I Love That Dirty Water - Boston Bruins (NHL 20)

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: A split in Dallas sets B's up with chance to win Cup on home ice in Game 5


Darren Helm scores the game-winning goal in the third period of Game 3.

Game 3 - 4-3 Boston

Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
May 26, 2022 1 2 3 F BOS (14-4) 0 2 2 4 DAL (12-7) 0 1 2 3 Three Stars A. Bjork 1 G, 1 A, 2 Hits A. Duclair 1 G, 1 A T. Zajac 1 G	Team Stats Comparison BOS DAL Shots on Goal 30 28 Hits 21 9 Faceoffs Won-Lost 24 12 Penalty Minutes 2:00 0:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 0 1 Time on Attack 6:04 6:57
Scoring Summary SECOND PERIOD BOS 14:03 A. Bjork (2) (Unassisted) DAL 15:31 T. Zajac (3) (A. Duclair, J. Honka) BOS 18:34 Z. Chara (1) (C. Wagner, K. Clifford) THIRD PERIOD BOS 4:34 C. Coyle (9) (A. Bjork, T. Krug) DAL 8:18 A. Duclair (4) (R. Hintz) BOS 11:30 D. Helm (5) (P. Bergeron, B. Marchand) DAL 12:18 D. Gurianov (5) (J. Pavelski)

In a move that smelt of desperation, Tyler Seguin was on the ice for the opening face-off of Game 3 in Dallas after missing the first two games of the series due to an undisclosed injury. The Stars had scored just two gaols in the first two games of the series combined and were looking for a much needed jump from the return of their best player.

It didn't work.

After a scoreless first period, the B's opened the scoring with Anders Bjork picking up his second of the playoffs. Although the Stars answered, a surprise goal from Zdeno Chara, set up by a great shift from the Bruins' fourth line, gave Boston a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

Although the Stars would score twice in the period, they would never find the equalizer as the Bruins were found the back of the net twice as well, with Darren Helm getting credited for the game-winner, his fifth of the playoffs.

The win gives the Bruins commanding 3-0 lead in the series - they can all but taste the Stanley Cup.


Charlie Coyle scores his ninth goal of the playoffs as he looks to win his first career Stanley Cup.

Game 4 - 4-2 Dallas

Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
May 28, 2022 1 2 3 F BOS (15-4) 2 0 0 2 DAL (12-8) 1 0 3 4 Three Stars N. Bonino 1 G, 1 A, 1 Hit R. Faksa 1 G, 1 A J. Klingberg 1 G, 2 Hits	Team Stats Comparison BOS DAL Shots on Goal 26 27 Hits 31 12 Faceoffs Won-Lost 12 17 Penalty Minutes 0:00 0:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 0 0 Time on Attack 5:17 7:47
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD BOS 4:18 D. Pastrnak (3) (Unassisted) DAL 6:14 N. Beaulieu (2) (N. Bonino, R. Faksa) BOS 16:21 K. Clifford (2) (R. Hartman, C. McAvoy) THIRD PERIOD DAL 7:26 R. Faksa (5) (M. Perreault, A. Duclair) DAL 11:21 J. Klingberg (5) (C. Atkinson) DAL 19:40 N. Bonino (3) (Unassisted)

The Bruins were 13 minutes away from their first Stanley Cup win since 2011, and from avenging their loss in 2019. Goals from David Pastrnak and Kyle Clifford in the first period set up Boston with a 2-1 lead, which they managed to hold on to until past the midway mark of the third period.

Then the wheels came off.

The Stars scored three goals in the final half of the period to save their season and ensure that there will be at least one more game.

While it's a frustrating loss for the B's without question, the team is in excellent shape as they head back to Boston for Game 5 and look to win the Stanley Cup on home ice for the first time since 1970.


Pasta now has three goals in his last five games after going scoreless for the first 15 games of the playoffs.

Who's Hot
Fourth line - The return of Ryan Hartman has been more impactful for the Bruins than the return of Tyler Seguin has been for the Stars. Since returning in Game 3, Hartman and the fourth line have scored two of the team's six goals and have been a physical force whenever they are on the ice.

Zdeno Chara - Many have wondered if this may be the end for the big man, especially if the Bruins manage to win the Stanley Cup. If it is the end, he made sure to go out with a bang by scoring his first goal off the playoffs in the first period of Game 3. While Chara's minutes may be down, he still plays a very physical and intimidating game, and has been a handful for Jamie Benn in particular this series.

