Tatar’s goal sends continental squad into final against Canada

Backed by huge goaltending and boosted by a two-goal performance from Detroit’s Tomas Tatar, the Europeans knocked out Sweden in overtime 3-2. “I try to be focused on the moment right there and just keep going that way”.

While Ovechkin has become regarded as only a one-way player, whose slap shot is still one of the best in hockey, Crosby excels with or without the puck on offense or defense.

“We have a chance to play in the final which is great”, said Tartar. Don’t know if the same can be said for Canada-Europe. “That’s why we’re here”.

But beating Canada twice in possibly three opportunities, we don’t see it.

Armstrong is referring to the fact that Team Europe looked old and slow in a pair of pre-tournament losses to Connor McDavid’s electrifying Team North America, which outscored Chara and company 11-4. The besieged Jaro Halak faced 17 of his 39 shots against in the third period as Europe clung to a one-goal lead.

By all accounts, it was a marvellous sales job – a huge credit to Krueger’s leadership abilities, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given how in-demand he has been as a keynote speaker for years in Europe.

Krueger can motivate and teach as much as possible in a short period, but if the players aren’t interested, forget it.

“It’s important we don’t get giddy”, Krueger said.

“That’s a different animal we’re going to face (in Canada)”, Hossa said. “But in the end, they’re National Hockey League players”.

Matt Duchene of Canada is the lone Avs representative that will play in the World Cup finals, but the organization will have one other individual behind the scenes.

Sweden scored 10 goals all tournament, with its premier targets of Daniel Sedin, Filip Forsberg and Loui Eriksson pitching in just two combined. They’re forever fighting relegation.

Russian Federation was not in a position to come back in a game in which it gave up more than twice as many shots as it put on the Price-protected net until pulling their goalie late to add an extra skater in a nothing-to-lose attempt to get back in the game.

When examining the David vs. Goliath World Cup matchup that pits the heavy underdogs of Team Russia versus the overwhelming favourites that make up Team Canada, let’s remember that there already has been a miracle in the world of team sports earlier this year. “But you never know what’s going to happen”. Sweden failed to get much from their bottom six, but their top lines were absolutely dominant through most of the game, they just could not solve Jaroslav Halak.

That changed in a hurry.

After limiting Team Europe to just five shots in the first period – and at one point denying a shot on goal for nearly 12 minutes and then scoring early in the second to take a 1-0 lead – perhaps the Swedes believed the game would simply come to them, that victory and a rematch of the Sochi Olympics gold-medal game against Canada was inevitable.

“He played phenomenal tonight, made a lot of really big saves and really kept them in it”, Marchand said.

Part of Brad Marchand’s off-season training included skating with Pittsburgh Penguins star, and Team Canada captain, Sidney Crosby.

The Russians countered in the middle frame, with Nikita Kucherov and Evgeny Kuznetsov putting their club up 2-1 in the most important game of the tournament.

Sweden’s Erik Karlsson made it 2-all with 4:32 left in regulation. Beyond that it’ll be up to those like Marian Gaborik, Mats Zuccarello and Frans Nielsen to find some offence for Europe to have a chance.

His teammates – a handful of them fellow Slovaks, but mostly not – then piled into the corner, where they all stood in a team-wide embrace, bouncing together as their goal song (Seven Nation Army) blared.

“The story continues”, Tatar said.

Asked what the Capitals can do to improve, Williams deadpanned: “We can finish the season with a win”.