USA-CAN 2017 WJC Gold Medal Open Game Thread

USA! USA!

Tonight the Bell Centre in Montreal is the setting for the gold medal game of the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship. For the first time since an overtime victory in 2010, the USA team will face off against Canada’s under-20 national team for the gold.

Heated rivalries. Stellar goaltending. Opportunistic goals. Lead changes. The Hanson brothers. Penalty shots. Goalies getting run over. Four-on -four sudden-death overtime. A player going 3 for 3 on shootout attempts.

And that was just yesterday’s USA-RUS game (except for the Hanson thing).

Unlike past years, there aren’t any projected superstars playing in this tournament, and neither are there any Rangers prospects playing tonight (draft picks? What draft picks?). Nevertheless, there’s certainly been some exciting hockey in this tournament, and tonight should be no exception.

Canada will be looking for revenge against the undefeated Americans, who beat their neighbor to the north 3-1 on New Years Eve. The USA will need goalie Tyler Parsons to be at the top of his game. Canada has a deep blue line, but their goaltending is not their strength (for once), so the Americans need to take advantage.

Should be fun.

Team USA Roster

Team Canada Roster

PS: Don’t forget the podcast at 8PM!