GDT: 2018 WJC • Game 06 • Group A: SVK (0) - CAN (6) F

[Woodhouse]

Group A:

Slovakia vs.

Canada
Dec. 27 • 19:00 ET • 01:00 CET
Key Bank Center — Buffalo, NY
TV: NHLN, RDS2, RTVS2, TSN

Slovakia
(Confirmed lineup per IIHF.)
4 Erik Smolka - 20 Peter Kundrik - 17 Milos Kelemen
14 Viliam Cacho - 25 Alex Tamasi - 16 Filip Krivosik
13 Samuel Bucek - 21 Adam Ruzicka - 19 Marian Studenic
18 Adam Liska - 26 Milos Roman - 23 Samuel Solensky

3 Tomas Hedera - 7 Marek Korencik
12 Michal Ivan - 5 Martin Bodak
6 Martin Fehervary - 24 Vojtech Zelenak
9 David Matejovic - 27 Samuel Fereta

1 David Hrenak
30 Roman Durny
2 Jakub Kostelny

Canada
(Confirmed lineup per IIHF.)
9 Dillon Dube - 23 Sam Steel - 25 Jordan Kyrou
12 Boris Katchouk - 27 Robert Thomas - 16 Taylor Raddysh
14 Maxim Comtois - 21 Brett Howden - 24 Alex Formenton
11 Jonah Gadjovich - 20 Michael McLeod - 19 Drake Batherson
17 Tyler Steenbergen

28 Victor Mete - 3 Connor Timmins
2 Jake Bean - 6 Cal Foote
7 Cale Makar - 8 Dante Fabbro
10 Kale Clague

1 Colton Point
31 Carter Hart
​

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[Novak Djokovic]

Should be an interesting game. I'd like to see a "simpler" game from Canada. Hopefully, Fabbro continues to feel better and Jake Bean can stay on the bench as much as possible.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Should be an interesting game. I'd like to see a "simpler" game from Canada. Hopefully, Fabbro continues to feel better and Jake Bean can stay on the bench as much as possible.

Bean is good on PP, but 5/5 nothing special.
This could be an entertaining game until the Slovak team resists, as soon as Canada goes into some 2 goals lead, it will be over. But the Slovaks are not so bad team this year, perhaps they could be able to resist a period or even two.

 

[caslava]

Hoping for a strong performance here from roman and fehervary. Good chance for them to improve on draft positioning.

 

[Bounces R Way]

This Canadian team should include Matthew Phillips. Needs more talent carrying the puck.

Honestly, anything less than domination is unacceptable. Canadian international teams are shackled to this expectation. Some rise above and some don't.

 

[Sam Spade]

Not that anyone cares but I'll be there!!

Any day I get to pull out the Team Canada Gretzky jersey is a good day.

 

[1Gold Standard]

I was hoping for a little afternoon NHL action to get me to this one, but alas, the NHL schedule makers didn't cooperate. BLR v SUI just doesn't cut it. I guess I'll just have to get in some Christmas visiting instead.

As for the game, Canada for the W by a score of 6-1.

 

[NyQuil]

This Canadian team should include Matthew Phillips. Needs more talent carrying the puck.

Who cares about Matthew Phillips?

The team is selected.

 

[jj cale]

I'll go 7-2 Canada in this one.

 

[HSF]

Batherson should get more ice dude is legit

 

[TheGoldenJet]

This should be a dominant performance for Canada, despite the back-to-back situation.

 

[JackSlater]

Hoping to see the Canadian defencemen make simpler, less boneheaded decisions with the puck in the defensive zone.

 

[jj cale]

Hoping to see the Canadian defencemen make simpler, less boneheaded decisions with the puck in the defensive zone.

Amen, yesterday seemed like a carryover from last year.

 

[Bedards Dad]

This Canadian team should include Matthew Phillips. Needs more talent carrying the puck.

Honestly, anything less than domination is unacceptable. Canadian international teams are shackled to this expectation. Some rise above and some don't.

It isn't the mid-2000s anymore. There are a lot of better teams. I expect a win, but team Canada can't just steamroll the tourney.

 

[BigBadBoar]

Hoping for a strong performance here from roman and fehervary. Good chance for them to improve on draft positioning.

Fehervary is the key defender for Slovakia. I would be not surprised if he takes 25 or more minutes on ice.

 

[Zybalto]

It's a bit revisionist to say Canada was steamrolling anyone. Outside of 2005, games were always close and Canada actually lost in the preliminary rounds before gutting out gold medal wins in close games.

Canada has just been more clutch than other teams in the medal rounds. Sweden should have won far more but is the opposite of Canada for example.

 

[Statsy]

It's a bit revisionist to say Canada was steamrolling anyone. Outside of 2005, games were always close and Canada actually lost in the preliminary rounds before gutting out gold medal wins in close games.

Canada has just been more clutch than other teams in the medal rounds. Sweden should have won far more but is the opposite of Canada for example.

I 100% agree with this statement. You have the benefit of hindsight which says Canada won 5 in a row, and was therefore dominant, but with the exception of one year, it was always a grind. It always SHOULD be a grind.

 

[Woodhouse]

Point and Hrenak will start in goal respectively for their teams per Mark Masters.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Hoping to see the Canadian defencemen make simpler, less boneheaded decisions with the puck in the defensive zone.

Pretty simple solution to that. Staple Bean and Clague to the bench during 5 on 5.

The usage (or lack thereof) of Makar last night was ridiculous.

 

[Dominance]

5-1 Canada. Slovaks with some whacky, lucky goal, whoever starts for Canada seeing less than 10 shots. Canada has another sloppy game where they get too creative and don’t work hard enough to produce the 15-0 score that should otherwise occur.

 

[coolwood]

Pretty simple solution to that. Staple Bean and Clague to the bench during 5 on 5.

The usage (or lack thereof) of Makar last night was ridiculous.

I don't think you can do that with Clague. We need him to show he's our #1 returning D. Last night he did not

 

[Pope Francis 1]

Makar and Mete clearly top D. It shocks me that Mahora was cut ... twice no less. The other Canadian D are pretty much as discussed. Overall the D is disappointing and perhaps the weak link. Canada's Fs and Hart will need to brilliant in order to medal if the D can't collectively figure it out. Canada was very fortunate v Finns.

 

[Statsy]

Makar and Mete clearly top D. It shocks me that Mahora was cut ... twice no less. The other Canadian D are pretty much as discussed. Overall the D is disappointing and perhaps the weak link. Canada's Fs and Hart will need to brilliant in order to medal if the D can't collectively figure it out. Canada was very fortunate v Finns.

If you hadn't seen the two pre-tourney games Canada played, then that assessment is quite understandable. However, the reality is that they are actually a strength of this team, not a weakness. Don't forget that we were playing a highly potent Finnish offense and we held them to just two goals.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

 

[snipes]

No mercy.