GDT: USA-Russia 25.12, 7:30 p.m Local Time

[Siberian]

I watched the game from the stands and my opinion is that we have major flaws defensively. The most important one is turnovers in the defensive end. The guys keep making the passes to the centre of the defensive zone from the corners - that is unacceptable. If the coach understand that and fixes that then we have a gold medal winning team, no one can match this offense.

Here is some stats from the game:
SOG 34:32 (7:14, 15:12, 12:6)
D. Vorobiev, Ezhov, Lisin top the +/- with +2
Misharin and Parshin are -2. They are easily the worst players for the game. Misharin was terrible defencuively and Parshin was turnover machine, his inexperience shows.
Ovechkin had 6 SOG. Him and Shirokov both had 2 point games.
USA had 2 PP goals and 1 SH.

 

[Dave is a killer]

Either you are a master of sarcasm, or the biggest bandwagon jumper in history.

the biggest bandwagon jumper in history

 

[X-SHARKIE]

Pineault was physically pushed around on a few occasions. His upper body strength is great but he got knocked over twice by Russian defenseman who have no business doing that to a guy with his size.

 

[The True Blue Crew]

a heartbreaker, 4-5 is a good score.

 

[cagney]

Fun game.

Suter was really great. With the exception of that one mistake he was a rock in his own zone and had a very good offensive game.

The O'Sullivan-Stafford-Bourque line was great.

Fritsche was a real force. He, Porter and Kessel worked quite well together

Kessel had a nice game. The wild thing is that he's got better stuff than he showed tonight He's the most talented US forward I've seen at his age.

Goligoski and Hensick are better than they showed. Mike Brown is a limited player but he's also better than he showed (he was pretty bad in this game).

Hopefully that's the last shakey hockey we see from Montoya.

Russia's D is a sad sight. It's too bad because they're pretty good up front.

I'm scared for both teams if/when they face Canada.

 

[CH Wizard]

I am watching the game of yesterday right now on TSN.

I'll maybe make a report later.

Kessel , Stafford are impressing me.

Emelin is deceiving me.

 

[benji]

I love this game. Ovechkin is amazing. Russia has no defense. Montoya and Khudobin are pretty shaky. End to end rushes. I love this game.

 

[nomorekids]

I love this game. Ovechkin is amazing. Russia has no defense. Montoya and Khudobin are pretty shaky. End to end rushes. I love this game.

both goalies calm down in the third, and montoya in particular makes some spectacular saves.

 

[benji]

both goalies calm down in the third, and montoya in particular makes some spectacular saves.

Khudobin made some great ones in the 1st as well.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Khudobin made some great ones in the 1st as well.

He absolutely robbed Ryan Callahan.

 

[Mxpunk]

Bourque looked solid...He has a good nose for the net, good hands, and a heavy shot! To me, he could be like a Klatt-type NHLer!

Malkin's skating also impressed me...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Bourque looked solid...He has a good nose for the net, good hands, and a heavy shot! To me, he could be like a Klatt-type NHLer!

Malkin's skating also impressed me...

I don't know if Klatt is the best example. More like Brian Gionta, or a poor man's Martin St.Louis.

 

[nomorekids]

I don't know if Klatt is the best example. More like Brian Gionta, or a poor man's Martin St.Louis.

brian gionta is what came to mind for me, as well.

 

[rt]

Other than being turned inside out by Ovenchicken on that one play, I was really impressed by Hagemo. Where do you guys see him in the draft? Second round?

 

[littleHossa]

I just read the whole thread and watched the game on TSN.. where is Brian Lee? Didn't hear his name once.

 

[nomorekids]

I just read the whole thread and watched the game on TSN.. where is Brian Lee? Didn't hear his name once.

he didn't really play. expect him(and schremp and pineault) to get some more time, against switzerland

 

[littleHossa]

he didn't really play. expect him(and schremp and pineault) to get some more time, against switzerland

They could of put Johnson if he was going to be the 7th defenseman.

 

[leafaholix*]

Dmitri Vorobiev was the best Russian defenceman.

Not flashy, but he was steady and has tremendous size at 6'2, 225 pounds.

HM's to Anton Belov, Dmitri Megalinsky, and Grigory Misharin. Panin was awful and Emelin was mediocre. Rylov was good offensively, but I don't think he did much defensively.

Ezhov was good too, but he threw away the puck a couple times, turning it over.

 

[nomorekids]

They could of put Johnson if he was going to be the 7th defenseman.

Or they could continue to let Johnson get playing time where he is, and see what Lee is made of with his massive size. He played a pretty big role against UND, and I think you'll see more of him when it's safer to observe. Tomorrow is one of those occasions. Johnson will undoubtedly be there next year, don't worry.

 

[Behind Enemy Lines]

Just caught the replay on TSN. Great wide open and exciting game but very sloppy. Team Russia defense was brutal and not enhanced by average goaltending Highlight was certainly Ovechkin who is as good as advertised. Malkin was solid and would have benefitted by someone with finish. Radulov was surprising quite. Lisin can skate for miles but didn't really look like a finisher.

Team USA escaped with below average goaltending. Montoya had a pretty good third period but I thought the Russian made his look better by shooting at his USA logo far too often. Stafford had a pretty good game but good enough to be named the USA game star? I don't think so - hometown pick. By far the USA star was Suter who played a very smart game against the Russian's big line. Dan Fritsche was also very good today. And Chris Bourque played well. Thought O'Sullivan was rather quiet.

Great opening night game. It is nice to see a wide open, skating game.

 

[reffree]

The 86's line of Radulov, Yunkov and Volochenko had 3 shift in the first, 4 in the second and didn't count but not more in the third ... Everytime they were on the ice they were in the offensive zone exept for two 20 seconds(approx.) shift where they were most in the neutral zone...

Less than 10 min of play for those 3 !
Is there something I don't understand ???

 

[Jazz]

I'm curious - who were the play-by-play and color announcers on ESPN2? I'm hearing that TSN is producing these games for ESPN2, but I was wondering if ESPN2 at least used it's own crew....

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I'm curious - who were the play-by-play and color announcers on ESPN2? I'm hearing that TSN is producing these games for ESPN2, but I was wondering if ESPN2 at least used it's own crew....

Jim Rich and Andy Brickley. I thought Brickley was astute, although a bit dry. Rich was pretty bad. Sounds kind of like Dan Kelly Jr.

 

[nomorekids]

those announcers were brutal. aside from the big guns from russia..they avoided naming names, since they clearly couldn't pronounce any. casey borer=casey boy-yay? sheesh.

 

[handtrick]

Also would have loved to see the Russian line pairings at some point in the 1st period on the screen....or did I just miss it running to the fridge for a beer?