Canada is headed to the World Junior Gold-Medal Game!!

Canada won over Sweden 5-2 yesterday night in a crazy game. Connor Ingram, the starter goaltender for Canada, let in two goals on three shots, prompting Dominique Ducharme to pull him and put in Carter Hart. He kept out all the shots he faced while his team scored five times to take the game easily. 

On the other hand, USA downed Russia in a shootout, but just barely, to advance to the gold-medal game, making USA and Canada meet in the World Juniors gold-medal game for the first time since 2010.

Who has the better odds, many have asked? Canada, host to this tournament, has won five times out of eleven playing at home. And while Canada's defence is deeper than the USA's, their offenses are pretty evenly matched and Canada needs to figure out their goaltending dilemma. So, who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments below.

The nation's eyes, both nation's, will be on these young players tonight at 8 pm when the puck drops. The team that wants it more will get it. “Having the whole nation behind you, it’s going to be pretty cool. We’re excited for tomorrow,” Anthony Cirelli said.

Can Canada Win the World Junior Championship?

Gold-medal winners in 2015, but an eighth place finish in 2016; the ride for Canada's junior team has been a bumpy one, in the least. But can they prove themselves this year?

After winning against the Czechs in the quarterfinal, Canada looks to finish off Sweden in the semifinal today and advance to playing the winner of the USA-Russia semifinal in the gold-medal game. However, they have played against weak teams for the majority of the tournament. And the one good team they faced, USA, ended up winning 3-1 and going undefeated for the whole tournament. 

Sweden is a team that is unproven past the first stage of the World Junior tournament. They usually go undefeated, only to lose early in the knockout stage. This time, it is Canada they are playing. Many people are nervous about this game on both sides, because neither team has faced much adversity and both teams are unproven in the World Juniors. 

Once they get past Sweden, Canada faces either USA, whom they lost to 3-1, or Russia, both of which will be tough opponents. Historically, Canada and Russia are almost evenly matched when they face each other in the final; however, Canada does have a few games in hand. On the other hand, it has been rare when Canada and USA face each other in the finals, although it will be an exciting game for both Canadian and USA fans, as the teams are big rivals.

Who do you expect to win the semifinal? How about the gold medal? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. 

Top 5 Moments of the World Cup of Hockey

Check out my new YouTube video about the top 5 moments of the World Cup of Hockey. I hope you enjoy it!

Yes, all the goals are from Team Canada (WCH Champions!!!) and Team NA because these are the games I watched and the goals i thought were the best,

Just a quick note - numbers 1 and 2 are not based on skill. I made them the top 2 because they were the most exciting. Team Europe was leading Canada 1-0 until the last 2 minutes of the game, when Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand scored two quick goals to tie it and win the game in regulation. If you missed that game, you missed one of the most exciting hockey games you will ever see.

Eulogy of Team North America

When I found out that the NHL had decided to include Team Europe and Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey, I thought, this is a marketing ploy. Add on to the fact that I, like most NHL fans, was already annoyed that there were ads on the shoulders of the jersey. However, I soon changed my mind.

Team North America was supposed to be a team of under-23 talent from the United States and Canada, including so-called "generational players" such as Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews. It didn't make sense to most people, because why would such a team field talent that could be used to give Team Canada and Team USA a large boost?

However, Team North America won the hearts of the crowd, and soon, I was one of their biggest supporters. I watched them beat Sweden in overtime on a SICK Nate Mackinnon goal, and that was it. I, along with Morgan Reilly (comment if you get the reference), thought that they were going to the semifinals. 

Look at those hands!

Except there was one problem. Team Russia was also battling for the final spot in the semis, and they had to have a loss to Team Finland the next day in order for Team North America to make the semifinal. That day, there were lots of Finland fans all across the continent, hoping that North America would win it. But what would've been a Cinderella story came to an abrupt end when Finland lost to Russia, allowing them to take the final spot.

Team North America was no more. They were a team that used dedication and determination, combined with skill, to get where they were. But they didn't go all the way. Next World Cup of Hockey, whenever that is, the same group of amazing young players will never get together again. And that is what saddens me the most. Team North America, you have come so far. 

Team Canada is In the World Cup of Hockey Final!!!

Canada has been dominating the World Cup of Hockey, right from the start until the end.

First, they went undefeated in the preliminary games, beating the Czech Republic, USA, and Europe. The USA game was the most anticipated of the tournament, and Canada ended up beating a team specifically designed to beat them 4-2 and knocking them out of the tourney.

Next, they faced Russia in the semifinal, beating them 5-3. Many players were outstanding during the game, and Brad Marchand had two goals.

The final series started yesterday, and Marchand continued his excellence, scoring once and being dominant on the powerplay. The final is a three-game series between Team Europe and Team Canada, and Canada took the first game 3-1. The next game is on Thursday, and if Canada wins, then they are crowned champions. If Canada loses, there will be a game next Saturday, and the winner will win the championship. 

Logan Couture Says Crosby is a Cheater -- and Most People Agree

The Sharks lost Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins right after Sidney Crosby won a faceoff, passed the puck to Kris Letang, who passed to Conor Sheary, who put it past Martin Jones. Basically, Crosby won the faceoff that led to the goal. But Couture said otherwise. 

"He cheats. He gets away with that. He's Sidney Crosby," Couture said. When asked how Crosby cheats, Couture's response was: "He times them and yet they don't kick him out for some reason; probably because of who he is." 

Crosby won an absurd 71 percent of faceoffs in Game 2, which is nearly impossible to pull off, and 56 percent in Game 1. 

Here is the NHL rulebook's take on faceoffs:

Rule 54 - Face-Offs

(a) Conduct of any face-off commences when the Official designates the place of the face-off and he takes up his position to drop the puck. As soon as the line change procedure has been completed by the Referee and he lowers his hand to indicate no further changes, the Linesman conducting the face-off shall blow his whistle. This will signal to both Teams that they have no more than five (5) seconds to line up for the ensuing face-off. At the end of the five (5) seconds (or sooner if both centers are ready), the Linesman will conduct a proper face-off. If, however:

One or both centers are not positioned for the face-off,

One or both centers refrain from placing their stick on the ice,

Any player has encroached into the face-off circle,

Any player makes physical contact with an opponent, or

Any player is in an off-side position, the Linesman shall have the offending center(s) replaced immediately prior to dropping the puck.

If a center is not at the designated face-off area once the five (5) second time limit has elapsed, the Linesman will drop the puck immediately.

So, basically, Couture is calling for the referees to watch Crosby more closely in the faceoff dot, and I think they should, as lots of people think he gets away with too much.

World Cup of Hockey Power Rankings (6-8)

This is the second part of my World Cup of Hockey power rankings. 

6. Team USA

This team, other than Patrick Kane, is a ho-hum team, but they can have flashes of brilliance. Never underestimate the red, white, and blue.

7. Team Europe

Though not as dangerous as the young North Americans, Team Europe is still looking pretty scary. 

8. Czech Republic

Jaromir Jagr insists on not playing. That is all I have to say.