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2015 World Junior Championships

Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

To be honest, they'd be lucky to get past either one.
Have you seen either one of those teams play? The US would have no problem beating either team. They'll have trouble when they meet Canada again because Canada is deeper and much more physical, but I'm not worried about the Russians or the Czechs.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

It's the way they played. Too cute, too scared.

For much of the game, I agree that many of the U.S. players looked intimidated by the Canadians' physical play. All too often they would pull up short when they saw a check coming and/or would cough up the puck. And all too often they would lose the battles for loose pucks; if they measured "time of possession" like they do in football it would have been very lopsided. If you look at the number of true quality scoring chances, through the first 55 minutes or so, that too would have been very lopsided. It was great to see the Americans take it to them at the end of the game, but if they are to have a realistic chance of winning the rematch (assuming they get that chance) they will need to be a lot more determined and aggressive than they were today.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

This is a very young team, especially on the back end. It will be quite an accomplishment if they medal. Next year they may very well be the favorites to win gold, if they do not lose some of their top players to the NHL.
Demko was very deserving of any and all accolades as the result would have been much worse had he not stood on his head while juggling nine pucks.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Okay, I'm writing this in the aftermath of a defeat, but it seems like the US is always playing uphill against these guys; like they're playing their older brothers.

Just my two cents...every year I watch this I think the same thing: Canada plays with reckless abandon...the US plays "afraid to lose." Canada throws the puck ahead and is always looking for an odd-man rush and stretching the ice. They play the way the old Montreal Canadiens (with LaFluer, Cornoyer, etc) used to play. They don't care if they give up a breakaway; they know they'll outscore you. Their relentless pressure forces errors and then they are going the other way in a split second and capitalizing. Also, the US looked DEAD TIRED to me in the third period. So their style of play is working against their greatest asset - their speed. There was NO speed at all going through center ice. Way too tentative. You know, just go out and PLAY. Don't worry about the expectations. Besides, Canada has WAY more pressure playing at home and they handle it just fine, because they are AGGRESSIVE and constantly on the attack.

I don't think the results will ever change until we change our style. And maybe they're not trying to play this way, but they can't seem to translate their "plan" to on the ice results. Canada probably has more talent, but this game was way too one-sided as far as I'm concerned. It could have been 8-3 if not for Demko.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Still waiting for Eichel to have that "dominant" game that he is capable of.

Not gonna happen. They're all over him. To be fair, you also have to say the same about McDavid and THAT'S not going to happen, either. This is why the "role players" and "supporting cast" have to step up (like Larkin). The problem is not Eichel (see my previous post above) - it's the style of play.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Totally agree with the general sentiment. This is a young US team, but regardless, that 'youth' may not be available next year. A couple of thoughts:

1) Eichel has been good, but not great. He needs to lead more by example and play with some physicality and exemplify the things that need to get done to won (ie, getting pucks deep, finishing a check, winning face-offs, etc)

2) I hate to say this, but Hanafin seems like a 5 tool guy (speed, size, etc), but the package just doesn't translate. His ability does not seem to create advantages that it should and I think he is still trying to figure out how to optimally deploy his set of skills. I've seen the same thing at BC. Lots of beautiful rushes up the ice, that simply don't translate into a grade A scoring chances and if anything, chances for the other team coming back

3) The USA D as a whole is young, but are very raw. They seemingly have no desire to get stuck in and make opponents think twice about going into the corner or siting in the slot. I thought the Canada forwards pushed them around and largely dictated play.

4) As a whole, this USA team seems like a lot of tweeners. Not overly physical, but also not game changing speed. A lot of skill, but missing pieces that create lots of scoring opportunities. Too much watching Eichel.

