okay, just finished watching the tape delay.
1. I was VERY surprised at how physical the Americans were, not just the Johnsons...but Bourque, Paukovich, even mighty-mite Nate Gerbe. They played a very Canadian-style game, and were penalized early for it. After some time, the Norwegians were so worn down physically that the team speed of the Americans turned it into a circus act. 11-2 seems closer than the game actually was.
2. Erik Johnson is the real deal, and impressed me more than Jack. I've not been so impressed with a defenseman in a long time, and he's so complete. Someone in the top 5 is going to get very,very lucky in the 06 draft.
3. TJ Oshie-- "Who?" Now we know who. Took the game over early, and while he only got one goal, he could easily have had three more. Nifty moves, power game.
4. Schremp-- Didn't do much for me ES, seemed like he was puckhogging\showing off a bit, but on the PP, the USA didn't have anyone better. Set up the play, controlled the puck, a great QB.
5. Phil Kessel-- must have taken the "stickhandling of Pat Lafontaine and the shooting of Brett Hull...but not much of a distributor" comments of McKenzie to heart...showed some sick playmaking, more nifty moves, and silenced his doubters. Best player on the ice.
6. Chris Bourque- Hits. Passes. Scores. Behind Kessel, the second most dominant forward out there.
and on the "didn't do much for me" list:
1. Bobby Ryan-- Mancrushes of certain posters aside, he DID see a fair amount of icetime. Not tons, but not the least, either. When he was out there, he looked a little lost. At one point, got the puck in the slot with no one near him, should have been an easy goal with the Norwegian tender ALREADY beat, but whiffed wide. Didn't see the well-documented physical side, either. It's just one game, but pitching a fit over his icetime is ridiculous, because he wasn't playing well enough for more.
2. Blake Wheeler- made a few huge hits, but is a clutz with the puck. Didn't see much time, but I hope\expect for more.
The rest are incompletes. Mueller impressed me while he was out there, his goal was off an absolute laser of a shot. Good puckhandler too, could have had a goal early on a beautiful setup on the PP, but rang it off the pipe.
The American power play is...a thing of beauty. Any team that takes a lot of penalties against them is...likely going to lose. The PK impressed me too, very agressive, creating a lot of shorthanded chances. I hope to see how Schneider does with a little bit more action. I didn't see the second goal against, but the first goal against was hardly his fault, being beaten by a pretty nifty deke by the Norwegian player.
All in all, good game...the Americans needed to make a statement like this to start the tournament.
By the way...to the comment that "Canadians don't care if the Americans lose, they only care that the Canadians win"
uh...BS. A few thousand jeering Canadian fans that booed every American goal, cheered every Norwegian hit and raucously taunted the American team when the third goal was waved off(rightfully, I'm not sure what Fritsche was thinking) would seem to disagree with you.
