Penguins’ and local talent on display during World Cup of Hockey exhibition games
Czech Republic's Ales Hemsky (83) and Tomas Plekanec (14) celebrate after their winning goal on North America's goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
North America's J.T. Miller (10) and the Czech Repbulic's Tomas Plekanec (14) battle for the puck during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
J.T. Miller, center, talks with teammates during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
North America's Matt Murray (30) stops a shot by the Czech Republic's Martin Hanzal (11) during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
Fans dance and wave a Russian flag during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
Czech Republic's goalie Michal Neuvirth (30) defends as Brandon Saad (20) battles at the front of the goal during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
Czech Republic's Martin Hanzal deflects a shot behind North America goalie Matt Murray during North America's 3-2 loss to the Czech Republic in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition match on Wednesday at Consol Energy Center.
Associated Press
Above right: Team Russia蘑菇视频 Evgeni Malkin checks Team Canada蘑菇视频 Sidney Crosby during the first period of a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game in Pittsburgh in September. Both players ended the night with an assist. Crosby went on to lead Team Canada to a World Cup while taking home unanimous MVP of the tournament.
PITTSBURGH 鈥� NHL training camps will begin in about a week, but many of the NHL蘑菇视频 best are on the ice for the World Cup of Hockey. The tournament featuring eight teams begins on Saturday, but a full slate of exhibition games kicked off last weekend.
Consol Energy Center hosted two games on Wednesday.
The first half of the doubleheader matched Team North America, made up of the best NHL players aged 23 and under, against the Czech Republic. Pittsburgh and the Penguins were well represented as local products J.T. Miller and Brandon Saad, along with Penguins鈥� goaltender Matt Murray skated for North America in their 3-2 loss to the Czechs.
The second half featured the marquee match up between Penguins鈥� star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Crosby and Team Canada knocked off Malkin and Team Russia 3-2 in a shootout.
Here is how all of the local products fared during the exhibitions.
Sidney Crosby, Canada
Crosby skated on a line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron has been used on a line with Crosby numerous times during past international competitions and that long-standing chemistry was on display early. The Penguins鈥� captain used a skill move along the left wing boards to quickly stop, spin and send a backhand pass to Bergeron that turned into a first period goal. Crosby finished the game with one assist, four shots on goal, and a plus-1 rating. He didn鈥檛 have his best night in the faceoff circle, but still managed to win eight of 17 draws in the game.
Evgeni Malkin, Russia
Malkin centered a line featuring Vladimir Tarasenko and Nikolay Kulemin. Malkin picked up a secondary assist on Alex Ovechkin蘑菇视频 third-period goal that tied the game, 1-1. He was whistled for roughing during the second period, but his teammates got the penalty kill. The 30-year-old finished the night with one assist, four shots on goal, and two hits and managed to win nine of 19 faceoffs.
J.T. Miller, North America
Miller skated on a line with Saad and Sean Couturier. He finished the game with a minus-1 rating, two shots on goal and four hits. He logged a total of 11:52 minutes of ice time, which included over two minutes on the penalty kill. Though he is a center, he skated on the right wing throughout the game, but was called upon to take an important faceoff late in regulation with his team trailing 3-2. He beat the Czech蘑菇视频 Martin Hanzal and helped create a scoring opportunity.
Brandon Saad, North America
He skated on the left wing with Couturier and Miller and spent the game bulldozing his way to the front of the net and creating scoring chances. He had a chance late in the first period that could have tied the game at 1-1, but Czech goaltender Michal Neuvirth stopped his point-blank shot. He finished with one shot, two hits over 10:07 minutes on the ice. He was assessed a high sticking penalty during the second period.
Matt Murray, North America
Murray started the game for North America and made 16 saves on 17 shots. He wasn鈥檛 significantly tested, but played very well. The lone goal to beat him came on a first period Czech power play when Ondrej Palat蘑菇视频 shot from the high slot deflected off of Morgan Rielly蘑菇视频 stick and up over Murray蘑菇视频 shoulder. Connor Hellebuyck replaced him after two periods.
Local products Vince Trocheck (Upper St. Clair) and John Gibson (Whitehall) were healthy scratches for North America.