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Has the loss of Ekblad decided the tournament?

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illpucks

Registered User
May 26, 2011
20,525
4,974
Seen this story before and how the Panthers were not the same without Ekblad. Team North America could have won this tournament with a healthy Ekblad but they instead took an unnecessary loss to Russia, and Reilly (guy who's taking over Ekblad's minutes) put in the tying goal sending Sweden on to the semis.

Russia is not beating Canada, but they are not going to lose to Finland who has nothing to play for.

It's a shame that there were no NA vs Canada games in the preseason. Crosby and McDavid still haven't played each other and most likely won't.

Ekblad is the most important player on Team NA. Just as Team Canada's success goes through their blue line. But not as dependent on 1 player.
Click to read more...
 
Just because they managed to beat a Sweden in OT that played a game 20 hours earlier doesn't mean that they had a real shot at winning the tournament. The tournament was more or less decided before it started, Canada is that much better than everyone else on NHL sized rinks with the team USA selected.

Team NA had two very dominant forward lines and defenders who are very talented offensively, but they also had huge holes in their defensive game. Even if you remove Canada from the equation I wouldn't bet on them in a game against either Sweden, Russia or Team Europe.
 
Team NA not going to get through the group stage so really don't understand why loss of Ekblad would have anything to do with winning the tournament.
 
illpucks said:
Seen this story before and how the Panthers were not the same without Ekblad. Team North America could have won this tournament with a healthy Ekblad but they instead took an unnecessary loss to Russia, and Reilly (guy who's taking over Ekblad's minutes) put in the tying goal sending Sweden on to the semis.

Russia is not beating Canada, but they are not going to lose to Finland who has nothing to play for.

It's a shame that there were no NA vs Canada games in the preseason. Crosby and McDavid still haven't played each other and most likely won't.

Ekblad is the most important player on Team NA. Just as Team Canada's success goes through their blue line. But not as dependent on 1 player.
Click to expand...

I said it before but the NHL is the most brain dead league when it comes to marketing itself.

How do you have a tournament like this and come out of it possibly with Team North America not having played against Canada or USA?

Ridiculously stupid. At the very least Team NA should've played Canada in the final pre-tournament game.
 
illpucks said:
Russia is not beating Canada, but they are not going to lose to Finland who has nothing to play for.
Click to expand...

Finland has nothing to lose, they will play very hard to rob the Russians of the semifinal spot. The Finns prepared too hard for this tournament to just fold after two lackluster games, they'll be out there to prove a point. Also they got the home crowd in this game.

NA will face Canada in the semis.
 
Umm, what about every other teams loss of players and nagging injuries. Sweden have lost Rakell, Zetterberg, Steen and Kronwall (no loss really but for the point being made). And Komarov low bridging Hedman for being a sore loser making him play the rest of the tournament half-injured. And what if NA played a game 20 hours earlier and Sweden had that extra rest.
 
Cost the tournament? No
A shot at the final? I'd say that Combined with Murray's injury , probably yes

For those saying Sweden played 2 games in 20 hrs don't forget NA played 3 games in a little over 60hrs including very intense ones
 
Last edited:
illpucks said:
Seen this story before and how the Panthers were not the same without Ekblad. Team North America could have won this tournament with a healthy Ekblad but they instead took an unnecessary loss to Russia, and Reilly (guy who's taking over Ekblad's minutes) put in the tying goal sending Sweden on to the semis.

Russia is not beating Canada, but they are not going to lose to Finland who has nothing to play for.

It's a shame that there were no NA vs Canada games in the preseason. Crosby and McDavid still haven't played each other and most likely won't.

Ekblad is the most important player on Team NA. Just as Team Canada's success goes through their blue line. But not as dependent on 1 player.
Click to expand...

Nah. Team NA could have 3 Ekblads and Canada would still smash them.
 
splot said:
Just because they managed to beat a Sweden in OT that played a game 20 hours earlier doesn't mean that they had a real shot at winning the tournament. The tournament was more or less decided before it started, Canada is that much better than everyone else on NHL sized rinks with the team USA selected.

Team NA had two very dominant forward lines and defenders who are very talented offensively, but they also had huge holes in their defensive game. Even if you remove Canada from the equation I wouldn't bet on them in a game against either Sweden, Russia or Team Europe.
Click to expand...

Are you serious? They absolutely dominated team Europe in both of the exhibition games, it wasn't even close. They dominated Finland and it could have been 10-1. They outplayed Russia and lost because their goalie injured his thumb and didn't take himself out of the game and let in 4 goals on 4 straight shots, it didn't even matter that Ekblad was out. They have outplayed every single team they've played. Anyone who thinks they had no shot at winning this probably hasn't been watching the games. They're a dominant team.
 
illpucks said:
Seen this story before and how the Panthers were not the same without Ekblad. Team North America could have won this tournament with a healthy Ekblad but they instead took an unnecessary loss to Russia, and Reilly (guy who's taking over Ekblad's minutes) put in the tying goal sending Sweden on to the semis.

Russia is not beating Canada, but they are not going to lose to Finland who has nothing to play for.

It's a shame that there were no NA vs Canada games in the preseason. Crosby and McDavid still haven't played each other and most likely won't.

Ekblad is the most important player on Team NA. Just as Team Canada's success goes through their blue line. But not as dependent on 1 player.
Click to expand...

Rielly actually took over Rielly's minutes:laugh: They were the top pairing it is not like Rielly was promoted. Parayko took over Ekblad's minutes and has been playing incredible as well.
 
authentic said:
Are you serious? They absolutely dominated team Europe in both of the exhibition games, it wasn't even close. They dominated Finland and it could have been 10-1. They outplayed Russia and lost because their goalie injured his thumb and didn't take himself out of the game and let in 4 goals on 4 straight shots, it didn't even matter that Ekblad was out. They have outplayed every single team they've played. Anyone who thinks they had no shot at winning this probably hasn't been watching the games. They're a dominant team.
Click to expand...

A Dominant team that fails to qualify for semifinals?

You hear unbelievable stuff here.
 
PJackb said:
For those saying Sweden played 2 games in 20 hrs don't forget NA played 3 games in a little over 60hrs including very intense ones
Click to expand...

Every team played 3 games in the same time span. North America was the only team that played against a back to back team without being in one simultanously.

Also, losing Steen, Zetterberg and Rakell > losing Ekblad.
 
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