sprig

Good grief, is BC totally lost without Guedreau

Yep, and all those high drafts Canadian dmen had been so solid prior to this game, excellent against Russia, hardly ever getting beat or making a bad play, made turnover after turnover against the US. Totally unexpected. Although I think the US is a better team than Russia, it still doesn't explained the constant unforced or barely forced turnovers the Canadians made. Looked like they had a big Friday night party before a Saturday night game

Remains confusing to me as well, but, if you compare US scoring before and after he sat, and want to credit the change with his benching, then it obviously worked. Certainly since Rocco was taken off the Miller line, Miller is now appearing back on D, as well as doing things better offensively. Maybe those two just don't click. Gaudreu does very little backchecking, but the way he dangled and sniped vs. the Canadians, it's tough to criticize his game. It was the first line that was doing the most risky things, but the Canadians didn't make them pay, and you can't argue with the results.

The second goal (Rocco's assist) came with 4 minutes left in the first, so I watched from there. Shortly after the goal, in the US end, there was a bad turnover, which I at first thought was Rocco. The first line was out, but I thought Rocco had probably come out for someone that went off, and made that turnover. It was an attempted pass from the boards to the middle of the ice high in the US zone, picked off by a Canadian; looked like it was going to be a good chance, but the US dmen were back and broke it up (backed it up, rewatched it, and it was Gaudreau that made the bad turnover, not Rocco). After that, Rocco made a backhand pass attempt deep in the Canadian end, which nicked a Canadian skate and didn't connect. The Canadian did make a rush down the ice following that missed pass, but not an oddman rush, and nothing came of it. Didn't look like a risky pass at all to me, as had it not nicked the Canadian skate the US player for whom it was intended would have had a great scoring chance (this was Hradek's second first period meltdown on Rocco making a "hope" pass). The Strome breakaway came early in the second period, following the Gaudreu dangle and sniped third US goals. The first line gave up 2 consecutive odd man rushes, terrible d coverage and turnovers, but the Canadians didn't turn it into anything, and ended with Guedreau undressing dman Murphy and sniping the goal. Shortly thereafter, with the Biggs line out, Canadians came down 3 on 3 (actually 2 on 3 with Strome showing up late). 2 US dmen and Rocco were back, one dman had Huberdeu coming into the zone, the the other US dman and Rocco failed to communicate, Huberdeaus saucer pass high to low cross ice in the zone ended up right on Strome's stick, and he got in alone. Either Rocco or the dman should have picked up Strome, but neither did. It was not a result of a risky pass or play by Rocco, in fact Hradek commented after the play that the rush was a result of a soft play by Trochek it the other end. Trocheck had taken a shot that didn't connect, but I didn't think there was anything soft about what he did, just another worthless comment by Hradek. I've noticed that Rocco has usually been the first forward back, when he played on the first line and now with the Biggs line. I wouldn't think this is by design, as the center's should usually be the first forward back, but I never saw Miller back there on D in earlier games, and Biggs hasn't been there all tournament. At any rate, I've yet to find what I would describe as a risky play/pass by Rocco in the US/Canada game. I'll look again if anyone can give me a specific example.

That's funny, but exactly the reason non-Sioux fans are bashing Rocco in tweets and uscho posting (gopher fans no doubt).

Fair enough, although in spite of a few dangerous passes by Rocco, there were enough bad plays to pick from to sit almost anyone, so I still don't understand the singling out of Rocco when he was forced to sit. Do you know what period the Strome breakaway occurred? Don't want to watch the entire game again to find it, and don't want to listen to the color guy in the US/Canada game again. I hope he doesn't select Rocco as his player to bash again in the gold medal game.

So where was it said he was sat due to dangerous playmaking? I hadn't seen anything but tweeted rumours, none of which stated dangerous playmaking. And while I missed the two you are pointing to when watching (and rewatching), I did see several other dangerous passes by the US that lead to odd man rushes. Funny that Hradek, who was ripping Rocco for everything, didn't mention those two either in the telecast. Not to mention no one else was sat for a lousy pass, turnover, or missed defensive assignment. I'd have to think about who on the US team I'd sit for the most dangerous playmaking, but it wouldn't be Rocco. I don't think it's quite as simple as Rocco making dangerous passes, as that has been done by multiple players on multiple teams, including the US So what it the reason for Lucia sitting now for two entire games? Not a word about that have I seen. BTW, where in the US/Canada game was the Strome breakaway? I tried to find it but can't. First period? Or later?

