[GDT] Latvia vs. Canada, Mens Hockey at 10:00 AM Mountain

[saillias]

Don't agree^

Everyone is potentially a factor. We're not talking about Westgarth, these are franchise players on their own teams

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

the hand wringing about the roster is a bit silly. Were talking about the 14th forward and 8th D-man.

We shouldn't be. For me, MSL is on the top line with Crosby and Duchene is either on Sid's other wing, or on the LW with Getz and Perry where he's been to date. Now we're talking about two top 6 scoring forwards.

As for PK, we're talking about the 7th D-man, sure, but one who can actually score goals if you give him PP time, and statistically is 2nd only to Pietrangelo defensively. We basically have two Drew Doughtys, and we're only bothering to use one of them.

Yes, I recognize that whoever plays, we ice the best roster in the tourney on paper, but we should be icing the best roster possible and we're not. And in the case of Duchene, it's obvious to basically everyone that we're not. People want to rip on the Czechs for making questionable decisions, but the only difference here is depth - when they leave a Hudler off the team, the guy taking his spot isn't an all star. It doesn't make the decision any more correct.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

the hand wringing about the roster is a bit silly. Were talking about the 14th forward and 8th D-man.

Canada wins this game and future games with how well the top of the roster is doing, not the bottom

At the moment its about icing a vastly inferior #1LW.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I'd imagine sitting Duchene has to do with the likely style we will see from Latvia, similar to what Canada has seen all tournament: Collapse the D to the middle of the ice. Having speed guys then doesn't really matter, you need guys who can get into the grinding areas and work the other team down. Duchene's speed will come more in handy against the US.

[V]

Holy crap, did 19 just label Subban as on par with Doughty? My goodness.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I'd imagine sitting Duchene has to do with the likely style we will see from Latvia, similar to what Canada has seen all tournament: Collapse the D to the middle of the ice. Having speed guys then doesn't really matter, you need guys who can get into the grinding areas and work the other team down. Duchene's speed will come more in handy against the US.

Um, I totally disagree with this. If you want to destroy a stationary trap in the neutral zone, a guy skating at light speed taking an outlet pass and blasting right through the opposing defensive formation - or chipping it past them and getting the puck in the corner before half of them have time to turn around - is a pretty damned good strategy.

If you need any more evidence that speed kills in this format, I refer to you to the game this morning and in particular the Finnish 4th line.

[Senator Clay Davis]

But that's the thing. Its not a neutral zone trap. Its a defensive end collapse. Just watch, the second Canada starts to break out of its zone, its 5 guys back on defense in their own end, behind the blue line. Speed isn't mattering when you can never enter the zone carrying the puck. Its dump and chase all day, and thats where the size difference matters. That is how you wear these teams down, they can't take the physicality for 60 minutes.

[19Yzerman19]

^ You think? I'll watch but it seems to me that you've got a couple of guys about at the red line (who drop back when pressured), a couple behind them near the blue line, and either one guy up forechecking or one guy back deep. That's what I've been seeing from these lesser teams, but I haven't seen a Latvia game yet, so I'll see if you're right today.

Originally Posted by V

Holy crap, did 19 just label Subban as on par with Doughty? My goodness.

Subban plays a very similar style to Doughty. They're not on par, but Subban can do much of what Doughty can, nearly as well as Doughty. Drew's a better skater and has better vision, PK has a better point shot... Basically, I'm comparing them stylistically, not saying they're the same quality of player.

But again, just speaking statistically looking at the past 3 NHL seasons, PK prevents opposing players from getting shots as well as any Canadian defenseman besides Pietrangelo, and has a greater impact on his team's generation of offense than anyone else who was selected for this tournament. This isn't really an argument worth going over again because we've had it twenty times already and Babcock isn't convinced, but that's the reality.

Really, I'm resigned to PK not getting to play. The decision's been made. I'm more baffled by the Duchene thing.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

At this point, half of this board could do a better job managing Team Canada. This is getting absurd. Of course they win anyway, but how on Earth do you sit Duchene? I'd also make the case for Subban again, but leaving that aside, what the hell. Duchene has been FLYING throughout this tournament and can singlehandedly break down a defense with his speed.

I also would have given Luongo the start here, even if Price plays in the semis and, if they win, the gold medal game... I know I'm in the minority but I feel pretty bad for the guy. It doesn't matter who's in net for this one, and the guy won a Gold for us last time. This time he gets one start, posts a shutout, plays better than Price did in his opening game against Norway, and he never sees the ice again? Just doesn't seem fair, and hasn't been how we've done things in the past.

We've disagreed on Subban in the past, but I completely agree with Duchene. He is, at the very least, ahead of St. Louis and Kunitz. Might be the garbage "go with veterans" approach. Latvia "shouldn't" be a challenge, but there are no more freebies. If I was Team Canada's coach - I would be lining this game up exactly how I planned to plan against the US.

As for Price v Luongo - Babcock can go with either, but Price has looked rock solid. Hopefully it doesn't come to it, but it's a nice luxury to turn to Luongo if the team needs a shakeup.

[schteve_d]

I can never find the link for the live stream on CBC.ca. Is there something wrong with me?
Can anyone help out?

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

We've disagreed on Subban in the past, but I completely agree with Duchene. He is, at the very least, ahead of St. Louis and Kunitz.

I think he's ahead of a lot of players, including Benn, Marleau, Nash, Carter, and Sharp in addition to Kunitz and MSL.

NOTE: I do not advocate sitting any of those players out besides Kunitz. They should all be in the lineup - in particular I'm a huge Benn fan. I'm just saying that in this tournament, I'd rather have Duchene playing ahead of any of them if I had to choose between them. Just to emphasize how silly that decision is.

Duchene is, for me, not only a unique threat because of his skating, but has some of the best hands on the team. He's also as good as anyone below the dots. The stuff he does with O'Reilly in COL on short passes behind the net, in the corners and around the faceoff circles to generate offense could really pay dividends for us here.

[Joborule]

Finally rocking the Petro-Canada's. Those are sweet.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by V

Holy crap, did 19 just label Subban as on par with Doughty? My goodness.

I can't think of many defencemen that are on par with Doughty right now. Only ones I can think of are Suter, Keith and Weber. Maybe Pietrangelo too?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by schteve_d

I can never find the link for the live stream on CBC.ca. Is there something wrong with me?
Can anyone help out?

Are you going to olympics.cbc.ca?

The links to the live events are lined up across the top.

[schteve_d]

Originally Posted by getbak

Are you going to olympics.cbc.ca?

The links to the live events are lined up across the top.

No, I wasn't, was going to CBC.ca

Thanks.

[rohara66]

Anyone else having issues with CBC ipad app? SOAB

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by rohara66

Anyone else having issues with CBC ipad app? SOAB

I downloaded it at the start of the Olympics. Tried it once and it crashed. Haven't used it since.

[rohara66]

Originally Posted by cDnStealth

I downloaded it at the start of the Olympics. Tried it once and it crashed. Haven't used it since.

How else can you stream on an ipad?

[cDnStealth]

Originally Posted by rohara66

How else can you stream on an ipad?

Oh sorry. I don't know if there is another way. I just gave up and sat at my computer.

[codynw]

TSN Radio not working on my phone, anyone else having issues?