Who's Not
Final 13 minutes of Game 4 - Although it's extremely unlikely that the Stars will find a way to come back and win this series, it can't be a great feeling right now for the Bruins knowing that they were just 13 minutes away from winning the entire thing. Expect a big start to Game 5 to quickly erase any bad memories from the third period of Game 4.

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: Let the party begin! B's win their seventh Stanley Cup


Captain Zdeno Chara raises the Cup in what likely was his last career NHL game.

Game 5 - 2-1 Boston

Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins
May 30, 2022 1 2 3 F DAL (13-8) 1 0 0 1 BOS (15-5) 0 0 2 2 Three Stars T. Rask 30 Saves, .968 SV % C. Coyle 1 G J. Vesey 1 G	Team Stats Comparison DAL BOS Shots on Goal 31 26 Hits 12 18 Faceoffs Won-Lost 9 31 Penalty Minutes 5:00 13:00 Power Plays Converted 0 0 Power Play Opportunities 4 0 Time on Attack 5:18 6:03
Scoring Summary FIRST PERIOD DAL 13:36 R. Faksa (6) (N. Bonino, A. Duclair) THIRD PERIOD BOS 9:34 J. Vesey (8) (J. Studnicka, D. Pastrnak) BOS 11:12 C. Coyle (10) (R. Pulock)

After the Bruins' collapse in the third period of Game 4, we expected them to come out strong in the first period of Game 5. That didn't happen. If anything, it was the Stars who came out the better team, and took an early 1-0 lead.

That lead would hold up going into the third period. The Bruins were dominating in the face-off circle and time of possession, but several penalties were preventing them from getting anything going offensively.

That all changed in a two-minute span.

Jimmy Vesey got it going for Boston when he took a beautiful pass from the rookie Jack Studnicka and buried it past Ben Bishop to tie the game. Just 98 seconds later, Charlie Coyle ripped a shot past a screened Bishop from the high slot to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period.

Although the Stars would pepper Tuukka Rask, the Finnish netminder finally silenced the haters and doubters by slamming the door.

Boston - let the party begin!


Charlie Coyle scores the game-winning goal in the third period.

Who's Hot
Patrice Bergeron - We could just list the entire team here, but there will be time to do that later. Right now we thought we'd focus on a few players who had a terrific postseason and/or Stanley Cup Final - starting with the Conn Smythe winner. Bergeron led the team in goals (12) and points (21), and was a ridiculous 61.5% on the draws.

Charlie Coyle - The loss of David Krejci hurt the Bruins badly last season. Not so much this year. Coyle stepped up as a clear top six forward and number two center. He was terrific this playoff run, even when he was "demoted" to the third line to help get David Pastrnak going. Coyle was second on the team with 10 goals, including the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Cup Final, and had 26 hits.

Jack Studnicka - The rookie cooled off a bit in the final as he failed to find the back of the net in the series, but Studnicka was outstanding in his first career postseason. He had four goals and 11 assists, but more impressively, was a +5 and won 55% of his face-offs. The future is bright down the middle for the Bruins.

Tuukka Rask - Rask signed a big contract in the offseason and then followed it up with arguably his worst regular season in his career. But who remembers that? Rask's postseason numbers aren't anything spectacular (2.67 goals against average, .900 save percentage) but he was excellent in the Stanley Cup Final (2.00 goals against average, .925 save percentage) and can finally silence the critics who said the Bruins would never win with him in goal.

[OldHossRadbourn]

Congrats on the Cup!

You had to be sweating those last 9 minutes of game time

[TheJoker12]

Quote: Originally Posted by OldHossRadbourn

Congrats on the Cup! You had to be sweating those last 9 minutes of game time

I think I iced the puck about 6 times in that stretch. I did not want to go back to Dallas for Game 6 haha.

Thanks for checking in!

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: Regular Season and Playoff Recap and Player Grades

The Bruins not only redeemed their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Flyers last season by beating them this year, they followed it up with a very solid five-game series win over the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Final. While the team celebrates, it's time once again to look at each player and areas where the Bruins may be able to improve before they jump into the offseason. Of course, these grades are based on the individual player and what was expected of them before the regular season and playoffs began.

