GDT: Group B - May 10 - USA vs Latvia

[stv11]

2018 IIHF World Championship
Group B

May 10
10:15 AM ET • 4:15 PM CET

USA vs Latvia

USA
Confirmed lineup

Goaltenders:
1 Keith Kinkaid
33 Scott Darling

Defensemen:
23 Alec Martinez - 5 Connor Murphy
4 Will Butcher - 14 Nick Jensen
82 Jordan Oesterle - 44 Neal Pionk
43 Quinn Hughes

Forwards:
12 Alex DeBrincat - 36 Colin White - 88 Patrick Kane
89 Cam Atkinson - 21 Dylan Larkin - 20 Chris Kreider
27 Anders Lee -7 Derek Ryan - 13 Johnny Gaudreau
29 Tage Thompson - 25 Blake Coleman - 39 Brian Gibbons
22 Sonny Milano


Latvia
Confirmed lineup

Goaltenders:
30 Elvis Merzlikins
50 Kristers Gudlevskis

Defensemen:
58 Guntis Galviņš - 27 Oskars Cibuļskis
26 Uvis Balinskis - 11 Kristaps Sotnieks
94 Kristians Rubīns - 29 Ralfs Freibergs
77 Kristaps Zīle

Forwards:
24 Mikelis Rēdlihs - 25 Andris Džeriņš - 70 Miks Indrašis
21 Rudolfs Balcers - 18 Rodrigo Ābols - 91 Ronalds Ķēniņš
71 Roberts Bukarts - 23 Teodors Blugers - 10 Rihards Bukarts
41 Frenks Razgals - 87 Gints Meija - 79 Vitalijs Pavlovs
89 Nikita Jevpalovs

Scratched:
G 35 Matiss Kivlenieks
F 15 Martin Karsums


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[Namejs]

If Gudlevskis starts, it's a huge red flag that we're once again not going to try to go all out against a clearly superior side. A blowout loss is very likely in that case.

If Merzlikins starts, Dzerins (minor injury) and Blueger are all playing, it might not be a walk in the park for the Americans. Especially if they don't manage to score early.

If we can score a couple and keep it close, I'll take it.

 

[Retroglyphs]

USA 3 - Latvia 2 (edit: in regulation)

 

[Namejs]

Merzlikins in goal, Blueger will play, Dzerins still questionable and it's probably going to be a game time decision.

If he does play, it's going to look something like
Redlihs - Dzerins - Indrasis
Balcers - Abols - Kenins
Bukarts - Blueger - Bukarts
Jevpalovs - Pavlovs - Meija

No news about changes in defensive pairings, although I hope Cibulskis gets dropped at least to the third pairing.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Merzlikins in goal, Blueger will play, Dzerins still questionable and it's probably going to be a game time decision.

If he does play, it's going to look something like
Redlihs - Dzerins - Indrasis
Balcers - Abols - Kenins
Bukarts - Blueger - Bukarts
Jevpalovs - Pavlovs - Meija

No news about changes in defensive pairings, although I hope Cibulskis gets dropped at least to the third pairing.

I like that Bukarts-Bļugers-Bukarts line. Both brothers should havr been reunited sooner, they have a good chemistry.

 

[Namejs]

I like that Bukarts-Bļugers-Bukarts line. Both brothers should havr been reunited sooner, they have a good chemistry.

On the flipside they're both small and not very physical. And not super speedy either. That chemistry and skill might not be enough against the US. Bukarts Jr. really struggled against Canada. People were wheeling past him and that's just not acceptable when you're not even 180cm tall.

I would probably go with just 2 scoring lines, an energy line and a shutdown line. But there's really not many options left without Karsums. Karsums - Abols - Kenins could be a great 3rd line. Then you could pair up Balcers and Blueger and pack all of our skill (Indrasis, Ro. Bukarts, Redlihs) into that top 6. Now there's a gaping hole there on the wing.

 

[Buddlee]

USA 4 - Latvia 2
http://:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:/buluhidung/67/f.png
http://:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:/buluhidung/46/e.png

 

[GX]

No news about changes in defensive pairings, although I hope Cibulskis gets dropped at least to the third pairing.

Top 2 defensive pairs at yesterday's practice were Sotnieks - Balinskis, Freibergs - Rubins. So Bob is at least evaluating the possiblity of getting rid of Cibulskis.

 

[kabidjan18]

5-1 USA

 

[RANKKA]

US starter?

 

[AmericanDream]

5-1 USA...

 

[Namejs]

Yup, Blueger between the Bukarts brothers. B line.

Dzerins will play. Great news.

Razgals on Pavlovs wing instead of Meija.

The Cibulskis-Galvins pairing remains unchanged.

Merzlikins confirmed in goal. A huge challenge ahead of him, he usually loves games like this.

 

[BruinLVGA]

Merzlikins is a monster. I have seen him literally carrying my Swiss team on his shoulders for YEARS now. If there's a goalie who could steal one, it's him.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

NO MORE IM TOO SEXY!!!!!! - that song is destroying my brains.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

At least they have added few "new" songs to their list.

 

[BalticWarrior]

I just hope this isnt a blowout.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Merzlikins is a monster. I have seen him literally carrying my Swiss team on his shoulders for YEARS now. If there's a goalie who could steal one, it's him.

Cant wait when his contract with NLA team ends so can go overseas

 

[GX]

Wow, no real net pressure, but an unexpectedly decent PP - some shots on net, only 2 lost passes due really active SH play

 

[BalticWarrior]

Wow, no real net pressure, but an unexpectedly decent PP - some shots on net, only 2 lost passes due really active SH play

US team isnt really taking us all that seriously.

 

[GX]

We were very weak in front of the net vs Norway and Finland. Let's hope there is some improvement today, when it might matter a lot more.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Its such a treat watching Johnny Gaudreau. Too bad its against us.

 

[BalticWarrior]

Rudy! You have to bury that!

 

[BalticWarrior]

We actually look decent. For the first time in the tournament.

 

[BalticWarrior]

What a dumb dumb penalty.

 

[GX]

Our coaching staff should be seriously reconsidered after the tournament. It's a very stupid penalty in a game like this, where USA hasn't been pushing us too much for the first 10 minutes of the game.