[GDT] Finland vs. Canada, Mens Hockey at 10 AM Mountain

[zamler]

Crosby has to get it going. Last Olympics the competition was weaker, we can't win the gold this time unless our best player plays like it.

[jg13]

do we know if we have one of the 10 AM quarter finals yet?

Hoping we aren't the 5:30 AM game

[automaton 3]

Doughty, Weber, Toews and Carter playing really well.

Not sure why Crosby is so difficult to play with.

Kunitz should probably sit, and St. Louis back in. D should stay the same.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Sweden is really lucky in getting it easy these Olympics. Practically, a guaranteed semi-final spot.

It's not like Switzerland/Latvia should be too bad either. Losing today would have been the only truly awful outcome, with playing Russia in the Quarterfinal.


Since the NHL started participating, no team that has won all of its round robin games has gone on to win gold. So, the "easy" route might not be all it's cracked up to be anyway.

[zamler]

Crosby was playing poorly before the Olympics it has carried over. Oh and the judging in ice dancing is complete crap.

[ThatsRobbery]

Oh lord were gonna get the Swiss probably, they always play us hard

[getbak]

Originally Posted by jg13

do we know if we have one of the 10 AM quarter finals yet?

Hoping we aren't the 5:30 AM game

Yes, it should be the 10:00am MT game. They said that Canada will always play the 10:00am game until the medal round (when there is no 10:00am game).

[vilzeh]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

International reffing at its finest.

Except they have NHL referees, 2 canadians on top of that reffing the game.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by vilzeh

Except they have NHL referees, 2 canadians on top of that reffing the game.

Except that they are not using NHL standards...

[kirant]

Originally Posted by getbak

Since the NHL started participating, no team that has won all of its round robin games has gone on to win gold

So...Russia or Finland is winning gold?

[codynw]

Drew "Bobby Orr" Doughty

[Flamenspiel]

I like our bracket right now. At this point in 2010 we were looking at having to beat Russia, Sweden and the US, and it turned out pretty well. If we get the three points we would have had the cakewalk game followed up by an elimination game against the Russians who you can argue beat the US had it not been for the shenanigans with the goalpost.

On paper Sweden has the easiest path but they did last time as well. Russia has a warm up game and then potentially three hard games to play. US and Canada have similar matchups, after changing the goalie and switching to a trapping game the Slovaks were much improved against Russia. They were overconfident in the first game and played the US in an open game.

I would rather play the Swiss. Yes, the swiss have always been tough for Canada but Canada is playing this international style really well.

[zamler]

I don't think positioning has much to do with it personally. Canada is not playing anywhere near as well as they should be bottom line. No reason to panic though, if Canada plays the way they are capable of no one will beat us.

[OILFAN #81]

The Marleau-Toews-Carter line has been great and the best line. They do a great job cycling the puck and creating chances. Duchene and Getzlaf have played good as well. Crosby needs to pick it up. He had a poor tournament in 2010 and is having a poor tournament again. He is getting frustrated. I'd put St. Louis back on his line. Kunitz and Perry also really need to pick it up. I'd put Subban and St. Louis back in and sit Hamhuis and Kunitz.

Doughty has really picked it up. Him, Weber, and Keith are phenomenal.

We can't take the Swiss lightly. They beat us a few Olympics ago when Gerber was unreal and we lost 1-0. Hiller can steal a game by himself too. If we play to our best we will win, but we can't take them lightly. Looking like we will have to beat the Swiss and Americans to get to the Gold Medal Game.

[PeteLFan]

Towes and carter played well today, marleau is useless he's never been a great playmaker or anything just has speed and his inclusion on this team was a head scratcher as well. I would have went with Logan coture who has more finish and ability.

Crosby has to step it up, but it's not all his fault Babcock did this I'm Vancouver and that team won in spite of his poor coaching.

Nash should be buried on the 4th like and Kunitz needs to be removed from the team along with hamhius. Subban will give us more offense, and St. Louis had some chemistry with Crosby they created a few chances.

[GirlySports]

Swedes have nightmares about QF games. They have only won 1 out 4. The time they won they won it all

1998 lost to FIN
2002 lost to BLR
2006 def SUI
2010 lost to SVK

So you never know!

[Machiavelli]

Damn, Doughty looked fantastic.

I'd like to see more physical play in general.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

If we play to our best we will win, but we can't take them lightly. Looking like we will have to beat the Swiss and Americans to get to the Gold Medal Game.

The U.S. is playing like a team that has been together all season. Will be really hard for Canada to beat them IMO. Won't be beating them with the way Canada is playing right now, won't even be close.

On Crosby, he thrives when he gets more ice time and longer shifts.

[Tinordi]

Crosby is seriously the least of our concerns. The guy will get his points when it matters. Every time his line is on the ice it's carrying the play.

Tavares is a guy that I had hoped to see alot more from. Getzlaf is the Bobby Ryan of Canada, can't spell intensity. Perry is mostly invisible. Big ice and the international game just don't lend well to a guy like Perry or Getzlaf.

Oddly the "role players" are the guys moreso carrying the mail for this team. Carter, Bergeron, Marleau all look great. Vlasic definitely belongs.

But in all, I'm not concerned, the forwards just aren't that comfortable with the big ice. You can see they don't have that instinctive jump for offensive chances. I feel like that will come the next game or the game after.

I am not afraid of the Swiss at all, infact I think it will be a blowout.

[GirlySports]

I thought Nash played ok.. he fulfils his role as a checker.

Getzlaf looked really lost.