Official 2014 Olympic Hockey Thread (Admin warning #316)

[sibiriak 84]

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.

Tereshchenko and Popov are both KHL players, so that wouldn't have changed the balance of ice time b/w KHLers and NHLers.. Also, Tereshchenko is a center, and if he played with Malkin and the bum, er OV, then we'd had no center for the 4th line. And lastly, but most importantly, OVECHKIN was the one who was supposed to "disrupt defenses"!!! Instead, he kept standing there with his stick cocked waiting for a perfect pass. Newsflash, Alex, you ain't in Washington anymore!

And Popov wasn't the original choice for OV-Malkin line. Semin started there and they looked just as bad together. After Semin got switched with Popov on the 3rd line after game 3, that 3rd line started to show some flashes of not brilliance, but at least competence. OV-Malkin line however continued to stay useless. Either Ovechkin didn't know what his role was, in which case it is coach's job to explain it to him. Or he didn't want to do his job, in which case it was coach's job to sit his ass down.

As you can tell, I'm not the biggest OV fan right now.

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

Nobody made Datsyuk to apologize on the national TV. He was asked that question in a press conference, and I bet you that if they lost at home, Crosby as captain, would have been asked he same type of question.

[FlashyG 1,799]

Tereshchenko and Popov are both KHL players, so that wouldn't have changed the balance of ice time b/w KHLers and NHLers.. Also, Tereshchenko is a center, and if he played with Malkin and the bum, er OV, then we'd had no center for the 4th line. And lastly, but most importantly, OVECHKIN was the one who was supposed to "disrupt defenses"!!! Instead, he kept standing there with his stick cocked waiting for a perfect pass. Newsflash, Alex, you ain't in Washington anymore!

And Popov wasn't the original choice for OV-Malkin line. Semin started there and they looked just as bad together. After Semin got switched with Popov on the 3rd line after game 3, that 3rd line started to show some flashes of not brilliance, but at least competence. OV-Malkin line however continued to stay useless. Either Ovechkin didn't know what his role was, in which case it is coach's job to explain it to him. Or he didn't want to do his job, in which case it was coach's job to sit his ass down.

As you can tell, I'm not the biggest OV fan right now.

Nobody made Datsyuk to apologize on the national TV. He was asked that question in a press conference, and I bet you that if they lost at home, Crosby as captain, would have been asked he same type of question.

Well you know your team a lot better than I do,

I already said though that I didn't agree with the KHL players being the cause of the loss. I thought it was the top line's struggles that really hurt Russia, and Popov was on it every time I saw them other than the first game when it actually scored a couple goals.

Maybe Ov should have been playing with Datsyuk then, at least he could stand around with his stick cocked and have someone who could put the puck there.

Either way I think in a short tournament you have to break up any lines that aren't clicking because there isn't enough time to develop chemistry, you either have it or you don't

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

How did Latvia get on the board? That seems unlikely and confusing.

The most epic line change in Olympic history. The bench quoted during the intermission as stating "it worked". Buddy changes into one side of the bench, other guy jumps off end of the bench, stretch pass and breakaway.

This is strange, there are hardly any Team Canada fans on the board right now. I wonder why?

I was watching the game at work.

[Guest DeGraa55]

Agreed Russia's defense is terrible. But finals is missing their top 3 centers I thought! Granted Finland isn't great exhaust of superstars it's because they play very good as a team. Russia...didn't.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

No, just found it funny that so many were here for every other game. But when they're tied with a horrible Latvia team it's turns into a Canadian ghost town. But hey Canada just went up 2-1 so you can pretty much cue the rush of Canadians onto the boards now. lol

The other games that most of us were on here were on the weekend. This game was on during work hours, hence the drop in Canadian activity.

[sibiriak 84]

Maybe Ov should have been playing with Datsyuk then, at least he could stand around with his stick cocked and have someone who could put the puck there.

Either way I think in a short tournament you have to break up any lines that aren't clicking because there isn't enough time to develop chemistry, you either have it or you don't

OV and DAtsyuk did play on PP together and that didn't work much better. But if we had Datsyuk-OV-somebody on the first line, then there would have had to be Malkin-Kovy-Radulov. Which would have created 2 untested lines instead of one that was working pretty well and one that wasn't. it's a tough call.

In hindsight, I wish we went with OV-Datsyuk-Radulov, Tarasenko-Tikhonov(or Tereshchenko) - Kovy, and Semin-Malkin-Nichushkin (or Kulemin). But then, I wasn't at their practices, so maybe those combos were tried and didn't click.

[kipwinger 8,518]

OV and DAtsyuk did play on PP together and that didn't work much better. But if we had Datsyuk-OV-somebody on the first line, then there would have had to be Malkin-Kovy-Radulov. Which would have created 2 untested lines instead of one that was working pretty well and one that wasn't. it's a tough call.

