GDT: Slovakia vs Kazakhstan; Group B, Dec 30, 2024; 1:00 EST

[Chainshot]

Also on the docket for today. Curious if the fatigue that seems to have hit some teams on the 2nd of back to back games gives the Kazaks more of a chance in this one after the Slovaks intense game with the Czechs yesterday.

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[Namejs]

Kazakhstan has looked completely out of place and I don't think they stand a chance against anyone.

 

[hockey20000]

slovakia by 5 or 6 kaz is a bad team

 

[ozo]

I have tasted two goals from Kazakhstan in the last game and it tasted oh so sweet. Getting greedy, I want to see three now!

 

[hockey20000]

time to let the games begin

 

[Czechboy]

Go Slovakia go. No more Satan. Sorry about that! I assume Cihar is not playing against Sweden.

 

[PanniniClaus]

Did Jencko lose that on purpose to press that? It looked like it.. He was there to intercept the D to D in a flash.

 

[PanniniClaus]

The Kazahks are soft... One extra step on the back check to take the rush chance away... nope.. not going to bother to sweat.. They deserve a hammering.

 

[Czechboy]

Dalibor is beautiful

 

[PanniniClaus]

Did Pekarcik miss?

 

[Czechboy]

Pekarcik should have to walk home after that miss.lol

 

[WarriorofTime]

Snezhnye Barsy Astana is a bad MHL team. They are 7th place in the Eastern Silver (lower level, with a promotion/relegation system between Gold and Silver) division.

The Kazakhstan U20 team is overwhelmingly players on that team. It's time to get Russia back so these guys can stay in the lower division where they belong.

 

[Czechboy]

Snezhnye Barsy Astana is a bad MHL team. They are 7th place in the Eastern Silver (lower level, with a promotion/relegation system between Gold and Silver) division.

The Kazakhstan U20 team is overwhelmingly players on that team. It's time to get Russia back so these guys can stay in the lower division where they belong.

Obligatory... Latvia lost 10-0 to Canada with that goalie a year ago and beat them 3-2 with that goalie this year response.

 

[PanniniClaus]

The Kazahks just don't do some of the basic things you need to do to try and compete. They are winning D zone draws and not getting out 5 on 5 and here on the PK win it and they aren't set up for an immediate out. Coaching seems to be 1970's style.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Obligatory... Latvia lost 10-0 to Canada with that goalie a year ago and beat them 3-2 with that goalie this year response.

Yeah not sure how Kazakhstan also pulled off that upset at last year U18 (and then still were relegated). Strange things do happen from time to time. This group of Kazakhs on the U20 seems to play with no heart. They play like a group that is perfectly fine getting walloped every game.

 

[Czechboy]

Fine.. Pekarcik can get a ride home. Slovaks look great.

 

[Czechboy]

Yeah not sure how Kazakhstan also pulled off that upset at last year U18 (and then still were relegated). Strange things do happen from time to time. This group of Kazakhs on the U20 seems to play with no heart. They play like a group that is perfectly fine getting walloped every game.

Either was I but it happened. For them, they have a U18 victory over Czechs and are in the U20 main group. That's a good swing for the Kazakh federation. Who knows, maybe something comes out of it. I get the feeling they will go like hell in the relegation game. Still lots of hockey left. But I will comfortably say I don't think they are winning gold here.lol

 

[ozo]

I can assure you all this Kazakhstan team is playing worse than they are capable of playing. Their D is really poor for elite level and that just paralyzes them in their own zone overall when NHL first round picks forecheck them. Ok their offense isn't exactly a big positive so far, but it again all stems from the defense handicapping them, there are no NHL draft picks that carry offense on their own without coherent support.

 

[Antiillafire]

Top line is producing heading into QF, which is good news. Bad news is the second line still struggles. A lot of muffed shots too. Hopefully production for Pobezal and Cisar to get them going for QF.

 

[gitchiemanitou]

If it wasn't for the slovak first line skating circles around the kazakhs this could be a close game.

 

[Namejs]

Shots are 15-1, the score is 3-0 and the Slovaks aren't even looking that good apart from the Dvorsky line

 

[ozo]

Either was I but it happened. For them, they have a U18 victory over Czechs and are in the U20 main group. That's a good swing for the Kazakh federation. Who knows, maybe something comes out of it. I get the feeling they will go like hell in the relegation game. Still lots of hockey left. But I will comfortably say I don't think they are winning gold here.lol

They are are on the up. They currently are exactly where Belarus was 15 years ago - Russian junior NT is willing to start icing top Kazakh born talent. If they will copy Belarus' systematic approach to growing their hockey they have even more potential than any non top7 nation in the world.

This 05' born group albeit disappointing so far, is just the beginning of their hockey getting more respectable. Every next year for them looks even better, lets just hope players commit to their project for the sake of the competition.

 

[Chainshot]

Rare to see a Superman shot. :blink:

 

[Chainshot]

Good to see Kazakhstan get on the board.

 

[ozo]

Snezhnye Barsy Astana is a bad MHL team. They are 7th place in the Eastern Silver (lower level, with a promotion/relegation system between Gold and Silver) division.

The Kazakhstan U20 team is overwhelmingly players on that team. It's time to get Russia back so these guys can stay in the lower division where they belong.

I wanted to say nothing, but I just can't. I hate this bad take too much. Look at below WJC tournament - look at which team got bronze and which team survived the relegation? Hockey just isn't competitive year on year as far as the smaller nations are concerned. You have to take good with the bad.