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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 2, 2003 17:21:45 GMT -5
USA wins 4-3...so we get to see Higgins tomorrow on TSN as they take on Team Canada ;D
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Post by montreal on Jan 2, 2003 21:45:30 GMT -5
Well I just got done watching the Team USA/Team Czech game. Higgins had a very good game, picking up 2 assists, and made an unreal play where he was in alone, yet beat 2 Czech players with some fancy stick moves and then he got off a good wrister that the goalie saved. He had another great move down low, but he couldn't hold onto the puck, or else he would have had a breakaway as he deked the Czech defensemen.
Overall he was impressive in the game. He played in every situation, was very dangerous with the puck, good in his own end, blocking shots, killing penalities, good on faceoffs. I found that he is a good skater with some very impressive stickhandling and passing. Has good hockey sense, as he was able to read the play and react quickly. He did make some bad plays in his own end, but he also made some good plays in his own end, and the bad ones didn't cost his team anything this time.
As for other players, Hudler, I wasn't impressed, but it's only 1 game. He's very small. The 2 prospects for Florida were good along with the highly touted Milchauk (sp?). For Team USA, their goalie was sharp, Zach Praise was very impressive, and Oilers prospect Greene had some big hits.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 2, 2003 21:53:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the report. I can't wait to see Higgins tomorrow against Canada. And the Russia/Finland game will also be on TSN (at 3 pm) so Perezhogin and Korneev will be on display as well
The 2 florida guys are Taticek and Krajicek right?
The Michalek dude, can you compare him to a current NHLer?
Thanks
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Post by montreal on Jan 3, 2003 1:34:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the report. I can't wait to see Higgins tomorrow against Canada. And the Russia/Finland game will also be on TSN (at 3 pm) so Perezhogin and Korneev will be on display as well The 2 florida guys are Taticek and Krajicek right? The Michalek dude, can you compare him to a current NHLer? Thanks Yea Taticek and Krajicek. Both were impressive in the one game I saw them. Taticek has good size, and played a physical game, but also was a good skater that was generating some chances. Krajicek was their go to guy on the PP, and he has a good shot, and good stickhandling. Michalek, scored a beauty of a goal on the backhand. As for a current NHLer, no one comes to mind. I would say he's got some very good hands, with good skating. My main focus was on Higgins, so anytime he was on the ice, I only paid attention to him. But Michalek was good, but the announcers were saying his coach wanted to see more out of him, and he wasn't having the best tournament. In his one game he didn't look like a top 3 prospect in a deep draft, but what's one game.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 10:50:18 GMT -5
Thanks.
Some at HF said Michalek was similar to Gaborik which I find ridiculous after the game he played vs Canada.........
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 16:56:52 GMT -5
AWESOME breakaway goal by Perezhogin to make it 3-1 Russia
what speed he has!!
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 17:31:09 GMT -5
Russia wins 4-1. Perezhogin showing loads of speed and pretty good skill. He was also on their PK. Overall I am pretty impressed with him
Korneev showed good stuff as well. He totally ''body-slammed'' Bergenheim with a check. Showed some decent stuff offensively and defensively.
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Post by montreal on Jan 3, 2003 20:29:55 GMT -5
Russia wins 4-1. Perezhogin showing loads of speed and pretty good skill. He was also on their PK. Overall I am pretty impressed with him Korneev showed good stuff as well. He totally ''body-slammed'' Bergenheim with a check. Showed some decent stuff offensively and defensively. Marc, did you see Korneev's hit on Pitaken? Wow. If not, he stood him up at the blueline, and upended him. It was great seeing the much smaller Korneev send the much bigger Pitaken flying through the air. The hit on Bergenheim was a good open ice hit, and Bergenheim looked to be rattled. So far, Korneev has never been a minus player. He's a +8 I think, as he was on the ice for one of Russia's goals, as he had a good keep in early during the goal. He also had a good shot from the point, and 2 minutes in penalities. Perezhogin was all over the ice. PK, PP, and a few good chances. He show good timing on his breakaway goal. He was a main reason for his linemates goal, even though he didn't get an assist. He held up 2 Finnish players, while Igor was then left alone and scored. He also made a good play in his own end, with a small hook on a player that was in all alone and he didn't get called for it either. The best play of the night for him, was when a Russian player got hit with the puck in front of the net, and the puck was under him. A Finnish player was trying to get the puck from under him, and Perezhogin came over and nailed the guy after the whistle, sticking up for his teamate. (then he went over to check on his teamate, which no other Russian players did either things). Perezhogin now has 7 pts and I think he's a +6, as he was on for 2 goals for. Korneev has 2 pts, and a +8. Higgins is 2nd on his team with 5 pts, and a +5 I think.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 20:51:28 GMT -5
Montreal,
I missed the first 27 minutes of the game..was the Korneev hit in that time frame?
Perezhogin was all over the ice
Like Higgins tonight. Man is he good defensively, on draws, making the smart plays,etc...he also made a move on a USA PK in the 2nd....coming down the right wing in the Canada zone...sweet awesome move puck dangling...wow...even if his offence doesn't develop..we have ourselves a very fine 3rd line center IMO
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Post by Disp on Jan 3, 2003 20:58:48 GMT -5
I was impressed with Korneev as well. Not the biggest guy but unafraid to rough it up, smart too. The last smallish russian forward turned dman turned out pretty good for us ;D , hopefully its the start of a trend . Perezhogin looked pretty good as well. I thought he was pretty bad in his own end but he tries to make things happen, shows some creativity and wheels. He was definetly involved, not a perimeter player at all. Higgins looks like a pro.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 21:34:01 GMT -5
Chris,
good effort tonight...now go score a hat trick in the bronze medal game ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Jan 3, 2003 21:41:01 GMT -5
Canada beats the USA 3-2. Here are only a few observations I saw;
I was really impressed with how well Canada was prepared. With very few exceptions, the Canadians really carried the play throughout the game.
I noticed the US and Canadian powerplays were very effective. Conversely, I thought the US couldn't play six on six with the Canadians as their best hockey was on the PP (very few exceptions as well).
I like Higgins' physical game. He and another US player seemed to be taking the vast majority of the faceoffs according to Gord Miller.
Talk about getting excited. Did anyone here Miller's voice crack every time the Canadians scored?
Scotty Upshaw has been noticable throughout the tournament let alone the game.
I honestly thought the US was going to pull it off to tell you the truth. How many times have we as Habs fans seen a goaltender do what the US goaltender did tonight? This US goaltender is something else!
The Canadians had better not scramble around in their own end against Russia. The Russians are just too talented and will destroy us with their offence. Come to think of it, they play an extremely sound defensive game as well.
Should be an awesome final. Cheers.
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 3, 2003 21:51:40 GMT -5
I honestly thought the US was going to pull it off to tell you the truth. How many times have we as Habs fans seen a goaltender do what the US goaltender did tonight? This US goaltender is something else! Yeah I was thinking the same thing...looked like a typical Habs game!
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Post by MPLABBE on Jan 5, 2003 17:16:15 GMT -5
Assist for Higgins today in bronze medal game
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