December 31, 2008
*I'm going to keep the analysis brief tonight and come back with more in the morning as it's already late on the East Coast and we're going to fire it up again in the morning. Check back Thursday for more quotes and analysis.
What we learned: A U.S. vs. Canada World Juniors game is the best ticket in the tournament no matter what continent you're on. The boys on both sides battle as hard as possible and emotions are extremely high.
- These teams are very evenly matched. Scrap the first 6 goals of the game and it's a 2-1 game before the empty netters. I felt things started at a fever pitch and then slowly wound down to the cleaner, but intense version of play we saw in the third period with fewer penalties and better overall play.
Key play: John Tavares' back-to-back goals gave life to Canada and his second, along with help from 20,000 fans, helped turn the momentum to the home team.
Up next: Slovakia, quarterfinals, Friday. I'll update the time on this game when it's set in stone.
-- Sorry there isn't more here tonight, but I'll be back with more tomorrow including some video.
END OF GAME: USA 4-CAN 7
I'll be back with more later.
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Net still empty. Canada scores another one. Not really a factor though. It's 7-4 with 10 to play.
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:42 - GOAL: USA 4-CAN 6 - Tavares gets his hat trick on an empty net.
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:54 - Empty net for USA
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1:04 - U.S. takes its timeout and Rolston will try to scheme a way to tie this.
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1:49 - The top U.S. line nearly put one home, but Tokarski held just enough.
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5:00 - U.S. is playing well ... so is Canada. Not a lot of chances for either side.
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9:08 - Penalty killed. U.S. had two huge hits that the crowd wanted called as cross checks. On the other end JVR and Palushaj went offsides on what could have been a 2-on-1.
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11:21 - Palushaj gets tagged for interference with the goalie. Canada on the PP.
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11:38 - Good save by McCollum on a hard charging Canadian forward, i think it was tavares.
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13:30 - Not alot happening. A couple shots but no real chances. Teams are playing a bit conservative.
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20:00 - Second period under way.
Period ends: USA 4-CAN 5. The internet has been really bad so I can't get a lot of updates in. teams are trading chances, hits and big saves. More on this later.
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7:50 - Penalty killed . Good stick check broke up a scoring chance for JVR and Wilson was just stoned on a deflection attempt. It's back and forth.
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10:26 - A lot to update with the net problems. Canada scored so it's 5-4. It came on a Hoeffel penalty and now they are going back on the PP with a penalty to Fairchild. Sorry for the delay.
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16:20 - GOAL: USA 4-CAN 4 - Blum wristed it in front of the net and it deflected off a Canada defender and in the net. Got to take a lucky one now and again.
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16:50 - U.S. on the power play.
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18:45 - U.S. is back to making small errors and sloppy passes. If they don't tighten up this could go bad quick.
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19:23 - GOAL: USA 3-CAN 4 - Chris Di Dimenico found a bouncing puck and slipped it in on mcCollum's right side and Canada takes the goal on the power play.
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I'm still waiting for some official word as to what happened after the Canada goal that left two players on the ice and raised tempers to a new level. If I find out something, I'll pass it along.
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The man shooting for $1 million came up just short but three people won cars in the intermission puck shoot ... seems the nets are open for business tonight as they are catching a lot of pucks.
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End of period, USA 3-CAN 3. The officials will have their hands full this game. Every stoppage brings at least a face swipe or some sort of rough stuff.
The U.S. eliminated its mistakes early, but Canada was relentless on the power play and proved no lead is safe.
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00:18 - JVR gets a slashing call and we're 4-on-4
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1:26 - Stefan Della Rovere runs Shattenkirk into the boards and the U.S. is on the powerplay to end the period. Really a viscous hit. Intense doesn't come close to this game.
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1:50 - GOAL: USA 3 - CAN 3: Jordan Eberle walks in and flicks the puck over McCollum's shoulder on the power play. Back to even.
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2:28 - U.S. back on the PK after a too many men penalty. No penalties off that huge scrum.
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4:17 - GOAL: USA 3-CAN 2 - Tavares takes advantage of a broken stick pass and beats McCollum for a game changing goal. Big collision of some sorts by the bench. van Riemsdyk is down as is a Canadian. Looked like something off the bench during the celebration. This could get ugly.
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5:05 - GOAL: USA 3-CAN 1 - Kessel gets a delay of game while on the PK and Canada scores as the first penalty expired so the U.S. is off the penalty kill.
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7:17 - U.S. has its first PK after Matt Rust is penalized for hooking.
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7:25 - GOAL: USA 3 - CAN 0. Jim O'Brien flew in down the right wing and slapped it by Tokarski on a nice flip pass from Drayson Bowman.
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9:00 - Canada is getting the big hits, U.S. is getting the goals.
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12:47 - GOAL: USA 2 - CAN 0 - Jimmy Hayes takes a pass from Aaron Palushaj in the corner and puts it in. Fast start for the U.S. Very important to keep this crowd as subdued as possible.
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13:15 - Tokarski makes a couple good saves and the two-man advantage is down to under a minute.
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16:28 - Two quick penalties give the U.S. a 1:33 5-on-3 PP.
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15:45 - GOAL: USA 1-CAN 0 - kevin shattenkirk takes a pass from Cade Fairchild on a broken play by Canada and rips the shot in.
U.S. on the power play now after a hooking call.
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20:00 - We're under way ... everyone is charged up.
For some pre-pregame information, check out my post from earlier today
Pregame:
I spotted a U.S. fan in what looks like a homemade shirt. I like it. The fans are going nuts and we're still 15 minutes from the start of the game. They're sending the wave around the arena and it's just the zambonis on the ice.
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Just about a half hour before things get going. The stadium is filling up and from my seat I can't spot a single U.S. flag or jersey. I'm sure they're out there somewhere since we have family in attendance and I've seen some other fans, but oh man, is there a lot of red and white in the building.
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We're within an hour and a half of the puck drop and as of yet it feels like a normal game night. Coach Ron Rolston didn't do anything out of the ordinary with the team and the bus ride was the same as its been the entire tournament.
I have a feeling the atmosphere will be a little more tense once the Canadian faithful file in to the Scotia Bank Centre.
I'm told the fans unfurl a giant Canada flag and surf it across the crowd during the national anthem. I'll try to shoot some video (albeit with my cell phone) and post it later as I understand it's pretty impressive.
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The U.S. equipment room is lined with well wishes and e-mails from all sorts of people with ties to American hockey. A lot of former team members are obviously keeping an eye on the tournament.
If you want to share something with the team, send it to camerone@usahockey.org and I'll post it on here and pass it along to the team.
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With Czech Republic beating Kazakhstan and Sweden rolling over Russia, the quarterfinal and semifinal picture is a little more clear.
It's going to be Russia against Czech Republic in the quarterfinals with the winner of that game advancing to face either the U.S. or Canada. The other group has Sweden with the bye to the semifinals but the opponent for the loser of the U.S./Canada game is yet to be known as Finland and Slovakia are about to take the ice.
Comments? Questions? Send them to camerone@usahockey.org
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