Amazing comeback for Russia in 2011 WJC gold medal game

The Boston Bruins and their fans can certainly relate to what Team Canada and their supporters are going through tonight after the team held a 3-0 lead going into the third period and seemed destined to return to the gold standard.

Five unanswered goals from the Russians and 20 Igor Bobkov saves later, that team had its first World Junior Championship gold since 2003 and like the B's, Canadians had to sit in stunned silence as it all unfolded much like Boston's epic meltdown in the playoffs against Philly last May. It's a double whammy I'm sure for the Canadian Bruins fans out there who have had to endure both in less than one year's time. My sincere condolences.

Sean Couturier did not do much in the tournament. He showed glimpses of his prodigious talent, and when he gets bigger and stronger, he'll be able to be more of a force in this format and at the next level. But for now, he was too easily pushed off the puck and didn't have the coach's confidence enough to play a lot of minutes. He's going to be a top-three pick in June, but at the same time, we can see why Red Line Report's Kyle Woodlief is saying there isn't an elite talent in the bunch like a Steven Stamkos/Matt Duchene.

In the next week, this blog will compile WJC-only scouting reports on the players eligible for the 2011 draft plus post a few interviews I managed to score in Buffalo. From there, it will be time to look to the 2011 CHL Top Prospects Game. As of right now, we don't know if Gabriel Landeskog will get the green light or sit that one out. If he does, my guess for injury replacement is Windsor forward Alexander Khokhlachev. He's as skilled and explosive as they come, and I ran into multiple NHL talent evaluators in Buffalo who were highly perplexed he was left off the roster. Ottawa winger Shane Prince could get a look too, but my bet is the Russian Spitfire goes if Captain Kitchener's high ankle sprain isn't sufficiently healed enough to risk him.