Americans struggle to sustain offense, play conservative in 1-0 loss to Canada
Canada is advancing to the Gold Medal game for the second straight Olympics with a 1-0 win over the United States. Jamie Benn scored the only goal of the game and Carey Price made 31 saves for the shutout. The Canadians in an excellent defensive effort, have given up just three goals in the tournament and the Gold Medal game pegs the 2006 Gold Medal winner in Sweden up against the 2010 Gold Medal winner. WHAT WENT WRONG FOR THE UNITED STATES? The Americans came into this game as a team built on being fast to the puck and we saw none of that today. Canada was the superior team by a wide margin and the game really felt like
Sunday’s Olympic Buzz: Team USA wins Group A; Malkin pointless for 2nd straight game; Kunitz off Crosby’s line
SUNDAY’S OLYMPIC BUZZ Team USA rolled to a 5-1 win over Slovenia, clinching first place in Group A and earning eight out of a possible nine points in the preliminary round. The Americans have earned a bye. Phil Kessel led the way with a hat trick, producing the first hat trick by a U.S. player since John LeClair in the 2002 Olympics. Kessel leads the tournament with 7 points and is one of the hottest players in all of hockey right now. Including NHL and Olympic play, Kessel has 15 goals and 34 points in his last 18 games. Ryan McDonagh and David Backes also scored in the win for Team USA. Joe Pavelski added 3 assists. Ryan Miller got
Team USA – Team Russia: What We Learned
TEAM USA – TEAM RUSSIA: WHAT WE LEARNED The Americans thrilling 3-2 shootout win over Russia was a fantastic game that had just about everything. The game appears to have caught the attention of so many around the United States and it’s all anyone seems to be talking about which is great to see. T.J. Oshie (4-or-6 in shootout) had the heroics, scoring four times in the shootout, and beat Sergei Bobrovsky between legs in the eighth round for the epic win. Oshie who the casual hockey fan probably never heard of, has suddenly become a household name. He got a shout out from the White House to gaining almost 100,000 twitter followers today since scoring the game winning goal.
Paul Martin and Ryan Suter led Team USA in ice time vs Slovakia; Orpik played just 1:26 in 1st period
SOME NOTES ON PENGUINS & OTHERS FROM THURSDAY’S ACTION United States 7 – Slovakia 1 — Paul Martin and Ryan Suter each led Team USA in ice time with 19:46 TOI. Martin was an even rating in the win and in a blowout like this one, the ice time stats in the first period tell the story where the coaches view particular players right now. Bylsma, as expected, leaned heavily on Martin who had 6:25 of ice time in the first period, second to Suter. Martin, Suter and Kevin Shattenkirk (19:14) all played over 19 minutes. — Brooks Orpik was a +3 but saw the least amount of ice time among all defensemen with 10:51 TOI. Bylsma dressed seven defensemen
First Impression: United States style of play has them built for success in short tournament
The most impressive team through the first two days of the Men’s Hockey Tournament is clearly the United States after a 7-1 trouncing over Slovakia. Paul Stastny scored twice and Phil Kessel led the way with a goal and two assists. John Carlson, David Backes, Ryan Kesler and Dustin Brown also scored in the win. Patrick Kane, T.J. Oshie and James van Riemsdyk each added two assists apiece in the win. Jonathan Quick who got the start over Ryan Miller, made 22 saves. While this was a Slovakia team with some bad players in their lineup like former Penguin Tomas Surovy who was a minus-4 in 12:11 of ice time, this was still a team that isn’t a pushover. One
Team USA Buzz: Brooks Orpik will be under the microscope when play begins Thursday
TEAM USA BUZZ Would Dan Bylsma really have it in him to make Brooks Orpik the seventh or eighth defenseman in the Olympics after insisting on Orpik being on the team?
Tony Granato joining Dan Bylsma’s Team USA coaching staff
Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato will be joining Dan Bylsma’s Team USA coaching staff for the 2014 Olympics. Granato, Peter Laviolette and Todd Richard have been named assistant coaches.
End of the Year Penguins/Olympics/NHL Notes
The Pittsburgh Penguins end the year on the three game losing streak, coming off two tough loses to the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils. The Penguins were off today and will practice in Pittsburgh tomorrow morning before they depart for Florida. Sidney Crosby will end the decade as the highest scoring Penguin for this decade –330 GP – 155 goals – 290 assists – 445 pts – +42 *Team USA will name their 2010 Olympic roster tomorrow afternoon during the Winter Classic. Representatives began informing players who did not make the squad as early as Monday. Defenseman Brooks Orpik didn’t receive one of those calls. Orpik is a lock to make the team along with former teammate Ryan Malone.
Orpik in position to earn a roster spot for Team USA
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik is among 12 defensemen participating in Team USA’s Orientation Camp and he has himself in position to earn a roster spot with Team USA for the 2010 Olympics. Orpik is a Brian Burke type of player and two attributes that enhance his chances of making the team; ability to play alongside skilled defensemen and his exceptional skating ability. For the majority of reps in practice Orpik has been paired with
NHL: Orpik, Scuderi on Team USA’s radar for 2010 Olympics?
Rob Scuderi’s market value is not only rising above $2.5 million per season but is he under strong consideration for a roster spot on Team USA for the 2010 Olympics? After talking with league sources close to the situation, Inside Pittsburgh Sports has the latest.