5) The powerplay (though netting a goal yesterday) is a mess. It does not reflect the skill-set. It reminds me of the BU PP under Parker. Needs to be way more puck movement down low and guys funneling through the slot, waiting for opportunities from 10-15 feet out instead of the off angle shots or shots from the blue line. Also, I find the D to be very tentative. They are holding the blue line and as a result, any slightly errant pass causes the puck to come out of the zone and the PP then needs to reset

I would love for this team to beat Canada and actually think they have the talent to do it. I just see this team playing too much of a perimeter / finesse game right now and unless that changes and the PP starts clicking, the only way they will win is if Demko stands on his head and makes 50 saves.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Eichel seems like he's trying to do much. Reminds me of a quote from the character Herb Brooks in the Disney film Miracle yelling at the character Mark Johnson: "That coast-to-coast stuff may work here, but it's not going to work against the teams we're playing."
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Eichel seems like he's trying to do much. Reminds me of a quote from the character Herb Brooks in the Disney film Miracle yelling at the character Mark Johnson: "That coast-to-coast stuff may work here, but it's not going to work against the teams we're playing."

He's been having a decent tournament, its just that expectations were so high for him. He has dominated college hockey as a true freshman and many thought that would carry over to the WJC. He still might break out but this tournament is played at a higher level than your your regular college season and perhaps we simply expected too much from him. We have to remember that few 18 year olds have ever dominated this tournament.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Domi set the tone from the outset, you could tell he was just nastier and meaner than the the US team. Canadian Juniors are a tough bunch and I think some of our college boys might be slightly scared of the Canadian edge. Even though alot of our guys were in American junior and some Canadian Junior leagues, they seem a little soft compared to the Canucks. Lets hope they rely on talent against the Russians, I can see them coming out and gooning it up to try and get the US off of their game again.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Have you seen either one of those teams play? The US would have no problem beating either team. They'll have trouble when they meet Canada again because Canada is deeper and much more physical, but I'm not worried about the Russians or the Czechs.

I'm scared to death of Russia.

People seem to have short memories when it comes to the Russian WJC teams.

Remember Buffalo? Russia slept walked through the preliminary round, and then rode an improbable comeback against Sweden and an amazing comeback against canada to win gold.

Or, how about last year? USA looks strong through the first round only to get bounced by Russia in the quarterfinals.

This is modus operandi for Russia in the WJC. They were the last team I wanted the USA to play tomorrow.
 
I'm scared to death of Russia.

People seem to have short memories when it comes to the Russian WJC teams.

Remember Buffalo? Russia slept walked through the preliminary round, and then rode an improbable comeback against Sweden and an amazing comeback against canada to win gold.

Or, how about last year? USA looks strong through the first round only to get bounced by Russia in the quarterfinals.

This is modus operandi for Russia in the WJC. They were the last team I wanted the USA to play tomorrow.

I'm deeply worried about the Russians.

I think they are the 4th best team in the tournament. Easily the last team I wanted to see other than Sweden from their side.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

Domi set the tone from the outset, you could tell he was just nastier and meaner than the the US team. Canadian Juniors are a tough bunch and I think some of our college boys might be slightly scared of the Canadian edge. Even though alot of our guys were in American junior and some Canadian Junior leagues, they seem a little soft compared to the Canucks. Lets hope they rely on talent against the Russians, I can see them coming out and gooning it up to try and get the US off of their game again.

A shame Santini wasn't able to bring his edge (and talent) to the US side.
 
Re: 2015 World Junior Championships

I'm scared to death of Russia.

People seem to have short memories when it comes to the Russian WJC teams.

Remember Buffalo? Russia slept walked through the preliminary round, and then rode an improbable comeback against Sweden and an amazing comeback against canada to win gold.

Or, how about last year? USA looks strong through the first round only to get bounced by Russia in the quarterfinals.

This is modus operandi for Russia in the WJC. They were the last team I wanted the USA to play tomorrow.


Russia has some explosive players, like current Soo Greyhound's forward Sergei Tolchinski who is like a Russian version of Johnny Gaudreau. They are a pretty big team but (fortunately) do not play a physical game. They are not aggressive like Canada on the forecheck and won't cause a lot of turnovers in the American end but they are masters of slowing the game down, clogging the neutral zone and then launching blistering attacks when you least expect them.
It will be a tough game but if the U.S. defense holds up, they should be able to beat them.
 
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