Aussie_Wing

I remember the Pitkanen hype when he first came into the league and the season or so after. Now he seems like a very ordinary defenceman and that was a very dirty hit.

Outclassed, outworked, this is a lesson the Swedes are dealing the Finns here.

Finland had like 4 minutes worth of PP's, Flip didn't see the ice once, yet Finns continued to stuff around with the puck, barely getting a SOG.

Are the Finns even interested today?

Nice pass by Flip but Ruutu, again, stuffs it all up.

I woke up at about 10:45 and the game started at 11:10. That game was amazing, I was so into it, now my head hurts so yes. Agreed, he's being underused. He's getting like 13 minutes per game, 11 ES and 2 SH. The 1st line looks so average, they can't get anything going. Flip should centre the third, even though it's perhaps less ice-time he should be centering a line. Looks best when skating with speed up the middle.

Get Ruutu off the top line, sooner the better. Waste of space out there.

Can't wait for it, only minutes away! Live into Australia as per usual for this tournament. If only our coverage was always this good. Desperately hoping for a Finland win, a Filppula point and for Flip to check Hank.

Best game I've ever seen. Certainly one of the best I've seen Rafalski play. Play like that every game and $6 mil would be a steal. Keep it up when you get back to Detroit. Miller was sensational, Erik Johnson was a beast as per usual and Kesler's empty netter was pure hustle.

BRIAN RAFALSKI. Why don't you play like this for Detroit??? He's playing like a man possessed. Come on America!!! BTW, America start to look good as soon as Bobby Ryan gets more ice-time. GIVE RYAN MORE TIME. And Kessel. Oh and Erik Johnson for 10 Norris'.

USA, USA!! Come on lads!!! Erik Johnson is a superstar. Random add.

Goal and 4 assists from his last outing. The game prior he had 2 assists in a 2-5 loss. He's a freak.

Finland once again super impressive. Just an incredibly solid hockey team, deserve favourtism vs Sweden. How awesome was that pass by Flip to Koivu?

BTW, Datsyuk looks really timid on a line with Ovechkin and Semin, I'd definitely swap him with Malkin. I love AO, but he's been a massive hog in the first two games and Datsyuk is barely touching the puck in the offensive zone. Semin meanwhile has been invisible and doesn't deserve to be on the top line. Datsyuk is struggling to have much of an impact and for the most part it's not his fault.

WOW, WHAT A GAME!! Slovakia!!

Blatak. My first look at him after reading so much about him over the years. Kind of what I expected, but better offensively than I imagined.

Yeah I realise that but he was shifting a bit between lines in the 2nd mainly because of PP's.

Just finished watching the game and boy was Filppula awesome!! Started perhaps a bit slow as a wing on the first line but when he was shifted to centre his own line he started to dominate. Had a few quality scoring chances, scored a goal, drew a PP and had a beauty of a hit. He was flying in the second and third periods, had the puck on a string. He's seriously starting to look lilke Datsyuk in terms of stealing the puck, he's always taking it away from opponents. Very strong opening game for him, looked super confident rushing up ice towards the end of the game. Suprised no one has mentioned Kolosov. IMO he was impressive, did what he had to do. Pretty confident in saying that he wasn't on the ice for one of Finland's goals, so he took care of business. Didn't see much of him in the 1st but got more ice-time as the game progressed. Played a few shifts on the PK in the second and third periods and he used his size and reach well. Had one pretty solid hit and had a few surprisingly nice passes to clear the zone. I like his potential.

Ridiculously good team Sweden have, stacked on all four lines. Can't help but feel Backstrom on the 3rd and Franzen on the 4th are being a tad wasted though. I guess things might change.

He was really, really banged up to start the season, played the first 6 games on basically one knee, only had 3 points during this stretch. He came back, went a few games without a point then missed another game or two due to the same injury. Now that he's starting to feel healthy again his point totals have increased a lot. 6 goals and 17 points in January alone. Also shouldn't forget that his team doesn't score many goals.

Watched the game, loved it, and I found myself really going for the US as I like pretty much all of their players. Erik Johnson, my favourite, what a superstar. I even started to like JJ! Kessel didn't do much which was disappointing. All aboard! :patriot:

For sure, IMO he's pretty close to the complete package. Speed, tenacity, leadership qualities, and very much a sniper. After a slow start to the season he's really started to heat up over the past month or so and he's on track to put up decent numbers. I really love his potential and think he has the highest upside of any Red Wings prospect, including Tatar. Tatar is more of a playmaker, Ferraro a finisher. Glad we got 'em both!

Rafailski, the most likely to do just that of them all! OP, add Blatak!

Good thread, I'm kinda still deciding but I've gotta go for Finland because afterall my favourite player is Filppula. Also somewhat supporting the Russians, so much talent plus Datsyuk of course.

Also Miroslav Blatak, kind of a Red Wings prospect except for the fact he's unlikely to ever come over, is in the Czech squad. Always wanted him to jump the pond, never to be, disappointing. Interested in seeing him play.