tony d
New poll series coming from me on June 3
Good win yesterday, Americans tomorrow. Hope we can pull out the win there to guarantee ourselves a medal.
From the half game that I saw, I find it funny that Canada's best line (Scheifele, O'Reilly, Stone) is also the line that would traditionally not work internationally. Goes to show that brains and hockey sense count for more than speed does when it comes to transferring to the larger ice surface.
Also, Gallagher looks terrible.
Man Gallagher has got to get his skates checked. If he falls any less than 3 times in a shift that's been a win. I would put Reinhart, Domi, or Jenner ahead of him. He should be riding the pine.
Comfortably the worst forward, in my opinion. I hated him at the WJC (in the top six role that his junior coach forced him into) and I hate him here. Any discussion regarding Gallagher for a fourth line role on a top level team Canada should be over.
Work your anti-jinx on another player before tomorrow's game!
I still thought Gallagher was quite bad. Good of him to shovel one puck into the net though. In any event...
Gallagher has been the worst forward, but McDavid is easily the most disappointing. Glides past defencemen effortlessly in the neutral zone, then glides toward the boards and just passes it off every single time whenever he gets the puck afterward.
Instead we're going into tomorrow with the very likely possibility Finland wins - because they have a better system and hockey is a team sport. Throwing talent on the ice isn't enough in 2016. There needs to be planned, deliberate plays to get quality scoring chances.
Great! He'll score a hat trick!
It looks like the coaches are relying on talent which is not a really good thing.
We went from a 5-1 victory over the US to 4-3.
Germany had us tied 2-2 for a while. Finland beat us 4-0 (1 goal was unavoidable - the rest were softies and 1 defensive brainfart that was horrific).
We could beat Finland tomorrow - but if this team had gelled properly and had good systems (especially for ES)... this wouldn't be a contest. Instead we're going into tomorrow with the very likely possibility Finland wins - because they have a better system and hockey is a team sport. Throwing talent on the ice isn't enough in 2016. There needs to be planned, deliberate plays to get quality scoring chances.
I still thought Gallagher was quite bad. Good of him to shovel one puck into the net though. In any event...
Gallagher has been the worst forward, but McDavid is easily the most disappointing. Glides past defencemen effortlessly in the neutral zone, then glides toward the boards and just passes it off every single time whenever he gets the puck afterward.
I'm interested to see how the Koivu line is neutralized, Rielly and Tanev have been brilliant for the most part, but they can't focus solely on Laine this time. I would love to see more of Domi, his wheels can win races, and he's a pesky player to play against, I noticed he replaced Perry for a couple of shifts in the late second or third, and he added to the line immediately. They have to get Perry the puck more often down low if they want him to be effective.
Not a big fan of Hall's game. From the hash marks in this guy is great, hard on the puck and can win battles most times. After that, he spins and takes a shot on net no matter where he is on the ice. If it doesn't go in he takes a huge swoop either behind the net or into the corner. After that forget about defence.
I think he could be so much better with a coach that demands that he either go hard to the net or go hard back the other way if his shots don't go in.
Don't circle the wagons Oiler fan, you will now tell me how many points he gets. He could be so much better, he really could.
I like our chances tomorrow. Very glad we've seen Finland once and that trap and lack of any semblance of a forecheck. All 30 teams in the NHL forecheck hard, and a sit back and trap style, was a different wrinkle for the young guys on our team to see and experience. I think tomorrow's game is going to be vastly different than first time around.
Our players are too good, too talented, to not make the necessary adjustments to the Finnish team's style of play. Gold medal is on the line, and Team Canada's attitude is going to reflect that, versus how it was for a relatively meaningless round-robin game.
I think we shape up real well:
O'Reilly-Scheifele-Stone line is rock solid and very very good in both ends. Clearly the coaches go-to line for draws in the defensive end.
Looking for the talent of McDavid, Hall, Duchene, Perry, Marchand to rise up and play their best game tomorrow.
Play the five solid defensemen for the most part: Ellis, Reilly, Murray (great game today), Tanev and Ceci.
as usual, the game's end result will fall on Talbot. If he's good, Canada will win
How has Dumba played in this tournament?
McDavid played on the second PP against the USA, why? I don't care how well Brassard was playing, you don't play him over McDavid on a PP.
I think McDavid will score the golden goal like Crosby did in '10.