7AM. Not exactly early.

Watched again for these dangerous passes and can't find them. The two that Hradek rips on are good high perentage attempts in the US offensive end (both in the first period), one that, if Biggs had any hockey sense at all, would have jumped into the open area in front of the net and the pass would have created a great scoring chance and probably a goal, and the second, a backhand pass attempt to a dman jumping down from the blue line that clipped a Canadian skate and deflected away. Neither created a Canadian chance the other way, but could easily have created another US goal. And Rocco was great in the third period, especially when Canada was pressuring and controlling the play against the other 2 lines. On the first shift for that line during that Canadian domination, the line kept the puck in the Canadian end for the entire shift, and Rocco made two super passes from the boards, one to Trocheck, one to the the US dman on that side of the ice, resulting in two great scoring chances. Once Hradek started his Rocco bashing in the first period, when after that there was plenty good to say about is efforts, Hradek said nothing, instead apparently looking for the next "hope" pass, which never came from Rocco, but came dozens of times from other US and Canadian players over the course of the game. The play by play guy mentioned those and another couple great defensive plays he made, with no comment from Hradek.

Don't forget the WJC gold medal game at 6:30AM.

Can't believe the US dominated the Canadian team the way they did. Great effort. First line, including Miller, were very good, and props to Gaudreau for the 2 "snipes" in this game.

For some reason the NHL network color guy dislikes Grimaldi as well, wonder what's going on there, as Rocco had a great first period, and if Biggs had been less selfish after Rocco's stick created a Canadian end turnover, Rocco would have his first goal on an easy tap in. Not a problem, we know Rowney will be there when Rocco gets back.

Suprising though, given that Mark has been a good addition to the Knight/Kristo combo; with Rocco gone, there's got to be some shuffling anyway.

Maybe, but I think the Russian should be on with one of them at least.

Noone from the line Grimaldi played on is part of the PP or PK, and with much of the first half being special teams, they saw little ice time. Only in the third when lines and special teams were mixed up did Rocco get on the ice quite a bit. I'd like to see him and the Russian play together, maybe the Russian at center, with Grimaldi and Gaudreau as the wings, as I don't thing Miller does much to complement the skills and speed of those three.

Saw more of his playmaking in earlier games. This game he's just been the low forward on the right side of the net on the PP, and got two great bounces for easy tap in PP goals, then a good cross seam pass from Miller to the same spot and another easy goal. US needs these bounces to beat Canada.

The early goals came on great bounces on the PP, they'll need that to beat Canada, who looked way better against Russia (with all their suspended players back) then they did at any time before in the tournament. Now can't figure out, with top guy being rested and lines shuffled in the third period, why 13th forward Lucia remained seated, just like Grimaldi yesterday. Haven't seen any "performance/attitude" tweets for this one. Good grief, put him in there. Wonder who will be 13th forward tomorrow?

Finally, the WCHA dominates over the Christmas break, san UNO

Didn't get a straight answer from Housley in post game interview. Said he just tried to find chemistry, the 4 lines he put out were working, so he stuck with it. Guess we'll never know for sure, we'll see if he's glued to the bench again next game. Broadcasters not totally satisfied with the answer, as with a big lead in the third, would seem that everyone would get a shift or two. Grimaldi may have been relegated by the coaching staff.

US likely to face Czechs in the crossover game. Finland looking like they'll be relegated.

Rocco's on the bench, but has not played. 13th forwards have played in previous games. Schlossman tweeting it's a performance/attitude issue ( via McKenzie).

Miller-Geaudreau-Grimaldi, created most of the good scoring chances for the US. They need to start finishing, or the US will not do much better than last year, and could end up in relegation again.

UNDColorado, if you want to use the Big Sky banner, save the image locally, then upload it in your profile settings. Using the Big Sky banner link comes from freeimagehosting.net, which is giving all of us trying to enter a thread where someone has the banner a malware warning.

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/205023?referrer_id=32760

Interesting that Bison fans come on here to flame each other, while referencing a Sioux site. Not the brightest bulbs.