World Juniors 2021

[herman]

Finland is taking bronze, which is the correct result for the talent disparity. Both teams are very similar one-line outfits, but Finland has actual puckmovers on defense and a propensity for attacking the net.

 

[Bender]

Finland is taking bronze, which is the correct result for the talent disparity. Both teams are very similar one-line outfits, but Finland has actual puckmovers on defense and a propensity for attacking the net.

So... Everything that Russia doesn't have [emoji23]. Russia was a highly underwhelming group this year.

 

[Bender]

Well... This game sucks.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Well... This game sucks.

Score maybe but it's entertaining. US is flying. Still time left.

 

[Bender]

Brutal game. Shades of the Leafs. Canada really had no answer. Always stuck to the outside.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I think Gord Miller said Topi named D man of tourney.

 

[Kin]

Ah well. They did their best and did the Country proud.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

I think Gord Miller said Topi named D man of tourney.

https://twitter.com/KPapetti/status/1346682011159769091

 

[bustaheims]

I think Gord Miller said Topi named D man of tourney.

https://twitter.com/KPapetti/status/1346682011159769091

https://twitter.com/KPapetti/status/1346688171489243136

Other than Gormley, and the guys who haven't really started their NHL careers yet, this is one hell of a list.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Topi is a very good prospect and had a great tourney. Let's hope he keeps progressing.

 

[Redleaf]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

 

[Highlander]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

Agreed, I think the US team wanted it more.  Good lesson to be learned for next year.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

I think their road into the finals was too easy. They didn't face anyone that gave up any real opposition. The Americans did.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

I think their road into the finals was too easy. They didn't face anyone that gave up any real opposition. The Americans did.

The Russians might have if Askarov wasn't horrible.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Ah, it was a one and done, they proved that Canadian hockey still at the top, no shame in silver.

I think I watched every single game, or at least a significant part of each. There was some terrific hockey. Sure, a few blowouts here and there, but some great matchups throughout.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

I think their road into the finals was too easy. They didn't face anyone that gave up any real opposition. The Americans did.

The Russians might have if Askarov wasn't horrible.

Even with Askarov starting off horrible, the Russians put up 8 shots in the first half of the game. That's not on a goalie.

 

[Guilt Trip]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

I think their road into the finals was too easy. They didn't face anyone that gave up any real opposition. The Americans did.

The Russians might have if Askarov wasn't horrible.

Even with Askarov starting off horrible, the Russians put up 8 shots in the first half of the game. That's not on a goalie.

When you start off behind less then a minute into a game because of a lousy goal it changes stuff. The fact is he should have had 3 of the 4 goals he allowed. They were totally on Askarov and his stick dropping follies. He makes the saves he's supposed to, Canada is up by 1 and we probably have a more competitive game. If that was Freddie and the Leafs fans would be calling for his head.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Disappointing ending to what was looking like one of the very best teams Canada has iced for this tournament. I think they went into the gold medal game with too much confidence and just let their collective guard down .

I think their road into the finals was too easy. They didn't face anyone that gave up any real opposition. The Americans did.

The Russians might have if Askarov wasn't horrible.

Even with Askarov starting off horrible, the Russians put up 8 shots in the first half of the game. That's not on a goalie.

When you start off behind less then a minute into a game because of a lousy goal it changes stuff. The fact is he should have had 3 of the 4 goals he allowed. They were totally on Askarov and his stick dropping follies. He makes the saves he's supposed to, Canada is up by 1 and we probably have a more competitive game. If that was Freddie and the Leafs fans would be calling for his head.

I'm not stating that Askarov doesn't have a roll to play but I have a hard time blaming that first goal on Askarov. It was a strange bounce, that landed directly on the canadian player's stick and he managed to roof it in perhaps the only hole to be found.

As for the stick follies....That second goal, where he dropped the stick twice, the second drop isn't on him. His defender that handed the stick back to him, handed it to him the wrong way. As in, he couldn't grab the stick properly. I played net for 30 years, and any time a player handed my stick to me, or even their stick to me, the wrong way, I would also let it fall to the ice. He would have looked more ridiculous trying to adjust that stick so it was in a proper position. The goal would have still been scored and he would have been way out of position.

I'm not excusing his play. It was not good at all. But, Canada smothered that team. They did nothing to help a goalie that was obviously struggling. That's on them. Not him.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/xpmalina/status/1347448538855337985

Watching the games I am confident to say that this was not for a lack of effort in the OZ. Russian players worked hard around the boards, were winning battles and had possessions outside of the slot. They fail to find both creative and dirty ways to get to the slot though. One of significant ways how to be dangerous in the OZ is activating your defenders. Defenders who can skate, switch positions with forwards, dance the blueline have an ability to create spatial chaos and one can say you need this in a modern style of hockey. Russians simply did not have this. Defenders were stationary prioritizing not giving up odd man situations and creativity level of Russian team in possession was low. Defenders were shooting a lot but hit so many shin pads and bodies in front of them in the process (and were scored against on these occassions too).

Symptomatic of the way the MHL/VHL/KHL is set up to favour safe hockey over developing their skill.
https://twitter.com/Scouching/status/1346624823280201738
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