GDT: TEAM CANADA vs Team USA (4:40 pm PST, 5:40 pm MST)

[IceMan]

I can't believe that Iggy is the 13th forward. Babcock must really have it in for him. I mean if Babcock doesn't want Iginla to score but be a physical presence why is he even on the team? They should've chosen Lucic instead. He'd be the perfect 13th forward where he can take a few shifts here and there and just go all out hitting everything he sees. I'm so pissed the way Jarome's been handled so far.

Regardless, I'm so pumped for this game! Canada wins 3-1 with Iggy scoring a hat trick while only playing 6 minutes. Take that Babcock.

[3 Justin 3]

Iginla the 13th forward is a joke. Babcock needs to chill on the BC bud.

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Yup. Already have that in the OP. Kevin Allen as well as an article from the Washington Post was where I got the information to make the "projected lines".

PS...........are you going for the US? (I have no idea on your background. I just assumed you lived in Montana based on your username and you are an American Flames fan?)

Sorry, skimmed the OP but didn't notice the lines were the same...

Yes, I'm an American Flames fan. I'll be going for the U.S. but I'm not getting my hopes up! I'd be ecstatic if they could come back with a bronze.

When the U.S. is eventually ousted, I'm team Canada all the way.

[canuckaragua]

hola, I've spent yesterday and this morning getting excited about this game (hell, all the games today look good). I haven't been watching any Olympics at all so far, just reading the game summary's and whatnot. Some questions popped into my head just now, one of them giving me a distraught feeling. 1. NBC is airing the Winter Olympics, and I assume this is exclusive? That would be okay since I get them and a few US networks as part of my standard cable. 2. Can anyone comment as to whether NBC has been showing games in their entirety? (This is the part that makes me want to potentially drive my motorcycle into a volcano if we get switched over to Ice Dancing finals going into a tied 3rd period).

[MRCboicgy]

Originally Posted by canuckaragua

2. Can anyone comment as to whether NBC has been showing games in their entirety? (This is the part that makes me want to potentially drive my motorcycle into a volcano if we get switched over to Ice Dancing finals going into a tied 3rd period).

You should probably brush up on your Foxtrot just in case...

[burnin_vernon]

Does anybody know what has to happen for Canada to finish first overall? I'm too out of it to figure that out this morning.

edit...oh its actually simple...a regulation win over Usa, Russia beats czechs in regulation, and sweden finland go to OT.

But if finland wins in ot, and Canada only wins by one one goal, what breaks the tie with Canada when their gf/ga diff is the same?

[jschick88]

I don't think I have been this excited in a long time to watch some good hockey. Go Canada Go!!!

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

But if finland wins in ot, and Canada only wins by one one goal, what breaks the tie with Canada when their gf/ga diff is the same?

After differential it goes total goes and then lastly it goes by some international team ranking. I think Russia is first in that ranking and Canada is second.

Found a link...

The following criteria will be used in the order presented to determine this ranking following completion of the Preliminary Round (1D - 12D):

• Higher position in the group
• Higher number of points
• Better goal difference
• Higher number of goals scored for
• Better 2009 IIHF World Ranking

http://www.iihf.com/en/channels10/ol...en/format.html

...and the rankings are here...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IIHF_World_Ranking

[megatron]

Originally Posted by IceMan xMVPx

I can't believe that Iggy is the 13th forward. Babcock must really have it in for him. I mean if Babcock doesn't want Iginla to score but be a physical presence why is he even on the team? They should've chosen Lucic instead. He'd be the perfect 13th forward where he can take a few shifts here and there and just go all out hitting everything he sees. I'm so pissed the way Jarome's been handled so far.

Regardless, I'm so pumped for this game! Canada wins 3-1 with Iggy scoring a hat trick while only playing 6 minutes. Take that Babcock.

I have to agree. Hat trick wasn't good enough apparently. I guess he needed to score 5 goals vs. the Swiss for him to be considered. Pisses me off to no end and make me care a lot less about Team Canada in general. I know it sounds horrible and unpatriotic, but that's how it is.

I still want Team Canada to win, but it just won't be as sweet as seeing Iggy play with some other stars and dominate like we all know he can.

