USA gets it handed to them by team CANADA...

Canada came to play while the USA team looked like deer in the headlight. I think the writer from TSN.CA sums it up best with this...

It was a satisfying evening on Monday for Canada, which saw goals from Curtis Hamilton, Quinton Howden, Ryan Johansen and Zack Kassian. Chris Brown had the lone tally for the Americans, in what must have felt like an "away" game for them with all those red and white jerseys in the stands at HSBC Arena.

"We got great support. People were coming over the border," said Canadian forward Brayden Schenn after the game. "Hopefully it will be the same in the final."

The Canada-U.S. matchup was less of a contest than many had predicted, sending the Canadians to their 10th consecutive appearance in the finals at the WJC. The Americans - with eight returning players from 2010's championship team - were the favourite to win the tournament, but they didn't appear up to the challenge on this night.

"We were a little lackadaisical and a little big-headed," said American forward Emerson Etem.

U.S. captain John Ramage seconded that notion.

Last night’s effort by the USA squad was pathetic, I had a hard time watching this game, I was ready to throw my television out the front window. The Canadian WJC team had all of the answers for the USA squad that looked like a team that had forgotten that when you wear your countries uniform the logo the front means more than that name on the back back of the uniform, I know it sounds cliché but it’s true. Too many players on team USA last night were playing like individuals and could take a page from the Canadian's play book, defend your countries honor… Play like there is no tomorrow, no excuses. Last years team had it, this years team played like a bunch of spoiled "prima donnas" that couldn't deal with adversity.

While some want to blame the coach for the loss I don’t think that is the right approach, it's counter productive and I also don’t think it would have mattered if the coach had been a WCHA, coach or a coach from the OHL. The loss is squarely with the players that fail to compete and make plays when the game was on the line. The goaltender Jack Campbell should sue his team mates for nonsupport.

The IIHF throws the book at Slovakia hack’s Martin Marincin and Peter Hrasko

I applaud the IIHF for throwing the book at the two Slovaks and giving Martin Marincin three additional games and Peter Hrasko two additional games for their bush league hits during their game with team USA…

BUFFALO – Dan Marouelli, the IIHF`s appointed Disciplinary Single Judge, handed out suspensions totalling six additional games to three players for flagrant violations in games played yesterday.

The Slovakia-United States game produced five of those games to two Slovaks, the heaviest suspension going to Martin Marincin (three games). Peter Hrasko received two additional games while Canada's Zack Kassian got one extra game.

The IIHF has very specific rules regarding dangerous hits. These are not limited just to the head but to the neck area as well, which is defined by that part of the body above the collarbone and shoulder pads (i.e., unprotected areas).

All players were automatically given one-game suspensions for their match penalties for a hit to the head and neck area. Here are the details for each violation.

Slovakia’s Martin Marincin was assessed a further three-game suspension (four games in total) by the IIHF for his hit to the head and neck area on American forward Jason Zucker with 7:51 left in the third period of the United States-Slovakia game on December 28.

In making his assessment, Marouelli analyzed the play on DVD. As well, he received a verbal report from the IIHF’s medical staff and discussed the play with the referee supervisor and the chairman of the championship.

Some of the criteria used to make this decision included the distance travelled by Marincin to deliver the hit. In Marouelli’s opinion, this was a premeditated act as the puck had long left the vicinity of the play. Marincin took advantage of a defenceless and unsuspecting opponent and deliberately targeted the head and neck area, resulting in an injury to Zucker.

Slovakia’s Peter Hrasko was assessed a further two-game suspension (three games in total) by the IIHF for his hit to the head and neck area on American forward Jerry D’Amigo.

In making his assessment, Marouelli analyzed the play on DVD. As well, he received a verbal report from the IIHF’s medical staff and discussed the play with the referee supervisor and the chairman of the championship.

Hrasko deliberately targeted the head of the American player, using his elbow and upper arm to deliver the blow and causing D’Amigo to be thrown violently into the boards. As a result, D’Amigo struck his head against the glass, sustaining an injury... [Read the Rest of the article]

In reviewing the video its safe to conclude that Dan Marouelli, of the IIHF`s made the right decision in severely punishing the offending Slovak players. From the drop of the puck you could tell that the Slovaks were going to play a dirty game and were out to get their pound of flesh.