Hitmansb, big game today!

[Scrumhalf]

USA vs. Canada for all the marbles in Junior Hockey!!

Are you going to watch? No live feed south of the border as far as I know, so I'll just have to get updates from tsn.ca as the game progresses. :(

BTW, what's this under-17 tournament that was won by USA beating Ontario? Are the provinces playing separately - why isn't there a national Canadian team in the under 17 tournament?

[hitmansb]

Of course I'm watching!!! I think you'll see Canada's D-men (I'm talking to you, Ryan Ellis!) be more conservative while handling the puck on the powerplay; The USA got two gift goals that never should have happened on shorthanded breakaways in the last game, and that was the reason it was so tight.

As for the Under-17, it allows more kids to participate by splitting up into regions, allowing scouts to evaluate more talent. Not to mention that it keeps the tournament competitive; it wouldn't even be fair if we iced a combined U17 team. We'd be blowing every other country out of the rink.

[Scrumhalf]

USA, USA, USA!!!!!!!!!

:usa: :usa: :usa:

Seriously, I just read the report on tsn.ca and looks like it was a hell of a game! This Eberle kid sounds like someone to watch when he gets to the NHL...

[hitmansb]

Lack of goaltending did us in...the US was too good of a team to get away with allowing weak goals.

[Scrumhalf]

Sounds like the US starting goaltender wasn't too hot either. 3 goals allowed on 6 shots? :noo:

[hitmansb]

Sounds like the US starting goaltender wasn't too hot either. 3 goals allowed on 6 shots? :noo:

Only one was a bad goal tho.

[Scrumhalf]

I just saw the highlights posted on tsn.ca. Your comment on the Canadian defense was right - how did the US get to go on a 3on1 break when they got that OT goal? That was the defensemen pressing too hard in the offensive zone and getting caught. In OT, that should have never been allowed. :noo:

[hitmansb]

I just saw the highlights posted on tsn.ca. Your comment on the Canadian defense was right - how did the US get to go on a 3on1 break when they got that OT goal? That was the defensemen pressing too hard in the offensive zone and getting caught. In OT, that should have never been allowed. :noo:

They got that 3-on-1 because Pietrangelo made the cardinal sin of pinching up to the top of the circles and taking a slapper that had no chance in a 4-on-4 situation. There was no screen...the goalie could see it all the way...it's a shot that not only gets stopped 99 times out of 100, but it's easy for the goalie to kick out the rebound to one of his defencemen. Cue the quick and easy transitional breakout pass...and you've got your odd-man rush. It's the kind of thing your coach would chew you out for in midget hockey, let alone at that level; pure stupidity.