Are the Calgary Flames Buyers Or Sellers When It Comes To The Trade Market? THE BLOOD MATCH: Uncle Sam Vs. Johnny Canuck was all it was billed up to be and then some. The fights were instantaneous and inevitable while the quality of play was considered superior by both sides. "It was a great game!" Those four little words were expressed by losers and winners alike, and especially the winning coach, Mike Sullivan. SLICK SULLY SURVIVES: Start with the fact that Mike Sullivan's Penguins have missed the playoffs for two straight years and likely will make it three in a couple of months. Yet he's managed to keep his job because apparently he does something right. He certainly out-coached Jon Cooper in Montreal last night. COULD SULLY RETURN TO THE RANGERS? Team USA's head coach originally made his name as John Tortorella's aide with the Rangers. Whatever happens to Uncle Sam's team in the current tourney, Pitt's GM Kyle Dubas may opt for a change just for the sake of change with the Penguins. And if the Rangers blow a playoff berth, Peter Laviolette could be gonzo and that will let Sully return to the Big Apple as the "Big Macha" behind the bench. And wouldn't that be neat. THE GOALIE BATTLE: Canada's Jordan Binnington is a notch at least one notch below America's Connor Hellybuyck on the goalie scale. That alone was enough to give Uncle Sam's sextet an edge in goal. What the Canadian staff must decide is whether to stick with Binner. The Maven says they should and predicts that they will. MCDAVID=MCLOSE: Acknowledging that Connor McDavid is the world's best hockey player does not mean he can win the BIG one. He hasn't won a Stanley Cup and despite his opening goal wasn't able to produce another. In the end it marked another time when McD's team was unable to come out on top when it had to come out on top. A RANGERS FAN REACTION: Blueshirt fan Bermoe Rhode was impressed with J.T. Miller "answering the bell " in his first period fight and added that Vincent Trocheck played a "solid game." "Adam Fox looked like he was auditioning to be a salesman for Steinway Pianos." Despite Mika Zibanejad's goal for Sweden, Rhode thought Mika was "a nonentity." As for Kaapo Kakko, "He looked strong." HOT TICKET IN HABTOWN: Before the opening face-off last night the only tix available were going for up to $1,000. The Montreal Gazette reported that a pair of good seats went for over 20 grand. Bottom Line: Another Bettman production was a hit!