In hindsight, I wish we went with OV-Datsyuk-Radulov, Tarasenko-Tikhonov(or Tereshchenko) - Kovy, and Semin-Malkin-Nichushkin (or Kulemin). But then, I wasn't at their practices, so maybe those combos were tried and didn't click.

One bright spot for Russia was Tarasenko. Kid played good. He's the real deal.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

The other games that most of us were on here were on the weekend. This game was on during work hours, hence the drop in Canadian activity.

agreed, i can't even watch it at work, i had to check the scores on breaks, or i would have been on here... There is nothing to be ashamed of in Canada barely scraping out the win when they outshot Latvia 57-16, that goalie was simply unreal, he could have stopped a golf ball in a soccer net

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

agreed, i can't even watch it at work, i had to check the scores on breaks, or i would have been on here... There is nothing to be ashamed of in Canada barely scraping out the win when they outshot Latvia 57-16, that goalie was simply unreal, he could have stopped a golf ball in a soccer net

We were watching it at work. I dropped down our web filter and we were streaming it onto the projector in our training room, and the boss ordered in some pizza, it wasf****** awesome. All the salary people didn't do s*** today but watch the game lol.

Canada absolutely dominated the game. Should of ended up 3-1 but the goal got called back even though the Lativan player pulled the puck outta the net with his hands. So pumped for another chance at the Gold.

Edited February 19, 2014 by darkmanx

[frankgrimes 1,836]

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the Lativian goalie played himself into a two way contract with this performance. There is nothing to be ashamed off facing such a hot goalie but now Canada is facing a hot goalie and a potent offense, they need their forwards to break out.

[FlashyG 1,799]

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the Lativian goalie played himself into a two way contract with this performance. There is nothing to be ashamed off facing such a hot goalie but now Canada is facing a hot goalie and a potent offense, they need their forwards to break out.

He already had one.

His GM was in the building watching his future goalie frustrate the hell out of his offence.

Stevie Y must have felt pretty conflicted during the game.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Selanne letting Ovi know who is the greatest 8.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Selanne letting Ovi know who is the greatest 8.

Love it. Though as a lonnnnngggg time Selanne fan, I prefer him as #13.

I was at the game in his rookie season where he got 48-51 in a 7-6 win over Dallas and I'll tell you one thing, If Ovie EVER puts on the show Selanne has on many occasions, he will maybe eventually find a fan in me again. His last few seasons of heartless lameness has turned me on him.

Or was it 49-52? Long ass time ago

Edited February 20, 2014 by Z Winged Dangler

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

for

[FlashyG 1,799]

Selanne letting Ovi know who is the greatest 8.

I think he was actually still complaining that Crosby dove.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

He's ready for Canada.

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Selanne letting Ovi know who is the greatest 8.

looks like stallone

YO OVIE, I DID IT!!!

[FlashyG 1,799]

He's ready for Canada.

But he's not ready for Wonder Cindy....Nobody is.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

He's ready for Canada.

But he's not ready for Wonder Cindy....Nobody is.

I don't know which is better

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

@murphPPress: Backes is a phenomenal quote: "Im the beef. Dustin Browns the pig or pork and then (Ryan) Callahans the chicken. Thats our meat line"

I don't know what to say, I just felt this was really important to share.

[kylee 727]

Kind of hoped to see Latvia pull it off just to see such a monumental upset. About half way through the game it looked like the entire game was being played on their side of the ice. Impressed they stuck around as long as they did while being totally over-matched. I can't stand the Canadian smugness of CBC, which is what I watched this on, but Canada is always going to have a team that is going to challenge for Gold.

[FlashyG 1,799]

@murphPPress: Backes is a phenomenal quote: "Im the beef. Dustin Browns the pig or pork and then (Ryan) Callahans the chicken. Thats our meat line"

I don't know what to say, I just felt this was really important to share.

I can't wait until we Canadians get to beat some American meat.

Wait..that doesn't sound right

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Kind of hoped to see Latvia pull it off just to see such a monumental upset. About half way through the game it looked like the entire game was being played on their side of the ice. Impressed they stuck around as long as they did while being totally over-matched. I can't stand the Canadian smugness of CBC, which is what I watched this on, but Canada is always going to have a team that is going to challenge for Gold.

NBC is exactly the same on the other side of the coin. But I will concede the fact that Glen Healy is the WORST color guy in the history of the profession.

[FlashyG 1,799]

NBC is exactly the same on the other side of the coin. But I will concede the fact that Glen Healy is the WORST color guy in the history of the profession.

His commentary after Russia was eliminated was so infuriating that I wish his mic had somehow been pumped through the arena speaker system. Ripping him limb from limb would have given the Russian fans something to focus other than the loss.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

His commentary after Russia was eliminated was so infuriating that I wish his mic had somehow been pumped through the arena speaker system. Ripping him limb from limb would have given the Russian fans something to focus other than the loss.

What did he say? As if anyone even needed another reason to hate him...