Thursday World Cup Of Hockey: Finland/Russia Is The Game To Watch

One of the two games on today’s docket has major implications for the tournament. The other one features the Czech Republic versus a Team USA that would reeeeaaaally like you to know that they’re trying, darnit! THEY’RE TRYING, PHIL.

Not that it matters, because after tonight, they’re going home, regardless of how hurt David Backes’ feelings are about a tweet from Kessel.

At 2:00 Central on ESPN, Finland takes on Team Russia. This is more than Jori Lehtera versus Vladimir Tarasenko. This is the fate of scrappy Team North America on the line, people. Since the kids didn’t win in regulation yesterday, they’re dependent upon a Team Finland victory today to move past the round robin stage.

Basically, if we want the best story of the World Cup of Hockey to continue, we’re going to have to cheer for Team Finland, a team that hasn’t won a game yet. Great.

At 7:00 on ESPN2, two teams who have been eliminated from the World Cup play for... pride? Because they have to? So people won’t say that Team USA got completely rolled? At least the Czech team has an overtime loss to their name.

What’s the line-up? Who knows. Torts isn’t speaking to the press. Can’t imagine why not.