Matthews can rush, he likes to slow the game down whereas McDavid doesn't seem to fair so well with that kind of play. Then again, they can probably do whatever is necessary. **** if I know.

 

[Lord Moriarty007]

You'd have to imagine Gibson's relatively poor showing further cements Murray as the #1 goalie for this tournament, no?

Still want to see Hellebuyck start next game before making that assumption. If I had to go between Gibson or Murray. I would choose Murray.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

We need to get Eichel going somehow. He looks frustrated, great player. It'll click eventually.

Am I the only one who thinks Eichel has been fine? Chances have been there, just not the finish.

I think people are just expecting NA to score on every second chance like it's an all-star game.

 

[WayneSid9987]

Gibson was always the 3rd stringer in my mind.
MM and Helle should be the G's dressing.

 

[L13]

Yeah, Eichel has generated some chances. I think the talk of him having a poor couple of games is overblown.

I thought even before the tournament started that TNA should put Parayko and Gostisbehere together and I'm so pleased they did. They complement each other really well.

 

[EON]

Team NA certainly has shown off some impressive speed and skill thus far. I'm definitely rooting for these guys to come out of their group but there are aspects of their game, mostly in their own zone, that they will have to improve. I'd like them to use these lines:

Drouin-RNH-MacKinnon
Larkin-McDavid-Schiefele
Gaudreau-Eichel-Saad
Matthews-Couturier-Trochek

Rielly-Ekblad
Murray-Jones
Gostisbehere-Parayko

I think Murray is clearly the starter going into the tournament.

 

[Whileee]

Matthews with a very impressive game. He's going to be a dandy.

McDavid will be fine, but he was better with Scheifele on the wing.

The D was really suspect - very easy to play against in their own zone. Gostisbehere really struggled in his own zone. So did Jones, who seemed soft and disinterested. Parayko had a strong game. Ekbad and Rielly were up and down. Rielly lost the plot a few times defensively but is very strong moving the puck. Hard to know what to do with the D. You can't take Parayko out, but hard to argue against Trouba who was better in game 1 than most of the D were tonight. They might want to consider switching him over to the left side. I think they'll need his defensive intensity and physical play against the bigger and more talented teams.

Maybe...

Rielly-Ekblad
Murray-Jones
Trouba-Parayko

That group has plenty of offense and will probably offer more resistance in the D zone.

The forwards are ridiculously talented individually. Hard to figure out how to put them together in line combinations.

Overall, they'll score enough goals but their success will depend on their play in the D zone. If Europe can chew them up for long stretches, they are going to struggle against much better competition.

 

[LeafingTheWay]

Matthews - McDavid - Scheifele
Gaudreau - RNH - MacKinnon

That would be my top-6.

 

[Whileee]

Gostisbehere should be with Parayko. Like that pairing better than with Trouba.

Gostisbehere has really struggled on both nights. Game 1 was a shutout, and they gave up 4 tonight. Trouba was better defensively in the first game than most of the D tonight. He might be the only really physical defenseman they have.

 

[McMatthews]

People need to ease up on McDavid. He had a so-so night.

He's still the best hockey player I've ever seen.

Matthews has been excellent. The difference between him and Eichel is that at their worst, Matthews is still more reliable.