GoWings1905

Care to support that with any evidence? I think, as a whole, Americans were just confident and pleased with how our team was playing. Any sensible person knew winning gold was by no means a given. This thread was very civil until you stirred the pot. Every American in here has given Canada credit for winning today.

Congrats to Canada. The better team won today. Rather disappointing effort as Quick was the only reason USA had any chance to win. I am now Swedish.

I have no idea how this game is 1-0. Take the gift and do something with it, USA.

About the only logical reason I can see too.

Why is Brooks Orpik on this team?

Weak icing call set that up. Canada is largely controlling play, though.

Were the Red Wings running that PP for USA? No zone time, shots and horrible entry.

Great shift from Kesler's line. Both goalies look sharp so far.

RIP playoff streak. Get well soon, Z.

Milbury just said Price has the edge in net because of his experience in big games. Um what? Pretty sure Quick has more of those under his belt.

Should be a fantastic game. Four years ago, I expected Canada to win and was just ecstatic at the surprise run the United States had put together. Now, it's completely different. I expect and think the United States will win. That being said, I don't put a ton of stock in Canada "struggling" so far. They are the most talented team in the Olympics and USA will have to put forth their best effort yet. USA!

Backes has been terrific. He's a pain to play against, but man I would love a player like him on the Red Wings.

For once, I wouldn't care if Holland stands pat. If Z is out any extended period of time (which seems like a foregone conclusion), I don't see the Red Wings making the playoffs. Not only Z missing, but Franzen hasn't skated either. There isn't anybody available at the deadline that screams impact player and do we really want to give up assets for a rental on a borderline playoff team? Play Sheahan and Jurco the rest of the season. Continue with Nyquist and Tatar developing for the future. I don't want too many more "transitional years" since the Euro Twins are approaching the end, but I'm not sure this team was a contender even with a full contingent of healthy bodies. Build for next season. The dead weight will be gone and there is ample cap space to address glaring needs like the defense.

Like drawing Norway, Austria and an absolutely depleted Finland in group play?

Agreed, which I would gladly take.

Z has been "risking" injury for months playing for the Red Wings. Actually more than risking, playing through an injury that happened to get worse while at the Olympics. Could have just as easily occurred in an NHL game.

I feel terrible for Z. You know the pain is severe if he isn't out there playing. If Z does end up having surgery, I can't see the playoff streak continuing. Pav is obviously still hurt, Franzen hasn't skated and Weiss is just coming back. Z has been the MVP and heart and soul of this team through all of the injuries this season, including playing through one of his own.

He wasn't 100% leading up to the Olympics either. Z played through it with the Red Wings too, so he should have been fired already I guess. For the record, you never really get to 100% with a back injury.

Straight up, that's an absolute steal for the Red Wings. I imagine the Canucks would demand much more in return, even though Edler's value is probably down since last summer. Probably going to be tough to convince another team to take on a player still out with lingering concussion symptoms too.

Unless Howard goes the other way, how is that even remotely realistic?

Played a good game overall. Really needed to win this though for the standings and with the Lightning missing Stamkos and Filppula. Need a lot of help on defense. Even when the Red Wings control the puck most of the game, the defense gives up far too many quality chances that usually end up in the net. The PP needs to start scoring too. The Red Wings hung around the playoff race, which is really all you could ask heading into the Olympics. Hopefully they can show some more consistency after the break and get into the playoffs. Holland has to find a way to upgrade the defense before the deadline. Let's Go USA!

Is there any evidence to that claim at all? Kronner, E and DeKeyser aren't available because they are infinitely more valuable than Quincey, so that's part of the reasoning. Quincey is an overpaid disaster that might catch some GM's attention only because he is a rental and the asking price wouldn't be relatively high. Quincey was a nightmare against Washington and that was three games ago. It's like he has become so terrible that just being rather unnoticeable is acceptable now. That's OK if you are Brian Lashoff, but not when you make nearly four million dollars and play the minutes Quincey does.

I think the potential is certainly there. You could easily argue this version of the Wings (if mostly healthy) is superior to the one that defeated the second seed in the West and took the champs to OT of Game 7. There have been signs of that during the regular season, but between injuries and inconsistent play, they just haven't put it all together for stretches yet. I have very little reservations anymore about the offense. It's balanced, deep and contains speed with the young guys around. Weiss and Franzen returning could bolster them even more, though that may come at the expense of the kids unfortunately. I wouldn't mind another 'heavy' body to forecheck hard and go to tough areas of the ice, but the Wings have really lacked this since Dallas Drake retired and Cleary quickly deteriorated physically. The defense scares me. I don't think it's anywhere good enough to propel the Red Wings to championship contention. Kronner, E and DD are fine. Lashoff is solid as a #6. The problem is having Quincey, Kindl and Smith all being incapable to this point of being a #4 even. My biggest wish is a puck-moving d-man that will chip in offensively and isn't a nightmare defensively either like those three are most nights. I can live with Smith and Lashoff as the third pairing. However, they have to upgrade from Kyle Quincey being relied on so heavily. It's a shame Kindl has regressed again after showing a major leap in development a year ago.

Yes! Nice to finally beat this team. Jimmy was great in the third.

There's the inevitable penalty. To be fair, that one was actually pretty well-earned by Lashoff.