Team USA--WJC

[defkit]

Re: Team USA--WJC

One takeaway from watching this game - too much hogging the puck on odd-man breaks. It seemed the tried to beat their guy one-on-one too often, in both odd-man and even-up situations.

Tough loss, but overall the team played well. Too many penalties in the first period.

 

[bothman]

I was responding to the snide comment about Grimaldi. I would have thought you would have picked up on that, but I obviously overestimated what you are capable of. Sorry for that.

No one cares or should care about whether a player hails from n. Dakota, yale, or any school. It's about Team USA.

Get your head out of the sand and get on board the train with this team. It's leaving the station en route to the medal stand!

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Grimaldi didn't play great. The whole line of Grimaldi-Miller-Gaudreau didn't. They need to start produce points and play better if the US is going to medal. They have a combined two points so far and that's certainly not going to do it. But Yale boy was just being a dink to be a dink and ripping on Grimaldi for no reason.

Actually not being a dink or snide (thanks for that, really) I just thought he should have taken the open shot much sooner before the whole Russian team flopped in front of him, would have said the same about anyone else who played it that way.

 

[SJHovey]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Man, a lot of finger pointing in this thread involving a team that pretty much everyone knew had a very tough road ahead of them.

Sometimes it's not so much the "questionable decision making" or other alleged problems of your own team. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opponent and recognize they played a great game. The U.S. threw 40+ shots on the goalie, and had a number of great chances to score. On top of that the Russians played pretty sound defensively and blocked a ton of shots. I thought it was a real fun game to watch. You don't win all those.

 

[Huskiefan906]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Giving an unbiased assessment of the team, the bracket, the standings or the situation is not being defeatist. Nor is complimenting the opponents.

And as far as the players are concerned, they fly half way around the world and represent the USA proudly win or lose.

Conceding the tournament with only 2 games in is a DEFEATIST opinion of Team USA.

 

[bothman]

Don't think anyone said Grimaldi played great. I was simply posting in response to the idea that Grimaldi is not a team player. He usually looks to set people up before taking a shot and has already busted his butt in making diving back checks twice this tourney to prevent solid scoring chances.

Exactly. When Grimaldi looks to tee up his teammates, he can be a dynamic force out there. But when he plays hero hockey, like he tried too many times against Russia, he's not helping the team.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Well in that case and so bothman doesn't scold me again for having an opinion.

 

[bothman]

Conceding the tournament with only 2 games in is a DEFEATIST opinion of Team USA.

Agreed! They can beat Canada who has shaky goaltending and may be down another forward after another dirty hit that injured a Slovak player.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Team USA--WJC

BTW, Did anyone think the US player took a fantastic dive on the hit from behind to force the penalty at the end of the game. I usually don't like such embellishment, but against Russia, anything goes.

 

[lawdoggies]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Aside from the penalties, good 1st period. Looked very good in the 2nd period. I thought they ran out of gas in the 3rd - second game in two days while Russia sat it out yesterday.

 

[Biddco]

Re: Team USA--WJC

BTW, Did anyone think the US player took a fantastic dive on the hit from behind to force the penalty at the end of the game. I usually don't like such embellishment, but against Russia, anything goes.

Peitila? Wasn't sure if he dived or if he fell awkwardly on his leg.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Conceding the tournament with only 2 games in is a DEFEATIST opinion of Team USA.

Without being defeatist, please answer this question.

Today's loss to Russia:

a). Enhanced team USA's chances of winning a medal

b). Hurt the USA's chances of winning a medal

c). Will have absolutely no affect on the USA's medal chances

 

[lawdoggies]

Re: Team USA--WJC

BTW, Did anyone think the US player took a fantastic dive on the hit from behind to force the penalty at the end of the game. I usually don't like such embellishment, but against Russia, anything goes.

i'm not so sure . . . Blake is a tough kid. To me it looked like his forehead hit the top of the boards full on, then his head snapped back on a Russians's stick as his face was sliding down the boards. But as you said, it was a good time to take one.

 

[burgie12]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Without being defeatist, please answer this question.

Today's loss to Russia:

a). Enhanced team USA's chances of winning a medal

b). Hurt the USA's chances of winning a medal

c). Will have absolutely no affect on the USA's medal chances

d) Isn't unexpected and doesn't drastically change USA's medal chances.

A win over Slovakia puts them in the medal round with a winnable game against the Swiss / Czechs.

 

[Biddco]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Without being defeatist, please answer this question.

Today's loss to Russia:

a). Enhanced team USA's chances of winning a medal

b). Hurt the USA's chances of winning a medal

c). Will have absolutely no affect on the USA's medal chances

C. Because we're America. #America

 

[J.D.]

Re: Team USA--WJC

d) Isn't unexpected and doesn't drastically change USA's medal chances.

A win over Slovakia puts them in the medal round with a winnable game against the Swiss / Czechs.

I agree. If the US is able to finish in 3rd, there's no team on the other side they can't compete with.

 

[Jimjamesak]

I agree. If the US is able to finish in 3rd, there's no team on the other side they can't compete with.

Exactly. This bracket is absolutely insane.

 

[defkit]

Re: Team USA--WJC

BTW, Did anyone think the US player took a fantastic dive on the hit from behind to force the penalty at the end of the game. I usually don't like such embellishment, but against Russia, anything goes.

Yes. I think he took a dive, and then ended up hurting himself anyway.

 

[burd]

Re: Team USA--WJC

Exactly. When Grimaldi looks to tee up his teammates, he can be a dynamic force out there. But when he plays hero hockey, like he tried too many times against Russia, he's not helping the team.

When I've seen him this year, he's been excellent at dishing the puck. He's trying too hard, which is not too surprising given what he said earlier in the week about having to produce more. He'll learn.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Re: Team USA--WJC

If everyone on team USA played with as much heart as Rocco, you would have seen a different outcome today.

Rocco plays every shift like its his last.

He's trying too hard, which is not too surprising given what he said earlier in the week about having to produce more. He'll learn.

??? Which is it? One minute he's praised for always going all out, then he's trying too hard. Bottom line is, this team will go nowhere fast if that first line doesn't start producing.