Notebook: Team North America looks good in goal

QUEBEC CITY - Back when the World Cup of Hockey 2016 was announced, when it was understood there would be a Team North America, the goaltending looked to be a weakness. And then, as the NHL season went on and John Gibson sparkled for the Anaheim Ducks, it looked better. And then, when the Stanley Cup Playoffs progressed and Matt Murray helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to a championship, it looked like a strength.
Which is to say the perception, and reality concerning Team North America's goaltending has greatly improved.

"That was a long time ago," Gibson said of those early predictions. "A lot of stuff changes. You just get ready and they need you, great. If not, just be there for [Murray]. … Obviously I probably had the most experience [when the team was named] but it's not too much. But with him last year having a great playoffs, everything like that, we've all had success. We can use that, take it here, and hopefully use it."
Gibson, the presumptive starter who now looks likely to back up Murray, will get his first chance in the tournament on Sunday, in Team North America's second pretournament game, against Team Europe at Bell Centre in Montreal (6 p.m. ET; ESPN3, SN, TVA Sports). He will be backed up by Connor Hellebuyck.
"I'm excited to play again," Gibson said. "It's been a while. Just playing the game, hopefully everybody can continue to get better, and we can win the game."
But even he can admit he probably no longer has the inside shot at the starting job. That would belong to Murray, who shut out Team Europe 4-0 in the opening pretournament game on Thursday.
"I think if you look at it, you've got to say right now he's probably got it," Gibson said. "Everything he did last year and everything, I'd say he definitely deserves it. I'm just trying to be there and be ready for anything they need."
Team North America coach Todd McLellan did say he preferred to give Gibson the full 60 minutes in the game on Sunday, as he had done for Murray on Thursday, rather that splitting the time.
"I'm hoping we don't get to both goaltenders because it's probably not going real well," McLellan said. "I'd like to get our goaltenders playing 60 minutes, get that feel back for what it's like and go from there."
Gibson is not the only player who will be debuting for Team North America. McLellan said that he would like to get forward Dylan Larkin and defenseman Colton Parayko into the lineup Sunday, as well.

MOVING ON UP: Though Team North America was happy with its performance against Team Europe on Thursday, it expects a more competitive rematch Sunday.
As McLellan said, "We're going to get a better opposition. They're a team that we have a lot of respect for. They faced some circumstances that aren't, that a lot of other teams in this tournament haven't had to face, and that was the Olympic qualifiers, that was the travel from Europe here.
"So you can chalk up some of their game to jet lag and to not being together, but they'll have two more practice days, their staff will have them extremely prepared, and I thought they got better as the game wore on. So we'll get the competition that we'll need in the game [Sunday]."
McLellan listed some improvements he believes he will see from Team Europe, assuming it will be quicker to pucks, better on the faceoff. He also said he thinks his team will see some increased physicality as the tournament goes on.
"We'll get what we need, playing against that team," McLellan said. "We'll be fine. We'll be ready when it comes."