OT: IIHF 2015 WC Semi Final (USA vs Russia)
Semi Final game from Czech Republic. USA beat Russia 4-2 in round robin play, winner will face Canada in Gold Medal Game.
Dylan Larkin is playing 3-4th line minutes but looking like he belongs against some elite NHL talent in this tournament.
Live Stream on NBCSports LiveExtra.
0-0 End 1st period. Shots 11-10 Russia
Thanks for the heads up about the NBC stream, much better quality. Go USA.
0-0 End of 2nd period. Shots 23-22 USA.
1-0 Russia on a goal from Mozyaken 12:44 remaining
2-0 Ovechkin on a bad turnover by Justin Faulk scores. 9:42 rremaining
3-0 Russia... USA falling apart.
Is some Russian player pissed that the Capitals choked (again) so that Ovee is available for this and the next game. Its not like we can recall Kane from the Bhawks.
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It's really different mentality, the Czech, Russians, Swedes, Fins and Canadians bring some of there top players. While the USA can't even get Danny DeKeyser to play. Instead they are dressing NCAA players, and Hendricks is captaining the team.
With that said this is a great result for this group of players. Hopefully they can turn around and win a Bronze medal.
With that said this is a great result for this group of players. Hopefully they can turn around and win a Bronze medal.
Disapointing we don't take it more seriously, or are there other reasons. I suppose it is good experience for younger players though.
For USA Hockey to win the world championship (a tournament that the USA last hosted in 1962), it might take a “miracle” team like the 1980 Olympic team. In modern times, Team USA rarely earns a medal in the world championships, even when playing with more experienced and more skilled players. Since 1963, the United States has won a total of three medals (all bronze) in the world hockey championships. Even with those more seasoned and more skilled players, Team USA only finished fourth in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
This USA team averages 24.3 years of age and has only one Olympian, defenseman Justin Faulk. It’s one thing to be competing for the Hobey Baker Award as a college freshman (like Jack Eichel and Dylan Larkin) and another thing to be competing against Alex Ovechkin and Yevgeni Malkin. Team Russia (winners of the world hockey championship in 2012 and 2014) has eight players who are 24 years old or younger. Team USA has 17 players who are age 24 or younger.
What shouldn’t be forgotten is that this collection of USA players won its group with six wins and a loss, split two games with Russia and has a 7-2 record (with losses against Belarus and Russia) heading into the bronze medal game against the Czech Republic, a team with only five players who were born after January1, 1990.
One final thing: Team Canada hasn't won a medal in the world championships since it finished second to Russia in 2009.
I just don't think US hockey values the world championships. You see Canada bring top guys over, even after eliminated from playoffs. U.S. tends to not, guys like Oshie, Backes, JVR, Kessel, Quick, Miller, DeKeyser, etc all who will be potential Olympic team guys don't seem to want to play.
Lol, Oshie and Backes? Oshie's a 3rd liner on a good team.
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Gil that was my point, look at the guys that other countries are getting to play in the tournament. While the U.S. Team can't pull ever their second tier talent for the tournament.