2014 World Junior Championships

[columbia]

Does Pouliot play defense?

[mikey287]

Yarp!

[columbia]

Does he really or is that just his position?

[mikey287]

He really does. He's improved a lot. He's a terrific skater, he has good sense. He's been just about Canada's best player so far in the tournament...or at least he's in the discussion...he plays on the top pairing with a 17 year old named Aaron Ekblad. Ekblad isn't as great of a skater, but he's a physical player and great defensively. That's been Canada's top pair and in close games, it feels like they take every second shift. Ice time isn't available for the tournament, but Canada keeps their own. Pouliot regularly plays 25 minutes per night and in tighter games (i.e. not vs. Norway) he plays 30.

He has a lot of skill to him, he can shoot, the puck jumps right off of his stick...he's more feisty than his size would indicate...he still needs to get stronger, but his skating is so good and efficient that he doesn't wear himself out chasing plays all over the place. And now that he's a little more settled and a lot more confident, he just skates with you and gets the puck away from you...

The progression that he's made in the last 12 months is noteworthy, in my opinion. I think we have a player here, I really do, a real good player...

[columbia]

That sounds good.....thanks for the info.

[meecrofilm]

Yarp!

+1 for the reference

[Pitts]

And considering how terrible Matthew Dumba is...

Thank you. I thought I was the only one who thought this.

If the name fits ...

[mikey287]

It goes further, his number in Minnesota was 55...

[meecrofilm]

Yeah... that's just cruel, haha.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Yeah, pretty good according to some accounts. They just started advertising it, though I thought Quebec McDonalds had had it for a while now...I could be wrong though.

The Toronto McDonald's near the hockey hall of fame had poutine back in the mid to late 90s when I visited there with my family.

[Idoit40fans]

Cant decide if i want the fins or canada to win.

[Kovy27]

Yes! The Fins!

[penny lane]

Mark Masters ‏@markhmasters 29m
Pouliot named Canada's player of the game ... Nikko for Finland
Retweeted by Shelly Anderson

Defense-Defense!

[pcm]

Oscar Sunqdvist scores on a breakaway for Sweden to beat Russia. Going for gold...

This kid is my favorite Pens prospect not yet pro.

[wondermoose]

Not sure if ya'll watched the Canada loss today or watched the highlights (http://www.tsn.ca" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but Pouliot did not have a good game at all. Got smoked buy a little guy right on the doorstep for the Fins' second goal and it was all downhill from there.

[mikey287]

Oscar Sunqdvist scores on a breakaway for Sweden to beat Russia. Going for gold...

This kid is my favorite Pens prospect not yet pro.

Heavily relied upon for defensive situations and checking. Was rewarded with a breakaway late and had a nice finish. But definitely a DZ starter for the Swedes and for his home league team...

[mikey287]

Not sure if ya'll watched the Canada loss today or watched the highlights (http://www.tsn.ca" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but Pouliot did not have a good game at all. Got smoked buy a little guy right on the doorstep for the Fins' second goal and it was all downhill from there.

This was definitely Pouliot's worst game of the tournament. The same can be said for many big Canadian names. Still showed that he was the primary catalyst for offense from the back end, but the Canadians had a lot of issues with the Finns and once they got behind, the Finns cut open some sandbags at their own blueline for the last 25 minutes...

That said, Pouliot has been their best d-man and one of their best players overall and I expect he'll have a nice game in a wide-open game vs. the Russians for bronze tomorrow morning...

[Shakes]

So who you got to medal, LGP?

Finland's playing a tough system, but I got the home team to win. Canada for the bronze.

[mikey287]

The Swedes won't lose to their little brother at home, I don't think...

[Shakes]

Swedes getting plenty of attack zone time but mostly on the perimeter.

[Shakes]

Swedes tie on the PP! Good game.

[Shakes]

Overtime - 20 mins of 4 on 4? Awesome, no way they get to the shootut...

[Idoit40fans]

I dont really care but my preference would be finland winning. Ive come to like this team a lot. Glad it got to OT so i could see some of this game.

Edit: yay

[columbia]

Jokinen, Jokinen and Maatta are presumably cracking a beer.

[Shakes]

Nice move by Ristolainen (who was one of the few defensemen trying to score), and he slides it in five hole. Great celebration too.

Finnish goalie was ridiculous.