PGT: 9/24 Canada vs Russia - Canada advances to final with a 5-3 win over Russia

[Rugbyplayer*]

Yes he is born in Soviet Russia.

You're right. He used to have a Latvian citizenship though, and if my memory serves correctly as of today he holds German passport.

 

[Rugbyplayer*]

Wasn't most of the coaching staff Russian and coaching in Russia?

Yes, they all have coached in Russia, but Harijs Vitolins is Latvian. All the other guys are Russians. I was wrong about Znarok.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Floorball:

Draws a huge number of Swedish athletes into this game.

A game of floor hockey where the goalie forgot to pack his blocker and glove is a big draw in Sweden?

 

[TedLundy]

A game of floor hockey where the goalie forgot to pack his blocker and glove is a big draw in Sweden?

It's really fun to play, so yeah.

 

[Senor Catface]

USA hockey hit a bit of a dry spell as far as top end talent in the late 90's to mid 2000's and there are a few reasons why that was but I am not going into that now it would just take too long and it's getting late. USA hockey has corrected these issues and the elite talent is coming and there is a lot of it on the way. You don't have to believe me because it will become apparent soon enough. The past 2 drafts have been strong for the US, this upcoming draft is somewhat weak but next few after that are huge again for US talent.

Always the future, never the present.

 

[TLEH]

Toews had the easiest matchup of anyone. Ovechkin was a pylon and Malkin playing like he's 50 years old.

he started in the DZ almost exclusively and still had the best possession numbers

 

[Barrie22]

The americans are doing things right finally at the jr level, but the men teams are behind the times.

It is the opposite for the canadian teams. The world jrs are behind the times and the mens teams have it right on how to build the teams.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

It's really fun to play, so yeah.

Of course it is. Floor hockey rules.

I'm just kind of at a loss why they would take away the blocker and glove and call it a different game.

 

[TedLundy]

Of course it is. Floor hockey rules.

I'm just kind of at a loss why they would take away the blocker and glove and call it a different game.

Well, i'd say it's a bit more than just a blocker and glove that makes the difference.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

The americans are doing things right finally at the jr level, but the men teams are behind the times.

It is the opposite for the canadian teams. The world jrs are behind the times and the mens teams have it right on how to build the teams.

Jr teams can't use all of our best juniors. We are punished for having players who are NHL-ready.

Plus, there is always the political aspect (have to have three guys from Quebec, one or two from the NCAA, four from the Dub and a bunch of guys from Ontario). Being the better player is a secondary consideration at times. Same for coaching. No one cares where Babcock is from but if Hockey Canada don't pick a coach from the Q every three or four years for World Juniors then the world will end.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

Well, i'd say it's a bit more than just a blocker and glove that makes the difference.

Maybe I'm way off-base...my only experience is that single video.

What else is different?

 

[Boxscore]

The americans are doing things right finally at the jr level, but the men teams are behind the times.

It is the opposite for the canadian teams. The world jrs are behind the times and the mens teams have it right on how to build the teams.

Not sure why we're talking about the Americans here but they will have a great future...

Quick and Schneider between the pipes.

Kane, Gaudreau, Eichel, Matthews, Connor, Larkin, etc up front. On the back-end... Carlson, Shattenkirk, Jones, Trouba, Werenski, etc.

Skill and speed wise, the Americans will soon compete with the best. This tournament was bizarre for USA at multiple levels. The coach was a terrible choice and the team building was suspect at best.

 

[Legend123]

as much as i disliked the weber-subban trade, I have to say I've been very impressed by Weber. When hes on the ice, ur simply not gonna score on him. He skates really well for a man his size, his shot is really smart and hes a beast defensively.

 

[Boxscore]

as much as i disliked the weber-subban trade, I have to say I've been very impressed by Weber. When hes on the ice, ur simply not gonna score on him. He skates really well for a man his size, his shot is really smart and hes a beast defensively.

Until Weber starts slowing down (in 2-3 years) he will be a monster for the Habs... and a much better "fit" than PK. Overall, I still think Subban is the better asset, but Weber is world class... just has some miles on him.

 

[Legend123]

Until Weber starts slowing down (in 2-3 years) he will be a monster for the Habs... and a much better "fit" than PK. Overall, I still think Subban is the better asset, but Weber is world class... just has some miles on him.

true. I think he has more than just 2-3 years in him. Look at Gonchar and Markov, both lesser players, they have been very effective until their mid-late 30s.

I do wonder about PK tho. His main strength is his skating, mobility, agility and puck skills. Would he still be effective when he loses that due to age??

regardless, Weber, as u said, fits the habs a lot better.

 

[Hank Plank]

That's floorball? Same thing exactly as floor hockey.

 

[incineratorz]

Russia are good at developing fast,skilled,flashy and entertaining forwards.

They need better esprit de corps , better coaching and better defensive efforts from their forwards.

Oh and for the love of god please concentrate on developing defensemen lol.

 

[Boxscore]

true. I think he has more than just 2-3 years in him. Look at Gonchar and Markov, both lesser players, they have been very effective until their mid-late 30s.

I do wonder about PK tho. His main strength is his skating, mobility, agility and puck skills. Would he still be effective when he loses that due to age??

regardless, Weber, as u said, fits the habs a lot better.

Oh, Weber will be effective for another 6 years. But in 2-3, he'll start to decline a little. He'll still be good though, just not as great as he is now.

 

[TheStatican]

While Canada may be the best, there are other teams that can beat Canada on its day. It's not like USA vs. Brazil in basketball. There are players on each team that play in the NHL...some at a very high level.

