GDT: United States vs. Sweden 5:05PM Torino; 11:05AM Eastern

[Blades of Glory]

If only Herb Brooks was here. He had the experience necessary to help the younger players on this team. Someone has to figure a way to put the puck into the net, whether they throw it, kick it, or shoot it. Our goalie is standing on his head, and allowing 2 goals a game should get you a win with an Olympic team.

On the other hand, we ran into an all-star team in Sweden. That first PP line sounds so intimidating. "Lidstrom, Sundin, Alfreddson, etc).

 

[acr*]

So who is the U.S. playing in the quarterfinals given their going to be 4th? I assume its likely Slovakia?

Winner of Group A, which will probably end up being the winner of this afternoon's Canada/Finland game.

 

[eSabre]

Good to see that goaltending hasn't been a problem. Sad part is the offense is the problem.

Whatever powerplay system they're using needs to be thrown out. Pathetic.

 

[DevilsFan38]

I don't agree with a lot of Laviolette's decisions regarding personel in this tournament either, but Rafalski has just looked plain lost. I'm not sure if he's injured or what, but he's falling all over the ice and playing pretty poor all around, IMO. He doesn't belong on the PP with the way he's skating right now.

Does he have an injury in the lower body that we should know about?

He's recovering from some bruised ribs, I believe, that's why he didn't play in the first two games.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

The Swedes were the better team. Killed us on face-offs. Madono and Cole were our best players. Drury was excellent on the pk. Both Gomez and Gionta were no where to be found and had their worse game so far. I also think it time for Laviolette to change it up a bit other then the Madono line.

 

[sabresrat]

Winner of Group A, which will probably end up being the winner of this afternoon's Canada/Finland game.

I think a game against Canada could bring out the best in Team USA.

 

[Tundra]

I agree. The strength of Team USA in Salt Lake was their work in front of the net and the ability to score ugly goals. LeClair is done...that's why he's not over there, Guerin is washed up and Tkachuk lost his touch. They need guys like Cole and Parrish to chip in. The team skates well and plays solid defense but it doesn't matter when you can't score goals.

Guerin and Tkachuk were the lifeblood of the those teams. They'd come in and punish the opposing defensemen, as well as clog the crease area. Its amazing what a few years can do.

 

[Shoalzie]

We're in 4th place at 3 points. Latvia is 5th and has one point. Both have one game left, the best they can do is tie us, then it goes to goal differential. US is +2, Latvia is -15. We'd have to lose by and have Latvia win by a combined 18 goals to lose out.

I think it's safe to assume to Team USA has the fourth seed locked up. Interesting to see who wins the game next between Canada-Finland...that'll probably determine who wins the group. The Fins have a huge edge in goal differential so I'd actually bet on them winning the group even if they lose to Canada. The Swiss have an outside shot at winning the group if they win Tuesday and Finland loses their two remaining games and Canada loses to the Czechs on Tuesday.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

if Latvia beats Kazakhstan 7-1, and Russia beats the US 7-1, the US still makes it

 

[sabresrat]

Good to see that goaltending hasn't been a problem. Sad part is the offense is the problem.

Whatever powerplay system they're using needs to be thrown out. Pathetic.

Well it hasn't been a problem since they switched to the best goalie they had available. Starting Grahame in the first game was a huge mistake. Fortunately Latvia is bad and couldn't take advantage of that mistake by winning their other games.

 

[Vagrant]

He's recovering from some bruised ribs, I believe, that's why he didn't play in the first two games.

That explains it a little. He's usually one of those guys that you're just in awe of with his skating ability, but I haven't seen that out of him in the last two games. He's playing to protect those ribs, apparently.

 

[Shoalzie]

if Latvia beats Kazakhstan 7-1, and Russia beats the US 7-1, the US still makes it

Team USA has played solid defense and the goaltending has been good...they'll probably lose another 2-1 game to Russia and then lose 2-1 to get eliminated from the tournament.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

if Russia beats the USA, and Sweden beats Slovakia, goal differential will be key, but as of now Russia has +11(+1 or more), Sweden +8(+1 or more), and Slovakia +7(-1 or more).
In other words, Russia would face the Czech Republic (probable 4th), and Sweden vs. Switzerland

 

[BMOK33]

if Latvia beats Kazakhstan 7-1, and Russia beats the US 7-1, the US still makes it

Now we will truly see just how much George Bush is hated by other countries when the Kazakhs keep their goalie pulled all game

 

[shawn_kemp*]

Team USA has played solid defense and the goaltending has been good...they'll probably lose another 2-1 game to Russia and then lose 2-1 to get eliminated from the tournament.

I see the USA in the semis

 

[Ovechkin_mvp]

I see the USA in the semis

U r not serious, r u?

 

[acr*]

Now we will truly see just how much George Bush is hated by other countries when the Kazakhs keep their goalie pulled all game

Kazakhstan has oil fields. Don't give Bush an excuse to be pissed off.

 

[Epsilon]

If Canada beats both Finland and the Czech Republic, it will be Canada against the USA in the quarters. If they lose to either one, it will probably be Finland against the USA since they are likely to win their last game and finish either 4-1 or 5-0.

There will probably be some grumbling at the NHL head office if Canada/USA ends up being a quaterfinal game.

 

[xander]

The Swiss have the traditional uniforms as well...

Ah, well good for them too.

 

[BMOK33]

Well it hasn't been a problem since they switched to the best goalie they had available. Starting Grahame in the first game was a huge mistake. Fortunately Latvia is bad and couldn't take advantage of that mistake by winning their other games.

I said for months goaltending would not be a problem with this team and that clearly putting the puck in would be....on paper they do not have near the offensive talent any of these other teams do and we see it showing up on the ice as well. Dipietro has been nothing short of a nightmare at times in the NHL but for whatever reason in these type of games he decides to show up.

 

[missK]

I don't agree with a lot of Laviolette's decisions regarding personel in this tournament either, but Rafalski has just looked plain lost. I'm not sure if he's injured or what, but he's falling all over the ice and playing pretty poor all around, IMO. He doesn't belong on the PP with the way he's skating right now.

Does he have an injury in the lower body that we should know about?

He has bruised ribs from Game 1 in the tournament.

 

[SmokeyClause]

The US has no scoring punch. They had a 5 on 3 which they did absolutely nothing.

It's amazing how we can have Leopold, Liles, Schneider, and Rafalski back there and have miserable production from the blue line. Those are considered some of the best offensive defenseman in the league, but they have been so mediocre (well, Rafalski has been terrible) that Modano gets ice time at the point.

I think the U.S. needs to find a scorer. On that 5 on 3, they could have used Zidlicky. Both times Modano's shot from the point failed to make Lundqvist make a save. I don't think he had to do anything but stay in proper position during any of those 5 on 3's. You have to make the goalie beat you by his actions after your shot, not well before.

 

[Tundra]

I see the USA in the semis

maybe if they can score three goals in the elimination round game. The effort has been there.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

U r not serious, r u?

I'm not sure if Russia can beat them tomorrow.

And look, the US will face Finland or Canada. They CAN beat Finland.

 

[shawn_kemp*]

If Canada beats both Finland and the Czech Republic, it will be Canada against the USA in the quarters. If they lose to either one, it will probably be Finland against the USA since they are likely to win their last game and finish either 4-1 or 5-0.

There will probably be some grumbling at the NHL head office if Canada/USA ends up being a quaterfinal game.

Exactly

Always whining ...