Anybody else watching the World JRs. ???
 

Sweden just ousted Russia in OT. Backlund (Flames #1 last year)had the OT winner on a nice rush up the wing in which he outmuscled a defender to the net. Berglund looked awesome and was named player of the game for the Swedes. One Russian player that caught my eye was Tikanov who is the grandson of the legendary Russian coach.
USA vrs. Canada later on this afternoon ! I love the NHL Network :D

Yeh I'm watching ---
great stuff and a wonderful way for the average fan to get to know some of these young, promising players ...
The Canada/USA matchup should be awesome ...

ron

I am hoping to get of here ( the office) and catch the last half of the game........this is always a super cool event, a must for all true puckheads............:)!

[QUOTE=hockeyron;27487]Yeh I'm watching ---
great stuff and a wonderful way for the average fan to get to know some of these young, promising players ...
The Canada/USA matchup should be awesome ...

ron[/QUOTE]


Team Canada all the way!!!!:flex: The US will be really tough to beat though, I can see this game going to overtime.

[QUOTE=Ravens52;27498]Team Canada all the way!!!!:flex: The US will be really tough to beat though, I can see this game going to overtime.[/QUOTE]

MAKE IT 4 STRAIGHT GOLD MEDALS BABY!!!!!!!:flex::FANTASTIC GAME TO WATCH.

Is what Don Cherry said true about the Swedes not crashing the net, but curling around to pass the puck to the point? If that is the case, Canada earned the gold metal by crashing the net! :)! Pierre McGuire also said the Swedes were the team to beat. I hope USA can win a gold metal in two years after Canada wins six straight!

[QUOTE=EGRHOCKEYFAN;28180]Is what Don Cherry said true about the Swedes not crashing the net, but curling around to pass the puck to the point? If that is the case, Canada earned the gold metal by crashing the net! :)! Pierre McGuire also said the Swedes were the team to beat. I hope USA can win a gold metal in two years after Canada wins six straight![/QUOTE]

Don Cherry has keen powers of observation (note the sarcasm). The European version of the game is a finesse vs. crashing the net. When the Swedes had the best talent, they won (see Olympics 2006), the best prospects right now are in Canada. Tavares & Stamkos are better than any other prospects in the world. Sweden's best prospect (Backstrom) is making a Calder run now but would be qualified to be in the Juniors tournament. You can't tell me Niklas Backstrom wouldn't be able to turbo-charge Team Sweden.

Next year when Stamkos is gone, some European prospect will pop on the radar and then the balance of power will change. Don Cherry is a Canadian icon, and he is entitled to his opinion and to be respected for what he does and has done for hockey, but he has always been pro-Canada (justifiably) and prefers the rough and tumble to the finesse game... there is room in the NHL for both.