[sa226]

based on the most recent articles, It seems the coaching staff is hell bent on getting Crosby going and doing whatever it takes to do so which is obviously in their best interest, he is the best player on the team.

But it seems like they are over analyzing everything doing the Mike Keenan shuffle with that line.

I don't know why they just don't let great players be great players.

Is Crosby a great player? Yes
Is Nash a great player? Yes
Is Iginla a great player? Yes

So lets put them together, who gives a hoot about Richards and his give and go's or whoever else.

I think Iginla actually creates space for Crosby. Iginla is first a foremost a shooter and goal scorer, but he is a very underrated passer. Crosby is first and foremost a great playmaker but he is also a very underrated goal scorer.

You would think the 2 would be a perfect match. For the passed 6 years everybody has been begging Calgary to get a centre for Iginla. Crosby has been waiting his whole career for a decent winger to play with (Hossa's 3 months aside)

Whatever.

[burning_acid1]

He used the Crosby-Nash-Iginla lineup for a bit... then he ditched it for some odd reason

[calgaryred]

if its anything like last game my prediction is 4-3 SO USA

[Yamer]

Wow, I cannot believe how many American media outlets are picking this up!

5 Ways the US team can beat Canada:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/olympicpu...5496.html#ways

[Kesler17]

Awww gotta cheer against my boy Kesler

[flip]

Originally Posted by Yamer

Wow, I cannot believe how many American media outlets are picking this up!

5 Ways the US team can beat Canada:

http://www.nbcolympics.com/olympicpu...5496.html#ways

????

Yeah, except the most important one NBC who bumped the game to MSNBC so they could show figure skating...

[Machiavelli]

Sidney Crosby between Jarome Iginla and Nash had chemistry for the opener, but Iginla's indifferent play against the Swiss had the winger skating with Brenden Morrow and Mike Richards in the third period.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...394/story.html

Yeah, so indifferent that he set Crosby up twice in prime scoring positions....in the first period.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sport...394/story.html

Yeah, so indifferent that he set Crosby up twice in prime scoring positions....in the first period.

Is part of the problem with this team the optics that surround Sidney Crosby? I mean, no doubt, he is Canada's best player, but Stanley Cup or not, he is still not even 23-years-old. When Canada won in Salt Lake, Lemiuex was clearly the leader of the team, and as great as he was in that tournament, he was not Canada's best player. His presence deflected pressure from Sakic, Yzerman, Iginla, and others, and that is not something that has taken place in Vancouver. Ideally, Niedermayer and Iginla should be leading this team; so far, Niedermayer has been very disappointing and Iginla has been stuck on the bench for much of the time. The amount of pressure this places on Sidney Crosby is quite possibly affecting his ability to play the way he is capable of. In my opinion, Niedermayer needs to step up, and Iginla needs to be given the chance to do the same.

[Ice]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Yes, I'm an American Flames fan. I'll be going for the U.S. but I'm not getting my hopes up! I'd be ecstatic if they could come back with a bronze.

When the U.S. is eventually ousted, I'm team Canada all the way.

This is me as well, Canada is my second favorite team. Today's game is huge. We've taken over a pizza place and are having a huge game watch. Its going to be great fun, but I don't really expect Team USA to pull an upset. It would be awesome if they did though.

I'm OK with the game being on MSNBC, because it will start on time, we'll see the entire game and not be pre-empted by figure skating. The only drawback is that there isn't an MSNBC Hi Def on DirecTv.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

Does anybody know what has to happen for Canada to finish first overall? I'm too out of it to figure that out this morning.

edit...oh its actually simple...a regulation win over Usa, Russia beats czechs in regulation, and sweden finland go to OT.

But if finland wins in ot, and Canada only wins by one one goal, what breaks the tie with Canada when their gf/ga diff is the same?

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

http://www.iihf.com/en/channels10/ol...en/format.html

Canada holds all the tie-breakers over Czech/Sweden/Finland. So, if Canada wins in regulation; Russia wins or the Czechs win in OT; and the Sweden-Finland goes to OT, Canada would be ranked first.

[d_phaneuf]

I like Kesler with Kane and Ryan from a Team Canada perspective

He is a great shutdown guy and has played great against Crosby in the past, but if he is with those two thats not exactly a shutdown line