[GT] WJC: Preliminary Round Day 6. NYE classic: CAN vs USA 1:30PM MT and 3 other games.

[sureLoss]

The final day of the preliminary round. All 5 Flames prospects in action. After today, the tournament will resume on January 2nd with quarterfinals.

The Quarterfinals have this format:

1st in Group A vs 4th in Group B
2nd in Group A vs 3rd in Group B
3rd in Group A vs 2nd in Group B
4th in Group A vs 1st in Group B

5th place teams in each group play a best of 3 over the rest of the tournament to determine who gets relegated next year.





Group A
Sweden vs Czechia - 11AM MT TSN3

Flames Prospects:
Sweden #7 Oliver Kylington

Sweden has already clinched 1st place in Group A so technically this game means very little to them. However they would probably like to take some momentum into the quarterfinals. For Czechia a win cements them into 2nd place in the group which means avoiding Canada and USA in the quarterfinals.





Group B
Canada vs USA - 1:30pm MT TSN1

Flames prospects:
Canada #9 Dillon Dube
USA #8 Adam Fox
USA #1 Tyler Parsons

Obviously must see TV. This classic international match up is usually very entertaining.

Both the Americans and Canadians have gone undefeated in the preliminary rounds and this game will decide who will win Group A. Note the early start time as to not to conflict with HNIC and other NYE plans viewers may have.





Group A
Finland vs Switzerland - 4pm TSN3

Flames prospects:
none

After completely embarrassing themselves this year and firing the coach last night, Finland looks to pick up the pieces of broken back to back medal dreams. Finland has already been doomed to play the relegation games, but hope to at least leave the preliminary round with a win.

It is still possible for Switzerland to finish 2nd in Group A (which means avoiding the Canadians or Americans in the quarterfinals), if they win this game and the Czechs lose today.





Group B
Slovakia vs Russia - 6pm MT TSN 1

Flames prospects:
Russia #19 Pavel Karnaukhov

Battle for 3rd place in Group B. Loser will finish 4th in Group B and face Sweden in the quarterfinals. Winner will finish 3rd in Group B and face one of Denmark, Czechia, or Switzerland.

Should be Russia's victory on paper. Slovakia has been slipping as a hockey power over the last decade and doesn't show any signs of returning in the near future.

[Gaudfather]

Should be a great game! Go Canada Go!

[sureLoss]

Well interesting choices by both teams.

Ingram will start for Canada. Woll for the Americans. Parsons and Hart will backup for their respective teams.

Looks like the both teams are giving these guys a chance to prove themselves before the quarters.


Fox also listed as the 7th d-man on the roster USA Hockey put out.

[Samonadreau]

Without Parsons in net I hope it's a 6-0 blowout for Canada.

[Yamer]

How often does a country fire it's head coach in the middle of a tournament?

Also, while Woll has been no pushover, Parsons has been really good. Wish he would have gotten the start in USA's most important game so far. And really surprised to see Fox as a number 7. I'm consistently impressed with his vision and composure on the ice.

Oh well. Go Canada Go.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

It's absolutely insane that Finland is in the relegation round this year. They won the entire thing last year and it was their 2nd win in 3 years. WTF happened?

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

It's absolutely insane that Finland is in the relegation round this year. They won the entire thing last year and it was their 2nd win in 3 years. WTF happened?

Their captain is property of the Canucks.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Yamer

How often does a country fire it's head coach in the middle of a tournament?

Also, while Woll has been no pushover, Parsons has been really good. Wish he would have gotten the start in USA's most important game so far. And really surprised to see Fox as a number 7. I'm consistently impressed with his vision and composure on the ice.

Oh well. Go Canada Go.

Watching the US dmen I am shocked they would have Fox as 7. His passing, positioning and composure with the puck is top notch. About 3 of the other D are what I would call scrambley. They mostly get the job done somehow but are way easier to play against.

[Jore]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Without Parsons in net I hope it's a 6-0 blowout for Canada.

this. dube with all 6 goals

[Enoch Root]

Kylington had an open net short handed but rang it off the post.

He also had the 3rd assist on both of the first two Sweden goals.

Tough way to go pointless.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Kylington had an open net short handed but rang it off the post.

He also had the 3rd assist on both of the first two Sweden goals.

Tough way to go pointless.

just picked up the easiest PP assist of his life.

[RougeUnderoos]

USA goes ahead 1-0 on the powerplay. In a typically classy move, the goalscorer screams in the goalies face, and the skaters do the flyby of the bench.

It's 1-0 you morons. Maybe hold off on the showboating. Or don't do it at all. Or go play football if you want to act like an #######.

[Gaudfather]

Canada taking some early penalties, and US potting two PP goals. Canada needs to get their skating legs going.

[RougeUnderoos]

Okay now it's 2-0, six minutes in. Canada without a shot on goal.

[Machiavelli]

Wow, horrible coverage on that last goal

[direwolf]

Canada looking pretty brutal so far.

[Ashasx]

why does canada always do this

[IGGYFORMVP]

Lets get going boys, this has been brutal!

[Machiavelli]

Flames prospect-on-prospect violence

[Locke]

The Canadian 'slow-start' is practically a NYE tradition at this point.

Nice cross-check Fox...I mean that. It was good.