WC BRONZE MEDAL GAME: MAY 9 GDT - Slovakia vs. USA (0-1 OT PS)

[SergeiK]

Congratulations!

I gotta admire the bluecollar workethic of Team USA. The bunch of nobody`s,darbyhendricksons, took the bronze medal.

Shootout was just classic. Great goal from Drury. Both goalies -especially Conklin - were bit shaky on this one.

 

[Kronblom]

Congratulations USA!

Big mistake by Frantisek Hossa to select a 20-year old Gaborik for the 4th shot. Was he nervous or what?

For those of you who couldn´t watch the game, you didn´t miss anything. The players were too tired or just mentally dehydrated to generate any offense.

Edit: The swedish commentators said that Conklin and Cullen were the best players in USA, I agree completely. Drury and Park seemed to have a hangover.

 

[Fan.At]

Congratulations USA!

Big mistake by Frantisek Hossa to select a 20-year old Gaborik for the 4th shot. Was he nervous or what?

For those of you who couldn´t watch the game, you didn´t miss anything. The players were too tired or just mentally dehydrated to generate any offense.

Edit: The swedish commentators said that Conklin and Cullen were the best players in USA, I agree completely. Drury and Park seemed to have a hangover.

Gaborik seemed to be tired the whole game, same at the penalty shot. He tried to deke the puck to the right side and then couldn't catch it again with the stick so it just slid by the net...

Cullen not only showed great offense in this game he also fought his way through the slovakian defense, there could have been some goals if Lasak had not kept his coolness.

Conklin made some great saves throughout the game, but on some easy saves he was lucky that the puck did not find his way into the net...

 

[ALF AmericanLionsFan]

Congratulations Team USA!!! To win a bronze with a lot better players sitting at home doing nothing shows the character of the team there. Nice job boys and thanks for giving a shi^%$

 

[Gaborik10]

Do you know what the reason was that he was tired? Did he play a lot throughout the game? Because he's really not good at all when he's all alone going in on goal...he never scores in that situation, just ask us Wild fans....he's got the talent, but he just doesn't have the confidence I guess...been like that for a while now.

 

[Gaborik10]

Anybody know?

 

[Jussi]

Congratulations Team USA!!! To win a bronze with a lot better players sitting at home doing nothing shows the character of the team there. Nice job boys and thanks for giving a shi^%$

Yeah, you've got to wonder how much the effort these guys put in will count when the World Cup team is announced? I wouldn't be too surprised to see some strange names then.

 

[Gaborik10]

Nah, 3/4 of these guys won't be there. Modano, Geurin, Tkachuk, and the rest are gonna go instead. The injustice of it...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Yeah, you've got to wonder how much the effort these guys put in will count when the World Cup team is announced? I wouldn't be too surprised to see some strange names then.

These are the guys I think have a good shot of being considered for the U.S. World Cup team:

Chris Drury
Aaron Miller
Paul Mara
Ty Conklin
Mike Dunham

 

[guinness]

These are the guys I think have a good shot of being considered for the U.S. World Cup team:

Chris Drury
Aaron Miller
Paul Mara
Ty Conklin
Mike Dunham

Dunham and Conklin are probably a given, as is Esche, those are about the only US goalies in the NHL. I thought Malone looked good in the Sweden game, as did Park, those 2 should get a shot.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Dunham and Conklin are probably a given, as is Esche, those are about the only US goalies in the NHL. I thought Malone looked good in the Sweden game, as did Park, those 2 should get a shot.

Not really a given. Here are the American NHL goaltenders:

Esche
Dunham
Conklin
Johnson (Brent)
Boucher
Andersson
DiPietro
Snow
Grahame

Personally, I think Esche is the starter with Dunham getting the back-up job based on his NHL experience. There will be a young guy in the 3rd spot, with that coming down to (IMO) DiPietro or Conklin. I think they'll go with DiPietro as he's the "future" of U.S. goaltending. As for the forwards you mentioned. No chance. There are several more viable options.

 

[Sparky]

Hopefully they'll give Steve Konowalchuk a slot. He had to miss the Olypics in his home town of Salt Lake City due to injury, but he'd make an excellent 3rd liner/special teams player for the WC squad. That and he plays very well next to Jeff Halpern...

 

[William H Bonney]

Hopefully they'll give Steve Konowalchuk a slot. He had to miss the Olypics in his home town of Salt Lake City due to injury, but he'd make an excellent 3rd liner/special teams player for the WC squad. That and he plays very well next to Jeff Halpern...

Halpern won't make the World Cup team.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Halpern won't make the World Cup team.

True, although now that I think about it, Konowalchuk could get a long look. Gritty, and good enough skill level to finish, especially on the PP. The U.S. team will need another gritty type now that Deadmarsh is out of action.

 

[William H Bonney]

True, although now that I think about it, Konowalchuk could get a long look. Gritty, and good enough skill level to finish, especially on the PP. The U.S. team will need another gritty type now that Deadmarsh is out of action.

He'll get a look, but there are better options than him.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

He'll get a look, but there are better options than him.

Any ideas? To me Konowalchuk fits a certain role.

 

[Herby]

Any ideas? To me Konowalchuk fits a certain role.

I just think there are better options, myself nothing against Kono as he is a good NHL grinder but I dont think he is one of the 14 or 15 best Americans in the NHL.

It's just too bad Deadmarsh had to suffer severe concussions, he filled a role on Team USA that I'm not sure anyone else is capable of right now.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I just think there are better options, myself nothing against Kono as he is a good NHL grinder but I dont think he is one of the 14 or 15 best Americans in the NHL.

It's just too bad Deadmarsh had to suffer severe concussions, he filled a role on Team USA that I'm not sure anyone else is capable of right now.

The one guy I think that's similar is Erik Cole. I don't know if the U.S. brass will consider him though.

 

[William H Bonney]

Any ideas? To me Konowalchuk fits a certain role.

What role do you envision him taking? I think Conroy could play a similar role, yet offering far more offensive skill.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

What role do you envision him taking? I think Conroy could play a similar role, yet offering far more offensive skill.

Well, Conroy's a center for one thing, and I think the U.S. is fairly deep there. He could play wing, or another player could change positions to make him, doesn't really matter I guess. I like Konowalchuk because he's hard nosed, plays the boards, and can finish. He'd be my replacement for Adam Deadmarsh.

 

[William H Bonney]

Well, Conroy's a center for one thing, and I think the U.S. is fairly deep there. He could play wing, or another player could change positions to make him, doesn't really matter I guess. I like Konowalchuk because he's hard nosed, plays the boards, and can finish. He'd be my replacement for Adam Deadmarsh.

Yeah, but it's easier for a center to switch then vice versa in my opinion...especially with Roenick showing he's very capable of playing wing.