Olympic Hockey OOT: Feburary 26th Semifinals

[Jesse834]

http://www.nhl.com/images/logos/nonsites/fin_large.pngvshttp://www.nhl.com/images/logos/nonsites/usa_large.png 1:00 PM MT CTV
For those that believe the National Hockey League game is the best style of hockey in the world, this is the game for you. This game will be played like a Stanley Cup Playoff game, as both sides are designed to dominate on the small ice. Yes, each side has skill -- Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu for Finland, and Zach Parise and Pat Kane for the Americans -- but this game will be about which side can impose its physical will on the other, especially late in the game if it stays close. "We need to make sure we are outworking them to go along with the talent we have in our lineup," said David Backes, one of Team USA's foot soldiers. "I think if we win the work-ethic battle, we like our chances. If we don't win the work-ethic battle, then it is up in the air and anything can happen."

Actually, even if one team wins the work-ethic battle, the game could still hang in the balance because this game pits the two best goalies left in the tournament -- Team USA's Ryan Miller and Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff -- going head-to-head. "It should be a great game," Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson said.http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009090027

Team Kipper and Finland advance to the gold medal game on Sunday in a low scoring 2-1 game.

[3 Justin 3]

Unless Kipper plays like he was summoned by Christ I don't see how the USA doesn't win.

[dissentowner]

The U.S. are slowly coming back to reality and that is they are not that great. We saw signs of it when they played the Swiss. 3-0 Finland, the States won't score on Kipper.

[Ducay]

Sisu Suomi!

[worth]

usa! Usa! Usa!

[I_H8_Crawford]

Actually, even if one team wins the work-ethic battle, the game could still hang in the balance because this game pits the two best goalies left in the tournament -- Team USA's Ryan Miller and Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff -- going head-to-head. "It should be a great game," Team USA defenseman Jack Johnson said.
No Bingo Bango?????

Just the way I like it :)

[transplant99]

Been invited to go watch with a bunch of my yankee buddies...but i think i may just go home and watch it simply because i am not sure i want to be around them if they win....and i cant cheer against Kiprusoff in this game.

Either way, should be a couple really good hockey games and everyone should just enjoy the atmosphere and the quality of hockey we will see.

[Bertuzzied]

Kipper will crush the Americans like the little gnats they are.

Patrick Kane and friends better have their KY jelly handy.

[Bertuzzied]

Unless Kipper plays like he was summoned by Christ I don't see how the USA doesn't win.

So like he has been playing all year?

[Bob]

First time in a long while that Peter Maher will call two games in the same day.

[red sky]

Stupid stupid stupid work!

[getbak]

Unless Kipper plays like he was summoned by Christ I don't see how the USA doesn't win.
So, you're predicting a Finland win then? Me too.

Go Team Kipper and Hagman (and Olli's okay too).

[Flame19,289]

This has all the makings of a goaltenders duel.

Team USA has struggled to score on the PP, and Finland has struggled to score at even strength. I could easily see this being a 1-0 game.

I recall the game between the Sabres and the Flames in Novemeber (http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2009020265) as being one heck of a game. The Flames ended up losing that one in the shootout, but Miller and Kiprusoff were both amazing.

As much as I like Kipper and Hagman, I'll be cheering whole-heartedly for Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler and the rest of Team USA. Here's hoping that Ryan Miller and Team USA advance to the Gold-Medal Game with their second consecutive shutout.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

I like the US in this one. I hope I'm wrong, but the USA has dominant team speed, meaning that Finland's best hope is to have Kipper stand on his head and win a close one.

And... if it goes to a shootout, which it may--I like the US's chances much better.

[MelBridgeman]

Go Kipperland

[NewFan]

Go Kipper Go! Fin needs some luck to win. Hope it isn't going to SO.

[Bertuzzied]

whose hoping for some Kesler/Ruutu knee on knee action?

[Henry Fool]

Finland's defense is a weird bunch with a few question marks. If they can play a smart, conservative game, this will be a close one.

I expect Finland to play their best game of the tournament. They're going to battle. In the Czech game they were at their best in the third period and the win likely loosened them up a bit.

[GreenLantern]

http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/NewSport/NickKypreos.jpg

http://www.sportsnet.ca/bios/2009/10/01/kypreos.jpg

http://media.thestar.topscms.com/images/4a/b0/44dd3b79419597c82ea5c79a5265.jpeg

[HPLovecraft]

I don't really enjoy seeing people laying on the ice in a puddle of their own blood, no matter who it is... Even an annoying hockey commentator.

Ugly picture, man.

[arloiginla]

Hoping for a Finland win, even though they'd be a tougher matchup for Canada on Sunday if it came to that.

It'll be close.

[burning_acid1]

I think it will be a low scoring game. I'm not sure who will win, but I'm cheering for Finland.

[JayP]

Unless Kipper plays like he was summoned by Christ I don't see how the USA doesn't win.

Because the USA looked so impressive beating the Swiss 1-0 on a crazy bounce?

[You Need a Thneed]

Go Finland!

[RyZ]

i'm torn on this one. On one hand I have to cheer for Kipper. On the other hand, I want Canada to get another crack at the USA in this tourney. Miller or not, I don't think they can beat us twice in a row.

[da birdie]

Predicting Finland 3 - 1 USA
Hagman hatty lol :D

[chalms04]

Suomi!

[Flame19,289]

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Hockey-Greatness.

U.
S.
A.

[megatron]

Go Kipper Go!

