Official 2014 Olympic Hockey Thread (Admin warning #316)

[wingsfan4795 552]

Canada hasn't played a bad game yet, but doesn't the inability to score concern you Canadian fans? It seems like doughty and weber are the only guys who can score.

[sibiriak 84]

LMFAO Latvian d man closed the puck on the goal line with his glove and refs waived the goal off.The war room is in Moscow,right

Sorry, hand on puck is not reviewable. Puck didn't cross the goal line, that's reviewable.

War room location is in Sochi and it is not staffed by Russians but bu IIHF officials that (apparently) have no nationality

[frankgrimes 1,836]

AFter seeing the heroic fight by Lativia, I'm not sure anymore that the Swiss joked.

Canadas forwards need to step it up.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

HUGE kudos to the Latvian goalie and his D blocking shots like animals. My heart is still racing.

[FlashyG 1,799]

I agree with you, but realistically, if USA had this much adversity playing Latvia you guys would be all over it. Amirite? And it's not just this game, it's been the story of the entire tourney for Canada which is why they are getting so much heat.

At least we can now look ahead to a guaranteed CAN/USA matchup and let the players do all the talking on Friday.

Pretty much this, although I would point out that Canada didn't really struggle with Latvia...they struggled with Gudlevskis.

Defensively they're still playing great though, but the offence hasn't been clicking other than the one game Duchene was in for. Depending on how serious the injury to Tavares is, I guess he'll be back in for the semi-final.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Canada hasn't played a bad game yet, but doesn't the inability to score concern you Canadian fans? It seems like doughty and weber are the only guys who can score.

In a way yeah. Perry got robbed 4 times point blank. Some of those guys need to bury it, but we're happy I guess until we see Canada lose. Next game will really test our D.

[sibiriak 84]

It makes me so sad for players like Pav who so desperately wanted to win gold for their country in front of a hometown crowd, when the powers that be couldn't set aside their pride and KHL pushing agenda long enough to give the coaching staff control of the team in order to make a run. So shortsighted.

There's no evidence whatever that the Russian coaching staff was in any way pressured to take KHL players over NHL ones. It is a non-issue. I ask again, who is there in the NHL, that would've been better than what we had in Sochi?

[Ekmanc 586]

There's no evidence whatever that the Russian coaching staff was in any way pressured to take KHL players over NHL ones. It is a non-issue. I ask again, who is there in the NHL, that would've been better than what we had in Sochi?

I think it was more about the ice time they got and not what players they had.

[sibiriak 84]

I think it was more about the ice time they got and not what players they had.

OK, who were the KHL players on the team that got more ice time than any NHLers, although the NHlers played better than those KHLers?

Edited February 19, 2014 by sibiriak

[pucktividi 472]

Sorry, hand on puck is not reviewable. Puck didn't cross the goal line, that's reviewable.

War room location is in Sochi and it is not staffed by Russians but bu IIHF officials that (apparently) have no nationality

I was joking and you know that

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Gonna be two good hockey games on Friday. Latvia were something else today, Sandis Ozolinsh is a ******* vet.

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

So glad we're getting USA vs Canada. And for the first time ever I'm actually confident that team USA will get the win. Although, I don't see it being too lopsided. In fact, I won't be surprised at all if Canada wins. Both teams are stacked with NHL-talent. But the way I see it, USA has a 'check mark' over Canada in overall team chemistry (especially the forwards) and goaltending. And Canada has a 'check mark' over USA on defense (USA's D has played good but Canada has more top 2 d-men, gotta give them the edge). But just based on the way this tourney is going so far, I believe team USA's areas of strength will be good enough for a Gold. Or at least the Gold medal game. But like I said, a Canadian victory would not shock me. Just nice to finally have this much confidence in American hockey, in terms of bringing home the Gold.

Can't wait for the puck to drop!! Should be an epic battle!! U-S-A ALL THE WAY!!!

[rrasco 1,312]

Hell yeah. It's going to be an effin battle on Friday. My anxiety is already flaring up. Gonna be a long 48 hours.

[sibiriak 84]

I was joking and you know that

No, I guess I was too hot under the collar and missed the sarcasm. Sorry.

[FlashyG 1,799]

OK, who were the KHL players on the team that got more ice time than any NHLers, although the NHlers played better than those KHLers?

I think the whole KHL thing is overblown, but I would have liked Nichushkin and Tarasenko to see a little more ice-time than Popov.

Really I see a lot of similarities between how Russia was coached and how Canada is being coached now. Both teams have a struggling top line and their coach is stubbornly keeping the line together.

I probably would have started Bobrovsky too, its tough to win any game scoring 1 goal, but I think that quick goal Varlamov gave up after Russia took the lead sucked the life out of the building and changed the momentum of the whole game.

