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

[blender]

Interesting to see how Canada and USA match up on the ice. Could it be that Canada while not looking as dominant in the qualification as the US, has been playing as well or better? There was a lot of consternation about going to OT against lowly Finland, while the US-Russia match was touted as two heavyweights. Russia didn't ever look good IMO, and the Czech Team was nothing like they usually are.

I'm still expecting a classic on Friday and a tough game for Canada, but has our national hand-wringing and worrying about the state of our hockey team clouded our judgment of them and their competition?

[dammage79]

Yeah, outside of that remarkable goaltending performance there really wasn't too much to write home about for the Latvians. That would have been a blow out if not for Krazlfingerdiddle or however you spell his name. That was insane. I loved the fact he was so gassed for half the game and still managed to keep his team in it right until the end. He didn't commit highway robbery on his save but he held the flood back like a dam.

Was impressive.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Papi34

Can i just point out a play that drove me absolutely crazy.. What a dumb play by Getzlaf to come down on a 2 on 2 with under 30 seconds left and try to snipe a shot top corner. he ends up missing the net luckily it doesnt hit the glass weird and leads to an oddman rush up ice. Total dumb play at that point in the game you float it into the goalies chest and get the faceoff in latvias end and trust a guy like teows to win the draw and kill the game with possession. Idiot Getzlaf does anyone else agree or am i over reacting?

I too was puzzled, why not just move the puck down low and try for a two man cycle with the third guy staying high........I thought keeping possession of the puck thee was the most important thing.

[zamler]

The way I look at it, if Canada is only squeaking by the likes of Latvia then playing a real team like the U.S. is not going to end well.

[Yoho]

Originally Posted by zamler

The way I look at it, if Canada is only squeaking by the likes of Latvia then playing a real team like the U.S. is not going to end well.

Please refer to 2010, when Canada had to beat the Swiss in SO to move on.

How did Sweden do against Latvia?

[sa226]

It never ceases to amaze me how in such a short tournament how much drama there can be.

In only 4 games played, there is a multitude of story lines. Crosby, Russia, Latvia, Lack of scoring, Americans now the favorites and it goes on and on. The talk on some of the sports radio is almost comical how they are roasting just about anything an everything.

We are in for one hell of a game on Friday.

[vilzeh]

What an effort by Latvia.

Sure, it was one sided, but everyone here, I mean: Everyone here expected a 6-0 scoreline. Canada is not in the zone now, lets see if they find their game against USA, because they sure will need it.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Yoho

Please refer to 2010, when Canada had to beat the Swiss in SO to move on.

The U.S. is a much better team this time.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Latvia did not win, yes, but they could have by one lucky bounce/shot/breakaway. My point is that this is too close. How do you explain that Latvia can do it with all the incomparably inferior talent and resources they've got? Canadian team has everything better than Latvian, you cannot argue that. I can only explain it by better coaching.

"How would you have done it?" - is not a fair question to a layperson. I am not a coach. All of the factors you've provided as a proof of Babcock's doing it right could be considered wrong just as well. Why bother amplifying all of the things that don't work well in a given situation instead of making some adjustments that might work better? What are the effective ways of splitting the defending players collapsed in front of the net? How do you make PP more effective? For every weapon there should be a counter-weapon.

And just the same if Canada had a bounce go their way in one of those 57 shots, I'm sure most people could have easily just imagined the floodgates opening.

European football is a comparative sport that I'm reminded of from the Latvian effort. While not entirely equal (Singular almost game-changing performance from the Latvian goalie versus a defensive team effort in football), these sorts of defensive desperation tactics are the most effective in an elimination tournament. Make the most of set plays or special teams, and give everything you can defensively.

Not in any way saying what Babcock's tactics were flawless since I couldn't possibly consider a better strategy, but it look more like a combination of our best forwards not being as good as they should be, running into team who didn't even think about 'bringing their A game'. It was on the verge of being life and death for them.

