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WJHC Days Four and Five: It was closer than that, I swear.

First, an aside.  Remember how the other day, I was talking about how the IIHF needs to grow the game in places like Latvia and Austria in order to avoid future embarrassments like the ones we've seen this week?  I was cleaning the kitchen today and one of those Brian Williams Olympic programs came on TSN HD (alas, no HDTV; uncle's sick), and featured the Chinese women's national curling team, which went from off-the-map to world champions in just a couple of years, thanks in part to coaching from a Canadian.  Now, that's not entirely what I'm talking about -- that would be more like Dave King taking over behind the bench of Team Belarus and thinking they'll be a contender -- but I continue to believe in the idea of bringing in foreign expertise to get the ball rolling.

Now, on with the show.  Specifically, the Taylor Hall show.

Canada 8, Slovakia 2: As the title suggests, this really was a closer game than the score suggests.  At least through two, I thought the play was relatively even, and that Slovakia had quite their share of quality scoring chances.  Heck, there was one two-minute sequence that was the best I've seen so far in this tournament, as both teams traded chances and spectacular hits, including a pair by Peter Hrasko that sent Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall, in turn, to the ice.  Flat out, the Slovak goalies didn't do their jobs, while Kings prospect Martin Jones of Canada did.  A couple of blemishes for Canada in this one, though: injuries continue to mount, as Jordan Caron, Adam Henrique, and Brandon Kozun joined Calvin de Haan among the walking wounded for the red and white, while a lack of discipline, especially from Patrice Cormier (whose needless cross-checking penalty ended the shutout streak and earned him fifteen minutes on the bench) and Luke Adam, gave coach Willie Desjardins fits all evening.

Turning now to Oilers prospects and potential prospects, Jordan Eberle had an okay game: besides getting corked by Hrasko, he had one assist and didn't seem as involved as he was in previous games.  His penalty-killing team also had trouble clearing on a few occasions, creating more chances against keeper Jones than were strictly warranted.  Hall, meanwhile, was full marks for his player of the game honours: three goals, all of them on quality shots, and an assist on Ryan Ellis's first of the tournament.  He was the one creating chances throughout the game, driving the net, setting guys up in front, and taking hits to make plays.  Fantastic game by the youngster.

Star-divide

Sweden 4, Russia 1: What a game by Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson.  His give-and-go with Andre Petersson was wonderful, and the shortie that ultimately stood as the GWG was a perfectly placed shot on Russian goalie Igor Bobkov (the fellow who recently robbed Finland).  His third and final point came from a long-range pass by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, which he tipped to Petersson, who put it in from much further out than was entirely reasonable.  Anton Lander, on the other hand, had no points, took one penalty (interference), and was -1, missing all of Paajarvi's heroics and being on the ice when Nikita Filatov sent up a lob pass that sprung Kirill Petrov for a beauty of a breakaway goal.  Tough day.  Because TSN can't be arsed, the KHL provides some really nice highlights courtesy of Sovietsky Sport.

Finland 10, Austria 1: Remember what I said about Austria putting up a fight earlier?  Apprently not so much at this point, getting outscored 17-2 by the Czechs and Finns en route to a date with relegation.  Picking apart the carnage, looks like Teemu Hartikainen finished with a goal, an assist, a penalty, and an even rating on three shots, while Toni Rajala had a goal and two assists and a +1 on four shots.  Is there any sense in looking for highlights on this one?  I didn't think so.

Coming up tomorrow: the Swedes and Finns finish out the round robin against each other, while Canada faces its toughest -- and some would say only -- test of the tournament to date in the United States.  Final aside: I'm checking the IIHF site for a scoring summary here and seeing that Latvia is leading Switzerland 4-3 after two.  The hell?  (Update: Since I've been editing this post, it's now 5-4 Suisse.  Still baffled.)

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Pääjärvi is the goods. He’s looking like the best player in the tourney so far.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 30, 2009 9:44 PM PST reply actions  

I watched that give-and-go again and just shook my head.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 31, 2009 9:07 AM PST up reply actions  

He’s almost Jani Rita-esque in his dominance.

by Benjamin Massey on Dec 31, 2009 10:27 AM PST up reply actions  

Because TSN can’t be arsed, the KHL provides some really nice highlights courtesy of Sovietsky Sport.

If they can’t be arsed, does that mean they’re half-arsed?

Love the Sovietsky Sport highlights, nice quality, and a chance to work on my Russian.

I saw the Cormier penalty, and immediately dubbed him thecaptainpatricecormier. Nice to know that this captain is held to account for his misdemeanours. What a concept.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 31, 2009 12:25 AM PST reply actions  

I tried TSN and they gave me Paajarvi’s shortie (which it turns out was only a technical shortie: the Swede came out of the box from a 4-on-4 about a second and a half before the goal) and called it a day. Too bad I can’t get highlights like this — with a good 20 or so seconds before and after the key play — elsewhere.

My Russian has largely failed me: after three years of taking it, it’s completely stagnated, so I only picked up a word or phrase here or there. One of these years, I’m going to have to get back into it. That and my German. I really liked taking German.

I knew as soon as Cormier took that penalty, it was going in. I don’t know what the stat rate of the penalty kill is after a stupid fucking penalty like that, but that had nothing to do with the play, and I really do think there’s a psychological effect, guys feeling deflated that they’re down a man for no adequate reason. For the record, that’s the third such stupid play Cormier’s made since the pre-tournament began, but it’s the first time he was burned for it (the elbow against Sweden went unpunished, while another one against Finland saw him and Hartikainen get offsetting roughing minors). Hopefully the lesson’s been learned now that he’s had his timeout — especially since his replacement, Braydon Schenn, was the recipient of a great passing play from that line the shift after the penalty.

Canada-USA tonight. This is going to be awesome.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Dec 31, 2009 9:12 AM PST up reply actions  

I’m a Filatov fan for life. That lob pass was beautiful.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Dec 31, 2009 9:32 AM PST reply actions  

Love, love, love the lob pass. Paul Coffey was a master at it. Tom Gilbert pulled off a half-arsed one last night which Schenn tried to bat down but it went right to O’Sullivan for the breakaway.

What I like best about the scoop pass is it’s relatively undangerous unless the guy completely whiffs the attempt. It can be a defensive play to clear the zone that becomes an offensive opportunity, especially if there are speedsters up front. It’s a way to get the puck behind the defence without icing it. A good option to beat the freakin’ trap as well.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

by Bruce McCurdy on Dec 31, 2009 3:18 PM PST up reply actions  

You and I have discussed this previously and both agree. Coffey and Larry Murphy were so great at it.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jan 2, 2010 9:42 AM PST up reply actions  

I seem to remember one of Montreal’s Big Three (Lapointe?) was also good at that, no? To the point where he actually scored one or two a year just by lobbing it into the offensive zone and letting the goalie flub the bounce? Or am I thinking of J.C. Tremblay?

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Jan 2, 2010 4:22 PM PST up reply actions  

J.C. Tremblay was a master of the bounce shot. He used to drive Terry Sawchuk in particular, just batty with it.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on Jan 3, 2010 7:32 PM PST up reply actions  

That’s the guy. I knew it was one or the other.

Having given up a bounce shot goal on what would’ve otherwise been a clean sheet, I feel Sawchuk’s pain. Well, kind of.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.

by Doogie2K on Jan 4, 2010 2:19 PM PST up reply actions  

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