AllIn:

Exactly -- but that's why I'm riding guys like JVR and Kane so hard.

Dustin Brown's an '03 -- this isn't his tournament, anymore. Four years ago was. Orpik's ancient, Callahan's a nice player, but ultimately, a complementary one.

Look who scored for Canada today: Jamie Benn. An '07. This was his tournament, the '06s-'08s.

The U.S. has the top two picks from the '07 draft on their team...both forwards...and got shut out.

It's not entirely their fault. I'm not saying it is. But at some point, yeah, JVR and Kane, you need to get the job done. We're all sorry that it's that way, but yeah, it is that way.
- PhillySportsGuy

So in saying that yeah, they need to step up, but that it's not entirely their fault is singling them out? Calling them out for not continuing to play well in the biggest game of a tourney where they have been playing well is absolutely fair an it's not laying all the blame on them

So JVR is the 2nd best forward on the US roster?
- PhillySportsGuy

Team USA has an interesting set of forwards right now; Craig Custance tweeted this after the game:

Craig Custance ‏@CraigCustance 4h

That USA core of Pavelski, Parise, Brown, Backes & Suter who all seemed so young in Van. will be in early 30s next Olympics. Goes quickly.

That's him saying politely that they're aging. Which they are. All of those players are '03s, and all of them have a lot of mileage on them. It doesn't make them bad players, at all. And I'm CLEARLY not saying they are.

But he's politely saying what I'm saying: They're not the same players they were in 2010. IN MY OPINION, in today's game, Team USA needed JVR and Patrick Kane to do what players with their skill level are often asked to do: Score in the toughest games, against the toughest competition.

Sixers starters tonight

MCW
Elliot Williams
Thad Young
James Anderson
Arnett Moultrie


- PhillySportsGuy

wow, at least theyve pretty much guaranteed picking in the top 3 this spring and thats about the only way you can improve in the NBA

So in saying that yeah, they need to step up, but that it's not entirely their fault is singling them out? Calling them out for not continuing to play well in the biggest game of a tourney where they have been playing well is absolutely fair an it's not laying all the blame on them
- Jsaquella

Exactly.

Would've been nice if Ryan Kesler would've popped one, someone like that, but when you look at their age, their injury histories...look at some of those guys on Team USA -- Dustin Brown's a shadow of what he was in 2010. Paul Statsny's a complementary player, etc., etc.

JVR and Kane -- they're in their physical primes. Would've been nicer to see them make this team their own, lead them to victory.

So in saying that yeah, they need to step up, but that it's not entirely their fault is singling them out? Calling them out for not continuing to play well in the biggest game of a tourney where they have been playing well is absolutely fair an it's not laying all the blame on them
- Jsaquella

Why single out JVR as a guy who 'needed to step up' when there are plenty of other guys?

The reason is because of the underlying dislike for him. He didn't play well in a big game, but the game against Russia and the Czech Republic weren't big. Only the games you lose are big games.

Exactly.

Would've been nice if Ryan Kesler would've popped one, someone like that, but when you look at their age, their injury histories...look at some of those guys on Team USA -- Dustin Brown's a shadow of what he was in 2010. Paul Statsny's a complementary player, etc., etc.

JVR and Kane -- they're in their physical primes. Would've been nicer to see them make this team their own, lead them to victory.
- AllInForFlyers

Parise, Pavelski, Pacioretty, Kessel, Oshie are all in their primes as well.

wow, at least theyve pretty much guaranteed picking in the top 3 this spring and thats about the only way you can improve in the NBA
- BiggE

I know. They may not win another game this year. Im not even joking.

Why single out JVR as a guy who 'needed to step up' when there are plenty of other guys?

The reason is because of the underlying dislike for him. He didn't play well in a big game, but the game against Russia and the Czech Republic weren't big. Only the games you lose are big games.
- PhillySportsGuy

I don't dislike JVR. I don't dislike Patrick Kane. They were playing for my country today. I just wanted them to score a freaking goal!

It's not rocket science! There's no psychology involved. They're two of our most skilled Top 6 forwards, along with Phil Kessel.

We needed them to score today!

I don't think that anyone has stated that it's not valid to criticize JVR or Kane. What I've said is that it's not valid to criticize JVR and Kane, and give Brown and Callahan a pass because they aren't supposed to be the best players on Team USA. That's what I disagree with. Every player on that team deserves blame. Singling out a few players, and giving other players a pass, is scapegoating in my opinion.
- MJL

Yup, it seemed like Quick and the Suter/McDonagh pair were the only guys who really played well for the US today. However you have to give some credit to Canadas D corps, thats one heckuva group. I think Suter is the only US dman who would crack Canada's top 6.

I don't dislike JVR. I don't dislike Patrick Kane. They were playing for my country today. I just wanted them to score a freaking goal!

It's not rocket science! There's no psychology involved. They're two of our most skilled Top 6 forwards, along with Phil Kessel.

We needed them to score today!
- AllInForFlyers

I know. I just hate when people single out certain players. Even if you don't mean to call them out, it ends up sounding that way. The entire team needed to do a better job in their own end. Team USA spent way too much time playing defense. They needed to find ways to get better numbers going the other way. Its difficult to score against a great defense when your team is constantly outnumbered on offensive rushes.

I know. They may not win another game this year. Im not even joking.
- PhillySportsGuy

If they only lose by less than 20, theyve had a good game. The last time the Sixers roster was this weak may have been 72-73 when they won a whopping 9 games all year!

