WJHC GDT: USA vs Finland

[timber09]

It's the most, wonderful time of the year...
Man I love the WJHC - best hockey of the season, more entertaining (in my mind) than the Cup Finals and Playoffs.

Anyway - Team USA kicks off at noon today. Real excited to see Eichel again - he was a beast last year so hopefully he takes it up a notch at this years tournament.
Last years Gold Medal winners Finland vs Team USA who won two years ago - no easy games in these tournaments anymore!

U-S-A!



From SB Nation

The U.S. National Junior team begins its quest for Gold Medal on Friday at 3 p.m. with a preliminary round game against defending World Junior champion Finland. The game can be seen live throughout the United States on NHL Network and also online at NHL.com.

With the announcement of today's lines for the Finland game, forward Anthony Louis and defenseman Ryan Collins are the team's two scratches. As expected Thatcher Demko gets the nod in net with Brandon Halverson backing him up. Alex Nedeljkovic will be the third goaltender.

One of the major strengths of the U.S. team is how deep the team is at the center position. Captain Jack Eichel will be the top line center with top 2016 NHL Draft prospect Auston Matthews centering the second line. A pair of Michigan Wolverines, Dylan Larkin and J.T. Compher, will center the third and fourth lines.

Forwards

Chase De Leo - Jack Eichel - Alex Tuch
Sonny Milano - Auston Matthews - Nick Schmaltz
Tyler Motte - Dylan Larkin - Hudson Fasching
Miles Wood - J.T. Compher - John Hayden

Defensemen

Will Butcher - Brandon Carlo
Noah Hanifin - Ian McCoshen
Zach Werenski - Anthony DeAngelo

Goaltenders

Thatcher Demko - Brandon Halverson

 

[MMarch]

Any idea why USA Hockey went with such a "young" roster compared to everyone else? They have the fewest 19 year olds of any team in the tournament, 5 fewer then the next closest team. I get you want to take the "best" players available and all that, but experience has to be a factor for a tournament like this. I hope they can gel quick or this could be ugly.

 

[gobuffalo2331]

Go Fasching and Compher gooooooo!

 

[MMarch]

1-0 Finland barely 2 minutes in, that didn't take long.

 

[MMarch]

Tuch from Eichel on the power play ties it 1-1 with 6:00 left in the 1st.

Anyone watch Denmark versus Russia? Denmark was up 2-0 but last I heard it was 2-2 in OT right now. What a huge win that would be for Denmark.

 

[manthis]

lets go finland..

 

[MMarch]

Russia comes back to win in the shootout, boooo.

 

[timber09]

Other than a miscommunication and bad bounce the US looked pretty solid.

Certainly some things to work on and would like to see them shake the jitters a bit with sheer work and forechecking but not bad against the reigning champs. Nerves were certainly a part of that period, hopefully they can come out and play more comfortably moving forward.

 

[MMarch]

NHL.com live feed of the game took a massive dump and it's now showing video of Boston vs San Jose. Wonderful.....

 

[MMarch]

Whew. If that is Finland's backup goalie, I don't want to see how good their starter is. Hopefully these guys can figure out how to put the puck in the net quick.