Things to watch in Team Europe-Canada World Cup finals

Europe started the tournament with a big win over the United States and pulled off another magic trick against Sweden in the semi-final thanks to two goals from Red Wings forward Tomas Tatar that included the game victor in overtime. They’ve got a good-looking team.

Tournament officials released a statement after the game with an explanation, saying the goal was allowed because Tatar did not intentionally kick the puck past Lundqvist.

Canada advances to the best-of-three final series where they will play the victor of the other semi between Sweden and Team Europe. That’s why you play these games.

“I don’t think we were passive”, Gronborg insisted.

Canada responded 72 seconds later, though, with Brad Marchand sending a lovely feed from Crosby into the Russian net.

“We’ll try to be as workmanlike as we possibly can and go about our business”. That’s why we’re here. Team Europe’s Mark Streit (7) and Team Sweden’s Patric Hornqvist (72) battle for the puck during first-period World Cup of Hockey semifinal action in Toronto, Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016. Tatar, of the Detroit Red Wings, put Europe back in front 12 seconds into the third period when he broke free to backhand home his own rebound, but Erik Karlsson tested the Europeans’ resolve when he tied it at 15:28 of the third period with a long shot from the right point.

CSN was the first to report that the Bruins were putting together a plan for an offer sheet for the 22-year-old American-born defenseman back in June, but that never materialized. Troube has got the size and competitiveness down, I suspect, but only a much closer and concentrated viewing of Trouba would give me a better idea of his hockey sense. (Defenceman Dennis Seidenberg, who doesn’t have a contract in the National Hockey League, played almost 24 minutes against Sweden.) Several said they believed “good luck” would be one of the biggest factors in having a chance in the best-of-three final.

Some tried to capitalize on the fact that they don’t play for a country. “We tried to use our speed, they have a lot of talented guys. That’s how they won today”.

The goal went to a video review. That created a few nervous moments for Tatar. “I’m lucky they did”.

That’s one of many reasons why the European bench boss has become the coach everyone is raving about at the World Cup. I really don’t expect the Pens to be all that aggressive in looking into Trouba, but hey, young solid defensemen don’t request trades everyday, but when they do it’s fun to talk about it on the internet. The only thing missing would be a competent third pair right shot. “They’re no different than us”. Canada is also averaging 4.75 goals per game and all four lines are threats to score.

“I think the better we do, the lower the chances might be that Team Europe gets invited back”, said Krueger, with a laugh.

The highly-anticipated clash between the two nations was their first in a best-on-best tournament since Canada dominated a quarterfinals showdown at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

If there’s one aspect that’s struck Canadian head coach Mike Babcock and the team’s brass in studying the rise of Team Europe, it’s their tremendous growth after a messy start.

“Everybody wants to be here”. It nearly seems like a foregone conclusion, but after Europe knocked off a very deep Sweden squad in the semifinals, they at least have reason to believe in themselves in a series where they’ll be heavy underdogs.

Team Europe coach Ralph Krueger had said earlier in the event that “it’ll take a magical day, it’ll take a world-class goaltending performance, it’ll take something very, very special” for anyone to beat Canada here. “So it just feels good to be where we’re at”.