Showing Some International Love: Croatian Edition

After seeing how the first group was going (review soon…maybe), I realized one mistake that I won’t make again: not seeing the rosters. I realize that one player rarely dominants a game and wins it for their team, but seeing where some of the players play might help judge how competitive the team may end up being. Some teams (mainly Latvia at the top tier) have their roster 90% filled with guys from the same team (in Latvia’s case, their sole KHL team). While that would give the team an edge in chemistry over a team just thrown together, it’s a relatively small factor in helping a team succeed. While this theory doesn’t work for top teams like Canada and the U.S., seeing lower-division teams with players in higher leagues than their own countries can tell which team might have – at least on paper – a competitive advantage over others. But I digress…

Well how awesome is that, Croatia's hosting the damn thing (bias alert), even after being demoted from Division I last year. Now before I get depressed about that, here's the overview:

Division II - Group B (Host: Croatia)

World Ranking:
26. Croatia
28. Romania
31. Bulgaria
37. China
38. Iceland
41. Ireland

Prediction:
1 (Promoted) - Croatia
2 - Romania
3 - Bulgaria
4 - Iceland
5 - China
6 (Relegated) - Ireland

Bias aside, Croatia looks like the stronger team. Outside of Romania, there doesn't seem to be any real challengers. Bulgaria is a strong enough team to stay in the middle of the pack. It was tempting to pick Iceland as a dark horse (despite disappointing me before) but I took the safer bet and picked them to end up in the lower half of the group. China and Ireland will battle to stay in the Division. China gets the nod since they are more use to the competition at this level, but Ireland might be able to pull off an upset. The big reason that I’m not big on Ireland is that they had almost half the roster listed as playing for “Ireland”, meaning either they have a travelling national team, or they are all free agents (and I only say this as a guy who’s played way too much NHL EHM.)

Saturday Night Hockey

I'll write something for later (damn Ottawa had to play an early game!) so here is the important stuff first.

Lineup Notables

Ottawa Murrays Senators vs. Boston Bruins

Ottawa: Glass-cal Leclaire, Daniel Alfredsson, Erik Karlsson, Sergei Gonchar, Peter Regin, Matt Carkner, and Marek Svatos are all out. Craig Anderson is expected to start.

Boston: Just Trent Whitfield and Marc Savard are out. Tim Thomas will start.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto "There's Always Next Year" Maple Leafs

Montreal: The Right Knee Gang (now just Andrei Markov and Josh Gorges), Max Pacioretty, and Alexandre Picard are out, Jeff Halpern is questionable. Carey Price is in nets.

Toronto: Colton Orr and Colby Armstrong are out, Tim Brent is doubtful for tonight. James "The Saviour 2012 Edition" Reimer will start.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flame(out)s

Vancouver: Lee Sweatt, Dan Hamhuis, Andrew Alberts and Manny Malhotra are out, Raffi Torres is suspended. Roberto Loungo is expected to start.

Calgary: Raitis Ivanans, Adam Pardy, Niklas Hagman, Brendan Morrison, David Moss, and Fredrik Modin are all on IR. Miikka Kiprusoff is going to start.

Leafs Last Chance and International WTF Day

A non-Saturday non-Preview post? My god I've gone mad! Here are a few things:

Toronto On The Edge

Tonight is literally do are die with the Leafs, and it all depends on them winning AND the Sabres losing. After seeing the Bruins blow a 3-0 lead last night (must have thought it was the playoffs), the Rangers are out of the Leafs reach. AS the standing are, Buffalo has 90 points to Toronto's 84, and both teams have 3 games left. Buffalo faces Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, and Columbus, while Toronto must beat Washington, New Jersey, and Montreal. Not exactly a cake walk but not impossible either. So if this all goes well for the Leafs (they go 3-0 while the Sabres go 0-3), who would get that all important 8th and final spot for the playoffs? Well after extensive research in a highly classified lab about 2 minutes figuring out how exactly the tiebreaker works, I've found the answer. The first tiebreaker is "point percentage", but since both team would have 90 points and played 82 games, this tiebreaker is useless. Next up is the total number of wins minus any that came from shootout. And again, both teams are tied with 5 wins apiece. #3 in the tiebreaker is the head-to-head point totals. Here are the results from their match-ups with points for it included (left side Sabres, right side Leafs):

