GDT: Gold Medal Game • Feb. 23 • Sweden vs. Canada • Part IV

[Big McLargehuge]

There was a picture on facebook of Ryan Harnden (Men's Curling) with Crosby and Toewes at the closing ceremonies with their medals

I'm sure the guys with games on Tuesday and Wednesday went back, but most teams (including Pittsburgh and Chicago) don't play until Thursday. I don't think there's much harm in letting those guys return on Monday.

 

[HuGo Sham]

I'm sure the guys with games on Tuesday and Wednesday went back, but most teams (including Pittsburgh and Chicago) don't play until Thursday. I don't think there's much harm in letting those guys return on Monday.

all players went back on charter after ceremonies...non NHLers are staying till monday

 

[RED ARMY EAST]

"Best on Best"

Well that was after a 50 year drought, it was only second time for NHLers at the Olympics and this was only four years after Nagano debacle.

Oh and in front of a boisterous Canadian crowd too, so I suspect that something to do with it as well...

New thread under Hockey talk by Country.
Best on Best results for Men's International Hockey since1976.

 

[Big McLargehuge]

all players went back on charter after ceremonies...non NHLers are staying till monday

Well, it's Monday already out there, so I'm not that wrong

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

I don't mean to flack Vancouver fans, God knows they have respectable, understandable fans and I'm only judging by what I say but man... Edler and Sedin were brutal.

Absolutely no heart, no devotion, no commitment, they gave up early and often. Bad giveaways, no emotion and horrible decisions with the puck.

Sedin had one shift where he started dominating, the puck then was a bit further cause of a stick-check then he gave up. I saw Eriksson and he looked frustrated.

Canada did an excellent job but Swede's didn't respond. Their head wasn't in the game after the first period.

 

[Gh24]

I wish MSL had scored. Did he get any points?

No he didn't. I was hoping for the same.

But what really was the most bitter thing is that Crosby passed Kari Lehtonen in points

Hedman and Lindholm are very strong defensively and physicaly, in a tight game you need this type of players. Guys like Oduya, Tallinder doesn't have game breaking skills.

Yeeeeeahh....had Hedman and/or Lindholm been there to defend strongly instead of Tallinder/Oduya, you would have clearly controlled the game.

Oh btw, both of them, Tallinder and Oduya had a +/- 0 in the gold medal game.

So uhh. Yeah. Who cares about Zetterberg, Backstrom, H. Sedin and their offensive efforts, but missing Hedman/Lindholm made the difference in not scoring.

 

[Classicnamesup]

Another incredible game for Canada, fantastic win. Proud of the guys and proud to be Canadian, so many people up early and at the bars for this game.

Congrats to Sweden on the silver. It may not feel like an achievement right after losing the game but it just takes a little time to feel pride in a silver, which is terrific.

 

[HuGo Sham]

Well, it's Monday already out there, so I'm not that wrong

lol...ceremonies began about 7:30 sochi time so guys were on charters around 10 pm there i guess....so 1pm EST...they've been in the air for 5 hours or so

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Getzlaf's line was easily Canada's best line throughout the tournament.

 

[PG Canuck]

I don't mean to flack Vancouver fans, God knows they have respectable, understandable fans and I'm only judging by what I say but man... Edler and Sedin were brutal.

Absolutely no heart, no devotion, no commitment, they gave up early and often. Bad giveaways, no emotion and horrible decisions with the puck.

Sedin had one shift where he started dominating, the puck then was a bit further cause of a stick-check then he gave up. I saw Eriksson and he looked frustrated.

Canada did an excellent job but Swede's didn't respond. Their head wasn't in the game after the first period.

We know. We've been watching them all season. Nothing has changed. Daniel is awful now.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Are the players at the opening ceremonies?

Oh, I don't know. Why don't we go back a page and look at the pictures of a bunch of Canadian players at the opening ceremonies?

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Getzlaf's line was easily Canada's best line throughout the tournament.

Not easily at all.

In the big games, Toews and Crosby's lines were better.

 

[deandebean]

Hedman and Lindholm are very strong defensively and physicaly, in a tight game you need this type of players. Guys like Oduya, Tallinder doesn't have game breaking skills.

Yeah, but it doesn't change the fact that you couldn't score.

 

[Bgav]

I don't mean to flack Vancouver fans, God knows they have respectable, understandable fans and I'm only judging by what I say but man... Edler and Sedin were brutal.

Absolutely no heart, no devotion, no commitment, they gave up early and often. Bad giveaways, no emotion and horrible decisions with the puck.

Sedin had one shift where he started dominating, the puck then was a bit further cause of a stick-check then he gave up. I saw Eriksson and he looked frustrated.

Canada did an excellent job but Swede's didn't respond. Their head wasn't in the game after the first period.

Lol what did karlsson do today?

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Lol what did karlsson do today?

More scoring chances, less giveaways, better defensive plays, more heart.

Karlsson also made a couple terrible pinches but he showed more devotion. I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I was talking as a Swedish fan, pretty sure I have an opinion of them equal to those of Vancouver fans.

 

[Jml78]

The way Canada played this tournament no one was beating them. I have never seen such a self confident team play. The gold medal game could have been played Canada vs. the rest of the world all star team and they still would have steamrolled them. The Swedes had no chance regardless off Sudafed and back problems.