FORWARDS
Brad Marchand
RS - 49 goals, 42 assists, 91 points, +30, 9 GWG, 162 hits
P - 7 goals, 11 assists, 18 points, +6, 20:00 TOI, 36 hits
- Patrice Bergeron won the Conn Smythe, and he certainly earned it. But it could be argued that this is Brad Marchand's team. Marchy led the team in points again in the regular season, and set a career high in goals. He got off to a slow start in the playoffs but was terrific in the last two rounds, and averaged the most time on ice among all B's forwards.
Grade: Regular Season - A+, Playoffs - A

Patrice Bergeron
RS - 24 goals, 53 assists, 77 points, +28, 21:28 TOI, 59.8 FO%
P - 12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points, +3, 2 GWG, 61.5 FO%
- Without David Pastrnak on his wing, Bergeron's regular season offensive numbers dropped from previous years (his 24 goals being his lowest total since 2017). Bergy was ridiculous in the playoffs, however, and earned his first career Conn Smyth trophy as he led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup. The 35-year-old isn't getting any younger, and may begin adapting more of a checking line center role in the future.
Grade: Regular Season - A, Playoffs - A+

David Pastrnak
RS - 38 goals, 53 assists, 91 points, +33, 24 PPP, 13.9 S%
P - 3 goals, 8 assists, 11 points, +5, 4.3 S%
- It was a rebound regular season for Pasta. He was lethal for most of the year (outside of a 20 game or so slump in February and March). If he becomes more consistent, he'll have a chance to score 50 goals. He was snakebitten in the playoffs, however, as evident by his 4.3 shooting percentage. He did have a solid Stanley Cup Final - but it's time for him to take over this team as its main star.
Grade: Regular Season - A-, Playoffs - C

Charlie Coyle
RS - 31 goals, 41 assists, 72 points, +38, 47.5 FO%, 158 hits
P - 10 goals, 4 assists, 14 points, +4, 2 GWG, 54.9 FO%, 26 hits
- Coyle led arguably the most dangerous second line in the league this season, and he set a career high in both goals and points while putting up a ridiculous +38 number. His linemates fell off in the playoffs but Coyle was just as good, if not better. He was second on the team with 10 goals and scored the game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to secure the series win for the Bruins.
Grade: Regular Season - A+, Playoffs - A+

Jake DeBrusk
RS - 22 goals, 36 assists, 58 points, +39
P - 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, +4, 4.4 S%
- DeBrusk was part of the best second line in the league this regular season, and he set a career high in points with 58. He disappeared in the playoffs, however, and never seemed to find his game at any point. The 24-year-old is a good player, but remains incredibly inconsistent, which has to be frustrating for the Bruins' coaching staff. Could he be a trade candidate?
Grade: Regular Season - A, Playoffs - C-

Anders Bjork
RS - 24 goals, 28 assists, 52 points, +17, 18:36 TOI, 121 hits
P - 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points, +3
- Playing alongside Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand did wonders for Bjork, as he set a career high in all major statistical categories, including goals and points. Bjork struggled to find the back of the net at times in the playoffs, but still put up 14 points and played excellent two-way hockey. Expect Bjork to be back with Bergeron and Marchand at the start of next year.
Grade: Regular Season - A, Playoffs - A-

Sean Kuraly
RS - 45 games, 4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points, -5, 54.9 FO%
P - N/A (injured)
- What a frustrating season for the young center. Kuraly struggled to get anything going for the first half of the year, and then missed the entire second half of the season with a knee injury. He was nearly back for the playoffs before suffering a setback that ended his year. He'll likely start next year as the fourth line center.
Grade: Regular Season - C-, Playoffs - N/A

Tyler Toffoli
RS - 10 goals, 13 assists, 23 points, -9, 8.3 S%
P - 17 games, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, +2
- A very disappointing season for Toffoli who may see his time as a Bruin come to an end this offseason. Toffoli didn't quite click with Jack Studnicka and Jimmy Vesey, and was eventually benched in the playoffs. At $4.5 million per year, and with just one year remaining, he will likely be moved, potentially for draft picks.
Grade: Regular Season - C-, Playoffs - C-

Darren Helm
RS - 0 games with Boston
P - 17 games, 5 goals, 4 assists, 9 points, +2, 2 GWG
- This may have been the Bruin's best pick up this year (although there are strong arguments to be made for several other players). The Red Wings tried to sneak him to the minors through waivers, but the B's quickly claimed him. Tied at two with the Panthers, the B's inserted Helm into the lineup - and he never left. He eventually jumped up to the first line to play with Bergy and Marchy, and was a huge factor in the Bruins' Cup win. Expect the team to try to bring him back next year.
Grade: Regular Season - N/A, Playoffs - A

