WJC Gold Medal Game: Pregame Discussion Thread - Canada vs. USA
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My viewpoint from the observation deck in Finland:
I've only seen one Canadian game live,,,that was when they played Finland. I've seen every Team USA game, including their exhibition loss to Finland. The Canadian team is great, there is no doubt. I think these teams are probably two of the best matched teams that will have played in the WJHC in a long long time. Everyone keeps talking about hitting. I don't believe this is going to be nearly the factor most think it is. Alot of these guys know eachother. Quite a few of them have been drafted by the same team and are hoping to be teammates in the fall (assuming we have a season). Tambellini/Murray - LA, Potter/Dawes - NYR, Sterling/Coburn - ATL, Klein/Suter - NAS, O'Sullivan/Burns - MN, Phaneuf/Moore - Calgary...to name a few, and I may even have missed a couple. I'm not saying that they're going to lay low and not play hard at eachother because of this, so don't get me wrong. But it most certainly is a factor. Another issue: Canada only has one undrafted player (Crosby). USA has 7, if I recall correctly. These guys KNOW the scouts are out in full force. In my estimation....that is a huge USA advantage. Also, lets not forget - although he has been rather quiet in the scoring department, USA has Patrick O'Sullivan who- although he has missed 6 games now due to his being in Finland for the championships STILL holds the league lead in goal scoring (28 goals in 29 games). He is a threat every time he is on the ice. Don't assume that he's out of the picture, he's been playing great defensive hockey here. I think if the team needs him to step up for scoring, he'll be more than ready for the challenge.
Anyway, what I really think this all is going to come down to, is who is the better skating team...don't laugh, I believe it'll be alot more important than you might think. I'm not knocking Canada's skating ability, but US has a big advantage here as well.
Whoever wins this - (I am rooting for the USA) - this should be a great game, and nobody should go home with their head hanging low. But hey, what the hell do I know about anything, anyway?
I've only seen one Canadian game live,,,that was when they played Finland. I've seen every Team USA game, including their exhibition loss to Finland. The Canadian team is great, there is no doubt. I think these teams are probably two of the best matched teams that will have played in the WJHC in a long long time. Everyone keeps talking about hitting. I don't believe this is going to be nearly the factor most think it is. Alot of these guys know eachother. Quite a few of them have been drafted by the same team and are hoping to be teammates in the fall (assuming we have a season). Tambellini/Murray - LA, Potter/Dawes - NYR, Sterling/Coburn - ATL, Klein/Suter - NAS, O'Sullivan/Burns - MN, Phaneuf/Moore - Calgary...to name a few, and I may even have missed a couple. I'm not saying that they're going to lay low and not play hard at eachother because of this, so don't get me wrong. But it most certainly is a factor. Another issue: Canada only has one undrafted player (Crosby). USA has 7, if I recall correctly. These guys KNOW the scouts are out in full force. In my estimation....that is a huge USA advantage. Also, lets not forget - although he has been rather quiet in the scoring department, USA has Patrick O'Sullivan who- although he has missed 6 games now due to his being in Finland for the championships STILL holds the league lead in goal scoring (28 goals in 29 games). He is a threat every time he is on the ice. Don't assume that he's out of the picture, he's been playing great defensive hockey here. I think if the team needs him to step up for scoring, he'll be more than ready for the challenge.
Anyway, what I really think this all is going to come down to, is who is the better skating team...don't laugh, I believe it'll be alot more important than you might think. I'm not knocking Canada's skating ability, but US has a big advantage here as well.
Whoever wins this - (I am rooting for the USA) - this should be a great game, and nobody should go home with their head hanging low. But hey, what the hell do I know about anything, anyway?
eSabre
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Meputpuckinnet
I have only seen two games so far, those being the two semi-final games.
From this limited observation I surmised that Canada is probably a better skating team than the U.S. They are bigger and faster. We will have our hands full. They look like the better team.
The key for us is that we (meaning the U.S.) have to score first and then again to build a 2-0 lead. If we can do this we may rattle them as they are for the most part unexperienced at this level.
From the way Canada played against the Czechs and seeing how the U.S. played the Finns, Canada will win big. I hope not but that is how it is looking.
I have only seen two games so far, those being the two semi-final games.
From this limited observation I surmised that Canada is probably a better skating team than the U.S. They are bigger and faster. We will have our hands full. They look like the better team.
The key for us is that we (meaning the U.S.) have to score first and then again to build a 2-0 lead. If we can do this we may rattle them as they are for the most part unexperienced at this level.
From the way Canada played against the Czechs and seeing how the U.S. played the Finns, Canada will win big. I hope not but that is how it is looking.
The Rage
Registered User
I think you may be underestimating the motivation of the players in this tourney, meputpuckinit. Every player on team USA and team Canada will be very, very motivated to win this game. They won't care one bit if potential future team mates on the other side. I'd say they wouldn't care if current team mates were on the other side (evidence the Olympics). Also, winning the gold for your country is far more important than putting a show on for the scouts. This tourney is about national pride, not a sideshow from the regular season.
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Sideshow? I believe you underestimate the importance of this event for each individual players future. Of course it's about team pride and national pride, doh! But don't think for a second these guys aren't thinking about their own performances here...and what that may or may not mean to their futures...that's ridiculous to think it wouldn't mean something to them.
As for the comments about the semi-finals game......it's true the USA didn't look so hot against the Finns in the last game,,,,but if you haven't seen them play all tournament, I wouldn't judge them based on that performance alone. They've been quite physical when they need to be, and their game against the Finns was toned down considerably on the physical aspect simply because they were looking to NOT create penalties, since coach Eaves was adamant that they get that out of their system.
And,,,you're way off base about them not considering some of the team as being future teammates. Again, I never said it would make anyone tone down their game....I just don't think it will be as ugly as some have predicted. If anything, I think it might make things alot more fun for all the players.....
As for the comments about the semi-finals game......it's true the USA didn't look so hot against the Finns in the last game,,,,but if you haven't seen them play all tournament, I wouldn't judge them based on that performance alone. They've been quite physical when they need to be, and their game against the Finns was toned down considerably on the physical aspect simply because they were looking to NOT create penalties, since coach Eaves was adamant that they get that out of their system.
And,,,you're way off base about them not considering some of the team as being future teammates. Again, I never said it would make anyone tone down their game....I just don't think it will be as ugly as some have predicted. If anything, I think it might make things alot more fun for all the players.....
The Rage
Registered User
MePutPuckInNet said:
I didn't mean that they don't understand the importance to their future. Just that they are already motivated to the max and will be playing all out.
MePutPuckInNet said:
Some players might have potential future team mates on the other team, but at most only one or two. During Oiler training camp two years ago, Chimera smoked Hemskey, almost severely injuring him. Fact is, when you are in the heat of battle, you don't care about hurting what may or may not be a future team mate. This is a big event. No one will hold anything back.
3-2 Canada. I only hope Durocher won't hesitate to pull out Fleury if he shows any sign of sucking (like he did in mostly all previous games).
The Rage
Registered User
PornoHolocaust said:
He still has a high save percentage. I think he has troubles dealing with extremely low numbers of shots. However, if Canada allows an extremely low number of shots tomorrow, Fleury (Fluery?) won't have to play that well for us to win.
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