Yup, it seemed like Quick and the Suter/McDonagh pair were the only guys who really played well for the US today. However you have to give some credit to Canadas D corps, thats one heckuva group. I think Suter is the only US dman who would crack Canada's top 6.
- BiggE

Definitely. I would say Parise, Kane, Suter, Miller and Quick are the only US players who would have made that roster.

I know. I just hate when people single out certain players. Even if you don't mean to call them out, it ends up sounding that way. The entire team needed to do a better job in their own end. Team USA spent way too much time playing defense. They needed to find ways to get better numbers going the other way. Its difficult to score against a great defense when your team is constantly outnumbered on offensive rushes.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think, and it may be just a painful truth, that the US simply lost to a better team today. That being said, wouldn't it be fun if Lundqvist stood on his head Sunday and Sweden skates off with the gold!

Definitely. I would say Parise, Kane, Suter, Miller and Quick are the only US players who would have made that roster.
- PhillySportsGuy

I'd agree with that

If they only lose by less than 20, theyve had a good game. The last time the Sixers roster was this weak may have been 72-73 when they won a whopping 9 games all year!
- BiggE

I know.

People discount the 2nd round picks Hinkie got, but he is a very good picker in the 2nd round. He's gotten guys like Carl Landry, Chase Budinger, Luis Scola and Chandler Parsons over the last 5 or so years. Thats very impressive.

Why single out JVR as a guy who 'needed to step up' when there are plenty of other guys?

The reason is because of the underlying dislike for him. He didn't play well in a big game, but the game against Russia and the Czech Republic weren't big. Only the games you lose are big games.
- PhillySportsGuy

It was a big game because it was an elimination game. That's when guys who are big time players play their best.

I think, and it may be just a painful truth, that the US simply lost to a better team today. That being said, wouldn't it be fun if Lundqvist stood on his head Sunday and Sweden skates off with the gold!
- BiggE

Likely true. Would have liked to see the US team play better, regardless, because Canada controlled the game and really limited the US chances.

After 1

Oshawa - 2
Kingston - 1

Laughton with a goal

I think, and it may be just a painful truth, that the US simply lost to a better team today. That being said, wouldn't it be fun if Lundqvist stood on his head Sunday and Sweden skates off with the gold!
- BiggE

They did lose to a better team. I thought Team USA was very strong this year. I loved their roster. We knew Canada would be really really tough to beat for anyone if they played well. They played really well.

Oh, also, it would be great to see Sweden win.

It was a big game because it was an elimination game. That's when guys who are big time players play their best.
- Jsaquella

The game against the Czech Republic was as well and the Russia game was extremely intense. That was a pressure game. JVR and Kane played well in both of those games.

The game against the Czech Republic was as well and the Russia game was extremely intense. That was a pressure game. JVR and Kane played well in both of those games.
- PhillySportsGuy

I think that was kind of All In's point...they both had played very well for much of the tourney and seemed to be really ready to reach out and grab the mantle of being the face of US Hockey, along with Kessel. That made their inability to step up today more frustrating.

Rather than calling them out or blaming them for the loss, it's more disappointment that they failed to maintain the high levels of play that they displayed against Russia & the Czech Republic

I think that was kind of All In's point...they both had played very well for much of the tourney and seemed to be really ready to reach out and grab the mantle of being the face of US Hockey, along with Kessel. That made their inability to step up today more frustrating.

Rather than calling them out or blaming them for the loss, it's more disappointment that they failed to maintain the high levels of play that they displayed against Russia & the Czech Republic
- Jsaquella

I just hate having particular guys singled out and I don't think JVR is close to being the face of USA hockey. Guys like Pavelski, Parise, Kane and Kesler are all better forwards than him. Suter is the best player on the team.

It just comes across as the same hatred people had for JVR when he was here.

Team USA has an interesting set of forwards right now; Craig Custance tweeted this after the game:

Craig Custance ‏@CraigCustance 4h

That USA core of Pavelski, Parise, Brown, Backes & Suter who all seemed so young in Van. will be in early 30s next Olympics. Goes quickly.

That's him saying politely that they're aging. Which they are. All of those players are '03s, and all of them have a lot of mileage on them. It doesn't make them bad players, at all. And I'm CLEARLY not saying they are.

But he's politely saying what I'm saying: They're not the same players they were in 2010. IN MY OPINION, in today's game, Team USA needed JVR and Patrick Kane to do what players with their skill level are often asked to do: Score in the toughest games, against the toughest competition.
- AllInForFlyers

I don't think that's what he's saying at all. He's simply saying that those players will be in their early 30's next Olympics. Nothing more then that. Team USA needed a lot of players to step up. Defenseman can also score goals.

I think that was kind of All In's point...they both had played very well for much of the tourney and seemed to be really ready to reach out and grab the mantle of being the face of US Hockey, along with Kessel. That made their inability to step up today more frustrating.

Rather than calling them out or blaming them for the loss, it's more disappointment that they failed to maintain the high levels of play that they displayed against Russia & the Czech Republic
- Jsaquella

This.

I didn't say it that well, but I really wanted them to play better and accept the mantle of responsibility/leadership.

I thought some of the older players would have difficulty scoring today. I was truly hoping that JVR, Kane, Kessel...I was hoping they would get it done.

Personally, I freaking hate losing to Canada. Respect them immensely. But it effing sucks losing to them. It really does.

After 1

Oshawa - 2
Kingston - 1

Laughton with a goal
- ob18

Rimouski's goalie is on a QMJHL record shutout streak? Morin shutting poop down?