Chris Wagner
RS - 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, -11, 47.9 FO%
P - 1 goal, 6 assists, 7 points, +2, 57.0 FO%
- Wagner was a mess in last year's playoffs, and after a disappointing regular season, was nearly replaced as the Bruins made moves to boost the fourth line. The injury to Sean Kuraly gave Wagner the chance to prove himself, however, and he did. Wagner was excellent in the postseason, as was the entire fourth line.
Grade: Regular Season - C, Playoffs - B+

Karson Kuhlman
RS - 37 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, +1
P - N/A
- The clock is ticking for Karson Kuhlman. He was given a chance this year to prove that he belonged in the top 12, but couldn't do it, and wasn't even given a game in the playoffs as Darren Helm, Kyle Clifford, and Ryan Hartman passed him on the depth chart. Next year may be his last chance in Boston.
Grade: Regular Season - C-, Playoffs - N/A

Kyle Clifford
RS - 9 goals, 9 assists, 18 points, -3, 67 PIM, 79 hits
P - 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, -3, 11 hits
- Clifford did everything the Bruins wanted him to do when they signed him last offseason. He played hard and was very physical. Ideally, he would become the 13th forward and inserted into the lineup against certain teams - something the B's will likely try to achieve next year.
Grade: Regular Season - B, Playoffs - B-

Jack Studnicka
RS - 11 goals, 25 assists, 36 points, -7, 48.5 FO%
P - 4 goals, 11 assists, 15 points, +5, 2 GWG
- What a rookie year for Studnicka. As the third line center, Studnicka provided plenty of offense despite not having a ton of help on the wings. He formed a great bond with Jimmy Vesey after he was added at the deadline, and was terrific in the playoffs. He is the future, no doubt.
Grade: Regular Season - B+, Playoffs - A

Jimmy Vesey
RS - 19 games, 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points, -3
P - 8 goals, 4 assists, 12 points, +8, 20.5 S%, 26 hits
- Vesey was a terrific pickup by the Bruins, and his instant connection with Jack Studnicka was a huge benefit. Vesey was terrific against the Flyers as he helped the Bruins overcome last year's difficult loss to Philly. Signed at just $1.76 million per year for two more years, Vesey may be looking at a long-term extension sooner rather than later.
Grade: Regular Season - B, Playoffs - A

Ryan Hartman
RS - 29 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, -8, 36 hits
P - 17 games, 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, 24 PIM, 15 hits
- Hartman struggled when he first arrived in Boston, but found his game in the playoffs and was part of a very strong fourth line. He became the enforcer, particularly against the Flyers, and was involved in several fights. Depending on his price, he could be back in a Bruins' jersey next year.
Grade: Regular Season - B-, Playoffs - B+

DEFENSEMEN
Charlie McAvoy
RS - 8 goals, 45 assists, 53 points, +16, 24:51 TOI, 179 hits, 85 blocks
P - 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, -4, 2 GWG, 22:59 TOI, 55 hits
- McAvoy took a huge step this year in becoming a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. He was terrific in the regular season, and set a career high in points by nearly 20. He was also phenomenal in the playoffs and even scored two-game winning goals. He is officially the Bruins #1 defenseman.
Grade: Regular Season - A, Playoffs - A

Zdeno Chara
RS - 4 goals, 29 assists, 33 points, +32, 22:32 TOI, 238 hits
P - 1 goals, 2 assists, 3 points, -1, 19:17 TOI, 83 hits
- Is this finally it? The big man turns 45 this year, and just helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup, his second. Chara's role was somewhat reduced in the postseason, although he paired with Ryan Pulock as one of the most physical defense pairs in the league. It's almost certain that Chara will take this Cup win and ride off into the sunset.
Grade: Regular Season - A-, Playoffs - B+

Brandon Carlo
RS - 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, +30, 18:58 TOI, 180 hits
P - 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, +18, 18:56 TOI, 45 hits
- It's pretty impressive to be +18 in the playoffs - just 21 games for the Bruins. But that's what Carlo did. Carlo also added some more offense to his game this year, tying a career high in goals with six. He'll never be an offensive star, but he is one of the most reliable defensive defensemen in the league.
Grade: Regular Season - A, Playoffs - A

