HF Habs: PGT: 4 Nations Face-Off: Canada wins inaugural Championship, 3-2 (OT) over USA

[JianYang]

I was worried we'd lose, no lie. Americans have a great team. It helped my nerves knowing Matthews was on that team as captain because he has proven to cave when the pressure is on.

On paper, I think the Americans were better. Binnington did better than what his name is worth on paper at the end though, and it allowed Canada to barely squeak it out.

Canada has the sexy names at the top end at forward, but when you get past that, we've seen better days for sure.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Binnington stood on his head in OT. He’s the reason we won last night. We were outplayed

Just like goaltending was better for the US in the prelim game. Part of the game. Also, lack of offensive talent finds it hard to beat goalies.

 

[JianYang]

Bennett is definitely a gamer gonna be curious to see how much he gets this summer

Its going to be a big number, but his profile reeks of a guy who is going to crash and burn hard all at once.

 

[salbutera]

On paper, I think the Americans were better. Binnington did better than what his name is worth on paper at the end though, and it allowed Canada to barely squeak it out.

Canada has the sexy names at the top end at forward, but when you get past that, we've seen better days for sure.

Canada’s bottom-6 was superior and US has a very impressive development program but they’ve been unable to develop a Crosby, McDavid, potentially McKenna types

Matthews & Eichel are excellent players but not Crosby / McJesus level

 

[JianYang]

Canada’s bottom-6 was superior and US has a very impressive development program but they’ve been unable to develop a Crosby, McDavid, potentially McKenna types

Matthews & Eichel are excellent players but not Crosby / McJesus level

Canada's Achilles heel went above and beyond in the OT, otherwise we are talking about very different narrative today.

 

[salbutera]

Canada's Achilles heel went above and beyond in the OT, otherwise we are talking about very different narrative today.

Canada also lacked a transition game because Pietrangelo, Theodore and Morrissey were absent (latter two due to injury / sickness)

 

[JianYang]

Canada also lacked a transition game because Pietrangelo, Theodore and Morrissey were absent (latter two due to injury / sickness)

In 2014 the top 4 were Keith, doughty (prime), pieterangelo (prime), and Weber. I would prefer that.

US probably had a bigger name than any of the ones you just mentioned that they missed the entire tournament who seems to know a thing or two about transition.

 

[salbutera]

In 2014 the top 4 were Keith, doughty (prime), pieterangelo (prime), and Weber. I would prefer that.

US probably had a bigger name than any of the ones you just mentioned that they missed the entire tournament who seems to know a thing or two about transition.

Have to remember US were the favorites coming in almost unanimously - G was supposed to be incredibly lopsided followed by D

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Have to remember US were the favorites coming in almost unanimously - G was supposed to be incredibly lopsided followed by D

People overrate US's defense and underrate how much better Canada's centerline is. And then there's Celebrini, Bedard and Thompson who will probably be added next year, on top of dmen who were absent.

And Canada has more depth. Canada's B team would be far better than the US. Americans have a great program, but they still don't have the high end talent Canada has, or the depth to replace injured players effectively, except maybe on D.

 

[Frankenheimer]

On paper, I think the Americans were better. Binnington did better than what his name is worth on paper at the end though, and it allowed Canada to barely squeak it out.

Canada has the sexy names at the top end at forward, but when you get past that, we've seen better days for sure.

We seem real short on elite wingers. But I guess thats where Europe has an edge.

 

[le_sean]

On paper, I think the Americans were better. Binnington did better than what his name is worth on paper at the end though, and it allowed Canada to barely squeak it out.

Canada has the sexy names at the top end at forward, but when you get past that, we've seen better days for sure.

That’s a team selection problem though. Canada could have loaded up the bottom 6 but chose to bring guys like Cirelli and Marchand who really aren’t at this level anymore. Scheifele, Suzuki, Robert Thomas, Bedard, Celebrini. It’s not like Canada is short of talent.

