WJC Canada Pregame: Swiss Bliss

After a tough opening game loss to Cat Silverman and the Americans, Canada bounced back yesterday with an emphatic 6-1 win. Today, the team takes on an 0-2 Swiss team in what shouldn’t be a hard game, but this team’s been far from able to be complacent and should look to dominate over the course of 60 minutes.

(Via ESPN’s Corey Pronman)

In each of the past two games, the projected 13th forward (Barzal and then Crouse) has scored a goal, so we’ll see what happens. I quite like having Strome and Marner on separate lines at even strength and together on the power play. Much like yesterday’s game, today’s game should have enough freedom that any line combination will play well enough to win, which is useful in experimenting for a coach which lines work best. Travis Dermott’s looked solid so far, picking up a pair of assists over the two games.

TImo Meier headlines this lineup as the 9th overall pick in last year’s draft. He’s got 36 points in 23 games with the Halifax Mooseheads this year.

After serving a two game suspension, Mackenzie Blackwood gets the nod for Canada. Mason McDonald hasn’t been problematic over the two games he’s played, and each goalie will get a look at one powerhouse team and one lesser opponent.

Joren van Pottelberghe slots in for the Swiss.

(Updated at 12:02 to reflect lines)