FanHouse is keeping hockey fans updated on the happenings at the 2009 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa.
In what was easily the best game of the tournament so far, Canada and Russia hooked up for a classic in the semifinals of the IIHF World Junior Championships.
The Russians took a late lead on a garbage goal, but Canada dramatically tied the score as Jordan Eberle (NHL rights: Edmonton) got to a loose puck near the Russian net and scored with just over five seconds left in regulation.
A 10-minute, four-on-four overtime solved nothing, meaning that the game was decided in a shootout.
Just like the NHL, this shootout was scheduled to go three rounds, but Eberle and John Tavares (2009 draft-eligible) each scored, Canadian goalie Dustin Tokarski made two saves, and there was no need for a third round. The Canadians won, and they move into the gold-medal game Monday night against Sweden.
This game had everything you could possibly ask for.
There was lots of offense, but still plenty of room for quality goaltending as well. Both netminders had some awesome saves. The skill players dazzled, the hitters hit, and the game was relatively clean.
It was a truly great hockey game, except that it didn't have an ending.
When the NHL went to the shootout after the lockout, I hated the idea. It was my experiences watching international hockey that made me hate the shootout.
It's one thing for colleges to use it to decide the results of in-season tournament games. Since they don't count for anything except to decide who advances in the tournament, there's really no harm done.
While I'm not the biggest fan of the NHL using it in the regular season, it's better than having them use it in the playoffs. Yes, the shootout can help decide who makes the playoffs and who doesn't. But it could be a lot worse.
Like it is in international hockey.
There really isn't one good reason why we're using shootouts to decide tie games in international hockey. They don't use it in high school hockey, college hockey, junior hockey, or the NHL once they reach tournament play. Yet the international game is still using it to decide who wins the gold medal.
It's ridiculous. Canada and Russia treated us to a great game Saturday, and they should have been allowed to play until it was over, instead of using a skills competition to decide the final outcome.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-04-2009 @ 8:57PM
Colonial said...
If you can't think of one good reason to use the shootout in these tournaments you aren't trying hard enough.
Reason #1: These are teenagers playing 6-7 games in 14 days. A team that ended up in a 3 or more OT contest might as well consider themselves eliminated. As it stands non-pool winners already play a 2nd game with less than 24 hours off.
Reason #2: it makes for good TV.
Reason #3: A shootout loss is still a fair loss. The shootout may be a skills competition but it tests skills that are actually relevant to the game.
Reason #4: While it is true that no important North American leagues have shootouts in the playoffs this is an international tournament and many European leagues do have playoff shootouts. I suppose you weren't a fan of no-touch icing in these tournaments before several of the NA leagues started to use it as well?
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