Kings @ World Championships in Czech Rep (?)

[Faterson]

Correction: Gáborík arrived in Slovakia yesterday Sunday, will be joining the team on Tuesday. Even more time for him to overcome jetlag. And it looks like Nagy got hurt in the final (meaningless) pre-tourney preparation game in Latvia and might now miss the entire tourney. Perhaps wise of Gabby, then, to avoid the preparation games.

 

[KopitarFAN]

I always seem to get in trouble for things I say but, I want to state that I don't know bout anyone else, but I for one will be glad with the p/o's and this world thing will be over so we can all go back to concentrating on what's going to transpire with the Kings.

Yep. Get this over with and the guys get back to resting by the 3rd week in may (at the latest).

 

[Bandit]

Really guys? Ok then.

 

[KopitarFAN]

Really guys? Ok then.

Yep. No ****s to give about this tournament.

Exhibit A:

Sexton - Bonino - Moses
Vesey - Eichel - Larkin
Lewis - Arcobello - Morin
Matteau - Smith - Hendricks

Faulk - Gardiner
Krug - Moore
Redmond - Murphy
Rielly
(Add Seth Jones)

Hellebuyck
Lyon

Our team is a ****ing joke.

We aren't the only ones who don't care.

 

[Jeff18]

Our team is alright, really good young guys. Canada will still crush everyone. That's close to an Olympic level team.

Except for the goaltending

 

[Faterson]

We aren't the only ones who don't care.

You absolutely are. (As usual.) No other exhibit except for exhibit A is available.

 

[Faterson]

Canada will still crush everyone.

They've failed to advance past the first play-off round for something like 4 years now, and their team in recent years was no weaker than this year's.

 

[Jeff18]

Eh. I think Crosby will really help this team. Crosby, Giroux, Duchene down the middle is better than last year. 2012 was an embarrassment. Otherwise the recent teams have been disappointing. They clearly should be pretty dominant.

Then again, Crosby has only won one cup and Mike Smith. It's cool to see Muzzin, Toffoli and Jones on the team though.

 

[KopitarFAN]

You absolutely are. (As usual.) No other exhibit except for exhibit A is available.

I meant "we" as in fans, the players obviously don't care either.

 

[kovacro]

Our team is alright, really good young guys. Canada will still crush everyone. That's close to an Olympic level team.

Except for the goaltending

Meh, pretty sure in recent years we have not done well at this tournament.

We'll see how Sid the Kid does. I really haven't looked over the roster because I really don't care too.

Maybe I'll tune into a game if I have a chance.

 

[likid]

Kopitar today with a goal and assist against Germany in preparation game. Germany won in shootout 4:3 (Kopitar missed his attempt).

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kopitar today with a goal and assist against Germany in preparation game. Germany won in shootout 4:3 (Kopitar missed his attempt).

Well, you can say one thing about Kopitar. His shooting performance is consistent.

 

[YP44]

They've failed to advance past the first play-off round for something like 4 years now, and their team in recent years was no weaker than this year's.

I think they have 4 straight 5th place finsihes. This years team canada has to be one of the deepest in recent years though as others have said the goaltending could be problematic.

 

[Little Psycho]

Kopitar today with a goal and assist against Germany in preparation game. Germany won in shootout 4:3 (Kopitar missed his attempt).

 

[Reclamation Project]

Bet he was looking for an open man...

 

[Little Psycho]

Bet he was looking for an open man...

No more RR.

 

[taz346]

Bet he was looking for an open man...

had to laugh...probably true too

 

[Zero Pucks Given]

I think they have 4 straight 5th place finsihes. This years team canada has to be one of the deepest in recent years though as others have said the goaltending could be problematic.

Argh. Meanwhile we've had tons of quarterfinal exits, save for a bronze medal in 2013. We're not doing any better than you guys by any stretch, and if goaltending is your guys' only problem, then...

...**** everything about our roster.

 

[Jeff18]

We have Moses on our team.

 

[kilowatt]

I'm fine with all players going. This isn't playoff hockey and this isn't Sutter's excruciating defensive forechecking system. This could be a really fun tournament for these guys, and a few games won't hurt them. It would be nice to finish the season on a positive note for some of them, especially guys like Brown who had down years.

 

[BigBrown]

Don't forget this cutie-pie on Team Sweden:

 

[Faterson]

Ouch. Lewis is assistant US captain and got slammed face-first into the glass by the Finn Pihlstrom a couple of minutes into the game. Seems a bit shaken but otherwise OK. All eyes (cameras) are on Eichel.

 

[Faterson]

So Lewis plays on what's officially the 3rd line, with the two college guys Eichel and Vesey. They also got to play on the 1st power-play unit, with Faulk and Krug. US leading 3-1 after 2 periods.

Canada on a rampage in Prague, especially the top line of MacKinnon, Crosby, Spezza, 5-0 against Latvia after 2 periods.Spezza 2+1, MacKinnon 1+2, Crosby assisting on one of the Spezza goals.

No points for the Kings players so far. Muzzin is listed as the 3rd defensive pairing with Barrie. Toffoli is on the 4th line with O'Reilly and Eakin.

 

[damacles1156]

Seth Jones looks amazing on the Big ice. He is just a gorgeous skater, for how big he is.

 

[Faterson]

Seth Jones looks amazing on the Big ice. He is just a gorgeous skater, for how big he is.

Slovak TV hockey analyst Richard Lintner said he was amazed by the performance of the entire US defence corps. Those were Faulk, Krug, Jones, Moore, Reilly and (a few minutes by) Gardiner. The best US forwards were clearly the KHL stars Moses and Sexton, along with team captain Matt Hendricks (despite playing on the 4th line as usual). Faulk was an amazing +4. Stats here: http://www.iihfworlds2015.com/en/games/2015-05-01/USA-vs-FIN/#statistics-tab

Lewis played 17:48 minutes and that line (with Eichel and Vesey) ended up with a -1 despite the US winning the game 5-1. They were pretty visible, though, with Eichel showing a number of impressive moves.

The IIHF power-rankings http://www.iihfworlds2015.com/en/news/power-rankings-1-may have the US listed at #6 with the comment: "Caution: Children at Play" However, that's exactly what Lintner praised: whereas in previous Worlds tournaments, the US sometimes sent veteran squads who gave the impression of being mostly tourists relaxing after a long season, this young US team has the passion and drive to aim high. They took the Finns completely by surprise.

Toffoli ended up credited with a deflection on the goal originally given to Hamhuis, so that's the first and, so far, only point by a King at the Worlds. (Although, yeah, Oscar Moller had an assist, too.) Toffoli played 11:17 on the 4th line and was a +1 in the 6-1 win over Latvia. Muzzin eventually played top 4 defence minutes and he and Barrie were very prominent on the ice. They were both +2 and Muzzin played 18:06. Martin Jones served as the backup (of course!) to Smith. The shots were 36-16 in favor of Canada. Stats here: http://www.iihfworlds2015.com/en/games/2015-05-01/CAN-vs-LAT#statistics-tab

Gáborík and Kopitar will be in action tomorrow Saturday. Both Nagy and Réway got injured/fell ill just before the tournament, and they will miss it. Gáborík's linemates will be the Panthers' Kopecký (as center and team captain, following his career-worst NHL season) and Miklík, a pretty fine KHL player. Doesn't look too bright for Slovakia, although Detroit's Tatar and Jurčo are flying over and will be able to play in Slovakia's second game on Sunday.