Pretty good US Team. D of Larson, Langway, Howe, Morrow, O'Connell, Langevin & Dunn was solid. Larson, Langway, Howe & O'Connell all appeared in at least 1 NHL All-Star game. C Ftorek, Broten, Eaves & Christian were goid skati g playmakers but were not in the same zip code of Canada's Gretzky, Trottier, Dionne. W - Christoff, Johnson, McClanahan, Talafous, Miller, Gorence again were decent skaters, but after Christoff and Johnson lacked offensive skill.

The US was hindered upfront by injuries to three of their top offensive wingers in the two previous years. Steve Jensen, Mike Fidler and Tom Rowe were the highest goal scoring US wingers from 1977-78 and 1978-79. All three were no older than 24 years old when sustaining injuries that derailed their careers. Rowe set a record for US goalscorers in the 78-79 season with 31 goals in 69 games, placing him about 25th in the NHL for gpg with at least 65 games that year. Also the US team was probably better served going with Bob Carpenter and Joe Mullen instead of guys like Gorence and Warren Miller. Carpenter came in to the NHL literally weeks later and established himself as one of Washingtons better offensive forwards. Mulken had absolutlely no business being in the CHL at this point. Was better than Gorence at this point.

That team with the additions of Howe, Mullen & Carpenter upfront had more offensive punch. Might have made a difference against USSR in the round robin game, especially without Esposito in net who killed the US in that USSR game. So drawing USSR instead of Canada might have put the US in the finals against Canada, not that they would have beaten Canada.

How the hell is Tony Esposito an American ??????????????????????

My hero Tony Esposito is having a shitty game

Esposito absolutlely sucked in net. My 1981 Team USA G - Baker, Lopresti D - Larson, Langway, Morrow, O'Connell, Milbury, Ramsey, Dunn C- Broten, Ftorek, Johnson, Pavelich LW - Howe, Carpenter, Christoff, B. Miller RW - Christian, Mullen, Talafous, Holmgren