It's weird seeing familiar names in a different setting, but it's also nice seeing them all play again -- especially Uncle Leo, who is playing his heart out for his national team (undefeated at IIHF so far) this Spring for the IIHF World Championships. Today, Komarov scored the game-winning goal five minutes into the third for a score of 3-2, after Team USA player Patrick Maroon was sentenced to two minutes for tripping. Komarov's goal was the cherry on top of goals by Mikko Koivu and Antti Pihlstrom in the first. I got curious and looked up Pihlstrom, discovering two things about him. (1) He had a stint in the NHL from 2002-2009, got demoted from the Nashville Predators, and decided to go home to play for the national team instead. He's been in Finland, happily playing, ever since. (2) He is SO BLOND. I think he's blonder than a still-busy Valtteri Filppula.

I noticed for Team Finland that Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund are deployed together, along with Sebastian Aho. Those three make some magic, and will undoubtedly show up on Finish scoresheets in the near future.

My poor Team USA (1-3 so far in this tournament) are getting their asses kicked. The two goals were scored by Frank Vatrano (assisted by this kid named Austin Texas or something), and Connor Murphy, assisted by Patrick Maroon and Dylan Larkin.

COME ONNNNN TEAM USA. Why won't you just play Larkin on Matthews' wing, like all us fans want you to? Anyway. You can read the game stats over here.

IIHF World Championships