It is time for the hockey! And tonight, we get to see Team Canada—the favourite entering the World Cup of Hockey—against the Czech Republic. Sidney Crosby leads his team into a three-week battle that should result in another victory for the land of ice and snow—and they can do it before the snow flies.
GAME TIME
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Team Czech Republic vs. Team Canada, 6 p.m. Edmonton time, SportsNet, ESPNEWS, TVA Sports
Here’s the actual World Cup of Hockey trophy. #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/OBeUbTnM9W
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) September 16, 2016
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!
- Cool new things will pop up on your screen!
- Player jerseys and pucks will be fitted with tracking devices that will tell us how far a skater travels over the course of an entire game, what the precise gap between a defender and attacker is and the exact speed of a twine-bending shot.
- Source
This is a big damned deal. We are on the edge of a new tomorrow with these tracking devices (thank God they didn’t have these puppies when we were young, amirite?) and should get fantastic information throughout this series. Puck possession, gaps allowed by specific blue, Ovie’s shot. Goodness!
- Stats! There is a stats site for the tournament!
- Canada had some impressive performances during the exhibition games, with Drew Doughty (1-3-4) leading defensemen and John Tavares scoring three goals. Tomas Plekanec also had three markers for the Czechs with Michal Kempny (1-2-3) chipping in from the blueline.
- Source
Every team here boasts some outstanding offensive talent, but if I had to guess a scoring champion it would probably be Sidney Crosby—with Patrick Kane, Connor McDavid and Johnny Gaudreau also in the mix. This is going to be a sprint to the finish from the opening whistle.
- World Cup Rankings!
- Scott Cullen posted rankings before the tournament and this is an interesting read. Very thorough and some surprising conclusions, but Cullen knows his stuff.
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Canada is ranked No. 1 but there are some issues. The defense hasn’t come together quickly and Carey Price—while brilliant—has been a little inconsistent in the net. The Czech Republic is ranked No. 7 and most observers appear to believe they are an ‘also in photo’ in this tournament.
Next World Cup of Hockey likely in Edmonton in 2020. Bob Nicholson will be very interested in crowd counts for no-Canada games in Toronto.
— Terry Jones (@sunterryjones) September 16, 2016
THE ROSTERS AND LINEUPS
Mike Babcock & Canada’s coaching staff taking in their opponents morning skate. CAN vs Czech Republic 8pm tonight! pic.twitter.com/C13bUPre5f
— Leah Hextall (@leahhextall) September 17, 2016
QUICK HITS
- Team Canada misses Duncan Keith, and that could have major impact on this tournament. I thought Jake Muzzin could play a substantial role—and still believe it—but chemistry is a funny thing and it takes time. In the meantime, we may see some righty-righty pairing minutes by Team Canada.
- Ryan O’Reilly is the latest addition to the roster, some upset from various fanbases but he is a terrific player with a wide range of skills. I expect he will have a story to tell before we are finished this tournament.
- Sidney Crosby is going to play a lot, and Patrice Bergeron will too. Jonathan Toews will get his minutes, as will Getzlaf. Team Canada could rest all three men and still ice a stunning group of centremen.
- Carey Price is the best goalie in this competition, if healthy and without rust. If Canada wins, there is a very good chance he is the tournament MVP.
- Michal Kempny is a good player. Signed by Chicago (of course), there appears to be a player here.
- Jakub Voracek looks like he is very invested in this tournament, wonder if he has a recovery season for Philadelphia.
- Czech are a good team, but who is their best player? Seems to me we could have five different answers to that question. I will say their young group looks substantial.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
- Team Czech forward Michael Frolik: ‘I think we’ve got four pretty good lines. We don’t have just one big line.’
- Source
- Sidney Crosby: “I feel like every time you put on a Team Canada jersey, you’re representing your country, there’s a lot of pride that comes with that.”
