Players at the World Championships...GREAT performances, POOR performances

Austria's Setzinger did a fabulous coast-to-coast undressing of the Russians for a great scoring opportunity in what has to be the highlight of the opening game.

What other highlight plays stick in your mind?

(before the media pick their favourites to repeat ad infinitum)

Nash being dragged down by 3 players and still managing to get the puck to Gagne was exceptional, best play of the Canada game.

Nash!! His second goal was pretty nice. Getting hauled down and still managing to get the puck on net from the ground.

Bernd Brückler's diving stick save on a breakaway against #21 Alexander Kharitonov in the first period of Austria's loss against Russia

http://sport.orf.at/050430-18088/popup_eh_aut_rus_1_big_a.jpg

Nash!! His second goal was pretty nice. Getting hauled down and still managing to get the puck on net from the ground.

His first goal also. Great pass by Jovo, nice roof job by Nash.

Bernd Brückler's diving stick save on a breakaway against #21 Alexander Kharitonov in the first period of Austria's loss against Russia

http://sport.orf.at/050430-18088/popup_eh_aut_rus_1_big_a.jpg


Was that a stick save or poke check?

Team Finland. For not disappointing the fans by scoring only 2 goals against Denmark. Simply marvelous, all the Finnish fans expected this team to have trouble scoring and they did. :bow:

Hossa leveled a Belarussian,
stole the puck,
went behind the net from left to right,
came out,
threaded a perfect pass to Gaborik on the leftside of the crease for the tap in goal.

After watching three entire games from the opening night, this thread is begun to keep track of ups and downs on the night and later throughout the tourney.

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The Belarussian goalie Mezin played wonderfully against Slovakia and was much more deserving of game star than the Dane and Finn goaltenders were in their first game, and even more than the Austrian goalie, who received recognition against Russia simply because the entire team played well defensively, giving him relatively easy shots to save and few rebounds.

Gaborik-Demitra-Hossa had chemistry together PASSING in the opening game.

but PUG-HOGGING was not successful: Pallfy and Zednik were as ineffective as Kovalchuk, Afinogenov, Yashin and Ovechkin in their attempts to surge individually toward the net against Austria.

Jani Rita shot wide three times and Jussi Jokinen missed at least three passes in the Danish game.

The Finns showed the best PASSING of the opening night, the Austrians the best TEAM DEFENSE.

The two Danish kids Regin and Jannik Hansen showed they had potential. Regin was, together with Hirsch, the best Danish player yesterday.

The two Danish kids Regin and Jannik Hansen showed they had potential. Regin was, together with Hirsch, the best Danish player yesterday.
Jannik Hansen impressed by getting a shot on net early in the game and broke away from several checks throughout the game, protecting the puck well too.

I was looking at Peter Regin and didn't notice much.

Kasper Degn created a lot of opportunities prior to his deserving goal late in the game.

From what i have seen, the most outstanding player of the first day was belarussian goalie andrei mezin. he faced many quality shots but denied most of them.

from an austrian point of view, oliver setzinger had a huge game against russia.

Oliver Setzinger had a huge game against Russia.
He played as well as Pavel Datsyuk and Alexei Kovalev did for Russia. Good call.

*cough* Rick Nash *cough*

He played as well as Pavel Datsyuk and Alexei Kovalev did for Russia. Good call.

I thought that Dats and Kovalev sucked. :help:

I thought that Dats and Kovalev sucked. :help:
? :dunno: ? They were moving the puck in deep, created opportunities by passing from behind the net and passing to the slot, drawing defenders away from teammates.

As long as you think everyone sucked, I guess I can agree. But at least they were doing some of the little things right.

Some of their teammates tried to do it all alone, time and again.

Malkin made a few nice plays, including the pass on the Ovechkin bobbled goal.

I agree that Kovalev and Datsyuk were the best russians, but their performances still weren't good enough to deserve any mention in this thread.

Team Latvia is Great with the puck but poor without it!

Thomas Rhodin deked two Ukrainians then backhand passed out right to Kenny Jonsson who buried it on a quick release.

Thomas Rhodin controlled the play in the Sweden-Ukraine game, an impact player on nearly every shift.

Thomas Rhodin deked two Ukrainians then backhand passed out right to Kenny Jonsson who buried it on a quick release.

Yeah that was the best move I've seen so far in this tournament. People have questioned Rhodin very much before the tournament. Maybe they'll change their mind now :clap:

Kazakhstani Koreshkov makes German goalie Jonas look bad on a five-hole backhander on a partial breakaway.

Marian Hossa before the 2nd goal = :bow: .

The BEL player has the puck resting on his hands, waiting for the ref to whistle, Hossa just comes and BLOWS him away (like Kariya and Stevens but not to the head, just shoulder to shoulder), gets the puck, goes around the net, wrap around and Gaborik scores.

:bow: :bow:

Im surprised how well the G-H-D line played.

Hossa leveled a Belarussian,
stole the puck,
went behind the net from left to right,
came out,
threaded a perfect pass to Gaborik on the leftside of the crease for the tap in goal.
That play was just great. But he didnt pass it to Gaborik, he tried a wrap around, which deflected to him.

In the Russia game, Hossa forced A. Marlov to take a penalty to stop him and that led to a powerplay goal. Then Hossa scored on a beautiful Stumpel pass from behind the net.

Only Visnovsky was more impressive in the second game, IMO, passing and shooting often from the point, in all sorts of situations. Honourable mention to Palffy for getting it done and to Gaborik for more sweet passes!

Malkin continued demonstrating his passing skill and Ovechkin again missed some chances, becoming a bit of a bobbler, perhaps because of overexcitement and youthful inexperience.

Yashin was AWOL. And Kovalchuk couldn't do much until late in the game. Fedor Fedorov was trying, but clearly ain't Sergei. Honourable mention goes to Kovalev's line again and to A. Markov for making several key plays defensively and offensively.

The fourth goal of the Ukranian game was classic: Kapanen passed to Karalahti at the point for a one-timer which Hentunen deflected into the net. A textbook play.

Grabovsky with 4 goals (3 on the PP)

Untill today matches, I think that the best individual actions shows Magnus Kahnberg (SWE).... Great TECHNIC :clap:

The Sweeds where superb against Denmark. Granted Denmark where poor and so it did show the Sweeds up, but their passing and movement was a joy to watch. One touch passing across the two lines sending men in one on one was excellent. Alfredsons was a superb goal.

The Sweeds where superb against Denmark. Granted Denmark where poor and so it did show the Sweeds up, but their passing and movement was a joy to watch. One touch passing across the two lines sending men in one on one was excellent. Alfredsons was a superb goal.

Alfredssons goal was better than sex

Untill today matches, I think that the best individual actions shows Magnus Kahnberg (SWE).... Great TECHNIC :clap:

Agreed.

And Niklas Kronwall deliver so many good passes, it's beautiful to see. :)