Pepist

That makes me sad.

WTF is this cockiness? Canadians: THE USA BEAT YOU. Jeez. You're supposed to be modest when you win. Cockiness reeks of insecurity. Anyway, Finland-Czech Rep.

Yeah and Z hasn't scored, but he's been real good too. No goals against, even on a couple of 5 on 3's.

I hope this is a joke. Boyle's the weakling. Cheap shot coward. Can't take a hit.

Wow. Get Boyle out of there. Why is there a Russian in the box?

Was the Russian tactic to start playing with 5 mins to go?

Eh? 2006, etc.

They need a Sweden against Finland comeback now..

It's been building for a while. I always thought OV was kind of smug and reckless, only good. But he's been outplayed in big games. I've also seen more good from Crosby then before, and significantly here on the biggest stage, with all that pressure, in Canada etc. The KHL players have been very good btw. They should have had more than 20 secs on that PP. Fuuuck. 5-1

nah. Ovie needs his Backstrom that can carry the play if he decides not to show up. Ovie is such a diva. I hate to say it, but after this tournament, for me, Crosby >> OV.

This is more like it. Typical Russian breakdown. They need a goal and some confidence soon. If they do, this'll be tight. Otherwise, Canada will continue to walk right over them. Larionov on Swedish television. He thinks they should change Nabokov. He also thinks they need more than one line.

Ah. Haha, yeah. I wonder if that's at all significant.. A moot point, since Russia will beat Canada tonight

Not sure what you're referring to because Canada and the US both gave up goals to Switzerland, and each other, in the round robin. But frankly, Canada hasn't exactly looked that good so far. Tonight's the night! Canada-Russia is gonna be EPIC!

Hmm. I know Switzerland's a decent team, and that Hiller is very good indeed, but still.. Not a terribly convincing game by the USA imo. But perhaps I'm not giving enough credit to the Swiss.

No, it's Sweden's to lose.

Yeah, Team USA put themselves in a damn good position with that first seed. I really think Finland might be the greatest threat there, should they beat teh Czech Rep.. But the USA's looked impressive to me. Fast and skilled.

I agree, at least offensively. And right now I'd argue that Alfredsson's better too, and probably the Sedins. But Z does an amazing job on the backcheck and PK, no doubt about that. Just get scoring!!

Rafalski is doing ok

Crosby scores on his first shift. Haha, I love it

I don't think they took them lightly exactly. It was more that they had only had one real practice (or two?) and they had decided to roll the lines as much as possible to get everyone used to each other. Hornqvist needs to learn how to play with two world class players or get out of there (he wasn't ready for a few foppa passes and he tried to do too much himself). I think everyone wanted Franzen there and I think he'll end up there too. The 'expert' commentator said as much when he said that Franzen won't stay long on the fourth. 'Eriksson was good, but Hornqvist and Weinhandl better watch out.'

It's late/early here so not in a few hours. The commentators on TV were quite optimistic though, noting that Franzen won't stay long on the fourth line and that this was basically treated as practice (even though they knew it was going to be tough etc). Note that they simply rolled the lines even on the PP. They liked Z-Forsberg and Eriksson-Backstrom-Alfredsson (best line) especially. And of course Lundqvist, who looked very calm and collected.

I take your point but i think you overestimate the fact that Ohlund/Enstrom is seemingly the first pairing. My guess is that these lines will get roughly the same time on the ice, even strength, but Lids will get a lot more pp/pk for instance.

Yeah, but the Sedins have played with Ohlund before and they needed a mobile defender with him. And the Sedin's are probably the 1a line considering their play most of this season. Then to put the Nic/k's with Z figures. Foppa can play with anyone (and should be great with Z actually). But yeah, Franzen may well take Hornqvist's place. Still, I like these preliminary lines. Good balance and good scoring threat on every line imo.

Heard anything about Flips linemates or what line he'll be on?

Gustafsson said today that they're working with four pp formations. Could mean literally anything. Forsberg, Backstrom, Sedin and Z could of course all run the pp and I'm guessing the formations revolve around those four, and Lidstrom being included in every single one.