World Cup: Four Nations Tournament-Team Canada

[Peiskos]

Are they bringing in another D to replace Theodore?

 

[NyQuil]

Are they bringing in another D to replace Theodore?

They can't.

It will be Travis Sanheim as the 6th D and that's it for the tournament.

Pretty thin all of a sudden and they go to 5D if another one gets hurt.

 

[1specter]

What's weird is that he struggled at the World Championships and it was just last year.

He was 11th in save percentage (behind the Polish goalie in 10th) with an .885.
His save percentage last night was: you guessed it, .885.
His save percentage in the NHL is: .897. (NHL average is .902)

How long can he ride his Cup run from 2019? It's been almost 6 years.

Hearing the talking heads parrot the line about "He's been there, he knows how to rise to the occasion" omits all of the other more recent times where he hasn't and didn't.

I like Cam Ward, and he deserved his Cup, but that didn't give him an automatic pass to the top of Canada's list for the rest of his career.

Binnington made some good saves in OT, but like Anton Forsberg in Ottawa, all of the spectacular saves in the world doesn't excuse letting in an absolute stinker or two per game. Those just kill your team's momentum.

Canada needs better goaltending to win this thing.

Not picking Thompson was pretty stupid.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

What's weird is that he struggled at the World Championships and it was just last year.

He was 11th in save percentage (behind the Polish goalie in 10th) with an .885.
His save percentage last night was: you guessed it, .885.
His save percentage in the NHL is: .897. (NHL average is .902)

How long can he ride his Cup run from 2019? It's been almost 6 years.

Hearing the talking heads parrot the line about "He's been there, he knows how to rise to the occasion" omits all of the other more recent times where he hasn't and didn't.

I like Cam Ward, and he deserved his Cup, but that didn't give him an automatic pass to the top of Canada's list for the rest of his career.

Binnington made some good saves in OT, but like Anton Forsberg in Ottawa, all of the spectacular saves in the world doesn't excuse letting in an absolute stinker or two per game. Those just kill your team's momentum.

Canada needs better goaltending to win this thing.

Why are you blaming goaltending? Which one could he have had back? The second goal maybe?

He saved your asses on Zibanejad in overtime too.

You guys are freaking ridiculous.

 

[NyQuil]

Why are you blaming goaltending? Which one could he have had back? The second goal maybe?

He saved your asses on Zibanejad in overtime too.

You guys are freaking ridiculous.

2 of 3 were poor goals IMO.

Sorry that the goalie for your favourite team didn’t impress me as far as his complete game performance.

I’m quite confident most non-Blues fans who watched the game would agree. TSN certainly did.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

2 of 3 were poor goals IMO.

Sorry that the goalie for your favourite team didn’t impress me as far as his complete game performance.

Which 2? The second one the guy was wide open, but he should have had it regardless. Which other goal should he have stopped? The first was a phenomenal, so-accurate-it-wasn't-even-intentional shot, the other one no goalie in the world stops. As you admitted yourself he's the reason you aren't 0-0-1. Stop crying because the goalie that shows his emotions once a year is the goalie representing your country. I'm sorry that's happened to you.

 

[NyQuil]

Which 2? The second one the guy was wide open, but he should have had it regardless. Which other goal should he have stopped? The first was a phenomenal, so-accurate-it-wasn't-even-intentional shot, the other one no goalie in the world stops. As you admitted yourself he's the reason you aren't 0-0-1. Stop crying because the goalie that shows his emotions once a year is the goalie representing your country. I'm sorry that's happened to you.

The only one crying here is you.

I don’t agree that Binnington had a good game. That’s all.

He had some good moments.

Hopefully they put Hill in and he’s better.

 

[Spilot23]

Mackinnon's only fault was the 3 on 1 in OT, I don't know why anyone is crying over the other ones, he generated those shots/chances himself as opposed to....doing nothing?

Could you imagine if Canada lost? He would've been crucified by the media and Oilers fans

 

[JackSlater]

I don't think there is much to say, this level of team Canada almost always looks disjointed early on. Marner and McDavid is an awkward fit as many people thought, but McDavid showed good signs of life and I can't really complain about Marner overall. I'd shake that up and let Marner be the offensive engine of a lower line, as McDavid is capable of generating offence on his own even at this level provided other players can get him the puck. Defence was ok, other than the third goal against, but losing Theodore is tough. Need to see Makar do more. I thought that Cooper relied too heavily on Cirelli and Hagel. Let's just say that MacKinnon looked very amped up to play that game.

Binnington wasn't very good but there isn't a very good option available. That issue runs much deeper than this particular event. I expect that Canada will look better as the games progress but losing that point could hurt.

 

[Peiskos]

They can't.

It will be Travis Sanheim as the 6th D and that's it for the tournament.

Pretty thin all of a sudden and they go to 5D if another one gets hurt.

Oh I heard from the HockeyGuy on YouTube that there's a gentlemen's agreement or something and they can get a replacement if a player is injured and out for the tournament and they don't have enough guys on the roster.

 

[Schennanigans]

Biggest thing working against Canada will be the goaltending. They are at a big disadvantage compared to the other teams. Especially the U.S.

 

[NyQuil]

Oh I heard from the HockeyGuy on YouTube that there's a gentlemen's agreement or something and they can get a replacement if a player is injured and out for the tournament and they don't have enough guys on the roster.

