GDT: Canada v Finland (Gold Medal Game)

[Albatros]

I don't understand how Germany and Latvia didn't come to an agreement to keep Canada out of the playoffs.

Both Germany and Latvia lost to Kazakhstan, so they both were in danger of getting eliminated as well.

 

[1989]

I'm old.

Sorry to hear that. Hope you get better.

 

[Urbanskog]

Both Germany and Latvia lost to Kazakhstan, so they both were in danger of getting eliminated as well.

They were not because Canada was also at 10 points. In the hypothetical tiebreaker both Latvia and Germany would have advanced over Kazakhstan and Canada.

 

[QnebO]

I am so proud of the team Finland we saw. I mean Jukka Jalonen won the 2019 championship with like worst team ever, and now they had even worse team and were just one stupid tripping penalty away for winning an another.

Jukka Jalonen is a real magician. Absolutely amazing coach. And it was only less than 20 years ago that I did hate the guy. It's awesome how much he has been matured as a person and as a coach.

From pure talent point of view this was like Team C or maybe actually D, and unlike Canada we don't have that much quality players. Still they got so close.

2019 Canada had pretty stacked team, Russia had their best stars, Sweden had their stars and like 19 NHLers total. Finland had zero NHL players, two AHLers, 14 Finnish league players and 2 KHL players. Going against Ovechkin, malkin of russia, backström and hedman ect of sweden, and I dont remember but much better than finnish team of Canada. Those 3 countries in quarters, semis, and final. No easy way trough. Beating canada twice in that tournament. Its better than the miracle on ice. It is by far the most impressive WHC performance in that light (beating the bigger opponents with horrible on paper roster. Obvously, those guys who won gold aint really horrible, but on paper).

 

[1989]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams this year? Rosters that you'd expect to see in an Olympic entry?

 

[BlueBull]

Canada rules Hockey once Again. Let's Goooooooo!

 

[Legend Leinonen]

The added iodine prevents tsernobyl getting in your thyroid.

It can also make you run/cycle/swim triathlon a whopping 26 minutes faster.

Effects of oral salt supplementation on physical performance during a half-ironman: A randomized controlled trial - PubMed (nih.gov)

So plausibly you could even outrun the radiation. Or maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Molson Ice is strong shit...

The athletes from Russia did have 5 players from the Gold winning Olympic team of 2018. That is not an A team but that is a pretty good core. Canada essentially had an Spengler Cup team.

 

[MoeTheHobo]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams?

I think UK came close

 

[QnebO]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams this year? Rosters that you'd expect to see in an Olympic entry?

Kazakshtan probably. And such teams that have no big NHLers. I dont know how much better Germany would be in olympics, obviously draisaitl but what do they got other than that

 

[karhukissa]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams?

None. I think out of all top teams Czechs were closest to their A-team and even they were quite far from their best possible team. I didn't include lower tier teams because they don't have many players in NA.

 

[Urbanskog]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams this year? Rosters that you'd expect to see in an Olympic entry?

Belarus was easily closest to their "A team".

 

[Halberdier]

2019 Canada had pretty stacked team, Russia had their best stars, Sweden had their stars and like 19 NHLers total. Finland had zero NHL players, two AHLers, 14 Finnish league players and 2 KHL players. Going against Ovechkin, malkin of russia, backström and hedman ect of sweden, and I dont remember but much better than finnish team of Canada. Those 3 countries in quarters, semis, and final. No easy way trough. Beating canada twice in that tournament. Its better than the miracle on ice. It is by far the most impressive WHC performance in that light (beating the bigger opponents with horrible on paper roster. Obvously, those guys who won gold aint really horrible, but on paper).

Yeah. Before the 2019 tournament the roster looked a bit like bad joke. But if you remember 2011, Jalonen had also relatively bad team with mostly euro players and nobody was expecting them to win the gold.

Still 2019 was indeed the real miracle on ice. US 1980 was nothing compared to that.

 

[1989]

I think UK came close

I was thinking that too. Maybe Switzerland or Latvia, Kazakhstan, Belarus? But those are easy picks.

Which of the Big Five (Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland, Russia) had a B or C+ team?

 

[Backcheckmonster3]

Congratulations to Finland as well. You played a smart game all in all and it almost paid off. Game could have went either way and silver is nothing to sneeze at.

My privileges were removed when i said people should celebrate again and not fear.. so my liking rights were removed so this is simply a +1 / Suomi fan

 

[robertocarlos]

Denmark would have won the whole thing if they had Ehlers.

 

[OskarOskarius]

Kazakshtan probably. And such teams that have no big NHLers. I dont know how much better Germany would be in olympics, obviously draisaitl but what do they got other than that

Grubauer will be a big addition as well.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

For a defensive team, Finland’s PK was really bad

 

[1989]

This is great for Canada. Maybe the celebrations can make them forget for a second Justin Trudeau is their prime minister.

Curious - do you tell people you're a vegan/crossfit/religious/whichever stereotype at every chance in unrelated conversations?

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Man.

What a tournament.

Each year providing moments to remember no matter who wins.

Amazing display of pure Hockey!

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Just checking if Drury has bought a plane ticket for Gallant to New York yet

 

[Halberdier]

Out of curiosity about all this unnecessary "A-team B-team" banter... I wonder which teams brought close to their A teams this year? Rosters that you'd expect to see in an Olympic entry?

The Great Britain, lol.

While Danish, Norwegian, Germans etc. had most of their Olympic rosters on ice, they were still missing some guys of crucial importance like Nik Ehlers, Leon Draisaitl etc.

 

[robertocarlos]

How do you tell people X without saying X?

I never use my blinkers.

 

[Svedu]

For a defensive team, Finland’s PK was really bad

Grow up kid. Congratulations, your Canada won! Celebrate the gold and move on.

 

[AmericanDream]

The athletes from Russia did have 5 players from the Gold winning Olympic team of 2018. That is not an A team but that is a pretty good core. Canada essentially had an Spengler Cup team.

I mean..half the roster being Olympic players would make a B team. Russia is the only major team you can make a case for maybe....maybe a C team. But point still stands, these are not A or B teams out there period. And who cares, it was fun and those that came are the ones who give a shit and played with heart.