World Cup of Hockey: Preview of three games, schedule, and how to watch

Russia vs. Czech Republic

When/Where: 10:30AM Eastern, 02 Arena in Prague

How to watch: ESPN3, SN360, TVAS

What to watch for:

Semyon Varlamov starts in goal for Team Russia after they won a 4-3 victory this past Thursday. Today they're playing in Prague, and Team Czech has a lot to prove to its hometown crowd. Can they take advantage of the relative weakness of Russia's D, while also shoring up their own relatively weak D? They were just about able to last Thursday, but were outscored by a frankly ridiculous corps of Russian forwards. One impediment is the fact that Czech forward Vladimir Sobotka was injured. They lack an extra F, so they'll play an 11/7 split with the D, cycling forwards alongside the three centers Thomas Plekanec, Martin Hanzal, and Radek Faksa. Michal Neuvirth starts in goal for the Czechs. (Go team Czech!)

NHL preview: http://ice.wch2016.com/preview?id=2016080105

Russian Lines:

Team Russia lines: Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Kucherov; Kulemin-Malkin-Tarasenko; Panarin-Shipachyov-Dadonov; Telegin-Anisimov-Namestnikov.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 10, 2016

Team Russia D pairs: Orlov-Zaitsev; Nesterov-Emelin; Kulikov-Marchenko. Goalie: Varlamov (vs. Neuvirth.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 10, 2016

Some Czech line information:

Team Czech has not extra players with Sobotka out today (expected to play Wednesay) and Cervenka not available until tomorrow.

— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) September 10, 2016

Finland vs. Sweden

When/Where: 12:00PM Eastern, Scandinavium, Gothenburg, Sweden

How to watch: ESPN3, SN1, TVA Sports 2

What to watch for:

Last time these teams met, Finland barely squeaked out a win on a breakaway during 3 x 3 OT, beating Sweden to the net in the tiny amount of time they spent in Finland's offensive zone. In these tournaments, it seems like possession-style hockey is benched in favor of a style meant to lull rusty goaltenders into a false sense of security before darting out to send a puck past them. We'll see if starter Henrik Lundqvist is daydreaming today when he plays in his hometown. Tukka Rask starts in goal for Finland. Markus Krueger was injured, and is today's scratch for Sweden.

NHL preview: http://ice.wch2016.com/preview?id=2016080106

Finnish Lines:

Jussi Jokinen - Aleksander Barkov - Patrik Laine
Mikael Granlund - Mikko Koivu - Joonas Donskoi
Teuvo Teravainen - Valtteri Filppula - Jori Lehtera
Leo Komarov - Erik Haula - Lauri Korpikoski
Rasmus Ristolainen - Olli Maatta
Sami Vatanen - Jyrki Jokipakka
Esa Lindell - Ville Pokka
Tuukka Rask
Pekka Rinne

Swedish Lines:

Daniel Sedin - Henrik Sedin - Loui Eriksson
Filip Forsberg - Nicklas Backstrom - Patric Hornqvist
Carl Hagelin - Mikael Backlund - Jakob Silfverberg
Gabriel Landeskog - Carl Soderberg - Rickard Rakell
Hampus Lindholm - Erik Karlsson
Victor Hedman - Anton Stralman
Oliver Ekman-Larson - Niklas Hjalmarsson
Henrik Lundqvist
Jacob Markstrom

Tukka Rask being interviewed after practice.Rask starts the game vs Sweden tonight #WCOH2016 pic.twitter.com/tIKN2O0swm

— Patrik Bexell (@Zeb_Habs) September 10, 2016

USA vs. Canada

When/Where: 7:00PM Eastern, Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa

How to Watch: ESPN3, SN1, TVAS2

What to watch for:

El Seldo wrote a recap of yesterday's game over here, emphasizing the fact that while Canada played a skilled possession game, the Clint Eastwood-fueled US decided to play dirty. Whatever, it's time to take your nation's game back, Canada.

NHL preview: http://ice.wch2016.com/preview?id=2016080107