[GDT] Jan 4 - WJC Semifinals: SWE vs RUS (7AM MT) and CAN vs FIN (11AM MT) TSN

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Haplo

Canada-Russia or Sweden-Finland? I feel there are always huge emotions in both match-ups. Maybe Can-Rus isn't what it once was though.

Not sure I see much extra in the Finland-Sweden games anymore. I don't know. I guess it depends on the match.

[Heavy Jack]

I think Finland and Sweden teams have been vastly under-rated the past few years. You can't really say that we are better on paper when those teams keep coming up with the results.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Haplo

Canada-Russia or Sweden-Finland? I feel there are always huge emotions in both match-ups. Maybe Can-Rus isn't what it once was though.

Canada-Russia in Bronze medal games are always interesting since both are the masters of mailing in these games but at the same time they often hate losing to each other.

I think tomorrow the Russians will really come to play. As transplant mentioned during their game they seem to be a different kind of team with the same usual poor sport antics but they do seem to work a lot harder than other Russian teams have.

[Saqe]

Pretty mind blown by how good Finland was defensively today. This is a pretty average Finnish team talent wise and I totally expected that the wheels come off when Canada turns on the jets, which obviously never happened.

Gotta say though, this was probably the worst game Canada has played against Finland that I've ever seen at this level. Usually the combination of size and speed just spells doom for Finland and I didn't really see the second one and certainly not the first one today. Usually Canada gels as a team when the big games start but this team never got there.

[trackercowe]

Originally Posted by moon

Canada finished top 4 for the 15th year in a row and people are questioning how Hockey Canada does things and saying there needs to be changes?

They also do this with their top guys missing year after year.

Its frustrating to see Canada lose but Canada easily wins this game with this team more often than not. Hard to fault Hockey Canada for 17, 18 and 19 year olds failing to show up for a game. You are always going to get wonky results with kids this age.

True, but the other teams are missing their top guys as well. Finland didn't have Barkov and Maata for example.

[Teroy]

Not impressed with Sam Reinhart.
Why take McDavid if you're not going to play him.
Kirby Rychel did nothing.
Nic Petan should have been benched after the yapping call.
Pathetic passing.
Poor powerplay.
Jonathan Drouin looks good when he's being a puck hog.
Hope the Finns win.

[moon]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

True, but the other teams are missing their top guys as well. Finland didn't have Barkov and Maata for example.

The other teams rarely have the close to the same number of guys missing or the level of talent. But yes other teams miss guys as well.

I will gladly let Finland have those two for Canada to get back MacKinnon, Monahan, Reilly and Wilson.

But that is the nature of the tournament and not wanting to make it an issue as to why Canada lost just to point out some of the difficulties that Hockey Canada has in building the team year after year.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

True, but the other teams are missing their top guys as well. Finland didn't have Barkov and Maata for example.

Not near the same extent

[moon]

Originally Posted by Heavy Jack

I think Finland and Sweden teams have been vastly under-rated the past few years. You can't really say that we are better on paper when those teams keep coming up with the results.

Finland hasn't medalled since 2006 and hasn't won since 1998 they certainly aren't coming up with the results.

Sweden the last couple of years have got the results and if they win probably have a better 5 last 5 years than us but only the last 3 tournaments that they have finished ahead of Canada prior to that we were ahead of them 19 years in a row so again not a ton of history coming up with the results.

[Haplo]

Originally Posted by Henry Fool

Not sure I see much extra in the Finland-Sweden games anymore. I don't know. I guess it depends on the match.

Recently there have always been media wars before big games. And it will always be special considering so many finns live in Sweden. Often seems like there's not anything a finnish person loves more than to beat Sweden in hockey.
But yeah, looking at the games there is usually not much rough or dirty play. I guess you need russians and canadians for that

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by moon

The other teams rarely have the close to the same number of guys missing or the level of talent. But yes other teams miss guys as well.

I will gladly let Finland have those two for Canada to get back MacKinnon, Monahan, Reilly and Wilson.

But that is the nature of the tournament and not wanting to make it an issue as to why Canada lost just to point out some of the difficulties that Hockey Canada has in building the team year after year.

Bingo....and as an aside, Reilly is really what this team was missing the most IMO. A real bonafide stud D-man in his "prime" for an under 20 tourney. Ekblad isn't there yet, and the other guys just aren't reliable enough.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Not near the same extent

True, but it's because we never have the same amount of talent. Canada is light years ahead of Finland talent wise and their talent pool is much, much wider. Finland missing its top players has a much bigger effect on the team since the replacements usually aren't nearly as talented compared to the guys they are supposed to replace.

[dieHARDflameZ]

Originally Posted by moon

Canada clearly the better team overall which is what I said when someone actually asked to clarify rather than just throw out the dick comment.

So how is Canada clearly the better team overall? They were outperformed in virtually every facet of the game today...

If by clearly the better team overall you're referring to the better team on paper, than maybe... But being good on paper, and performing well on the ice as a team are clearly two different things.

[$ven27]

Looking forward to the Sweden - Finland game more then the Canada game tbh

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Not near the same extent

From a personal perspective, I'd gladly let every team have all their players and more if Finland got Määttä and Barkov. Their impact relative to the talent level of the Finnish squad would be enormous. They'd be like half the team.

[Mister Yamoto]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'd rather the "Only gold is acceptable" mentality of Hockey Canada than the "Just being there is good enough" mentality the Canadian Olympic Committee adopted prior to 2010.

I'm not saying that just being there is good enough. I'm saying that winning a bronze medal means something.

It was embarrassing watching Canada not celebrate the bronze that they won in Calgary two years ago. If Canada wants gold or nothing then let it be nothing. They can fly home right now and the Swiss can play Russia for bronze.

[trackercowe]

It's good to see the parity improving in these things. I don't think it's a matter of Canada bringing bad teams, or teams that are any worse than gold medal teams in previous years. It's just a matter of the quality of players increasing in other countries, and because of that they are taking the tournament more seriously. Even teams like Switzerland and Slovakia are no longer pushovers like they once were. This isn't just a two or three team tournament anymore, which is honestly better off for hockey as a whole.

[Teroy]

Sorry but if we're not sending a team to win the gold then we might just as well stay home. The only ones who might be interested in winning the bronze tomorrow are the team members. It sure as heck isn't the Canadian hockey fan.

[moon]

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

So how is Canada clearly the better team overall? They were outperformed in virtually every facet of the game today...

If by clearly the better team overall you're referring to the better team on paper, than maybe... But being good on paper, and performing well on the ice as a team are clearly two different things.

Clearly better was referring to the talent level on paper and in scouts eyes as well as the way each team played in the previous games in the tournament.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by moon

Clearly better was referring to the talent level on paper and in scouts eyes as well as the way each team played in the previous games in the tournament.

Who cares if they're better on paper, that's why they play the games on the ice there, moony!