GDT: Semifinal • Jan. 4 • Sweden vs. Russia

[Laista]

Well Nylander is a great player BUT as someone just mentioned in some Semifinals Stats 0+0 in games that really matters sends signal that he is not really working
his ass off ! I dont know ....

 

[Canadian Finn]

Did I hear correctly that Russia has 18 players that are 19 years old?

 

[Paxton Fettel]

last time we played Canada in the final game...this happened.

and then Cherry did what no good Canadian would ever do : read the list of Canadian junior NHLers

 

[EP40 AKA Lil Wayne]

Well deserved Russia, bring that heat in the final

Bronze medal game is ok for this team.

 

[Fantomas]

Pretty ridiculous to hate on Nylander for one game when the whole team looked bad. He's had a good tournament overall.

He's a beaut. Didn't do anything wrong, IMO.

 

[Phil McKraken]

Congratulations to Russia. I said even after the first game that Russia was the better team.

 

[uakena]

Let the Nylander hate begin...yet people will not even mention how bad the rest of the team is. But hey around here Nylander is now considered the worst prospect around now. One bad game and now he's a bust. LMFAO.

Nylander showed some serious play making ability this tourney. The kid really has top line centre upside. It will be interesting to see how will Leafs handle his developement.

 

[EK47]

Russia played well but Sweden never really "showed up" this game, sloppy, slow, and no sense of urgency even when you're down by three goals in the third, no matter how good Russia was that effort level is just not good enough by any means.

 

[Machinehead]

last time we played Canada in the final game...this happened.

Well, Canada is not Finals yet.

 

[Evolu7ion]

last time we played Canada in the final game...this happened.

Unfortunately you don't have a Kuzya or a Tarasanko on your team, and we've got a future Sid

 

[m4tt145]

The best of all time.

I haven't heard all of them, but you are probably right.

Hope Russia wins the gold tomorrow.

 

[timmeh]

He's a beaut. Didn't do anything wrong, IMO.

Except for the pass on the last goal.

 

[Dynamo81]

I haven't seen Russia play that well against Sweden in like forever

Against the Swedes in the preliminary round they played almost at this level for some stretches, that showed me this team is capable of making the final if they don't **** around. The Czech game

Anyway, one reason I love Sweden Russia games on hfboards, the amount of times these two nations have played in big matches in WJC's over the last few years is too many. All the time you barely see any whinging, tears or hate comments. Whenever you do someone steps in to calm it down Sweden has great fans

 

[geoo9]

Haha!

Well yeah and now im gonna cheer for Team Russia even tho you kicked Sweden out from the gold medal game! but better Russia than Canada win this !

can say same after 2011 WJC - When team Sweden Russia wished good luck to the locker room door before final against Canada

 

[Skip2myBordyloo]

last time we played Canada in the final game...this happened.

Forgot how junk Visentin was.

 

[Dynamo81]

Unfortunately you don't have a Kuzya or a Tarasanko on your team, and we've got a future Sid

Every year I hear how unstoppable the Canadian side is here (Not from you specifically). Watching them play in those tournaments I always had my doubts and rightfully so. They were overrated (Although I did like watching the 2012 side).

However, this Canada team is superb, very little wrong with it. Would take a massive performance from Russia and some lucky bounces for them to have a chance.

 

[JFG]

It was a bad play from Nylander before the fourth goal.

Still pretty pathetic with the ripping of him. Especially from finnish posters.

 

[Fantomas]

One positive early indicator about team Russia (outside the slew of negative ones) was that they were disciplined even in the early stages of the preliminary round. The offense just wasn't working.

Suddenly they have chemistry. The Buchnevich line is extremely effective along the boards. The defensemen are playing with confidence and physicality, and moving the puck well. These guys were just not doing many stupid things out there, weren't giving the Swedish powerplay any opportunities.

Only the Mamin hit from behind was a brief slip by this otherwise well-oiled machine. Credit to Bragin. It seems he was right to pick a roster of older, more well-rounded players rather than opting to go with pure skill.

 

[svartgul]

I've seen a lot of him since he was 15 y/o. Most stars at this lvl are early bloomers, Nyls is the opposite. He was a very late bloomer, when he was 17 he could have passed as a 14 y /o ...

Physically I don't think he is there. He has been played into the ground this period.

For the haters, Nyls has been awsome this tournament. Doesn't he lead the tournament in scoring? He sucked in this 3rd period, but it seems like some only have seen that one by him ...

I'm no talking about his skill, i'm saying he's nonchalant and has an aura of self-importance I've never seen in a Swede before.

 

[Fantomas]

Except for the pass on the last goal.

Maybe. IMO, Nylander's pass should have been handled by the defenseman.

 

[Tripod]

Lol he had a mediocre-bad game. Doesn't mean he's a bust though. He was easily one of the more dangerous players in the tournament

He's the best player on the team. They all deserve blame, but some more than others. This is nothing new in hockey. Look at Eichel.

Does not matter, Russia simply played better. No excuses needed. They were the better team.

Exactly.

Nylander was the highest drafted Swede in the tourney, Eichel is expected to be the top USA guy.

They get over praised when they win, and over criticized when they lose.

If someone said Nylander had a bad tourney, they are biased. Just like the guys saying Nylander is doing it on his own.

The team had a bad game....Nylander included.

Russia deserved the win as today, they were the better team.

 

[EK47]

Russia looked like a senior team tonight so calm and effective.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Well Nylander is a great player BUT as someone just mentioned in some Semifinals Stats 0+0 in games that really matters sends signal that he is not really working
his ass off ! I dont know ....

No, him being pointless in two games where the team loses doesn't really say anything.

 

[Fantomas]

Unfortunately you don't have a Kuzya or a Tarasanko on your team, and we've got a future Sid

Barbashev and Buchnevich are extremely underrated players.

 

[Fantomas]

Russia looked like a senior team tonight so calm and effective.

They looked like the Russian team in the 2003 tournament in Halifax. Gritty, skilled and composed.