November 6          Buffalo 3 - Toronto 2 (SO)          2-1
November 26        Toronto 1 - Buffalo 3                   4-1
February 5             Toronto 2 - Buffalo 6                  6-1
February 16           Toronto 2 - Buffalo 1                  6-3
March 12              Buffalo 3 - Toronto 4                   6-5
March 29              Buffalo 3 - Toronto 4                   6-7

So Toronto will get by because of an earlier shootout lost to the Sabres. So the "Bettman Point" doesn't look so bad now does it Leaf fans? (note: I'm indifferent to it). Well, I'll cheer for the Leafs, until that last game against the Habs...Then I want vengeance for 2007 (the ONE time witnessing a Habs-Leafs game live, and Toronto would win it).

Those Picks Went To Hell

As previously mentioned, the Division II Group A tournament kicks off the World Championship schedule, and there are upsets to be had. I didn't think the Belgium would be a threat. Even though it was a 3-2 win, I still call that an upset over freshly-relegated-from-Division-I Serbia. Mexico also let Australia walk all over them, losing 11-1. It was 5-0 after 2 and then the onslaught happened. I haven't seen a goal-scoring parade in the 3rd period like that since...well...the Bruins-Rangers game last night. Well, it's early, but...Congrats Australia, enjoy Division I next year.

Showing Some International Love: World Championships Officially Beings

Ok, not like anyone in North American (er...excluding Mexico in this case?) cares about the World Championships, and maybe its just Division II* but still, nice to recognize the lower nations once in a while. In this case, the whole month. So here's a rundown of the beginning tournament.

*For some reason, just Group A is playing, Group B is next week. Also, North Korea pulled out due to financial reason, so the ranking will be adapted to exclude them.

Division II - Group A (Host: Australia)

World Ranking:
29. Serbia
32. Mexico
34. Australia
36. Belgium
40. New Zealand

Prediction:
1 (Promoted) - Mexico
2 - Serbia
3 - Australia
4 - Belgium
5 (Relegated?) - New Zealand

Out of the top 3 ranked, only Mexico hasn't been promoted. This year might be that year they break though. Serbia is bound to challenge for promotion though. Australia has a chance too. The 2nd game scheduled is Australia-Mexico, so whoever wins will more than likely earn a spot in Division I. Belgium and New Zealand will battle for who is last. I'm going on a limb that because of having to forfeit, North Korea will be automatically relegated. Just incase though, had to put the relegated tag there, but I'm sure that every team (minus the top one of course) stays in Division II for another year.

Saturday Night Hockey

Screw it, had a post somewhat written then stuff happened and I wasn't able to complete it...I'll post it independently.

Lineup Notables

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

Toronto: Colton Orr and Colby Armstrong are out. James Reimer is expected to start.

Ottawa: Glas-cal Leclaire, Daniel Alfredsson, Peter Regin, Sergei Gonchar, Erik Karlsson, and Matt Carkner are out. Craig Anderson might start tonight.

Montreal Canadiens vs. New Jersey Devils

Montreal: Max Pacioretty, the Right Knee Gang, and Jeff Halpern are out, Alexandre Picard is questionable. Carey "Please for the love of god don't start choking" Price is in net.

New Jersey: Bryce Salvador is out, Zach Parise and Colin White are questionable. Martin Brodeur gets the start.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks 

Edmonton: Ryan Whitney, Shawn Horcoff, Ales Hemsky, Taylor Hall, Sam Gagner, and Taylor Chorney are out, Kurtis Foster is probable for tonights game. Devan Dubynk may start tonight.

Vancouver: Dan Hamhuis, Alexander Elder, Andrew Alberts, Lee Sweatt, and Manny Malhotra are out, Mikael Samuelsson, Tanner Glass, and Christopher Tanev are all questionable for tonight, Roberto Loungo is starting.