Hidden Threat, Why Do Not Underestimate The US Team

Hidden Threat, Why Do Not Underestimate The US Team

"SE" talks about one of the main favorites of the World Cup.

Hidden Threat, Why Do Not Underestimate The US TeamMAGIC Quick 

Team USA more than others lucky with rivals in an exhibition match. Two brain twisting game against Canada and always uncomfortable and uncompromising Finns, who make fun of  the Stars and Stripes in the match for the bronze medal in Sochi. Even relatively briskly passed friendlies did not make the skeptics put the team Tortorella in second place in the list of the main favorites of the tournament. And for good reason.

The US team is almost everything that allows them to count on reaching the final. To play the Czechs and the European team, the Americans need to make great efforts, and, in fact, the main test for them will be the meeting with Canada. And for the first two exhibition games can not notice any  large-scale problems that Tortorella can not solve during the group stage. His team is more like a balanced club, where, because of the salary cap is not possible to fill part of the stars to the eyeballs. However, head coach of the US is guided by another principle. In his universe in the team, claiming to be the highest goal should be the people who will receive 14 minutes of playing time, hitovat opponent until blue in the face, playing in the minority and restrain the guys like Crosby. Not that Tortorella is not right. That is why, for example, Kessel, and he chose Johnson Bekesa and Abdelkader.

The main advantage of the Americans is evident immediately. Jonathan Quick managed to gain a better shape, which can be represented for the goalkeeper in September. He got to livers of Canadians in the first match, and then did not allow Finns to open a period of two and a half periods. Even in cases where the partners Jonathan team in bad faith relate to his work and do not work on the bounce or generate traffic, Quick creates real magic of the goalkeeper. If he feels the courage of the match with the "maple leaf", that will be able to get his team to first place in the group. To break through the goalkeeper "Los Angeles", only one powerful names of attack is not enough.

DO NO HARM

Slightly worse than the US national team is the case with the defense. Americans can not complain about the lack of cool defenders - Suter and McDonagh are among the best in the NHL. In the match with Finland they held on ice for 22-23 minutes in the World Cup play more, but even Suter will not be able in September to play for half an hour, as he does in  the playoffs. And Niskanen, and Johnson (both) certainly good defenders, but not more than - they regularly make mistakes when they are opposed to the top class striker. In the second period of the match with the Finns Jack Johnson's profile Patrick Laine, who has not had any match in the NHL, but has learned to move away from the defenders of the best league of the world, both from standing. In the episode with the same goal Jokinen Johnson prevented goalkeeper drop the puck for  a goal, forgetting about the main rule the player with Quick defender: "do no harm".

You do not immediately understand which group is better to mention Dustin Byfuglien - to defenders or attackers. In whatever position or out Big Buff, in a strange and middle zone it is more useful than his. Team Tortorella, who was breaking the abundance of stars in the attack, it is extremely helpful guy who can play on the blue line in the majority or disperse the attack from the ground, and even make an opponent so that it flashed before my eyes all the stars of the US flag. However, sometimes it ends with the removal of excessive activity, and in the final game it can be a challenge. And Baflin and Abdelkader, Bekes and in the most unwanted time can grab the extra two minutes, and with Canadians is like death.

PROBLEMS

The match with the Finns minority of Americans worked poorly, and games on the flight is no longer enough to be put on Quick's ears and expect that he will cope with everything myself. This applies to the endings of matches: in the game with Finland Laine & Co somehow  miraculously equalized, playing two minutes in the "six-four" format. Spetsbrigady - that's what Tortorella will pay maximum attention to the start of the World Cup. In the majority of Americans is not getting even more than in the minority, and this is surprising given the excellent selection of artists. The match with the Finns, for example, caught courage link Max Pacioretty - Kesler - Osh. Frontline trio is all looks and the most valuable player in the field of the US team. Kesler can play tough at the beads in their area, to win the right face-off, to give a brilliant pass and in between times to organize small dirty tricks in the style of Leo Komarov and Corey Perry.

By the start of the tournament must add Patrick Kane, who in the new trio with Stepan and Van Riemsdyk bored all times tried to create for himself. His past mix with Parise and Max Pacioretty looked much more interesting and shows at least a glimmer of understanding. Kane is able to drag the puck in the zone, to give a dizzying passing, in the second match with the Canadians, or to demonstrate the magic session, but it needs support in the selection of goals and, above all, in the fight against the boards. On how the Tortorella can use the best player of last season, and depends on the game and the majority of Americans, and the counter, without which against the "Maple Leaf" is not overcome.