World Junior Hockey Championship

For those of you dying for some hockey in preparation for tomorrow night, USA is playing Switzerland at 9pm on ESPN2...the Ocho.

The Swiss won their first game, 5-0. Dunno whether that says more about the Swiss or Belarus.

After spanking Sweden 8-1 tonight, Canada is on track to dominate the tournament, as has been anticipated.

For those who weren't paying attention on Christmas night, the United States beat Russia 5-4. Both teams were skaky defensively and in goal early, but Alvaro Montoya helped to shut the door in the third period and protect a one-goal lead. That victory has put the USA in the driver's seat to win its pool and advance directly to the semifinals.

One last note: One need not be dying for hockey to want to watch this tournament. It's a shame very few Americans care about it. This is hockey at its finest.

Watching the game tonight -- this Kessell guy... uh... he doesn't suck.

Watching this game is making me excited for when Montoya comes to Hartford

yeah, how nasty was that outside-inside move along the right boards? Dang. It was the first step around the defender that I was most impressed with.

Two goals in the first 1:04 of the third period for SUI to tie the game at 2-2. Geez.

and USA scores 26 seconds later to make it 3-2. Crazy.

and 55 seconds after that, USA makes it 4-2. What a response.

We're 4:43 in to the third period and six goals have been scored. It is now 5-3 USA.

Another goal. 5:19 in and it's 5-4 USA. Seven goals in 5:19. Has anyone ever seen anything like this before?

reminds me of an nhl all star game

What the hell is happening in the final period? 6-4 USA half way through the 3rd. It's certainly an entertaining game. BTW, does anyone else think those green blades look cool?

Phil Kessel has really impressed me. he'll be one of the top players in the NCAA as a freshman next year whereever he ends up.
Canadians are totally stacked except not in goal.

Did any of you hear Andy Brickley slam UNH academics? The exchange with Jim Rich went something like this:

JR: The first two periods were like studying for finals
AB: I have no idea what that's like
JR: But you were educated at the fine institution of UNH
AB: Fine institution? You can think whatever pleases you

And then he tried to back track by saying something like, I left after three years so I never got a degree from UNH

Hilarious.

Canada trounced Finland 8-1 today to finish 4-0 in its pool. In round-robin play, Canada outscored its opponents 32-5. Canada advances to the semifinals, which will be played on Sunday.

US loses to Belarus 5-3 .... ouch!

Ari, seems like US goaltenders need to be questioned .... Canadian goaltenders will do just fine.

Canada's goaltenders will do just fine because they have an unbelievable team. They would win with a bucket in net.
Also, future Flame Dion Phaneuf is going to win Norris Trophies. Totally dominant in every aspect of the game and definitely above Coburn and Suter who were both drafted ahead of him.

[Q]calgARI '07 Wrote:
Also, future Flame Dion Phaneuf is going to win Norris Trophies. Totally dominant in every aspect of the game and definitely above Coburn and Suter who were both drafted ahead of him.[/q]
I agree that Phaneuf is a phenomenal prospect. Since he lit up Rostislav Olesz in last year's WJC, I have thought the world of him. A defenseman with his mobility and ability to make the big hit does not come along often. And, he supplements that with pretty good offensive abilities.

In the USA-Czech Republic game, Casey Borer is dressed, but Chris Bourque is scratched.

Is tonights game on tv?

The Czech Republic beat the United States 3-1 tonight. Team USA finishes third in its pool. By my calculations, Team USA plays Sweden, which I believe won the tiebreaker to finish in second place in its pool, on Saturday at 8:30 EST in the quarterfinals.

Tonight's game was televised in Canada, but not the United States. ESPN2 will carry Team USA's medal-round games.

I agree, Phaneuf is gonna be the next Scott Stevens with offensive ability. He's unbelievable. How about Sidney Crosby though, he is seventeen years old and leads the tournament in goals, this guy is something else.

Canada is absolutely stacked. Here are some players that should be in the NHL, if it was still on:

-Jeff Carter - Philly - 5 Goals in the tourney
-Patrice Bergergon - Boston - played for Bruins last year as an 18 year old, leads tourney in scoring
-Phaneuf - Calgary
-Ryan Getzlaf - Anaheim - Big, mobile, power forwards forechecker ... imagine him and Shane Hynes on the same team or same line ... punishing
-Braydon Coburn - solid defenseman

This team is just full of talent, best team Canada has ever iced at the World Juniors.

However, Russia and US are no pushovers. US has just been unfortunate the last two games and seemed to lose a psychological edge after seeing their highly touted goalies playing bad. But I am confident they can knock of the Swedes and hopefully we will see a Canada-US showdown again.

Scott Stevens is a thug.

Today, the Czech Republic shut out Finland 3-0 to advance to tomorrow's semifinal against Canada. The game will be played at 4 pm EST. It will be broadcast on TSN, and not be shown in the United States.

Team USA came to life and beat Sweden 8-2. USA led by a goal after two periods before a five-goal outburst in the third period put the game away. Phil Kessel netted a hat trick, which included a goal on an end-to-end rush and another spectacular goal. The United States and Russia play tomorrow night at 8:30 EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The USA lost to Russia 7-2 in the semifinals earlier tonight, and will face the Czech Republic in the bronze medal match on Tuesday. Russia will face Canada in the championship match after that.

(7-2 sounds pretty ugly but the match was 4-2 before two empty-net goals and one more after the USA stopped pulling the goalie.)

The Czech Republic defeated Team USA 3-2 in overtime today to capture the bronze medal. The goal-medal game between Canada and Russia begins in 15 minutes.

Canada 6 - Russia 1

[www.iihf.com]

We've been grateful for all the hockey on TV lately - too bad the final WJC games weren't among them.

Ken '71