World Cup of Hockey: Leon Draisaitl scores on two-man breakaway (Video)
Team Europe has a 2-0 lead over Team USA in the World Cup of Hockey after Leon Draisaitl scored on a two on zero breakaway.
Team USA entered the World Cup of Hockey with some questionable roster decisions. Despite a roster with flaws, everyone expected Team USA to contend in the World Cup. So far, that hasn’t been the case. In their first game of group play against Team Europe, Europe has a 2-0 lead thanks to a goal from Marian Gaborik and a breakaway goal by Leon Draisaitl.
Leon Draisaitl puts Team Europe up 2-0 on the 2 on 0 #WCH2016 pic.twitter.com/rQObOvGLcT
— Marina Maher (@marinakmaher) September 17, 2016
It’s hard to remember, but Draisaitl is a third overall pick of the Edmonton Oilers. He’s an incredibly talented guy and he proved that by helping to steal the puck away from Patrick Kane. Of course, anyone can look good when it’s a two-on-zero breakaway. Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter got an assist on Draisaitl’s goal.
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Once again, Team USA’s aggressive offense and lack of defense hurts them. It hurt them on Gaborik’s goal. Though there is very little that they could have done to prevent Draisaitl’s goal, Niederreiter and Draisaitl got way too much time to set up the inevitable goal.
Jonathan Quick has done well for Team USA. Neither of the goals can be blamed on Quick. He had no chance at Gaborik’s goal and he obviously had no chance on a two-on-zero breakaway. No goalie would have that much of a chance of stopping that.
Draisaitl is coming off a breakout season for the Oilers. He finally lived up to his potential with 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 72 games. Niederreiter had 36 points in 82 games last season for the Wild. He will likely improve quite a bit under new Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau.
Team USA will have to come back from a two-goal deficit if they want to have a realistic chance of advancing past group play.