The sport we have now all been ready for. Canada versus USA. For many of the gamers within the sport, they haven’t had an opportunity to play best-on-best hockey of their careers, and this was set to be one of many largest video games of their lives. From an leisure standpoint, particularly for a impartial fan, this was an all-timer. For Canadian watchers, there was fairly a little bit of frustration with the sport.
Canada Is No Match for USA’s Physicality
Sure, there are some bodily gamers on Canada. Colton Parayko, Sam Bennett, Brandon Hagel, and Drew Doughty can all throw their weight round, however on a workforce stage, they have been no match for the wave after wave of physicality the People threw their approach.
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Clearly the largest story out of the sport was the three fights within the first 9 seconds of the sport, and Hagel, Parayko, and Bennett held their very own in these fights and have been a part of an excellent present. However throughout the precise sport, throwing hits wasn’t as efficient. Bennett, Hagel, Anthony Cirelli, and Seth Jarvis all recorded three or extra hits, that are good numbers, and the full hits have been fairly shut, but it surely was the effectiveness of the hits that weren’t there.
Large hits from Charlie McAvoy, Brady Tkachuk, Noah Hanifin, and J.T. Miller got here at simply the appropriate time and have been usually momentum-changing hits.
Hockey isn’t nearly hits. As enjoyable as they’re, simply the numbers don’t inform the story. If you happen to examine the field rating after that sport, and Canada had 3 times as many hits, it doesn’t imply a lot until they have been used successfully on the proper time. In that regard, USA dominated, and Canada didn’t have a lot to push again with.
Particular person Efforts Lacking from Canada’s Recreation
The undisputed high two gamers within the league with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, in addition to others who’re actually within the dialog for the highest gamers within the league, actually struggled to be efficient in their very own proper. Yes, McDavid’s goal the place he flew my McAvoy was an important solo effort, however exterior of that, Canada had nothing.
There was some criticism after the primary sport towards Sweden that these gamers have been being too egocentric, together with feedback about MacKinnon in time beyond regulation. Evidently they took it too personally and have been attempting to play too selflessly. Even with an excellent capturing alternative, they might at all times search for the move first. In principle, it’s a very form factor to do. How Canadian of them. However in apply, somebody has to shoot the puck.
There may be greater than sufficient ability on the high of the lineup to make magic occur. We see it each night time within the NHL, and whereas sure, their opponent is significantly better than a typical NHL workforce, there is no such thing as a purpose for them to not be showcasing their expertise in the identical approach.
On high of that, beating Connor Hellebuyck isn’t any simple job, both. Canada struggled to get pucks to the online typically, and after they did, there wasn’t sufficient visitors in entrance of the online. Hellebuyck goes to save lots of practically each shot he has a transparent path to, and that was most of them throughout that sport. Entering into the soiled spots is one thing this roster is constructed to be properly at, however they didn’t have any of that on show.
Binnington Must be Higher
Within the sport towards Sweden, Jordan Binnington let in some soft goals, however was there to make the large saves when he was wanted. Towards a workforce like USA, you’ll be able to’t have that. Whereas solely letting in two targets towards a workforce like that could be a feat value celebrating in a vacuum, the 2 he let in are unacceptable from a goalie in a sport with stakes this excessive. The primary one was a reasonably simple shot by way of the five-hole (credit score to Jake Guentzel for locating that opening, although), and the second was a transparent shot from the highest of the circle.
Followers are, once more, pointing towards Logan Thompson, who isn’t on the roster however is having himself an unreal season. Having him on the sidelines whereas they’re having Binnington beginning for them is irritating. Canada wants a win towards Finland, and all indicators level towards Binnington getting the beginning once more, in full equity, his stats aren’t horrible. The problem is that he simply isn’t making the saves the workforce wants him to be making.
There may be nonetheless a fairly good path to the championship sport for Canada. They’re enjoying advantageous, however they only must tighten up a couple of issues. That is an unbelievable workforce with extraordinarily excessive aspirations.