 

[oldtimerhockey]

Has Eric Karlsson ever shown up to an important game in his career?

He fits in well in Ottawa - Sorry couldnt resist. In all seriousness, he didnt have a chance to do anything against this team defense.

He fared the best of all the Swedish D men. The Red Wings pairing was obliterated and worn down and then separated.

 

[Bgav]

More scoring chances, less giveaways, better defensive plays, more heart.

Karlsson also made a couple terrible pinches but he showed more devotion. I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I was talking as a Swedish fan, pretty sure I have an opinion of them equal to those of Vancouver fans.

My point was Canada made almost all the swedes look average. Not fair to single them out when everyone looked like crap

 

[oldtimerhockey]

If Sweden had H.Sedin, Zetterberg, Bäckström, Franzén, Hedman I bet there would be a real battle, this was really one-sided by the looks of it.. didn't even bother watching, teams' knew before who would win and who would lose.

And Canada might have had Stamkos, Tavares, played Norris winner Subban oh and then maybe bring back Gretzky, Lemieux....

It's so ridiculous to play what if...........

 

[oldtimerhockey]

The part that makes me most proud to be a Canadian is the way these players checked their egos at the door and took on whatever role was asked of them. Last year's scoring leader sitting most of the Olympics, last year's Norris winner playing 1 game, captains on teams playing 4 minutes or checking roles, centres playing wing and the list goes on.

These players averaged 40 second shifts and played an unbelievable team system. They were simply unstoppable.

Congratulations!

 

[Healthy DiPietro]

And Canada might have had Stamkos, Tavares, played Norris winner Subban

It's so ridiculous to play what if...........

Not mentioning Subban below as he was a tactical scratch just like e.g. Hedman and there's only room for three regular pairings a game. You might as well start talking about what secondary goalies weren't playing.

Replacements < Stamkos, Tavares

Replacements <<< Zetterberg, H.Sedin and Bäckström

We had Henrik Tallinder as a center in this game, Henrik Tallinder! He's not even a good defender, nevermind a passable center for a Gold medal game. Bring everyone in healthy and the gap is still much smaller than it was today.

This is a credit to Canada's great depth so take the compliment, but don't say that Stamkos and Tavares negates our injuries because that's wanting to have the cake and eat it too.

 

[VanCity Millionaires]

What a dominating performance. People saying that Sweden gave up or didn't show up don't know what they're talking about. That game was just an absolute perfect game, a 10.0. Watching the game I commented a number of times that the ice just seemed sloped in favour of the Canadians. Cary Price played well, and saved some key goals in earlier games, but a minor league goalie could have got the win today.

Great tournament. Congrats Sweden and Finland especially for their medals.

 

[Aaaaaaaaaaaaa]

The part that makes me most proud to be a Canadian is the way these players checked their egos at the door and took on whatever role was asked of them. Last year's scoring leader sitting most of the Olympics, last year's Norris winner playing 1 game, captains on teams playing 4 minutes or checking roles, centres playing wing and the list goes on.

These players averaged 40 second shifts and played an unbelievable team system. They were simply unstoppable.

Congratulations!

One of the more overlooked parts of the Canadian game, so I am glad you pointed it out.

Canada cycled through their lines as efficiently as I have ever seen done. Again, you need everybody buying in for that to work. One guy who goes me-first with that system and you have a problem. Honestly, I think that was one of Russia's issues.

Great job by the coaching staff getting these guys prepared. I thought it was great how Yzerman talked about the summer camp and how it was laid out for the players how the team was going to approach playing in these games.

That kind of insight does make a guy stop for a moment and think about the questions we all had about personnel a couple of months ago. I am sure the coaching staff was really observing who was "buying in" even at that point.

 

[Revolution9*]

More scoring chances, less giveaways, better defensive plays, more heart.

Karlsson also made a couple terrible pinches but he showed more devotion. I'm not trying to start a flame war here, I was talking as a Swedish fan, pretty sure I have an opinion of them equal to those of Vancouver fans.

Quick make more claims on things that aren't measurable! Cause we all know how that never leads to a flame war.


Sedin wasn't great but to be honest he wasn't good leading up to these games either. Not scoring in 2014, playing a passive game, looking like a player playing through something. I would have preferred him staying back with Henrik but that wasn't going to happen.

 

[Scotty B]

One of the more overlooked parts of the Canadian game, so I am glad you pointed it out.

Canada cycled through their lines as efficiently as I have ever seen done. Again, you need everybody buying in for that to work. One guy who goes me-first with that system and you have a problem. Honestly, I think that was one of Russia's issues.

Great job by the coaching staff getting these guys prepared. I thought it was great how Yzerman talked about the summer camp and how it was laid out for the players how the team was going to approach playing in these games.

That kind of insight does make a guy stop for a moment and think about the questions we all had about personnel a couple of months ago. I am sure the coaching staff was really observing who was "buying in" even at that point.

I think Babcock readily admitted that the author of our Big Ice game plan, including the 40 second shift strategem was...damn now I can't think of his name...former Oiler + longtime Swiss bench boss RALPH KREUGER...so thank him!