It can't be so hard to believe that your 1st round pick has played exactly like a lazy bum for the six games I've seen from him at the WJC. I didn't expect him to score a bunch of points (because I didn't Austria to score at all until against Ukraine) or anything like that, but I did think he'd give his all considering he's their only star player and the team captain.
Lack of support or whatever is a perfectly good reason for his lack points. However, it has nothing to do with the fact that he hasn't given his all for one frickin shift. That can't be too much to ask, can it? Skate hard, back-check, a little bit of D, some effort. He has the skills, but they aren't of any use when taking two strides seems like it's the hardest thing on Earth.That would probably be the same guy who cost his team their first-ever W at the WJC's...
Cross-checking a guy in the mouth because things aren't working for you and you didn't get past him with fancy stickwork in the final minutes, thus giving the opponent a 5-minute PP to end the game = not a good idea and a perfect example of Vanek's attitude throughout the tourney.
=> Ukraine scores the equalizer and was damn close to winning it.