 

[TT1]

we won because individually we had a lot of extremely high level players but as a whole i thought the players had no synergy and the lines were bad, McDavid and Mack were constantly trying to 1v5 every shift.. if that's how they're gonna play that's fine but at least complement them with players that'll let them play that style

wasn't impressed but a wins a win, at least we went through this before the olympics

 

[BLONG7]

Missed the tourney guys, just back from the sunny Carribbean..........
Tried to keep up with the headlines, which mostly included Matty This is our Time Tkachuk

Glad the boys pulled it out!! Wasn't easy by the sounds of things..............I do think we have to admit, the world is catching up to Canada in hockey, and whrther it's the USA or a team from Europe, we are always going to have our work cut out for us.

Congrats to Team Canada!! Well done boys!

 

[Habs Icing]

How did the Flames just give this guy away??

The Peter Principle.

 

[Habs Icing]

I don’t take the junior championship seriously, as the playing field is uneven. As an example: add Bedard and Celebrini (junior aged) to this last Canadian squad and the US gets mauled. Not even close.

Level the playing field by having the best junior aged players at the tourney and then we will talk.

Actually, the fact that lately Canada hasn't been as dominating in World Juniors is a testament to the enormous talent being produced. Every year, we might have two to three or four players who are so talented they can't play for the national team because they're in the NHL. How many other nations have that problem?

 

[OldCraig71]

Jacob Slavin really stood out in this tournament, Dylan Larkin was good as well. I felt that the big guns for the US let them down, Matthews, Hughes, and Eichel specifically. The team defense was the strong suit for the Americans and they could have easily won.

 

[Habs Icing]

Fox with the initial mistake on the McDavid goal

I've been watching hockey going on 60 odd years and I didn't see that play. This Frankie kid should be on TV analyzing the games.

I really like Frank Corrado. He knows the game and he also knows that in Hab games Hab fans are his target audience. Something a lot of previous TSN analysts had trouble understanding.

 

[Habs Icing]

That’s counterbalanced by Bobby Clarke administering a 2-handed slash to superstar Valeri Kharkamov, breaking an ankle in game 6. Canada went on to win games 6-7-8. Kharlamov was among the greatest of his era, Bobby Hull called him the best winger in the world.

Having watched that series, I agree with Bobby Hull. Valeri was world-class.

Great game. Enjoyed the post victory memes on X. Too many to mention. My personal favorite

He forgot the bears. Grizzle, Black, and Polar

 

[Habs Icing]

May I ask? Do people in Québec whose first language is French feel French or Canadian (majority, of course)?

There are four answers to your question.
1) The first generation of immigrants and their offspring feel Canadian.
2) Of the natives a large portion feel Canadian and Quebecois.
3) The other portion feels Quebecois.
4) No one feels French except for the French immigrants. (Thank God).

 

[Habs Icing]

Legend

He punked them. To be honest I was surprised they didn't catch on earlier but they're Maga I was expecting too much intelligence from them.

 

[Habs Icing]

Canada's Achilles heel went above and beyond in the OT, otherwise we are talking about very different narrative today.

P.K. said it and the ex Canuck defenseman on Sportsnet (Bieska) said it: Our Achilles Heel won a Stanley Cup. Helleybuck has not won any team game/series.

 

[Deebs]

There are four answers to your question.
1) The first generation of immigrants and their offspring feel Canadian.
2) Of the natives a large portion feel Canadian and Quebecois.
3) The other portion feels Quebecois.
4) No one feels French except for the French immigrants. (Thank God).

I think most people with multiple generational history in our Country feel the same way about #2, with respect to their Province of birth and I think that's more than fair.

 

[26Mats]

Fox with the initial mistake on the McDavid goal

I'm not buying it. Matthew's didn't have to go help out. You protect the slot before the corner below the goal line. Matthew's should have taken a glance to the slot before allowing himself to drift to the corner, where Fox was ahead of him and going to with speed.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[windycity]

I'm not buying it. Matthew's didn't have to go help out. You protect the slot before the corner below the goal line. Matthew's should have taken a glance to the slot before allowing himself to drift to the corner, where Fox was ahead of him and going to with speed.

My thoughts exactly. Yeah the Dmen missed their mark but Nostrils compounded it. You don't leave the slot to try and cover a guy in the corner