No, it's pretty much exactly like Team USA in basketball at this point when it comes to best on best tournaments. Canada losing in 2006 was much like USA losing in 2004. After that they both changed their approach to team selection and have been incredibly dominate ever since. USA(baskekball) currently being unbeaten in 24 games while Canada(hockey) is currently unbeaten in 14(losing only once in 17) and likely on it's way to 16 in a row. Both have had a few close calls in that time, Canada winning 6 of those games by one goal and team USA winning 5 of those games by 7 points or less. So of course there always exists the possibility of an upset. The dream team and team Canada will not keep winning in perpetuity. The only difference being that Canada did lose that one game but that was against what was easily the second best hockey nation in the world and one that was relatively close to Canada's level, though only in that single tournament but in none of the others. While USA basketball hasn't had a competitor on that level in any of the tournaments since '04.

 

[TheStatican]

I thought Malkin was the best player on the ice sans their goalie. He was driving to the net and at least trying unlike his dead weight line mates.

Overall and I hate to say this, he had a pretty ****** tournament. But I think he was starting to turn it around this game. He wasn't on the ice for any of the 5 goals against, won the draw that lead to the first goal and there were a few moments in that third period where he looked like the Malkin of old, playing keep away against some of the games best in the O zone.

That softy by Bob really deflated Russia.

Not sure if he got screened by his own D or not but he was definitely distracted by Crosby, having already been burned by him twice on the night. Maybe anticipating a pass back to him at the side of the net? Bob was the main reason why the game was still close(tied) at that point.

no i don't think you should bring the Great one into this. Sid is playing great but Gretzky was in a class of his own . As far as a different level than anyone in this tournament well remember he is also playing on the best and deepest team so he also has good teammates to make him look good too. But he has had a very good tournament so far and i hope it continues.

Not saying Crosby is playing better than Gretz did in 87, but he's not paired up with another player who is a consensus top 4 player OAT and arguably the most naturally skilled player of all time as well.

 

[habtastic]

That third period was vintage TC. Just when everyone thinks they're in too deep, they stick to the system and persevere. I'm thoroughly impressed. The D also picked up their play, except for the last 10 sec -- they just cannot allow two opponents to stand in the crease. That's what led to the 2nd goal. I don't get the continued love for Jbo and Piet. They made so many mistakes. Letang is just as good, all things considered. (Leaving out Subban.)

Props where (possibly) expected: Crosby is such a brilliant player, and people still hate him for non-jealous reasons. It's so obvious how good he is in the modern game.

Doughty is so key to this team. Tavares is so underrated. Duchene too. Toews is an essential piece of the national team. Love that guy.

Props where (definitely expected): For those who aren't used to watching Price, you really have to understand goaltending to see all the small things he does to simplify the game (which is what all the commentators talk about all the time, and they're right).

There were a number of saves that he made routinely that were not ordinary. (And which set him up for potential second/third chances.) Plus, his rebound control is solid. It's not as easy as it seems. He's the best when he's under fire; Bob played amazingly for a guy who was getting lots of shots, but I'd argue that he has to do a lot more to make a save, so it looks dramatic. Nothing taken away from him, he was fantastic. Just sayin, for those who are nervous about Price, don't be. He was on his game in this game, finally. If things get tough, you'll see why he's #1. Really, it's the only thing I have now as a Habs fan. I have yet to be convinced by Weber.

Props where (perhaps not) expected: Bergeron and Marchand were world class players. This is gonna be a tough season to watch if they keep playing like that, and they probably will. This is why not having PK to stoke the fire sucks so bad.

Russia showed that they are still one of the most skilled teams and that they can put a TEAM together, which hasn't been the case for awhile. I'm betting on SWE in the final. It could go either way, but this tournament is so much more riveting than I thought it would be.

I hope Stamkos finds his game, and then promptly loses it after the tournament.

 

[Tomas W]

I know the tournament is not ever yet but if I were Canadian I'd be worried about the state of the game of hockey. To be the best at the game you create and that you are pretty much the only ones to actually play is pretty disturbing. Some other countries do have some good players, but this game is played so much more in Canada that it doesn't make much sense to have any international tournaments. Some countries such as the Czech Republic don't even produce top end players anymore, to some etent the same can be said about other countries, for instance Russia, which stopped producing defensemen 10 years ago. What's left? Canada A vs. Canada B. The NHL should look into it for the next World Cup. Or let each province ice its own team and add Russia and Sweden to the mix.

You forget were this tournament is held. either Canada or USA are SUPPOSED to win. Although of course a semifinal should at least be close, I take it Canada was superior? If so, I guess nothing will stop them.

About the world cup format. I think with all the gimmick teams that has been suggested here, and has been here, its better to call it the NHL All star cup, or something. Because with artficial teams they are there only to create parity and to display as many NHLers as possible. Thats not how real World Cups are formed. Im sorry but this tournament is not a real World Cup. Its an NHL international inventational tournament with some great players and an impressive host.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

I don't understand why Ovechkin is getting the blame for Russia losing. Russia simply isn't as good as Canada, if Ovechkin were Canadian, he wouldn't be dealing with all this BS.

 

[Saku11]

The Russian team is just if not more skilled than Canada._What they really lack is HEART. Theres no herat on that team exepct Malkin. Couldnt be more happy that the Canada won [mod]

 

[Snippit]

The Russian team is just if not more skilled than Canada._What they really lack is HEART. Theres no herat on that team exepct Malkin. Couldnt be more happy that the Canada won [mod]

No, Canada's roster is top to bottom better than Russia's.