Ok, here's a recent Tweet that sheds some light:



So I was wrong, they don't have to play with 5D, but they can't bring a guy up until they go down to 5D.

(so no practice time, having the guy in the dressing room etc.)

 

[gretzkyoilers]

I don't think there is much to say, this level of team Canada almost always looks disjointed early on. Marner and McDavid is an awkward fit as many people thought, but McDavid showed good signs of life and I can't really complain about Marner overall. I'd shake that up and let Marner be the offensive engine of a lower line, as McDavid is capable of generating offence on his own even at this level provided other players can get him the puck. Defence was ok, other than the third goal against, but losing Theodore is tough. Need to see Makar do more. I thought that Cooper relied too heavily on Cirelli and Hagel. Let's just say that MacKinnon looked very amped up to play that game.

Binnington wasn't very good but there isn't a very good option available. That issue runs much deeper than this particular event. I expect that Canada will look better as the games progress but losing that point could hurt.

Yeah Marner always looked out of place with McDavid. Mitch never seemed to be in the best spot to receive a pass, and seems to be pushed around by the Swedish defense. I agree that Marner should drive his own line with a good finisher.

 

[JackSlater]

Yeah Marner always looked out of place with McDavid. Mitch never seemed to be in the best spot to receive a pass, and seems to be pushed around by the Swedish defense. I agree that Marner should drive his own line with a good finisher.

The two players who make the most sense to me as McDavid's RW are Stone and Konecny. Stone looked good where he was with MacKinnon, and Konecny didn't play very well. I'd still change things though, probably Marner with Cirelli and Hagel on a strong defensive line with Marner as the offensive generator, and try Konecny in the RW spot. I won't be surprised if Konecny gets dropped and Bennett comes in though.

 

[NordiquesForeva]

The two players who make the most sense to me as McDavid's RW are Stone and Konecny. Stone looked good where he was with MacKinnon, and Konecny didn't play very well. I'd still change things though, probably Marner with Cirelli and Hagel on a strong defensive line with Marner as the offensive generator, and try Konecny in the RW spot. I won't be surprised if Konecny gets dropped and Bennett comes in though.

Konecny missed the Monday practice with an illness so perhaps he wasn't 100%. On the other hand, the Eagles won the Super Bowl on Sunday so perhaps this was more a case of him "celebrating" a little too late that night (pure speculation of course).

In any event I don't think it matters a whole lot whether Bennett draws in for Konecny or, say, Cirelli. Cooper trusts his guy from TB, but my view is that Konecny has more upside as a contributor to this team. He just needs to rein himself in a little.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

The only one crying here is you.

I don’t agree that Binnington had a good game. That’s all.

He had some good moments.

Hopefully they put Hill in and he’s better.

Haha whatever. You would’ve pissed and moaned this morning if his game save % was anything less than .950

 

[NyQuil]

Haha whatever. You would’ve pissed and moaned this morning if his game save % was anything less than .950

No, but that softy (personally I think the first wasn't so great either) may have cost Canada a point.

 

[bobbythebrain]

Yeah, taking the puck and then rushing it up the ice at lightning speed is kind of his whole thing. That said, it works very well.

I mean, why should he pass at all?

 

[Bgav]

Mackinnon's only fault was the 3 on 1 in OT, I don't know why anyone is crying over the other ones, he generated those shots/chances himself as opposed to....doing nothing?

And he could have easily scored on that 3 on 1. He's a beast

 

[wishywashy19]

Last night's victory is OK but not ideal. Canada likely finds themselves in second place after tonight and a reminder - only 2 teams move forward after just 3 games. Then if Sweden wins Saturday (likely) and the US beats Canada (very possible), that makes Monday a must-win for Canada and we'd have to pray for the US beating Sweden in a possibly meaningless game for the US. There's no room for error in this condensed format.

That’s the way I see it.

 

[Nadal On Clay]

Here’s what I would do at FWD:

Marchand-McDavid-Jarvis (2 guys that are not afraid to get dirty and McDavid as the primary puck carrier)

Crosby-MacKinnon-Stone (Probaby the best line yesterday and has great potential, especially if MacK takes control and stops deferring to Crosby too much. Admittedly I feel like there might be better combos for MacK and Sid but they’re probably going to stay together given the history)

Reinhart-Point-Marner (Marner as the primary puck carrier with 2 of the best snipers in the game right now. All righties, but that line could really do damage anyways given the complementary play styles)

Hagel-Cirelli-Konecny (Energy line. You could swap Hagel with Point of you want a bit more offense with a good goalscorer to at least create decent chances)

 

[flin flon bombers]

I'm less confident about the usa game after watching the Sweden game,doughty looked out of step for most of the game,the defenseman may struggle against the American forwards who I'm sure are going to crash the net unlike Sweden, our forwards play along the half boards was weak and is more concerned about a quick and "easy" transition that the Americans won't appease to,as for not getting Bennett ready to play the Americans is puzzling.go canada

 

[Frank the Tank]

I'd switch Marner and Jarvis. McDavid benefits from an aggressive forecheck presence and Point would benefit from an elite playmaking winger (Marner is familiar with playing alongside a shoot first center).

 

[Zybalto]

Moneypuck link to last nights game:

MoneyPuck.com

Top player and defender 5v5: Toews

 

[jigglysquishy]

You have to change goalies at this point. Even just so you have an option for game 3.