WJC Daily Review #5

[Mr_Hatter 1,608]

 
 

Welcome back to the WJC Daily Review, a series in which we will talk about best players, surprises, letdowns and more! Stick around and follow us as VSN is here to be the media outlet for you and your entertainment!
 

The round robin has come and gone, and into the medal round we go! We had a short day of WJC hockey, but a great one that saw underdogs Team USA progress to the next round. The United States just skated by Team World with a 3-2 victory in the play-in game that sees them paired up against current WJC favorites Team Asia . For this edition of the WJC Daily Review, we are going to use a slightly different format, and take a look at the details of the game, before making a few predictions of the next round.
 
 
 Play-in Game: Team USA vs Team World
 
In a perhaps shocking result, Team USA continued their run of good form and beat Team World, a team that many expected would at least medal. Team USA came into the game on a two-game shootout win, three-game win streak, that saw them win versus both Team World and Asia, while Team World’s prior game was that shootout loss against the Americans. Perhaps they were intimidated by the United States’ wonderful performances in their final 3 matches; regardless, they were unable to overcome, and are heading home after a somewhat disappointing WJC. 
 
The game itself was very closely matched. Team World’s Ben McGirr opened up the scoring early on in the 1st period, but the United States quickly evened up two minutes later with a goal from Koda Adok. The second period was scoreless, with Team USA managing to hold on despite World’s 11-3 shot advantage. In fact, this shot advantage was present throughout the majority of the game, with the final total being 35-22 in World’s favor. Heading into the 3rd period the game seemed Team World’s to lose, despite the even scoreline. Team USA held firm, however, and managed to take a two goal lead, with Koda Adok’s second of the night seeming to seal the deal with 5 minutes left to play. Team World managed to claw one back at 17:30 with a goal from Ben Storm off a rebound from a Danny DeYeeto snipe, but they were unable to complete the comeback, and fell to the United States. 

The United State’s top performers came in the form of Jacob Perry, who had a hand in assisting all 3 goals, as well as the afore-mentioned Koda Adok, who had 2 goals. Team World’s pair of Bens, Ben McGirr and Ben Storm, each scored and assisted the other, but it was not enough, as United States goalkeeper Virgil Ligriv played fantastically, with a .943 SV%, including a few saves in the final 30 seconds of hectic play to secure the win for Team USA. Block Buster had an uncharacteristically poor game, letting in 3 goals on only 22 shots for a SV% of .864, a poor send-off for the goalie that was otherwise one of, if not the best goalie in the round-robin of the tournament. 

 

Predictions for the Next Round
 

Team USA vs Team Asia
 
The United States now has the task of taking down a Team Asia that ran rampant in the round-robin tournament, losing only one game in a shootout; however, the United States was that team. Despite that, look to the high scoring Team Asia to take this game and head into the finals of the WJC. Regardless, it’s not over until the final whistle is blown, and with the way the United States has been playing, it would presumptuous to assume they won’t be able to replicate their success from the final match of the round-robin and upset Team Asia once again. 

 
Team Europe vs Team Canada
 
In another rematch of their final game from the round-robin, we will see Team Europe take on Team Canada in what should be a very evenly matched game. Both teams ended the round-robin with 4 wins and 4 losses, but it was Canada that took both games against Europe in during that segment of the competition. Despite Canada’s obvious ability and pedigree in this tournament, as well as their record against Team Europe, expect Europe to turn around their poor performances at the end of the round-robin, and for their forward depth to shine through as they advance to face the winner of the other semifinal matchup. 

 

That is it for today - good luck for now and see you again tomorrow!
 

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VSN Writer Mr_Hatter 

[zepheter 590]

Great work by World and best of luck USA. Sucks it ended this soon for us, but it is what it is. 

[Motzaburger 1,590]

USA CANADA final calling it