[tvp2003]

Love the front page of www.SI.com (http://www.SI.com):

Headline: Something In The Way

Caption: Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff has the best save percentage (.946) in the Games, edging the U.S.' Ryan Miller (.944).


http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/olympics/2010/writers/michael_farber/02/25/fri.hko.preview/miikka-kiprusoff-tx2.jpg

Shut 'em down Kipper!

[Rerun]

If Miller has another game like he did against Canada, the USA will be tough to beat. But then again Kipper can be just as good too.

Too close to call.

[FFF]

Go Suomi!

[Jesse834]

Go Finland Go!

[Regulator75]

Go Miikka Go!!!

Go Finland Go!!!

[chalms04]

ugly play

[Jesse834]

Damn it Kipper! 1-0 USA.

[Erick Estrada]

I'm listening on the radio. Was that a bonehead play by Kipper as described on the radio?

[Winsor_Pilates]

bounce back Kipper

[You Need a Thneed]

I'm listening on the radio. Was that a bonhead play by Kipper?

Yup.

[getbak]

WTF Kipper?

What's with the Vezina winning goalies making bone-headed plays against the States?

[Regulator75]

Ray Ferraro really irritates me.

[bomber317]

That was a tough play for Kipper.

His defence didn't help him out there by getting beat by Kessel skating like a madman.

[HPLovecraft]

What did he do?

[ernie]

That was a tough play for Kipper.

His defence didn't help him out there by getting beat by Kessel skating like a madman.

Yeah REALLY tough play. His D-men gave him two targets to pass to...one on either side of him. He has a thrid option of simply dumping it out of the zone. Instead he passed it to the American.

[V]

I'm really hoping for a USA win to set up our re-match.

We must break them.

[Jesse834]

Eff me. 2-0 USA.

[OILFAN #81]

This game isn't over yet but this is what I want for Canada (not looking past the Slovaks) but if this score can hold up and Canada can beat the Slovaks, I want Canada to beat the US in the gold medal game. That would be the best revenge.

[Bluzman]

Fins collapsing.

[REDVAN]

Wow, not looking good for Finland... USA owning them.

I hope Canada wins later so we can show USA who's boss on Sunday.

[GirlySports]

Well. This game is over. Feeble Finish offense against Miller down 2-0

[bomber317]

Yeah REALLY tough play. His D-men gave him two targets to pass to...one on either side of him. He has a thrid option of simply dumping it out of the zone. Instead he passed it to the American.

The D he was passing it to didn't put his stick down to give him a target or indicating he was ready for the pass.

Dumping it up the middle was not an option as malone would have just intercepted it (if kipper was brodeur, sure, he'd just rifle it out, but it's kipper......)

The only other option was his left D. Wish i could hear what was said on the ice to see if that D was yelling at him.

[Jesse834]

Now the game is over. 3-0 USA.

[Blaster86]

Kipp12usoff is back!

[Jesse834]

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2008/11/72%20Horrified%20Red%20Neck.jpg

[Jesse834]

My goodness. 4-0 USA.

[getbak]

See you Wednesday, Kipper.

[ComixZone]

wow, brutal defense. The first goal is kipper's error, everything else is brutal defensive coverage.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Oh boy, not good for Kipper. Pulled himself out of the net!

[ernie]

The D he was passing it to didn't put his stick down to give him a target or indicating he was ready for the pass.

Dumping it up the middle was not an option as malone would have just intercepted it (if kipper was brodeur, sure, he'd just rifle it out, but it's kipper......)

The only other option was his left D. Wish i could hear what was said on the ice to see if that D was yelling at him.

He had a guy on his backhand, a guy on his forehand and time to move it out of the zone. He did none of those things. If he isn't confident enough to make one of those plays then he shouldn't have been making the play. All Kiprusoff's fault.

[JiriHrdina]

Woot! More rest for Kipper!

[Winsor_Pilates]

wow, brutal defense. The first goal is kipper's error, everything else is brutal defensive coverage.
He should have been better on the 3rd and 4th goals. They weren't his fault, but he didn't look right. The 3rd goal he flopped expecting the wrap and couldn't get square again, and the 4th he should have held the rebound.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Kipp12usoff is back!
Didn't take you long, did it?
I can see the rest of Canucks nation scrambling to long on to their computers now too.

[Jesse834]

Jesus Christ. 5-0 USA.

[Jesse834]

6-0 usa

[GirlySports]

Kipper rocks!

"F-this, I'm going into the dressing room for a drink"

[agubuan]

Is Kipper injured?

[GirlySports]

no, he just got shelled.

[Henry Fool]

Pretty good game so far. We can totally score 7 goals on Ryan Miller if we just try harder. That's only 3.5 goals per period, if you think about it.

[Henry Fool]

Seriously, USA doesn't even have to start their attacks from their own zone. They just get neutral zone turnovers to full stride, over and over again.

An awful team with awful goaltending. At least Kipper gets some rest now, crying on the bench.

[Yamer]

Pretty good game so far. We can totally score 7 goals on Ryan Miller if we just try harder. That's only 3.5 goals per period, if you think about it.

Only playing two periods?

[Jesse834]

Antti Miettinen. 6-1 USA.

[OILFAN #81]

Antti Miettinen. 6-1 USA.

Why do you keep bumping this thread? Clearly everyone is using the other one for the USA-Finland game.

[flylock shox]

Why do you keep bumping this thread? Clearly everyone is using the other one for the USA-Finland game.

I think he's taking a principled stance or something.

[Yamer]

No big deal.

The other caught on at game time because it was titled as such.

The initial overreaction, however, was priceless.