Europe
Shuts Out US in Opener
The first game of the tournament had a
result that surprised many. Team Europe skated to a 3-0 win against team USA.
Jaroslav Halak had a dominant 35 save shutout performance and Europe’s future
in the tournament isn’t so uncertain anymore. Dustin Byfuglien and Kyle
Palmieri were healthy scratches for the US.
That would later come back to bite
them, as they didn’t have Byfuglien’s physical and defensive prowess to keep
Europe off the scoreboard. With Palmieri absent, they didn’t have the scoring
touch to put them on the scoreboard. Europe quickly took advantage, as they
took the lead 4:19 into the game. In a perfectly executed 2-on-1, Franz Nielsen
fed Marian Gaborik at the side of the net where he tapped in the first goal of
the tournament.
The 2nd period didn’t get
much better for the US. Early in the period, Patrick Kane attempted to circle
the zone, but got caught at the blue line and turned the puck over, leading to
a 2-on-0 chance for Europe. Leon Draisaitl made no mistake as he parked himself
in front of the net and slid the puck past the helpless Johnathan Quick to give
Europe a 2-0 lead.
Midway through the period, it looked
like team USA had finally gotten on the scoreboard. However, it was determined
that James van Riemsdyk had made a distinct motion with his chest to knock the
puck into the net, so the goal didn’t count and it remained 2-0. Late in the
period, USA had a power play in which they failed to convert. Right after the
penalty expired, Jannik Hansen’s shot was deflected into the net by
Pierre-Eduard Bellemare to make it 3-0.
In the 3rd, the US had some
quality scoring chances, but Halak was up to the task, making saves when he
needed to. His heroic play earned him a shutout in the victory. Team USA didn’t
possess the desperation they were expected to have. This was one contributor to
the loss. Secondly, they didn’t get as physical as they were expected to get.
Whatever it was, the team hopes to fix it by next game in order to have a
chance to win the tournament.
Canada
Dominates Czech Republic
Team Canada, being the heavy favorite
to win not only this game, but the tournament, did not disappoint. Carey Price
earned a shutout, and Canada went on to win 6-0 in their opening game. The win not
only pleased the Canadians, but also put some long awaited positive energy into
the Air Canada Centre.
The Crosby line was on fire early in
the game, scoring all 3 goals in the 1st period. At 8:26, Crosby
circled the net before purposefully banking it in off of Czech goaltender Michal
Neuvirth to make it 1-0. At 17:08, Brad Marchand deflected Brent Burns’s slap
shot into the net off a set faceoff play. But Canada didn’t stop there. Patrice
Bergeron scored a buzzer beater goal off a feed from Bruins teammate Brad
Marchand to make it 3-0.
Canada would just keep going, as Crosby
would once again show why he is one of the best players in the world right now.
At 7:22 of the 2nd period, Crosby would sneak a perfect pass to Joe
Thornton at the side of the net for an easy 4-0 goal. At 14:45, Johnathan Toews
would tap in a power play goal to make it 5-0.
Canada would score their final goal on
the power play at 12:41 of the 3rd. Alex Pietrangelo, who hurt his
hand blocking a shot earlier in the game, scored off a wrist shot to make it
6-0. The injury turned out to be no problem at all for him. I predicted the
Czechs would make it close, but clearly I underestimated Canada’s star power.
It was just too much for the Czechs to handle. However, the bright spot that
really stood out for the Czechs was Michal Neuvirth. Though losing 6-0, he
still stopped 44 shots. Canada has taken one step closer to winning this
tournament, but still has a ways to go.
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