GDT: Czech Republic Vs Russia | 12/27 @ 9:30PM ET | TSN/NHLN

[majormajor]

When the Russians took shots, they were from just inside the blue line around the middle of the ice. Easiest place to block shots, and to get through the puck has to travel through 10 bodies. Nobody tried to go into the area in front of the goal to fight for close in shots. I know the Swedes are thinking that they wish they could play the game tonight.

Not only to get close shots, but to get in the way of the defenders. It was so easy for the Czechs to get into position to block shots and to block cross ice passes, and easy for the goaltender to see everything.

 

[Ginger Papa]

I’ll have a Kozel Lager in celebration, mmm Czech beer rules!

It was crazy to watch a bunch of undrafted guys blocking shots and gutting out... most these guys literally just had the games of their lives!

Crazy upset...

I still think Russia will be in the semis and this won't slow them down one bit but, tonight, I drink!lol

 

[Czechboy]

Do you think they have a 2nd BIG game in them and they can beat the Americans tomorrow?

We have a day off tomorrow.. and NO.. I think the US will methodically destroy us.

 

[ORRFForever]

We have a day off tomorrow.. and NO.. I think the US will methodically destroy us.

LOL. Be more positive.

 

[Czechboy]

 

[snipes]

We have a day off tomorrow.. and NO.. I think the US will methodically destroy us.

Enjoy the win tonight/morning for those in Czechia. That’s a very good team you guys just beat. Don’t think they were prepared for the physicality the Czechs played with.

 

[Tomas W]

So...

Russia beat the U.S. by 2

The Czechs beat Russia by 2

Sweden beat the Czechs by 6

The possibilities are interesting.

The possibility that the Swedes beat everybody.

In the round robin of course, not in a medal round.

 

[Brightwing]

It's almost as good as that time Whitney Houston sang the national anthem at the Super Bowl.

Congrats buddy, your team played with so much heart!

 

[Czechboy]

Enjoy the win tonight/morning for those in Czechia. That’s a very good team you guys just beat. Don’t think they were prepared for the physicality the Czechs played with.

who knew Raska and Rychlovsky would be such a pain in the ass.lol

 

[Atas2000]

Bragins Russians lost 3 times to worse Czech teams in the last few years.
It’s one game. Russia always plays when it matters.

Losing is one thing. everybody loses. Losing how is another. I've seen too many troubling things in that game. Larionov's coaching is the most troubling I guess. The young defencemen giving up scoring chances on "beginner mistakes" was expected. Forwards not producing was not. But the schemes for forwards were just ridiculously dumb against what the Czechs play for decades.

 

[Atas2000]

9 of the last 10 tourneys
17 of the last 20
Not worried about Russia medalling!
Czechs beat russia last year and Russia was in the most interesting 3rd period gold medal game in history!

Different coach though...

 

[Ray Martyniuk]

@Czechboy

Congrats on the win, unreal defensive effort by the Czech players. That was one hell of an effort.

Missed the game! Just wondering how did Lukas Parik play?

 

[Czechboy]

Missed the game! Just wondering how did Lukas Parik play?

He got the shutout.. not sure I rmember any 10 bell saves?
Czechs played very hard in front of him and Russia didn't really have many 2 on 1's or breakaways. it was a crazy game with a bunch of Junior B players somehow beating Junior A players. I'm positive a lot of Czechs have bruises after this one.

 

[Passionis]

Losing is one thing. everybody loses. Losing how is another. I've seen too many troubling things in that game. Larionov's coaching is the most troubling I guess. The young defencemen giving up scoring chances on "beginner mistakes" was expected. Forwards not producing was not. But the schemes for forwards were just ridiculously dumb against what the Czechs play for decades.

I agree. It almost seems like Larionov coming in 2020 trying to coach a late 80s game, and when an opponent counters with an effective tactic - he's got nothing.

This is Larionov's loss through and through.

 

[Passionis]

Definatly a good game for Czechs, I hope they realise they are better than celebrating a round robin game like a gold medal though.

Who else feels like this would've went vastly different with Bragin. It feels weird to say this, but I miss him when Russia is behind in the score.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

As a neutral observer, he's a lot of fun to watch. If he was on my team, I might think differently.

Did you read what Chayka said about him? I think players love having him in net.

 

[Czechboy]

Definatly a good game for Czechs, I hope they realise they are better than celebrating a round robin game like a gold medal though.

Who else feels like this would've went vastly different with Bragin. It feels weird to say this, but I miss him when Russia is behind in the score.

