The Americans have really stayed with the Canadians. Can they keep up the pace and the discipline they've shown thus far?...
17:45 US seems to be trapping, dumping and chasing to start. Canada just out skated the trap and the US goalie just bailed them out twice. Jack Campbell is the goalie. US on the PP...
They can't get setup and now they're chasing Taylor Hall. I mean all over the ice as he's just killing time skating laps it seems...
13:39 Campbell just made another nice save from in close. This kid is draft eligible for the first time in 2010. He's putting on a show so far...
13:13 Canada on PP as US captain Derek Stepan (Rangers) takes a penalty... Tyler Johnson (undrafted) makes a nice play to spring Jordan Schroeder for a SH breakaway and the US takes a 2-1 lead! The US PKers are really doing a good job of not giving any lanes to the Canadians...
12:00 Brian Lashoff (Red Wings) has been assigned to Taylor Hall and is teaming up with Johnson to provide excellent PKing for the US...
10:00 US just had puck possession in the Canada zone for over a minute. Canada's Tuebert laid a nice hit, but US winning races to loose pucks...
Jordan Eberle (Oilers) took a nice pass and went in against Campbell and tied it up for the Canadians. 2-2. Nice play, just beat Johnson on the play...
Chris Kreider just intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and broke in on Canada's goalie and was taken down by Teubert. Penalty shot... missed the net wide left...
7:15 US pressuring Canada again... seems like most of this period has been played in Canada's zone...
Last year, John Tavares was far and away the best player in this tourney. this year, you can tell how much talent Taylor Hall of Canada has. Cam Fowler of the US is very impressive as well, but doesn't stand out as much as a defenseman.
6:20 US on a breakaway... Jake Allen comes up BIG for Canada!
3:50 Della Rovere (Capitals) just drew a penalty in front of the US net. Can PP....
Different PKers on the ice for US. Same results so far. No lanes for Canada, and US clears for the 2nd time... 3rd time, Canada couldn't even set up... US kills the penalty. US captain Derek Stepan (Rangers) had the best opportunity on a shorthanded break but Allen turns him away again.
Ten 1st rd NHL picks (5 each forwards and defense) on Canada's roster. Wow!...
1:06 Della Rovere just drew another penalty. He already has a goal, I don't think we're done hearing from him...
Jerry D'Amigo gets the puck and springs a 2-1 SH rush for the US, actually looks up at the scoreboard on the rush, fires it to generate a rebound, which Tyler Johnson buries. 3-2 US, on the back of 2 SH goals!...
End of 2nd period...
So far, Della Rovere of Canada seems to be a man among boys. Has drawn 3 penalties, but the US PK unit is being very disciplined and making Canada impatient, and as a result they've generated at least 4 SH odd-man rushes, which have resulted in the 2 SH goals the US has scored to go ahead...
I haven't mentioned Jason Zucker's name very iften, but he's one of 3 draft eligible players for the US (Campbell the goalie and Cam Fowler are the others). I've noticed him dump the puck in a few times, but he's been silent otherwise.
I started talking about this before so let me finish before I post this... Taylor Hall's talent stands out, but you have to give the US credit. Particularly Brian Lashoff (Red Wings), who has drawn the assignment of defending Hall in this game. Hall hasn't really jumped out at me at all other than his speed and puck handling. The kid is very talented, but isn't taking control of this game like Tavares did last year. I have to admit I'm surprised the US is up at this point. Their doesn't seem to ba any difference in the level of play. The US has controlled 5-on-5 play. Canada seemed to have some jump at the start of the period, but the US trap seemed to stifle it a bit. And then the US started pressuring again about halfway through. Canada just can't seem to get rolling. The US has to come out strong, continue the strong positional play and continue winning the races for loose pucks.
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