[OOT] Mens Hockey, Feb. 19 with 3 games.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

It actually wasn't as mismanaged as last time, the players just didn't get it done. Granted, a couple of really dumb moves like having Popov playing with Malkin and Ovie, and we saw far too much Belov. But overall, if you're the Ruskie coach, can you do much different? If you're picking the team, can you do much different? It's on the players.

And let's be real, Finland played outstanding hockey. They gave up next to nothing. We saw what they can do against Canada, and they just did it again. What's the difference between FIN-RUS and FIN-CAN a few days ago? A power play goal and a bad defensive mistake. Put any other team across from the Fins today, and they have a good chance to grind out a win.

Finally, can we show some love for the play of goalie Bob? He was amazing in that third period. His team couldn't do anything in front of him but he made some ridiculous saves late to keep it at least sort of close. Had they started him, who knows what happens... but I don't really blame them for starting Varlamov, because before the game there wasn't much to choose between them. I'm a bit worried about Canada making a similar wrong choice...

You don't have to worry about that, they already said Price is starting.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That would be the perfect final, actually. Canada wins, or Selanne goes into the sunset with a gold medal.


Also, sort of amused at the irony of people suddenly cheering for the Czech Republic.

The Czechs can go to hell. I hope the US beats them 173-0.

[codynw]

double post

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

That would be the perfect final, actually. Canada wins, or Selanne goes into the sunset with a gold medal.


Also, sort of amused at the irony of people suddenly cheering for the Czech Republic.

Pretty much cheer for anything for an easier road for Canada.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by getbak

A Canada-Finland final would be great, although 4 years too late (why did Kipper have to have such an awful semifinal?).

Would it? The last game was pretty dull. I don't know how excited I can really get about playing Finland for the gold. Their style is not exactly thrilling for Olympic hockey, and I can't really find much to hate about them.

[Canada 02]

Interesting choice by the Russian coach to rotate their goalies throughout the tournament

I want to see great hockey.
Canada/Russia in a Russian hosted Olympics would have been awesome
Canada/USA will be awesome if it happens
Canada/Sweden are the top two teams on paper and who I expected to see pre-tournament

Canada vs Latvia, Czechs, and Finland wouldn't be the same even if it meant an easier road to gold

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Kesler finishing 4th instead of winning a silver would have been a better result.

Really? I don't hate Kesler like many here, but you'd think if you really hate a guy you'd want to see our guys beat him personally. Besides, I think that silver tasted much worse than a 4th place finish when it happened - it has to sting getting that close and then watching it slip away.

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Pretty much cheer for anything for an easier road for Canada.

Okay, I'm not normally a superstitious guy by any means, but even I know better than to even THINK this. You're jinxing it, man. Throw some salt over your shoulder, knock on wood, go outside turn around three times and spit, do all of it.

[cDnStealth]

That post game interview with Friedman was interesting. Ovi was the only Russian player to stop for a post game interview with the media.

[CaptainCrunch]

Is this the case where the Soviets arrived in Limo's and will be leaving in 1977 Lada's

I remember a few years back when Sweden gassed a tournament and the papers published their faces on the front page of the paper in a mug shot type of fashion and basically said that they were traitors.

I'm betting the Russian press just brutalizes Ovie and that team.

[Rubicant]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

It actually wasn't as mismanaged as last time, the players just didn't get it done. Granted, a couple of really dumb moves like having Popov playing with Malkin and Ovie, and we saw far too much Belov. But overall, if you're the Ruskie coach, can you do much different? If you're picking the team, can you do much different? It's on the players.

And let's be real, Finland played outstanding hockey. They gave up next to nothing. We saw what they can do against Canada, and they just did it again. What's the difference between FIN-RUS and FIN-CAN a few days ago? A power play goal and a bad defensive mistake. Put any other team across from the Fins today, and they have a good chance to grind out a win.

Finally, can we show some love for the play of goalie Bob? He was amazing in that third period. His team couldn't do anything in front of him but he made some ridiculous saves late to keep it at least sort of close. Had they started him, who knows what happens... but I don't really blame them for starting Varlamov, because before the game there wasn't much to choose between them. I'm a bit worried about Canada making a similar wrong choice...

I wouldn't have gone with the timbits hockey approach of every line gets their turn. The Russian team was top heavy on talent and should have been played that way.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Moscow News Twitter feed during and after the game is outstanding.

https://twitter.com/themoscownews

[killer_carlson]

Oli Jokinen with a strong, strong game.

Neat to see him grab the puck at the end of it as well.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

I'm glad Russia was able to prove KHL superiority with their excellent showing at the Olympics..... Oops!

Seriously, any team with Belov as a top-6 defender is going to suck - hi Oilers!

He cant even crack the Oilers. Hes playing in Oklahoma. When a defenceman cant even stick with the Oilers its time to cut him loose.

I love that the Russians are out. Love it.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Czech's and Americans already tied at 1-1 not even 5 minutes in.

[Canada 02]

great game; Nedved playing well

[Magnum PEI]

Love USA's Captain line.

[bubbsy]

I was hoping that Canada's run to the gold medal included beating the russians, but oh well.

My thoughts:
1) Malkin/Ovechkin not scoring is a MAJOR MAJOR issue here. Both of them deserve to take a lot of heat for this epic fail

2) Datsyuk was/is awesome, even playing injured.

3) I hate how on twitter, particularly the main stream media folks, are speaking about russia/putin. russia's russia, their the hosting country, let's show some frigin respect.

[CaptainYooh]

I would have guessed Russia playing an all–out offensive hockey based on the firepower they had on the front. Reckless, dangerous, risky and high–scoring both ways, but having a chance to win purely on the offensive superiority.

I don't actually blame the players for losing; the team had no visible game plan and, as proven, teams with a passive defensive game plan can be effective on the big ice against most offensive teams. Bilyaletdinov had zero experience coaching an NHL team. They would have had better chances by picking all players from KHL with no NHL experience and no star status. Then the players would have played better as a team and the KHL coach would have known better how to coach them properly.

[Galakanokis]

Who's calling the game on the CBC feed for the USA game. Can't make it out for the life of me.

[Magnum PEI]

Mark Lee, i think.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

3) I hate how on twitter, particularly the main stream media folks, are speaking about russia/putin. russia's russia, their the hosting country, let's show some frigin respect.

I will proudly demonstrate the same respect to Russia that Russia has always shown for minorities and homosexuals.