Team Europe versus Czech Republic, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
In a game with significant implications for Team USA, Team Europe will try to build off its shocking 3-0 victory over the Americans -- and thus move to 2-0 in the tournament -- as it takes on a Czech Republic team that was mauled 6-0 by Canada on Saturday. That score does not indicate how even the first half of the first period was nor the speed that the Czechs brought to the game. But they wilted under a relentless Canadian attack, giving up three goals in the last half of the first period. "I believe we were ready to play," Czech Republic assistant coach Vaclav Prospal said after the game. "But after the first goal, it almost seems like we stopped playing and started making bad plays, and they filled our net."
Can Team Europe -- which played a patient, opportunistic game against the Americans, scoring three goals on just 17 shots -- force the Czechs off their game in a similar fashion? Team Europe appears to have more firepower, although the Euros were 0-for-4 on the power play against the U.S. The Czechs could not get the early goal they needed against Canada and were a grisly 0-for-6 on the power play in the opener. If they're going to get back in the tournament, Jakub Voracek and Tomas Plekanec are going to have to get going offensively. It'll be interesting to see if the Czechs go with Petr Mrazek in net after Michal Neuvirth was thrown to the lions against the Canadians, who launched 50 shots at the Czech net. Both Mrazek and Neuvirth were very good during the pretournament schedule. Team Europe will be looking for Jaroslav Halak to continue his stellar play. The New York Islanders goalie stopped all 35 U.S. shots, including 17 in the third period. If Team Europe can continue its early roll and defeat the Czechs, that would force the Americans into a must-win situation against Canada on Tuesday night in order to keep their hopes of advancing beyond the three-game preliminary round alive. If the Czechs win, it sets up the much more remote possibility that the Americans could still advance via tie-breakers even with a loss to Canada.
Line Watch: The expectation was that Team Europe would go only as far as captain Anze Kopitar and his linemates would take it. But the forward trio of Frans Nielsen, Marian Gaborik and Mats Zuccarello did significant damage for Team Europe, and if they can continue to contribute, it will take more pressure off Kopitar and enhances their team's chances of victory. --Scott Burnside
Russia versus Team North America, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
In their first game of group play on Sunday, Team North America played with high levels of skill, speed, offensive firepower and puck-possession -- very much like their next opponent has historically played during international tournaments. One day after announcing their arrival by crushing Finland 4-1, North America takes on a powerful and angry Team Russia. It's a fantastic test for the kids.
Russia blew an opportunity to beat a Henrik Lundqvist-less Team Sweden on Sunday and now enters their game against the North Americans desperate and hacked off. It's one thing to take on Patrik Laine, who will be good in the NHL at some point in the near future. It's quite another to take on Alex Ovechkin, one of the all-timers.
Team Sweden limited the Russian offense by keeping many of the shots to the outside and removing time and space. They could do that with a defense featuring Norris Trophy candidates Victor Hedman and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. North America doesn't feature a blueline of that caliber but their forwards more than made up for it by using their speed to track back and help out defensively.
North America, led by McDavid, has world-class speed up and down the lineup that Russia will have issues containing. Team Russia doesn't have the most mobile defense, something the speedy forwards on Team North America should have an opportunity to exploit.
This has a chance to be a high-octane shootout if both forward groups get going.
Line Watch: Both teams have the disadvantage of playing back-to-back games to open group play, something that can be taxing on starting goalies Sergei Bobrovsky of Russia and Matt Murray of North America. Bobrovsky was tested much more than Murray was in the opener, facing 29 shots from Sweden, making a number of good saves. Against Finland, Murray went long stretches without even seeing a shot, finishing with 24 saves, although the number of quality scoring chances wasn't incredibly high.
Bobrovsky said he's ready to go but the Russians have a quality goalie in Semyon Varlamov waiting for an opportunity. With Team North America, Murray is the clear-cut No. 1 and coach Todd McLellan announced on Monday that he will get the start against Russia. --Craig Custance