2014 AAA semi-finals: Pittsburgh pirates vs. Harvard crimson

[seventieslord]

Coach: Frank Boucher

Chriz Kunitz - Slava Bykov - Andrei Khomutov
Scott Hartnell - Ivan Boldirev - Earl Robinson
Dutch Hiller - Cully Dahlstrom - Joe Pavelski
Jay Pandolfo - Laurie Boschman - Pat Boutette

Mark Hardy - Brad Marsh
Arnie Brown - Paul Martin
Pekka Marjamaki - Barney Holden

Gerry McNeil
Cesaire Maniago

Spares:
Radek Bonk, C
Ran McDonald, RW
Jack Campbell, D
Sylvain Lefebvre, D

PP 1: Kunitz-Bykov-Khomutov-Marjamaki-Martin
PP 2: Hartnell-Boldirev-Robinson-Hardy-Pavelski

PK 1: Dahlstrom-Pandolfo-Martin-Marsh
PK 2: Pavelski-Hiller-Hardy-Holden

VS:

Coaches: Bill Dineen, Lou Vairo (Asst)

Peter Nedved - John Tavares - Jeff O'Neill
Cory Stillman (A) - Ed Olczyk - James Neal
Steve Konowalchuk - Wayne Merrick - Niklas Sundstrom
Vic Lynn - Andrei Nikolishin - Willi Plett

Anders Eldebrink (A) - Bill Brydge
Hal Laycoe - Al Hamilton (C)
Bret Hedican- Robert Picard

Pelle Lindbergh
Richard Brodeur

extras: LW PJ Axelsson, C Andrew Cassels, D Igor Kravchuk

Special Teams:
PP:
Nedved - Tavares - O'Neill
Eldebrink - Picard

Stillman - Olczyk - Neal
Hedican - Hamilton

PK:
Lynn - Sundstrom
Laycoe - Brydge

Konowalchuk - Nikolishin
Hedican - Picard​

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[Rob Scuderi]

Just a quick look, I think Pittsburgh has an edge in net. I'll post some information on our top sixes.

Six year VsX scores

Boldirev|63.3
Tavares|62.7
Olczyk|61.2

Nedved|69.6
Stillman|67.7
Kunitz|65.4
Robinson|60.6
Neal|59.7
O'Neill|59.5
Hartnell|54.9

Bykov and Khomutov don't fit neatly, but I think Bykov is the best player in the group of twelve. He was top ten in Soviet league scoring four times, and top five in international tournaments five times.

I'd take Nedved second in the group and he's better than Khomutov. Khomutov had three top ten point finishes in the Soviet league, and three top five point finishes in international tournament.

For the glue guys I prefer Kunitz. His scoring is inflated, but I think he'll bring a more consistent physical game than O'Neill.

For second lines, I prefer Boldirev. His scoring and Olczyk's are close, but Boldirev got credit for his physical and defensive game.

Stillman is a stud at this level for the second line and better than Robinson.

I think Neal the power forward is overrated and Neal the goalscorer underrated. He's a little lazy and not a consistent physical presence, but he has a world class shot. Hartnell can't match him as a scorer, but he always plays the same physical game. I think Harvard's second line is lacking in the physical department where Edzo needs some help.

 

[Hawkey Town 18]

Pittsburgh Wins In 4 Games

3 Stars
1. McNeil
2. Bykov
3. Pavelski/Khomutov