Torey Krug
RS - 10 goals, 33 assists, 43 points, +23, 4 PP points, 19:58 TOI
P - 5 goals, 6 assists, 11 points, +12, 19:39 TOI
- Is Krug worth his $7 million a year contract? It's hard to say, but he was much better this season than he was last year. He was removed from the first power play unit, however, but has become much more defensively responsible alongside Brandon Carlo.
Grade: Regular Season - B+, Playoffs - B+

Matt Grzelcyk
RS - 5 goals, 12 assists, 17 points, -4, 14:53 TOI
P - 0 goals, 4 assists, 24 points, +8, 20:43 TOI
- It was a very rough postseason last year for Grz, who finished -12. He was much better this playoff run, even more so when you consider he was moved to the top pairing alongside Charlie McAvoy. Grzelcyk's offensive numbers dropped this season compared to last, as he and Ryan Pulock struggled at times. Grz was terrific in the playoffs, averaging nearly six more minutes time on ice per game.
Grade: Regular Season - B, Playoffs - A-

Ryan Pulock
RS - 7 goals, 9 assists, 16 points, -2, 16:06 TOI, 153 hits
P - 1 goals, 5 assists, 6 points, +5, 17:46 TOI, 53 hits
- Overall a very good first season for Pulock, who struggled at times in the regular season but was terrific in the playoffs, particularly with Zdeno Chara. Pulock has the potential to play in the top four, but is blocked on the right side by Charlie McAvoy and Brandon Carlo. It has to be a tempting option to move him to the left to play with one of them, however - something the B's may explore next year.
Grade: Regular Season - B, Playoffs - B+

Urho Vaakanainen
RS - 15 games, 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, +5, 21:07 TOI, 15 hits
P - 2 games, 1 assist, 1 point, 15:51 TOI
- Next year may be the year Vaakanainen gets the chance to prove he is ready for the NHL. He was very solid in 15 games this year as he filled in at various times for injury, and played big minutes when he did (over 20 per game). If Big Z retires, it's likely Vaak will be given the first chance to replace him.
Grade: Regular Season - B, Playoffs - B

GOALTENDERS
Tuukka Rask
RS - 62 games, 37-19-5, 3 shutouts, .910%, 2.76 GAA
P - 16-5, 0 shutouts, .900%, 2.67 GAA
- Rask finally silenced his critics and haters who said the Bruins would never win the Stanley Cup with him in net. He also had the worst regular season of his career, fresh after signing a massive contract. One thing is clear - 62 games is far too many. The B's were forced to play Rask because Cal Petersen couldn't be relied on, and the team was in a division race for most of the season. Ideally, that number would be down to around 50 next year.
Grade: Regular Season - C+, Playoffs - B

Cal Petersen
RS - 27 games, 18-6-2, .902%, 2.76 GAA
P - N/A
- It seems clear at this point that Petersen isn't ready to be an every day NHL goaltender, and likely won't be the guy to replace Rask. The question now - is he a good enough backup? He was okay, this year, but not good enough for the team to give Rask consistent rest. Look for the team to try to upgrade this position in the offseason.
Grade: Regular Season - C, Playoffs - N/A

NEEDS
1. Backup Goaltender
- You know your team is in pretty good shape when this is the number one need, but that is the case for the Bruins, who return most of the players from this Cup winning team. The B's need a reliable backup so they can limit the number of games Tuukka Rask has to play to keep him fresh and on top of his game.

2. Third Line Winger
- The combination of Jack Studnicka and Jimmy Vesey clicked, particularly in the playoffs. The pair also had some chemistry with David Pastrnak, but expect him to be with Charlie Coyle again next year. Who will fill in on the third line? It could be Darren Helm, considering how good he was in the playoffs. It's unlikely to be Tyler Toffoli. Could another young player jump up to try to make the club, or potentially a free-agent signing?

Stay tuned for some exciting news coming soon...

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: New Format Announced for World Cup of Hockey


Patrick Kane and Team USA could be facing off against Team Canada in a best of three series for the Gold Medal.

International hockey is back! And it's going to be played in a format that's never been done before.

The top eight teams according to the IIHF World Rankings will enter into a playoff bracket. They will be ranked 1-8 based on these World Rankings, with 1v8 and 4v5 on one side, and 2v7 and 3v6 on the other side. The teams will play a best 2 out of 3 against each other, with the winning team advancing.

