With each team having one game under its belt, the World Cup of Hockey is well underway — and the first weekend was full of excitement and surprises.
The teams standing at 1-0 are off to fast starts, but can’t take anything for granted. Meanwhile, the 0-1 teams are behind the eight-ball and filled with motivation.
Two more games are scheduled for today: here’s what the four participating teams have to be optimistic about.
TEAM EUROPE
• After a slow start in the pre-tournament, Team Europe holds a strong position with a 1-0 record and, suddenly, look like a real threat in Group A. Leon Draisaitl closed out the pre-tournament segment with a hat trick and started the round robin with another goal. But the biggest reason for optimism here is Jaroslav Halak who was formidable against Team USA, turning aside 35 shots for a shutout victory.
TEAM CZECH REPUBLIC
• The round robin opener against Canada was a tough one for the Czechs, but they showed flashes of potential. The team did register 27 shots against Canada, which is a good amount and shows that, at least at certain times, the Czechs were creating pressure. Michal Neuvirth may have allowed six goals, but he made 44 saves and looked mostly solid with a heavy workload.
TEAM RUSSIA
• Maybe the Russians just needed a scare to wake them up for the rest of the tournament — and this is one group the rest of the field doesn’t want to see wake up. Down 2-0 to Sweden, the Russians made a furious late-game push, scoring once in the final minute and appearing to do it again to force a tie, until the call was overturned. Russia had solid goaltending — just as they’d been getting in the pre-tournament — and if they can play with that desperation heading into their second game, Ovechkin and Co. will bring an offence that’s hard to handle.
TEAM NORTH AMERICA
• You saw how Canada dominated the Czechs on Saturday, right? Well, Team North America allowed fewer shots against by the Finns than Canada did to the Czechs. North America’s defence was a point of concern coming into the World Cup of Hockey, but they held Finland’s lineup in check. And, as expected, the offence was firing on all cylinders. Team North America was everything fans had hoped they’d be in their tournament opener.
