WC: General Talk '14 — Russia

[Jussi]

We beat you in the first game without Malkin

You still had Ovie. Not forgetting all those other Olympians.

 

[YMCMBYOLO]

Russia won every game in this tournament in regulation time.

Russia did the same in 2012, but before that we have to go way back the same thing happened: Soviet Union won every game in regulation time in 1989 and 1986.

This win was not a Soviet "trounce every opponent" style of win, but it was a very convincing result. We have to remember that before the tournament Russia was not considered as the number one favorite.

Number one favourite? As in the tournament favourite or world best??

 

[Peter25]

Number one favourite? As in the tournament favourite or world best??

Russia was not a clear #1 favorite in the World Championships before the tournament. Yes, Russia had Ovechkin and Bobrovsky but other than those the team consisted pretty much of no-name players. Of course Malkin came in later but before the tournament it was not known whether he would come.

Other than Ovy and Bobrovsky the core of the team was Tikhonov, Plotnikov, Orlov, Belov, Anisimov, Kulemin and Medvedev. This core of players is not considerably stronger than for other top teams in the tournament.

 

[Jussi]

Russia was not a clear #1 favorite in the World Championships before the tournament. Yes, Russia had Ovechkin and Bobrovsky but other than those the team consisted pretty much of no-name players. Of course Malkin came in later but before the tournament it was not known whether he would come.

Other than Ovy and Bobrovsky the core of the team was Tikhonov, Plotnikov, Orlov, Belov, Anisimov, Kulemin and Medvedev. This core of players is not considerably stronger than for other top teams in the tournament.

They were much, much stronger than any other team. Bobrovsky and Ovie alone meant that goaltending was not going to be an issue and that they had a legitimate scoring threat. No other team had a combination of players from the Olympics, NHL talent, goaltending to match Russia in this tournament. Canada were weak from the get go with their goalie selections, plus no Olympians, young team with no bonafide superstars. What other team was supposedly better than Russia?

 

[NyQuil]

They were much, much stronger than any other team. Bobrovsky and Ovie alone meant that goaltending was not going to be an issue and that they had a legitimate scoring threat. No other team had a combination of players from the Olympics, NHL talent, goaltending to match Russia in this tournament. Canada were weak from the get go with their goalie selections, plus no Olympians, young team with no bonafide superstars. What other team was supposedly better than Russia?

Don't ruin this legendary underdog victory.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Don't ruin this legendary underdog victory.

Do you think this underdog story surpasses the Miracle on ice? Or is the fact that they have 8 Olympians going to not allow for that?

I wonder if Canada had sent 8 Olympians what the tone of the messages on this thread would be

Ah too bad we have to wait 4 years until another Canada Russia meeting, it's a shame would be nice to further put more doubt into our Russian friends of what can happen in best on best

 

[1Gold Standard]

They were much, much stronger than any other team. Bobrovsky and Ovie alone meant that goaltending was not going to be an issue and that they had a legitimate scoring threat. No other team had a combination of players from the Olympics, NHL talent, goaltending to match Russia in this tournament. Canada were weak from the get go with their goalie selections, plus no Olympians, young team with no bonafide superstars. What other team was supposedly better than Russia?

Ya, I've always argued that any WHC team to be considered favorites needs roughly 6-8 Olympians. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it does make it a solid contender for a gold medal.

on another note...you don't respond to pm? waiting for your U20 analysis.

 

[Clrs]

Do you think this underdog story surpasses the Miracle on ice? Or is the fact that they have 8 Olympians going to not allow for that?

I wonder if Canada had sent 8 Olympians what the tone of the messages on this thread would be

Ah too bad we have to wait 4 years until another Canada Russia meeting, it's a shame would be nice to further put more doubt into our Russian friends of what can happen in best on best

Another Turin could happen and you would have to whine again.

 

[1Gold Standard]

Do you think this underdog story surpasses the Miracle on ice? Or is the fact that they have 8 Olympians going to not allow for that?

I wonder if Canada had sent 8 Olympians what the tone of the messages on this thread would be

Ah too bad we have to wait 4 years until another Canada Russia meeting, it's a shame would be nice to further put more doubt into our Russian friends of what can happen in best on best

We may not have to wait that long as there's talk of the Wold Cup being staged as early as September 2015. But then again, given what we seen in Sochi, unless we are in the same group with the Russians, I highly doubt the Russians will make it out of the group stage to play for a medal against any team.