The rankings:
1. Canada
2. Russia
3. Finland
4. Sweden
5. Czech Republic
6. USA
7. Germany
8. Switzerland

Therefore, we will have Canada vs Switzerland and Sweden vs Czech Republic on one side of the bracket, with Russia vs Germany and Finland vs USA on the other side. The rosters for each team will be posted soon (they will be updated based on the last two seasons).


Will the "bread-man" lead Russia to some international hockey success?

Bruins Perspective
The Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins will likely have a number of players in this tournament.

Guaranteed
Starting with the most obvious three - Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, and David Pastrnak. Bergy and Marchand will likely be reunited with Sidney Crosby, a line that has worked wonders in the past for Canada. Pasta will be a staple of the Czech team, potentially back with former teammate David Krejci.

Likely
Charlie McAvoy has taken the next step and is one of the best defensemen in the league. The USA is DEEP on D however, which is why we can't quite put him in the guaranteed category. It may depend on how they are balanced in terms of left and right shots. Tuukka Rask should be on Finland - and he did just win the Stanley Cup. He didn't have a very strong year, however, so there's a chance Finland looks elsewhere. Before this season, there is no way Charlie Coyle's name would even be mentioned for team USA. But the Weymouth native just scored 31 goals in the regular season and 10 goals in the playoffs, and became one of the best second line centers in the NHL. He could be a candidate for a fourth line role on a very talented American squad.

Unlikely
The Americans are extremely talented on defense. As good as Brandon Carlo is, he doesn't have the splashy numbers or fame to beat out someone like Ryan Suter. Torey Krug would have been a candidate a few years ago, but he too likely falls victim to a numbers game. An outside candidate for Finland could be Urho Vaakanainen. He likely wouldn't make the top six, but he could be a potential depth option - although he's only played a handful of games in the NHL.

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: Rosters for Canada, USA, Sweden, and Finland announced

USA Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	J. Van Riemsdyk (34-49-83)	P. Kane (48-34-82)	C. Keller (21-48-69)	T. Oshie (24-42-66)
C	A. Matthews (40-45-85)	D. Larkin (34-56-90)	J. Eichel (38-35-73)	C. Coyle (31-41-72)
RW	A. DeBrincat (26-52-78)	P. Kessel (40-42-82)	B. Wheeler (21-55-76)	B. Boeser (33-41-74)
D #1	J. Carlson (12-71-83)	Q. Hughes (10-44-54)	K. Yandle (15-44-59)	R. Suter (7-39-46)
D #2	K. Shattenkirk (13-52-65)	C. McAvoy (8-45-53)	S. Jones (7-39-46)
G	J. Gibson (37-26-2, .916, 2.56)	C. Hellebuyck (35-25-10, .898, 3.08)	B. Bishop (32-24-2, .901, 3.00)

Strengths
Outside of Canada, nobody has a better group of forwards than this American squad. They have two 40 goal scorers on the second line! But we'll go with the defense. The Americans have John Carlson, the Norris Trophy winner, leading the way, and also have youngsters Quinn Hughes, Seth Jones, and Charlie McAvoy who are all capable of playing big minutes, leading the power play or playing penalty kill. Keith Yandle and Ryan Suter add a veteran presence and excellent leadership qualities.

Weaknesses
Potentially in goal, if something were to happen to Gibson, but Bishop and Hellebuyck were both terrific in the playoffs so those numbers may not be entirely accurate. We'll say down the middle - Matthews, Larkin, Eichel, and Coyle are an outstanding 1-4, but have very little experience on the international stage.

Predicted Place
1st - Gold

Canada Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	S. Stamkos (49-75-124)	B. Marchand (49-42-91)	J. Huberdeau (30-58-88)	M. Marner (29-53-82)
C	C. McDavid (35-49-84)	S. Crosby (42-52-94)	T. Seguin (49-53-102)	J. Tavares (43-42-85)
RW	C. Giroux (42-47-89)	P. Bergeron (24-53-77)	M. Scheifele (35-56-91)	N. MacKinnon (28-50-78)
D #1	M. Rielly (9-55-64)	M. Giordano (13-30-42)	D. Keith (3-52-55)	K. Letang (12-44-56)
D #2	A. Pietrangelo (18-62-80)	D. Doughty (12-53-65)	A. Ekblad (10-53-63)
G	M. Smith (44-18-3, .915, 2.47)	C. Hart (36-23-5, .904, 2.80)	C. Price (31-29-7, .911, 2.77)

Strengths
The Canadians have the most talented forwards in the tournament and it's not really close. When your fourth line center has 43 goals and 85 points, you know you have a deep roster. Stamkos and McDavid should be a ridiculous duo on the first line, and all Claude Giroux did was lead the playoffs in scoring with 27 points in just 19 games. The reunited second line of Bergeron, Marchand, and Crosby has a proven track record, and the third line has a combined 281 points. Incredible.

