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GDT: May 1 • Canada vs. Latvia

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OGBobbyFarnham said:
I'd like O'Reilly-Sid-Mackinnon better.
Needs a guy like O'Reilly who can strip pucks and get em to the Sid/Mack.
Still lots of games, experimentation to happen though.
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I'd like to see this, too. O'Reilly pisses me off with his contract negotiations, but he's a good hockey player. He does everything quite well.
 
Canada falls behind early on 1st period penalty trouble, it's close through 2 periods but Canada pulls it out in the 3rd.

the Latvian goalie plays out of his mind.

This generally seems to be the annoying and frustrating script.

Go Canada Go!
 
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people need to stop freaking out over the defense, it's the best in the tournament. Weak spot is obviously goaltending, in a single KO tournament that can be big
 
Latvia is going to fight hard, and play very defensively. The Canadians should win anyway of course. 3 - 0 Canada?
 
I dot not really get those that complain about the defense in canada, they have Burns 2th in scoring, Barrie 8th in scoring, Ekblad (MrHype), Muzzin 41p , Savard 36p and Hamhuis. Plus Wiercioch that have the best name.

Overall It looks like it usually do. Not better not worse.
 
ulvvf said:
I dot not really get those that complain about the defense in canada, they have Burns 2th in scoring, Barrie 8th in scoring, Ekblad (MrHype), Muzzin 41p , Savard 36p and Hamhuis. Plus Wiercioch that have the best name.

Overall It looks like it usually do. Not better not worse.
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And the x factor, neither of the 4 players highlighted have ever played a single game on big ice in their lives. Although Wiercioch may have in the NCAA. Throw in a 19 year old rookie who looks as though he'll be put on his wrong side... this d-corp has some serious questions to answer. I hope they can pull it off. I'd like to see 1 experienced left handed d-man added if possible. M. Staal if the Rangers bow out quickly or T.J. Brodie if Calgary get eliminated.
 
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Should be a good game. Our forward group is stacked, defense is good but that goaltending leaves a lot to be desired. Didn't Fleury want to play for Team Canada? In any event 6 1 Canada is my prediction.
 
I think most people here are really overestimating Latvian squad. :D

I just hope it doesn't go double digits and close game as long as possible.
 
asmeus said:
I think most people here are really overestimating Latvian squad. :D

I just hope it doesn't go double digits and close game as long as possible.
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Isn't this pretty much the Olympic team (12-13 players) that played us close just 16 months ago? and that play most of the year together with Dinamo Riga?

If this is some kind of reverse jinx, hockey players, nor do the hockey gods waste time on this site. :)
 
O'Reilly - Crosby - Seguin would be the best possible first line imo. "O'Reilly strips the player of the puck, gives the puck to Crosby, Crosby hits Seguin and SCOREEEESSS"
 
Mr Writer said:
[/B]
Isn't this pretty much the Olympic team (12-13 players) that played us close just 16 months ago? and that play most of the year together with Dinamo Riga?

If this is some kind of reverse jinx, hockey players, nor do the hockey gods waste time on this site. :)
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Olympics were "miracle on ice" :D
Not gonna happen again.

Our best defenders are injured. (Kulda and Bartulis)
Captain and leader - Ozolins - retired.

That's half of defence corps right there.

I checked our roster again.
There are 4 decent forwards and 2 defenceman.

DžeriņÅ¡ 2nd line center. :bow:
 
asmeus said:
Olympics were "miracle on ice" :D
Not gonna happen again.

Our best defenders are injured. (Kulda and Bartulis)
Captain and leader - Ozolins - retired.

That's half of defence corps right there.

I checked our roster again.
There are 4 decent forwards and 2 defenceman.

DžeriņÅ¡ 2nd line center. :bow:
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Throw in a couple of IIHF suspensions as well for a couple of years.....

but anyway, a team where the majority of players play together all year and a NT that has been practicing for 6 weeks for this tournament, I'm not buying the "we're in over our heads please show us mercy" plea. especially since Team Canada has less than a week prep time, 2 full practices and 1 preliminary game.... despite the firepower, I don't expect TC to be an offensive juggernaut in today's game. I just don't see it. I'd love to see it...but I doubt it happens/
 
Mr Writer said:
[/B]
Isn't this pretty much the Olympic team (12-13 players) that played us close just 16 months ago? and that play most of the year together with Dinamo Riga?

If this is some kind of reverse jinx, hockey players, nor do the hockey gods waste time on this site. :)
Click to expand...

As mentioned Ozolinsh retired and Bartulis and Kulda are injured.

Furthermore, they are missing Girgensons, Kenins, Karsums and Indrasis. They could all have been top six forwards on this Latvian team. They are also missing Vasiljevs, although he has regressed.

It's unfortunate. Latvia, with all their best players, could have been surprise team in the tournament. But I guess they should still be better than the Austria team that Canada recently had problems against, althought that was just a warm-up game.
 
Mr Writer said:
Throw in a couple of IIHF suspensions as well for a couple of years.....

but anyway, a team where the majority of players play together all year and a NT that has been practicing for 6 weeks for this tournament, I'm not buying the "we're in over our heads please show us mercy" plea. especially since Team Canada has less than a week prep time, 2 full practices and 1 preliminary game.... despite the firepower, I don't expect TC to be an offensive juggernaut in today's game. I just don't see it. I'd love to see it...but I doubt it happens/
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The preliminary games have been a hit or miss for us, so if you would ask me to predict how will we fare this time, well, let's just say i have no idea :laugh: Everyone here seems to still have Olympic QF battle in their mind, but you have to realize that this is a tad bit different team we are fielding. And not in a good sense.
 
The previous WCh game record against Canadians - 9 games played, 12 goals for, 49 goals against. 0 victories, 8 losses (3 of them are in shutout) and 1 tie.

Well, there was one 9:2 victory against Canadians in 2007... Don't ask, don't tell.

I'm always hoping for the best... Two scored goals would be awesome.
 
Mr Writer said:
but anyway, a team where the majority of players play together all year and a NT that has been practicing for 6 weeks for this tournament, I'm not buying the "we're in over our heads please show us mercy" plea.
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The majority of the players don't play together all year. Also, all the lines are new and, no, they haven't practiced together for 6 weeks.

If you look at our roster, we are scraping the bottom of the barrel this year. There are 7 WC rookies on the Latvian line-up. Guys like Dzerins (hasn't scored a single goal in 30 World Championship games) are now playing in the top 6, because everyone else is injured. Roberts Bukarts (playing on the top line) finished his season in the Latvian domestic league on a semi-pro team.

We are essentially missing our top lines and most of the key players in every single department.

Imagine if Team Nova Scotia would have to field a team without McKinnon and Crosby. There's just not a lot of depth and the guys stepping in for them are not quite at the same level. It's the same thing with Latvia this year.

Also, we have a different coach with an entirely different outlook on the game. We probably won't have the 'work hard and hit everyone that moves' approach anymore.

I'm genuinely expecting a blowout loss and this isn't a some sort of a superstitious anti-jinx post. This isn't the team that played in Sochi.
 
Canada has, at least on paper, such good team. Not going into finals with this roster would be big dissapointment. I have feeling Crosby will dominate this tournament with bunch of points.

What do you think if not in playoffs would McDavid be on the team like Eichel is on US ?
 
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