[amato 3,210]

that latvian goalie tho!

21 y.o. tampa prospect..

if I'm Stevie, I try trading him soon.

[sibiriak 84]

I think the whole KHL thing is overblown, but I would have liked Nichushkin and Tarasenko to see a little more ice-time than Popov.

Really I see a lot of similarities between how Russia was coached and how Canada is being coached now. Both teams have a struggling top line and their coach is stubbornly keeping the line together.

I probably would have started Bobrovsky too, its tough to win any game scoring 1 goal, but I think that quick goal Varlamov gave up after Russia took the lead sucked the life out of the building and changed the momentum of the whole game.

What did Nichushkin or Tarasenko showed you that makes them preferable to Popov? Remember, Popov was playing with Malkin and Ovechkin, his function was to do dirty work for those two. Nichushkin is not responsible enough defensively, at least yet. Tarasenko is a scorer first, his line with Tikhonov and Tereshchenko looked lively at times, but if I'm Russian coach, I am sitting my youngest and least experienced players when I'm down 2 goals in an elimination game.

As to NHL-KHL thing, both teams had 7 non-NHLers on the ice today. & KHLers for Russia and 6 KHlers and one Sweden leaguer for Finland. That is not at all why Russia lost.

Edited February 19, 2014 by sibiriak

[Ekmanc 586]

Just saw the interview with Datsyuk on Russian tv and wow... They do not go easy on their players.

"Maybe you should apologize..."

[sibiriak 84]

Just saw the interview with Datsyuk on Russian tv and wow... They do not go easy on their players.

"Maybe you should apologize..."

If Canada lost in Vancouver, Crosby would've been dead tired of the same question.

[evilmrt 636]

Just saw the interview with Datsyuk on Russian tv and wow... They do not go easy on their players.

"Maybe you should apologize..."

Huh? Care to elaborate?

Back to USA/Canada... I wonder if Babs can actually motivate them to play to their potential after a poor performance. Being a Wings fan, I think not.

It's USA for the gold then lol. Hopefully not against Finland, yikes.

Edited February 19, 2014 by evilmrt

[FlashyG 1,799]

What did Nichushkin or Tarasenko showed you that makes them preferable to Popov? Remember, Popov was playing with Malkin and Ovechkin, his function was to do dirty work for those two. Nichushkin is not responsible enough defensively, at least yet. Tarasenko is a scorer first, his line with Tikhonov and Tereshchenko looked lively at times, but if I'm Russian coach, I am sitting my youngest and least experienced players when I'm down 2 goals in an elimination game.

Nichushkin disrupts defence as well as any other player on that team. I think he'd be a perfect compliment to Malkin and Ovechkin, despite any defensive deficiencies.

When he drives the net he pulls defence out of position, and probably would have provided some room for Ovechkin to get some shots through. My mistake on Tarasenko, I meant Tereshenko who put up a beatiful goal vs Norway and also to me deserved more time than Popov.

I don't think the problem was a KHL vs NHL thing though, many of the KHL players in this tournament have looked a lot better than their NHL counterparts, I just think Popov should have been moved off that line when it became clear they weren't effective anymore.

Its like Babcock constantly keeping Abdelkader or Bertuzzi on the top line in Detroit.

Edited February 19, 2014 by FlashyG

[Ekmanc 586]

Huh? Care to elaborate?

Back to USA/Canada... I wonder if Babs can actually motivate them to play to their potential after a poor performance. Being a Wings fan, I think not.

It's USA for the gold then lol. Hopefully not against Finland, yikes.

I really doubt they'd ask Crysby to apologise to the people on national tv.

[FlashyG 1,799]

Huh? Care to elaborate?

Back to USA/Canada... I wonder if Babs can actually motivate them to play to their potential after a poor performance. Being a Wings fan, I think not.

It's USA for the gold then lol. Hopefully not against Finland, yikes.

A semi-final vs the USA requires nothing from Babs as far as motivation. If you're not motivated for that already you shouldn't be playing the game.

Also that wasn't really a poor performance, it was a goaltending clinic by a prospect. He almost faced more shots in that game than Canada has surrendered in the entire tournament.

That being said, if our offence continues to be stymied facing the US it won't end well for us. Our defence has played great but its unrealistic to expect to shut down the US the way we have everyone else we've played.

[brett 1,029]

how has datsyuk looked? he certainly racked up points and i read hes been their best player.

[FlashyG 1,799]

how has datsyuk looked? he certainly racked up points and i read hes been their best player.

Great at times, and like he's nursing an injury at other times.

More good than bad though, and he should be ready to go when he gets back from Russia.