Weaknesses
The defense may be a little suspect, especially compared to recent years. The team is relying on older guys like Duncan Keith and Mark Giordano to hold their own against some elite forwards. But we'll go in goal. It looks like Mike Smith is going to get the start, and for good reason - he's won 78 games the past two seasons and just won the Vezina as the best in the league. But he's still Mike Smith. Luckily the team could always turn to Price who has a tremendous amount of international experience.

Predicted Place
2nd - Silver

Sweden Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	G. Landeskog (29-31-60)	W. Karlsson (26-31-57)	M. Johansson (18-40-58)	M. Backlund (24-37-61)
C	N. Backstrom (22-71-93)	E. Pettersson (25-54-79)	M. Zibanejad (33-40-73)	R. Rakell (21-46-67)
RW	W. Nylander (24-54-78)	J. Silfverberg (27-29-56)	F. Forsberg (24-30-54)	E. Lindholm (15-38-53)
D #1	V. Hedman (14-50-62)	O. Ekman-Larsson (19-36-55)	E. Gustafsson (8-33-41)	O. Klefbom (11-23-34)
D #2	J. Klingberg (15-55-70)	E. Karlsson (10-55-65)	M. Ekholm (9-26-35)
G	R. Lehner (34-18-7, .909, .272)	H. Lundqvist (29-34-5, .902, 3.06)	L. Ullmark (25-24-8, .897, 3.05)

Strengths
Sweden has an outstanding defensive unit, led by Victor Hedman and John Klingberg, who could both play 30 minutes without breaking a sweat. They also have Erik Karlsson, who is lethal on the power play, and a very solid 5-6 pair that can play a shutdown role.

Weaknesses
Will this team be able to score enough goals to play with the Americans, Russians, and Canadians? We think no. 10 of the 12 forwards have scored at least 20 goals, but only one reached the 30 goal mark. Landeskog hasn't delivered in Calgary like the Flames thought he would, and William Nylander can be inconsistent (although he did just have a terrific playoff series albeit in a defeat).

Predicted Place
3rd - Bronze

Finland Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	J. Kotkaniemi (33-40-73)	K. Kakko (33-39-72)	T. Teravainen (23-46-69)	E. Haula (25-26-51)
C	A. Barkov (32-51-83)	S. Aho (32-41-73)	H. Borgstrom (23-35-58)	V. Filppula (18-39-57)
RW	M. Rantanen (30-46-76)	P. Laine (29-31-60)	K. Kapanen (15-27-42)	M. Granland (17-27-44)
D #1	M. Heiskanen (6-52-58)	O. Maatta (14-22-36)	E. Lindel (6-20-26)	S. Niku (8-16-24)
D #2	R. Ristolainen (12-50-62)	J. Honka (12-19-31)	S. Vatanen (7-18-25)
G	T. Rask (37-19-5, .910, 2.76)	P. Rinne (31-25-7, 910, 2.77)	A. Raanta (32-31-7, .906, 3.03)

Strengths
Youth. This team has a ton of young talented forwards, led by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Kaapo Kakko, who both scored 33 goals this past season. Barkov, Rantanen, Laine, and Aho are all terrific players. The team also has a very solid defense core, and have the goalie from the team who just won the Stanley Cup.

Weaknesses
Schedule. Tough break on the draw - it's hard to believe you can be ranked third in the world and draw the USA in the first round. If they can make it past the Americans, they have a great chance to go all the way and win Gold. But that won't be easy.

Predicted Place
5th

*Next four teams coming tomorrow, and we'll finally get the games going!

