Finnish Wing

Which of them?

I'd say Bäckström is better already and will be much better, as he's still young.

I thought Finland has been pretty hard for USA to win in recent years.

You mean like the Swedes did in Torino?

That was the system when there was 4 groups with 16 teams. Now it's 3 groups with 12 teams. You can lose every single game in the group stage and still win the whole tournament. The top team of every group AND the best second are the 4 teams that will proceed direclty to the next stage. The rest of the teams (8) will play one game against each other and the winners (4) will continue and the losers (4) will go to qualifying games. This is why you play less games if you win your group (or are the best second). After that it's 8 teams playoffs with single game knockout system. The best team in the group stage will of course always play the worst team.

While Finland coach Jalonen has decided to try Immonen as the 3rd line center while Miettinen will be the 13th forward and Jokinen is moved to wing.

The olympic point system is definitely the best IMO. Some people say that you shouldn't get points for losing in OT, but then again it means imbalance and OT loss is better than loss anyway.

Sweden always takes those meaningless games easy and just focus getting the win. They'll probably start playing a little more against Finland just to avoid playing that extra game. They'll win the gold anyways.

I'd keep Ohlund with the Sedins and Kronwall and Lidstrom with Zetterberg and Franzen. They probably get the same amount of time anyway.

"I disagree with a lot of those saying the NHL should increase and don't want that to ever happen, but for the Olympics, world championships, etc... I think they should be forced to use the larger rink It's partially because it's something that you only see so often that makes it so cool... I miss the different ice for the olympics..." You're saying that international games should be in larger rinks because people don't see it so often. That's basically ignoring fans outside NA, which is stupid. Just because something is cool according to some fan, isn't good enough reason for IIHF decision making. The ice isn't different for the olympics for many fans. So after you say that, I say this: "I'm glad they're not making the decisions based on arguments like that." And then you turn hostile.

"It's partially because it's something that you only see so often that makes it so cool... I miss the different ice for the olympics..." That's the only argument you've had so far in this thread regarding rink size in olympics. Maybe you had some other point there as well, but you certainly didn't bring it up. Now, I don't support IIHF doing any decisions based on what fans think is cool. And by the way, that's only NA point of view. We Europeans do see international rink-size often. That's why that's a poor argument. There is ice-hockey also outside NA. edit: Also, I'm not supporting either rink-sizes here. I'm just saying that argument was very poor.

I do know that they've been playing in bigger rinks earlier. I think I've watched enough international games to know that. But they're not making any decisions based on what the fans think is or isn't cool. Or at least they shouldn't.

Then they don't deserve the goal, as the player wouldn't scored on the breakaway either.

I'm glad they're not making the decisions based on arguments like that. The players play in the olympics to win and I doubt they want the rules to changed just to make it more entertaining. The reasons should be logical.

Didn't know about that either. Always learning something new, I guess.

I'd say increase in skill is more a reason to play in small ice than big ice. Skill is mostly about creating space.

The one who gets taken down has to be the shooter in the NHL? Didn't know about that.

Good point. Why not? I mean that could work and probably wouldn't hurt either. If you're leading you would of course always take that powerplay and penalty shot when trailing. Maybe. I like this idea.

Because you can get PPs without being taken down on a BREAKAWAY.

That definitely isn't the main problem here in this case. I can tell you that.

What do you mean by that? Not every players try to shoot in a breakaway and therefore may not be in a shooting motion. I agree with the penalty thing though. Penalty shot should be a bonus.

Lines thread & blueadams. Surprising combination.

Bettman is anti-European guy.

There are already three recent threads discussing this same thing: http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&start=0 http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...amp;hl=filppula http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.ph...t=0&start=0