GDT: Gold Medal Game | Canada vs. Russia

[Sharpshooter]

Always love the Canada-Russia Gold medal games.

This is gonna be another good one.

 

[The Greatest 101]

"Ovi vs Crosby with Malkin on the other side."

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

This is going to be a shootout like 08.

 

[Mc5RingsAndABeer]

It can go either way. Yea, Canada has great defense but when you're playing against Malkin/Ovi/Tarasenko/etc.. anything can happen on any play.

 

[Incognito]

Why isn't Price or Holtby there when OV shows up for the last two games of the tournament?

That's a question that only Price or Holtby could answer for sure, but it's probably because this tournament doesn't matter as much to North Americans.

 

[Canuck21t]

yeah.but we have a good recent history against Canada at the WC. Hopefully Canadians know about that too

We know about this, but there's a reason why also. Whilst Russia often has its best possible players, Canada usually only gets one or two big names. I remember the year of the Olympics, Russia had like more than half its Olympic team, whilst Canada only had Corey Perry . In cases like that, no wonder Russia has a better record against Canada. Malkin and Ovechkin always say yes to Russia which is commendable so your country has had the best team on paper for many years. The rate of refusal on Team Canada is much higher so whilst we're competitive, we haven't been playing for a medal for many years. I don't know what happened this year, but it's clear that Canada's roster is much stronger this time around. It's no guarantee that we'll win, but our chance is much stronger than in other years.

 

[Scotty B]

It's the first year they've had it. Since all of the players are multi-millionaires, it would be pretty cool if they gave that money to charity or something.

No worries the money will definitely go to youth hockey, and after how bad that Russian D looked vs Yanks...looks like money in the bank...

7-3 Canada...same as 2010 Vancouver...

 

[Canuck21t]

Canada wins with ease. Actually I'm afraid the fact how easily Canada stomped over this tournament could hurt even more it's relevance in North America.

The WHC is already tarnished beyond repair in North America, nothing will change that perception.

You know what's cool about that video, the exuberance of the Russians.

If Canada wins tomorrow will they even celebrate beyond a half-hearted raising of their sticks and a few congratulatory hugs?

It all depends on how difficult the win will be. No matter the significance of the tournament, the difficulty influences the level of satisfaction.

 

[Stizzle]

Put Couturier out vs Malkin all game, please. It never fails.

 

[Mehar]

Should be a good game. Canada's team is obviously better, but Russia has the better goaltender and forwards that can bury their chances. I wouldn't be surprised to see either team win, but I would be surprised to see a low scoring game.

I agree with you. It is 50/50 from my end. Russian players care more about WHC, and that is why you seen guys like Ovechkin join the team immediately after the Caps got eliminated. You got Tarasenko, Malkin, Ovechkin, and Kovalchuk up front and they can definitely bury their chances. I am still a bit nervous about Smith in Goal, but he did look good today when need be. I will go and say 5-4 Canada (the same score Canada beat Russia in this year's WJHC final).

 

[Scotty B]

Why isn't Price or Holtby there when OV shows up for the last two games of the tournament?

Apples and Oranges....Goalies don't cross the Atlantic to come in cold at the 11th hour of a tourney...NOT GONNA HAPPEN...a 3rd stringer may come in cold if both #1 and #2 get injured, but that's it...

Relax people, Smith will be fine...it's not like he'll be under siege...But by all means, do say a prayer for...














Bobrovsky

 

[xxxx]

Should be a good game. Canada's team is obviously better, but Russia has the better goaltender and forwards that can bury their chances. I wouldn't be surprised to see either team win, but I would be surprised to see a low scoring game.

Why is always everyone mentioning Smith in this regard??? Smith hasn't allowed a single goal in the playoffs. He definitely had some tough saves against both Belarus and Czechs.

 

[xxxx]

I hope it's something like the 7-3 victory in Vancouver!! I can feel Crosby is going to score in an international gold medal game, again!

Spezza is a beast since the playoffs started.

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

I thought Russia just beat USA 4-0? Damn..

Hold up, my abacus can't keep up with this new information.

 

[DrunkUncleDenis]

Spezza is a beast since the playoffs started.

Well that's something you don't hear very often

Seriously though, I'm happy for Spezza's success. Super nice dude, he deserves to get a gold.

 

[canuck2010]

Well that's something you don't hear very often

Seriously though, I'm happy for Spezza's success. Super nice dude, he deserves to get a gold.

Indeed, I'm really pleased for him.

 

[Talus]

Canada will have fun with the Russian defense.
the Americans had numerous chances,chances that Canada will score on.

 

[Callista Rhian]

I don't know what happened this year, but it's clear that Canada's roster is much stronger this time around.

This year's worlds is the last thing that will be taken into consideration for seeding in the 2018 Olympics. I think it also matters for seeding in the 2016 World Cup? (not that I care in the case of the latter)

 

[xxxx]

Well that's something you don't hear very often

Seriously though, I'm happy for Spezza's success. Super nice dude, he deserves to get a gold.

Spezza hasn't won the olympics, was close to win the Stanley Cup in 2007, lost two gold-medal games (in 08,09) to Russia in WHC finals. I think he will leave everything on the ice, and I really, really hope he scores a goal in the GMG and gets the gold finally, big fan of him.

 

[JackSlater]

Spezza hasn't won the olympics, was close to win the Stanley Cup in 2007, lost two gold-medal games (in 08,09) to Russia in WHC finals. I think he will leave everything on the ice, and I really, really hope he scores a goal in the GMG and gets the gold finally, big fan of him.

I am already happy with this tournament for Canada, seeing as so many younger players played well. While I generally don't care much about the result of this tournament, I would like to see Spezza get rewarded. The vast majority of Canadian players in his situation refuse to play. Past his best, knows that he will never play in the Olympics or a World Cup (and having been arguably snubbed in 2010) and even having been turned down by Canada to play in this tournament a few years ago when he asked to play. Big respect for Spezza for showing up this year and being one of the best forwards in the tournament.

 

[SanDogBrewin]

Should be a good game. Canada's team is obviously better, but Russia has the better goaltender and forwards that can bury their chances. I wouldn't be surprised to see either team win, but I would be surprised to see a low scoring game.

Agree I think the game will be a high scoring affair.

 

[Pi]

Full faith in Team Canada's F & D, zero faith in Smith.

Bobrovsky can easily steal the game.

 

[mobilus]

Canada 4 – Russia 1

 

[Suxnet]

Put Couturier out vs Malkin all game, please. It never fails.

Knuble and Schenn just standing there.

And I think that'll happen. Couturier's been mostly used in a defensive role.

 

[Yakushev72]

Canada will have fun with the Russian defense.
the Americans had numerous chances,chances that Canada will score on.

You're right to say that Russia has a very weak defense. Unfortunately, all of the best defensemen were injured before the tournament, and then 3 additional D men were lost to injury in the prelim round. But a couple of observations about Team USA: (1) they were a huge and powerful team physically, and yet they were as fast as any team I've seen in this tournament, and (2) their Soviet-style (NTDP) system allows them to play at full speed knowing that they can make rink-long passes without looking, and the guy who is supposed to be there will be at the exact spot he was supposed to be.

They played at an unbelievable level of synchronization and organization, which no other team that I have seen could match. Every man was the right man in the right place, and they could do it without having to be careful, or even look. While Canada has some Edmonton teammates playing together, they haven't played with the kind of fully synchronized system that you saw in Team USA. And their ability to win every loose puck in the Russian zone accounts for why the USA had a lot of good opportunities.