[TheJoker12]

Bruins Beat: Rosters for Russia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Germany announced

Russia Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	A. Ovechkin (54-35-89)	A. Panarin (32-58-90)	N. Gusev (14-60-74)	V. Namestnikov (14-36-50)
C	E. Kuznetsov (13-64-77)	E. Malkin (32-40-72)	I. Barbashev (13-29-42)	A. Radulov (19-36-55)
RW	N. Kucherov (55-55-110)	V. Tarasenko (30-30-60)	E. Dadonov (15-50-65)	A. Svechnikov (20-38-58)
D #1	I. Provorov (12-40-52)	D. Orlov (9-31-40)	N. Zadorov (7-11-18)
D #2	M. Sergachev (7-23-30)	V. Gavrikov (4-11-15)	N. Zaitsev (4-8-12)
G	S. Bobrovsky (35-18-5, .916, 2.43)	I. Samsonov (37-15-7, .902, 2.93)	A. Vasilevskiy (32-16-7, .894, 3.14)

Strengths
The first line for Russia is ridiculous. They have two wingers in Kucherov and Ovechkin who combined to score 109 goals this past season. In the middle is Kuznetsov, who was fifth in the league in assists. They are going to be a handful for any team. They follow it up with a lethal second line, led by Malkin.

Weaknesses
The defense for this team is a huge concern. Provorov is outstanding, and Dan Orlov has some offensive ability, but they are going to have a very difficult time handling opposing team's forwards, particularly if they meet the Canadians or Americans.

Predicted Place
4th

Czech Republic Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	O. Palat (23-74-97)	D. Kubalik (29-22-51)	J. Vrana (22-29-51)	M. Frk (14-13-27)
C	D. Krejci (24-38-62)	F. Chytil (17-41-58)	R. Faksa (17-21-38)	M. Hanzal (4-6-10)
RW	D. Pastrnak (38-53-91)	J. Voracek (28-60-88)	F. Zadina (15-32-47)	O. Kase (18-19-37)
D #1	R. Simek (2-7-9)	J. Rutta (2-8-10)	L. Hajek (1-6-7)
D #2	F. Hronek (6-18-24)	R. Gudas (2-13-15)	R. Polak (1-4-5)
G	D. Rittich (36-24-2, .903, 2.92)	P. Mrazek (11-11-2, .905, 2.61)

Strengths
While it may not be as good as the Russians, the Czech's also have a terrific first line. Ondrej Palat set a career high in points this season, and reuniting David Pastrnak with David Krejci should result in instant connection and results.

Weaknesses
Defense. David Rittich had a pretty good season in goal for the Flames, but he won't have their defense in front of him for this tournament. The Czech's are relying on guys like Roman Polak to handle the best forwards in the world - not ideal, to say the least.

Predicted Place
6th

Switzerland Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	K. Fiala	S. Baertschi	J. Vermin	D. Hollenstein
C	N. Hischier	D. Malgin	G. Haas	G. Hofmann
RW	N. Niederreiter	T. Meier	D. Brunner	S. Moser
D #1	R. Josi	D. Kukan	M. Mueller
D #2	L. Sbisa	R. Diaz	Y. Weber
G	J. Hiller	R. Berra

Strengths
Normally we would go with Roman Josi here, but he's struggled, somewhat, in the past two seasons as the Predators have fallen off. Still, he'll likely play 30+ minutes a game, and he has the ability to take away an entire line or two - he's that good.

Weaknesses
Goaltending. Jonas Hiller is no longer an NHL quality goaltender, and he'll be facing a Canadian squad in the first round that has a 40-goal scorer on its fourth line.

Predicted Place
8th

Germany Depth Chart -
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	D. Kahun	T. Kuhnhackl	T. Rieder	M. Plachta
C	L. Draisaitl	N. Sturm	P. Hager	M. Goc
RW	M. Wiederer	L. Bergmann	M. Eisenschmid	P. Reimer
D #1	M. Muller	Y. Seidenberg	J. Muller
D #2	K. Holzer	M. Seider	D. Boyle
G	P. Grubauer	T. Greiss

Strengths
Leon Draisaitl. A casual 44 goals and 86 points for the German superstar, who perhaps has surpassed Connor McDavid as the best player in Edmonton. The Germans are also fairly solid in goal, with Philipp Grubauer having a terrific season for the Red Wings and Thomas Greiss still playing excellent hockey. An upset over Russia *could* happen.

Weaknesses
Defense. How is this team going to handle Russia's top two lines? Simply put - they won't. Korbian Holzer playing first pair minutes isn't a recipe for success, to say the least.

Predicted Place
7th