- Source
- Line Watch: Team Canada continued to tinker with its lines Friday at practice; Steven Stamkos and Corey Perry swapped right-wing spots in a move that coach Mike Babcock said might not stick. Stamkos skated with John Tavares and Ryan Getzlaf while Perry was with Logan Couture and Jonathan Toews. The coaching staff has been trying to find a good fit for Stamkos, who has bounced around a few lines.
- Source
- (Claude Giroux is not scheduled to play).
GAME DAY PREDICTION
GAME DAY PREDICTION: Canada wins this one going away, final 4-2.
OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Sidney Crosby is dangerous from mid-anthem through the final whistle and that Crosby-Bergeron line gains some fame.
NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Canadian defense makes enough questionable plays for national concern, with calls for Jake Muzzin to have an increased role heard from the cheap seats.
Quick poll. Which team’s rebuild is further ahead. Thumbs down for Flames. Thumbs up for Oilers
For a guy who doesn’t care, you’re sure doing a lot of commenting.
There is only one World Cup. And that is Soccer. Now that grips the Globe.
World Cup of Hockey? Yawn..
World Cup of Baseball? Yawn..
Ridiculous. First of all your comparing apples to oranges. Second of all Soccer players are the weakest most pathetic athletes. A strong breeze has them laying on the ground hurt. The diving is comical. They don’t even have to be touched and they are crying and holding limbs. Also who loves watching a three hour game to conclude in a 0-0 tie….riveting!!
To each their own. Its only the biggest sporting event in the World but yeah I suppose you’re right. Who’d be interested..no one else watches that.
Oh and a soccer game is done in an hour and 45 minutes. Thanks for coming out
The only reason everyone watches it is because it’s the only sport where all the poorest people in the world can play it.
You’re saying: hockey is for the white and privileged?
You’re an jerk!! What I am saying is that ” what does it take to play soccer!! Answer.. A ball and that’s it!! Soccer is very inexpensive that is why it’s the number 1 played sport in Canada and all over the world!
If you know anything about hockey you know that it’s very expensive.
My daughter plays and registration alone is over $1000 dollars that’s not to mention travel, hockey schools, equipment, and ice time.
….. “what does it take to play soccer?Answer.. A ball and that’s it!”
You forgot the ability to hit the ground like you have been hit by a sniper whenever an opponent gets within 2 feet of you.
It’s like a field full of Alex Burrows.
Don’t hate. Appreciate.
Hockey is not a tough man sport, and you’re not a tough man cause you play hockey.
I appreciate soccer.
Whenever I am having trouble sleeping, I put a little “football” on the tele and BAM …. Out like a light. ;^).
Lol
No he is not he said soccer is affordable to everyone.
See I can do that too!
He said poorest, what makes you think there’s no poor white people?
Who said there is no poor white people?
They’re definitely not as tough as hockey players, that have teammates who can’t skate or play the game properly to protect them? Right? I mean Eberle and Hall would eat Ibrahimovic’s lunch any day of the week? Am I right or am I right? Eh bro?
Can you give me an example of a 3 hour soccer game that ended in a 0-0 tie, please.
That’s why soccer is the most popular sport in the world. That alone should shut u up. And it’s only an hour and half game.
Yeah, it only FEELS like a 3 hour game.
Hockey is a 60 minute game that ACTUALLY takes 3hrs to finish. The two useless linesman that keep blowing whistles inaccurately and get in the way for no reason.
You came to a hockey blog site to confess your love for soccer? Unbelievable ignorance.
GO AWAY
Soccer yeah ok. You wear slippers too right?
Well don’t watch it you sissy. Get up at 6 am and watch some footy. The prelims in this tournament have been very good . By the way . You from Liverpool?
Who Cares. Lame tournament which will see more and more players opting out as the years go on, to the point it will be looked at as a drawn out All Star Game. You already have guys opting out..
Won’t be watching
In McDavid We Trust!