[blender]

Again, I suggest that the US team hasn't been playing as high quality competition as Canada.
I think Finland with Rask in net has as good a chance as anyone to win it all.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by zamler

The U.S. is a much better team this time.

No. Not that much better. I don't see it from the games they have played. They had a couple of blowouts against weak teams like Slovakia and Slovenia, and then beat Russia in a shootout, in a really evenly played game that Russia should have won on the strength of the goal that was called back late in the third.

Again. Lots of this is smoke and mirrors, and we really won't know until watching tomorrow to see how either team stacks up against each other. I expect though that the US is not nearly as dominant compared to Canada in this tournament as they have appeared from the results.

[Geeoff]

I'm just shocked that Sandis Ozolinsh is still playing. O_O

[GGG]

Originally Posted by zamler

The U.S. is a much better team this time.

Maybe they are better but in their one game so far against a real team The US beat a bad russian team with no defense and took a shoot out to do it.


Canada also finally is facing a team that will try to beat them instead of try to upset them. The US will try to score goals which will open them up defensively compared to the Finns and Latvia.

The US may win but they arent playing that well either.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by zamler

The U.S. is a much better team this time.

why because they got lucky against Russia (who are out FYI) and destroyed some turrible teams

[formulate]

Watched the first period on a BBC feed, until everyone got tired of hearing about Boo-meester and Vlasich and how they kept running into the plexi. The Brit did go on about a minute rant about Iginla and his presence at the last 3 Olympics, mentioning his golden setup. Found a feed with only the rink sounds, which made for an experience much like being there. Really allows you to create your own excitement.

The game went pretty much as I expected (other than the Latvian goaltending). Canada dominated possession the entire game, but had to work for premium chances due to Latvia collapsing into the middle. A few guys gripping the sticks a bit tightly, but I'm not overly concerned.

Friday evening's game should be some outstanding hockey.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by zamler

The way I look at it, if Canada is only squeaking by the likes of Latvia then playing a real team like the U.S. is not going to end well.

LOL. Squeaking by Latvia? Did you watch the hockey game? Did you see Canada outshoot, out chance, outplay, out-possess, out everything Latvia?

Going by your logic, Canada beat Finland in OT...Russia Lost to Finland....and The USA beat Russia in a shootout. So if the USA is only squeaking by Russia then playing a "real" team like the USA is not going to end well???

[icarus]

Originally Posted by formulate

Watched the first period on a BBC feed, until everyone got tired of hearing about Boo-meester and Vlasich and how they kept running into the plexi. The Brit did go on about a minute rant about Iginla and his presence at the last 3 Olympics, mentioning his golden setup. Found a feed with only the rink sounds, which made for an experience much like being there. Really allows you to create your own excitement.

Really? I was watching it on BBC iPlayer and the commentary was the CBC guys (well, Hughson and Simpson only... making it strange when they were speaking to Glen Healy as Healy's audio wasn't on the feed).

[vilzeh]

USA has played Russia, Slovakia & Czech, won all 3 of them, Canada's toughest competition has been Finland and it was a OT win. I'd say USA had the better competition this far, but that's just me.

[formulate]

Originally Posted by icarus

Really? I was watching it on BBC iPlayer and the commentary was the CBC guys (well, Hughson and Simpson only... making it strange when they were speaking to Glen Healy as Healy's audio wasn't on the feed).

To be fair it was an online stream that one of the guys found (best quality he could fine) and I just assumed it was from BBC when I heard the British accent.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

What an effort by Latvia.

Sure, it was one sided, but everyone here, I mean: Everyone here expected a 6-0 scoreline. Canada is not in the zone now, lets see if they find their game against USA, because they sure will need it.

Count me in that category. I posted in the opening post here that it would be a 6-1 demolition. I was wrong big time and Gudlevskis gets the Vezina Trophy in this allstar tournament. That was unbelieveable goaltending.