PGT: USA 5 - Canada 3

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

Putting Luongo in net is like taking down the fattie at a frat party when you are loser wasted and her hot friend already burnt you..

Nobody wants to talk about it, before during or after, but we all know it has to be done.

Why not Fleury? Of the three he is the only one that has won anything recently (or in Luongo's case, at all)...

[Mike Vernon]

I am not understanding why Lou is our backup go-to-guy? How about putting the goalie in that won the Stanley Cup last year and managed to stop the the high power Wings? Am I the only guy who thinks that might be a good decision??? Why doesnt Hockey genius TSN Bob or D-Bag "Kipper" as they called him last night think the same way I do?

Pittsburgh is the favorite to win Stanley this year again, not Vancouver, not New Jersey. Why do you think that is???

Some goalies are money goalies, some are not. Brodeur is a money goalie but he is playing shaky in my opinion in both games he has played minus the shootout. Plus Brodeur hasnt been to the big game in a long time. Fleury is a money goalie, look no further than last year to back that statement up. Is Lou a money goalie? I guess we are going to find that out thanks to Babs (took over a Dynasty team good for you) Lowe (who single handedly F'd up the Oilers for the next 3-5yrs no complaints from me there) and Yzerman (who is a great hockey player. That is all)

Lou plays against Ov and Malkin once maybe twice a year. He is going to get lit up like a Christmas tree. Our only chance at this point is Fleury, but like most decisions by Team Canada up to this point Im preparing for a big disappointment

[Itse]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Tuesday’s elimination round games shape up this way:
Elimination:
Czech Republic vs. Latvia
Switzerland vs. Belarus

Quarterfinals:
USA vs. Switzerland/Belarus
Finland vs. Czech Republic/Latvia

Semifinal:
USA/Switzerland/Belarus vs. Finland/Czech Republic/Latvia

The US is still the little brother to Canada in this sport, and as a Finnish hockey fan, I'm pretty happy with the way things went.

I like having all three of Canada, Russia and Sweden out of the way until the finals (if we get there).

Now we only need maybe an upset or two, Latvia and Switzerland/Belarus, you can do it

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The day they announced team Canada I didn't have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the team and that's not because of the Flames snubs with the exception of Bouwmeester. It seemed to me like they just overanalyzed the players and where they would fit. You can still see three games in that Babcock doesn't have a clue how to use half the players.

Watching this as a neutral observer , you can really see how Bouwmeester's game is suited to this style. He would have been much better than Pronger or Niedermayer...

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Mike Vernon

Lou plays against Ov and Malkin once maybe twice a year. He is going to get lit up like a Christmas tree. Our only chance at this point is Fleury, but like most decisions by Team Canada up to this point Im preparing for a big disappointment

Exactly why I think you go with Luongo. Fleury got lit up by Ovechkin right before the Olympic break for a hat trick. Malkin practices with him all the time and knows any weaknesses in his game. Luongo, for the reasons you said, is a bit of an unknown to those snipers and that could give him an advantage.

[BandWagoner]

Perry looked extremely lazy to be outworked by Kesler on that empty net goal. The way the American's acted after that gift, I got the feeling they were still worried the Canadians would still tie it up.

What I'm wondering is if Neidermayer did ANYTHING to notify Perry someone was right behind him.

"Yo Perry, hustle up. Not only do we have little time left, you have someone racing behind you. Keep your stick down"

Extremely frustrated.

Maybe they should have called Jordan Eberle in the second intermission.

[Pastiche]

Maybe they should have called Jordan Eberle in the second intermission.

Hell, get John Montgomery down there to lace'em up and show those millionaires how to git'er done.

[Mike Vernon]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Exactly why I think you go with Luongo. Fleury got lit up by Ovechkin right before the Olympic break for a hat trick. Malkin practices with him all the time and knows any weaknesses in his game. Luongo, for the reasons you said, is a bit of an unknown to those snipers and that could give him an advantage.

It doesnt work that way. Remember the hype about we knew how to score on Hiller because Neids and Getz play with him? Ya, that didnt turn out as expected.