*yes I know he’s not playing for either of these teams
At least mcdavid exists
Welcome to Babdicks snorefest. Pulling for Team NA, they wont win but at least it will be exciting hockey to watch.
You sound like my wife. Go have a good cry by yourself wont you. 3-0 in the first plenty of scoring.
Good call Al. This is boring, Babcock hockey up 5-0. I guess it’s boring to win.
For the first time in my life I am not cheering for Team Canada and Babcock.
Go Conner and RNH.
McDavid & the Nugget are playing in this tournament? Hmm…haven’t seen em.
Remember when Gretzky called Ales Hemsky the most exciting player in the league back in ’06? Man. That seems like eons ago. Bothers me he or the team didn’t get more out of his Oilers career.
Crosby goal should have been waved off. Obvious interference from Stamkos’ stick, but guess the powers that be didn’t see it that way.
Good start, lots of chances both ways…
In Canada, Canadian team with Canadian refs.
That was the right call. Neuvirth definitely lost the puck when it went behind the net
Personally I am more invested in the young stars tournie than the world cup; it’s just a way to make owners(billionaires) and players(millionaires) more money. When I hear the slogan “Once and for all who owns this game” I just shake my head.
Go TNA
6pm Edmonton time? So 10 years from now?
Best comment of the month!!!
Boy that’s one strong line up of bark biting beavers!
Man draisatl goal was a beauty! Love seeing USA getting their butts kicked!
Sekara looks like Norris trophy candidate in todays game .
He was real good. I’d sure like to see him and Larsson paired up when the regular season starts. Both are solid defensively and can make good 1st passes. Man I wish North America played tonight!
Pffttt…Sekara only looks good cause his forwards are back-checking…oh wait, forwards are supposed to back-check….never mind
I’ll admit it. I’ve been on this board slagging this tourney as an all star cash grab, but the highlights I’ve caught show the boys are taking it seriously. Should be a beauty tonight. I’ll be watching!
Maybe on my big screen if I can figure out this YouTube channel on my Aquos. Any help?
YouTube? Ok, I’ll bite.
Big Screen Aquos and you don’t have Sportsnet? Satellite? Cable?
Who fired Krueger????
Should’ve kept him. Where’s Eakins these days?
no summary of the young stars game?
Good on Team Europe. They were unfairly written off by the groupthink hockey analyst community after their first two exhibition games. The first game they were rusty due to fatigue from most of their players participating in Olympic qualifiers and a lack of practice time – they barely had one practice under their belt before their first exhibition game. The second game loss was mostly a result of terrible goaltending by Greiss. Anyone who watched the whole game and not just the highlights saw Team Europe take control of the game by the second half. It really shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that they are better than expected – they are essentially Team Slovakia (which ices a fairly competitive national team) rounded out by a group of all stars without a competitive country (Kopitar, Josi).
I also like this team because of Ralph Krueger. He was the last Oilers coach that had the team playing well enough to the point where it seemed plausible that they could make the playoffs. I still shake my head at MacTavish’s boneheaded move of replacing him with Eakins.
Does anyone go to soccer sites and say hockey is better?
Bill Peters is a huge beauty. Babs has a good hand on board
I would laugh my butt off if Hemmer posterized Drew Doughty…. Twitter would light up!,
Is that what Kane meant when he said its time for USA hockey??
Bahahahaha Suck it Kesler
Can’t wait for stories of hockey nerds bashing each other over interpretations of the precise gap between offender and defender blah blah blah.
“Trying to add Ryan O’Reilly to your team does have some risks” – Jay Feaster.
(Not a real quote)
Drisaitl injured or benched agqain? Dont think he saw any icetime in the third? Was sitting at the end of the bench.
JUst checked he on;y played 7;15 in the game.
I would imagine Krueger was just riding his vets to close out the game.
GAME DAY PREDICTION: Team Canada stuns fans after dropping their first game. They now must beat USA next to remain in the tourney..