Quote:
Originally Posted by cannon7
I don't like the Canadians chances against Team USA...much more potent offense in this tournament.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zamler
For good reason. The U.S. has their game figured out.
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Honestly, is anyone at all surprised? Team USA looks like gangbusters in every Olympic tournament. It happened in 2002, and again in 2010, only to see the US lose to Canada each time when it counted most. The Salt Lake City games were a long time ago now, but if you will recall the US outscored their opposition 24–5 in three games leading up to the gold medal game.
On paper, Team Canada should win. They hold the edge in depth and skill at every position except in goal.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainYooh
I get really worried about Team Canada when a small team, like Latvia, can pose such a formidable threat in a quarter-final game. This game was way too close for comfort. Babcock better takes notes.
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Canada always does this. In every Olympic tournament they play these tight games with inferior opponents. I think most of that has to do with the respect level of the other teams for how good Canada always is more than anything Team Canada is doing wrong.
They will be fine. I watched from the beginning of the second period, and never once felt that there was any doubt about the outcome. The best thing about today's game was to see Canada continuing to press, and actually amp up the pressure as time wore on. They didn't get flustered or deviate away from their game plan, despite finding themselves on the wrong side of some ridiculous puck-luck. The team looked to me like they were improving as time passed.
I would be worried if they looked like they were getting flustered (see the overtime loss to Czech in 1998), or if they were having difficulty penetrating the zone or breaking down Latvia's defense (see the elimination game v. Suisse in 2006), but that didn't happen. On the contrary, it was nothing short of a miracle that Latvia kept the score as close as they did.