Exciting International Tournament: Which Nation Wins?

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00:00I'm actually excited. I don't know how you feel about this international thing. I am interested

00:07to watch it. I don't know if I'm gonna bet it, but I know if they play defense

00:12and actually take it serious, it's gonna be a fun little tournament.

00:18You know, you're right. If they take it serious, it will be fun. And I think the

00:23one thing that you look at first, Dave, and this is where I focused on this thing,

00:27is in a short format tournament like this, like the Olympics, now this is even smaller,

00:32only four teams, who's got the best goaltending? You're talking three round robin games,

00:40and then a knockout with four teams. So you're playing five games really max in this thing.

00:45Who's got the best goaltending? And you can make a case, Dave, the United States, if you took all

00:51three goalies from all four teams, that's 12 goalies and lined them up, you can make a case

00:56the United States has one, two, and three on the list of every goalie that's there. And Hellebuyck,

01:02Oettinger, Swayman. I mean, I think that that gives them a little bit of an advantage

01:07over everybody else. I think you're right. And I think the odds reflect that.

01:13I was out looking for Jersey and I saw it. I'm not sold yet, Mike, on the USA stuff,

01:20on the merch, but I think I'm sold on the USA, at least being in the final,

01:26because of the goaltending. So again, all you're trying when you look at that is pick the matchup.

01:31And if you can get the price nailed, I don't think Finland has much of a chance, just glancing

01:39at what's going on and the odds reflect that as well. So are we getting, is it as easy as just

01:46USA and Canada? I mean, I know it sounds very chalky-ish and cliche, but yeah, I think it is.

01:55Like, I just, I don't see how, you're right about Finland. Now, it's not like Finland's got bums

02:00here. I mean, they have Barkov, they have Sebastian Aho, they got Hintz, they've got, you know, they've

02:05got some guys who are good, but they can't roll four lines worth of talent like Canada and the

02:14United States is going to be too. You know, the United States, Dave, I know that Canada doesn't

02:19like to hear this. They have caught up in a big way in terms of the type of talent that they produce.

02:25And, you know, they have got, I mean, there is going to be a loaded United States team on both

02:30the forward and the defensive side and not just the goalies. I think USA is favored for good reason.

02:36I think they're the best team all around, one through 20. It's deep. That's the difference,

02:41right? The USA is deep. The Canada is deep. Finland has one good line. It looks like Sweden

02:47has a little bit more, but you're right. I mean, they're not as big of favorites as the Rangers

02:53are today against the Penguins, huh? I mean, I just, you know, two bills. It's that easy.

03:01Crosby's hurt. He's not easy. At least he's skating, but he ain't playing.

03:07That's a lay down right there. Rangers over to Penguin.