Bottom line, Fleury>Lou. It doesnt matter tho because TSN Bob said it so it must be done. Just a quick note to all you Van Fans, get your excuses ready because you will need them shortly!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by EnosBones

Problem with team Canada are the braintrusts; Yzerman, Lowe, etc.. They still tend to pick players based on reputation and not who is playing well in the NHL. Guys like Pronger, Niedermayer, Morrow could be replaced by guys actually having good years. Thornton is a proven big game no-show. Get rid of the management guys picking the team - they didn't learn their lesson 4 years ago.

I don't mind picking experienced guys like Pronger and Niedermayer. Having all young guys who happen to be hot this year might backfire if they don't become hot in the tournament. International level hockey is a different animal.

The main problem I had with the braintrust picking this team was the number of centers and lack of wingers. Yes I know centers can play on the wing, but not effectively at this level. How can Richards or Bergeron or Toews be a better winger than St. Louis, Doan or even a smaller speedy type players like Cammellari or Roy who are true wingers. We are Canada, we have hundreds of guys to choose from. We're not Gabukistan where we only have 10 centers and we have no choice but to play them out of position.

[jschick88]

Just say No to Luo!!!

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by Mike Vernon

Bottom line, Fleury>Lou.

Maybe Fleury should start against Germany so that Luongo gets rest for the Russians without having to use Brodeur again, but Fleury hasn't been very good recently and Brodeur has obviously been having a rough Olympics. There's just no way anyone other than Luongo should even be considered against Russia.

[Rhettzky]

I for one am willing to put my hatred of all things Vancouver aside for the best chance at a gold medal. And right now I think that best chance lies in the ginormous pads of Roberto Luongo.

[Mike Vernon]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Just say No to Luo!!!

Honestly we can analyze the play of the Canadians to death, but the stats show we out shot the USA, had the greater time of possession and dominated the play for almost 60mins. The only aspect of the game that we were inferior was goaltending. We needed a Kipper game out there and instead we got Brodeur trying to be a hero swinging his stick and swimming the breast stroke.

[Mike Vernon]

Originally Posted by gargamel

Maybe Fleury should start against Germany so that Luongo gets rest for the Russians without having to use Brodeur again, but Fleury hasn't been very good recently and Brodeur has obviously been having a rough Olympics. There's just no way anyone other than Luongo should even be considered against Russia.

Why? Name one game that proves your theory?

Ill name game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals last year. Where was Lou for that game?

[return to the red]

At this point I'm all for putting Luongo in net as much as it pains me to say this. It just doesn't look like this team is handling Brodeurs ability to play the puck well.

If you look at last night as soon as Brodeur started making the simple plays and leaving it for the defense instead of trying to make a first pass himself the Canadians ha dmuch better success. Maybe this is why the Canadians had trouble with the pressure from the Swiss?

If they do go back to Brodeur I still have confidence in him as he did make some HUGE saves as well.

[VladtheImpaler]

Jungle Jim is on the FAN now ranting about the hockey team - "too many stars, not enough role players" is basically the gist of it. "Pronger and Niedermayer too old and slow", "Why would you expect Thornton to do anything?" , "Crosby hasn't done much". Considering he is not a hockey guy, I'd say he is pretty much on the mark.

[the_professsor]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Actually you are right. I don't care who starts in net. In actuality i've wanted bingo bango to start since the beginning and Burrows to be on the team.

Correction, Burrows should *never be on the team. ever

[burn_this_city]

Still racking my brain trying to understand what the coaches are thinking. Its pretty sad when you're outcoached two games in a row. I still don't get the love affair with any player except Iginla on the top line. Why screw with immediate success? I just don't get the decisions being made. I'm also wondering why players like Richards, and Bergeron are on the team? They arent gritty enough and they don't score so what the hell are they here for? I'm also sick of seeing Pronger out there struggling away. Why did they bring Seabrook to play with Keith if he isnt going to play with Keith? I really don't get the management decisions at this point. But is anyone surprised we're struggling when Kevin Lowe is involved with this team?

[Erick Estrada]

San Jose brass can't be pleased with the timid, nearly invisible play of Joe Thornton. Hard to imagine the Sharks ever getting over the playoff hump when your franchise player just can't elevate his game over regular season level.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by the_professsor

Correction, Burrows should *never be on the team. ever

You have Burrows(and Luongo) on the team if you don't want Canada to win. hehe

Anyways there shouldn't be any questions at all about Luigi starting. Against the Russians we will see 7uongo or > emerge!