They won 1 game last year
They haven't medalled in 15 years
They have one QF win in 15 years

They can celebrate naked in that hallway! Go hump a Gretzky statue!

 

[Passionis]

They won 1 game last year
They haven't medalled in 15 years
They have one QF win in 15 years

They can celebrate naked in that hallway! Go hump a Gretzky statue!

Lol OK, I mean I kind of feel bad that's all they think of themselves! With that attitude when can they ever consider achieving high results??

 

[garbageteam]

We have a day off tomorrow.. and NO.. I think the US will methodically destroy us.

What's with all the mid-tier teams doubting their own performances lol. Afraid of disappointment?? As a neutral I just watched your nation's jr team systematically disassemble the Russian machine. Maybe from a Russian or Czech POV it was different, but it was a 100% solid win due to tactics and grit, nothing flukey about it at all. The scoreline reflects the game.

I'm not predicting Czechs will win vs. the US, but if they play with the same intensity and adaptability as they did tonight I have no reason to "expect" a US led thrashing and wouldn't feel confident putting money on it. Like the other poster said, be more confident, the results haven't been great in recent years but there is still in some ways a Top 6 and Czechs are now right in the mix now with a wide open Group B. I honestly don't know if I strongly prefer Team Canada to play this 120% intensity version of the Czechs over another opponent from this group barring Austria.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't blame Askarov for the goal, but I'm still waiting for him to be super-duper amazing as he's been cracked up to be.

He’s only cracked up to be? Did you miss the Hlinka, WJAC, WJC18? Surely you’ve seen him play that amazing before.

 

[Czechboy]

What's with all the mid-tier teams doubting their own performances lol. Afraid of disappointment?? As a neutral I just watched your nation's jr team systematically disassemble the Russian machine. Maybe from a Russian or Czech POV it was different, but it was a 100% solid win due to tactics and grit, nothing flukey about it at all. The scoreline reflects the game.

I'm not predicting Czechs will win vs. the US, but if they play with the same intensity and adaptability as they did tonight I have no reason to "expect" a US led thrashing and wouldn't feel confident putting money on it. Like the other poster said, be more confident, the results haven't been great in recent years but there is still in some ways a Top 6 and Czechs are now right in the mix now with a wide open Group B. I honestly don't know if I strongly prefer Team Canada to play this 120% intensity version of the Czechs over another opponent from this group barring Austria.

If you're a fan of Canada.. you want us in the quarters. Trust me.lol

 

[Czechboy]

He’s only cracked up to be? Did you miss the Hlinka, WJAC, WJC18? Surely you’ve seen him play that amazing before.

I don't get the Askarov criticisms at all.. the guy is awesome. If Russia wins gold, he'll be a big reason why.

 

[letsgrowcactus]

Well, this was unexpected
It'd be great if they could make it out of the QF for once... They played 1/2 of a good game against Sweden and beat Russia.
Then again... they scored 3 goals in 2 games. Not great.
On to the US.

 

[McDrai]

What's with all the mid-tier teams doubting their own performances lol. Afraid of disappointment?? As a neutral I just watched your nation's jr team systematically disassemble the Russian machine. Maybe from a Russian or Czech POV it was different, but it was a 100% solid win due to tactics and grit, nothing flukey about it at all. The scoreline reflects the game.

I'm not predicting Czechs will win vs. the US, but if they play with the same intensity and adaptability as they did tonight I have no reason to "expect" a US led thrashing and wouldn't feel confident putting money on it. Like the other poster said, be more confident, the results haven't been great in recent years but there is still in some ways a Top 6 and Czechs are now right in the mix now with a wide open Group B. I honestly don't know if I strongly prefer Team Canada to play this 120% intensity version of the Czechs over another opponent from this group barring Austria.

I've seen this so many times where a team pulls off a massive win and has nothing left in the tank for the next game. It's like all of the energy and emotion has been used up and the team struggles to reset and focus on the next game. I'd be surprised if the Czechs keep it close vs the US. This was pretty much their gold medal game that they have played tonight. With that being said, I hope I'm wrong and the Czechs can make a game of it vs the Americans

 

[Fantomas]

He’s only cracked up to be? Did you miss the Hlinka, WJAC, WJC18? Surely you’ve seen him play that amazing before.

The World Juniors is an entirely different level and the other stuff is already forgotten.

I saw Kirill Kabanov and Mikhail Grigorenko dominate in those events, which didn't translate. The U20s is the real deal - the next best thing to the big leagues.