The upside of losing to the USA...

[gargamel]

MSNBC is in HD in some markets, but for most of us, you're right. I was stuck watching the fuzzy version.

[Spinach]

Originally Posted by RogerWilco

You would have to be an idiot to compare a group of NHL hockey players to the 1980 team.

Someone should have told Gord Miller. I wanted to punch my tv every time he said,

"It's the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice! Jim Craig in da house!"

It sounded an awful lot like the leafs' interminable celebrations of the 1967 Cup win. Yes! A week next Thursday is the 43-year anniversary of the day Johnny Bauer spoke with Terry Sawchuk about how wonderful it would be to win a Stanley Cup in Toronto, and wrote a joint letter to Punch Imlach asking to plz win the Cup.

Let it go, Amerika. A bunch of college kids (and about five future NHLers) shocking the unquestioned Olympic hockey power of the day is nothing like Ryan Miller and Brian Rafalski beating Martin Brodeur in a preliminary matchup.

Upsets happen in this format. Hell, Canada should be nowhere near the heavy favourite the 1980 Soviets were. More like a first among equals.

[Spinach]

Oh, and the only upside is that Team Canada now has an extra game to try and get their spit together.

But, assuming we beat Deutschland, a QF date with Ovechkin, Malkin & co. is probably not what they had in mind.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Spinach

Oh, and the only upside is that Team Canada now has an extra game to try and get their spit together.

.

Personally I don't see any upside at all having to play the extra game... Canada will have to play a bunch of games in a very short amount of time. This will make it allot harder for the Canadian team to stay sharp.

[Schmidtyboosh]

Clearly Babcock has been out coached so far. The positives to playing in the qualification round are:

1)Babcock gets a chance to keep the 4 lines TOGETHER for a whole game to get some chemistry. If everyone in Canada can see that changing the lines every 2 shifts is having a negative effect, why can't he?

2) Lou gets some game action/warm up before the Russians

3)Maybe the PP can get on track (seriously babcock, the Getzlaf-Perry-Staal/Crosby combo isn't working, stick with Iggy-Crosby-Nash and the SJ line)

[pope04]

Originally Posted by Spinach

Let it go, Amerika. A bunch of college kids (and about five future NHLers) shocking the unquestioned Olympic hockey power of the day is nothing like Ryan Miller and Brian Rafalski beating Martin Brodeur in a preliminary matchup.

Not to be nitpicky, twelve members of that team played in the NHL.

[Hammertime]

The upside that I see is that we get to pay them back in the Gold Medal Game when it really hurts.

If this was easy, and we walked all over the competition (like the womens hockey team), success wouldn't taste as sweet.

What better way to be crowned Olympic champions, in the greatest hockey achievement in Canadian history than by defeating all the hockey powers of the world, one at a time, capped off by a stunning victory of our main rival on home ice.

The real 2010 road to gold starts with Germany tomorrow.

This is the stuff legends are made of.

GO CANADA GO!

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by HPLovecraft

I couldnt care a less if the game is liked by more Americans or not, personally. I enjoy the sport, and lots of Canadians enjoy it, and some Americans do. Who needs more? I don't.

So screw the bloody US. I'll be royally pissed if Canada loses.

Exactly. I used to care about that stuff a lot when I was a teenager for some reason, I really wanted the game to grow down south. Now, its clear it won't, and I really don't care anymore. Why do hockey fans care so much about what other countries think about our game? Do NASCAR fans care that most people north of the Mason/Dixie Line think its a boring hick sport? Probably not. So why do we?

I loved when a TSN reporter yesterday asked Ron Wilson pregame what he thought the Canada/US game could do for the popularity of the game in the States and he basically said he could care less what it does.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I doubt the finals will be tough (Americans or Finn's?).

While the American in me loves your arrogance , this def begs the question.

WHy wont it be tough? Didnt you just get beat by one of those teams? I hope the team is that cocky and views the game the same way . I would love to win Gold by beating the canadians in a final game that they didnt think would be that tough!

[Hammertime]

^
I agree with the American. The US team just beat us, we are the underdogs right now..

[nickerjones]

While I love being arrogant.... I know the Canadians were a dominating force last night... but man a lil respect would be nice since ya know we did beat you guys...

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Spinach

But, assuming we beat Deutschland, a QF date with Ovechkin, Malkin & co. is probably not what they had in mind.

At least beating them will prove Canada has its together...

[Jesse834]

Ryan Miller has stole three games for the American. The kid has played his ass off and if they have any hope of winning a medal it will rely on Miller.

[Drunk Skunk]

Stay classy.

[Jetsfan]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

The upside that I see is that we get to pay them back in the Gold Medal Game when it really hurts.

If this was easy, and we walked all over the competition (like the womens hockey team), success wouldn't taste as sweet.

What better way to be crowned Olympic champions, in the greatest hockey achievement in Canadian history than by defeating all the hockey powers of the world, one at a time, capped off by a stunning victory of our main rival on home ice.

The real 2010 road to gold starts with Germany tomorrow.

This is the stuff legends are made of.

GO CANADA GO!

I'd like that a lot!!!

GO CANADA GO

[burning_acid1]

The extra may be much needed for Team Canada to work out lineups if Babcock is still hesitant

[MRCboicgy]

Although this is looking waaaay ahead, I'd love a rematch with the US for the Gold.

[Ice]

I can't believe NBC is showing the gold medal game tape delayed! Cross Country is such a big draw that they don't need to show the gold medal hockey game live? If this game does end up being a USA/Canada rematch, there's no way Cross Country ratings would be higher. This American is annoyed.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Ice

I can't believe NBC is showing the gold medal game tape delayed! Cross Country is such a big draw that they don't need to show the gold medal hockey game live? If this game does end up being a USA/Canada rematch, there's no way Cross Country ratings would be higher. This American is annoyed.

THey already bumped the first US/Canada game for figure skating so I'm not surprised.

The weird part is that I would expect that type of behavior from other networks but NBC has a vested interest in making hockey popular because they broadcast the NHL. It just makes no sense. Sometimes I wonder if Goodell, Selig and Stern all bribe the networks to treat the NHL like crap.

[Ice]

Exactly! NBC should know better than this. I can't imagine a scenario where I'm able to completely avoid knowing the outcome of that game before I can see it. Absurd.