GDT: Group B - May 12 - Latvia vs Switzerland

[Retroglyphs]

Must be a sigh of relief for the Swiss. They are a kind of team which can in one year make to the final of whc and in another year fail to make it to the QFs.

Nah, to me they looked like in the same good shape as last year. They'll go far again. Farther than Team Sweden.

 

[jonas2244]

Nah, to me they looked like in the same good shape as last year. They'll go far again. Farther than Team Sweden.

I'm not so sure about that. It's a good team, no question, but the Forwards lack a little bit of physical play, with Nino and Meier missing. Such things could be crucial if you want to go further than the QF.
And Sweden is know to start slow, they'll be ready when they need to.

 

[Star Ocean]

Nah, to me they looked like in the same good shape as last year. They'll go far again. Farther than Team Sweden.

Theyll go farther than Team Canada

 

[Urbanskog]

You should probably calm down. Now i dont know if you know this, but this was THE GAME that decided the QF`s. We arent beating the Czechs, the Russians or Swedes and the Swiss are sure as **** not gonna lose to Austria.

What would have been the point of qualifying for quarterfinals if the Czechs, Swedes and Russians are impossible to beat? The quarterfinal opponent is going to be a team of similar caliber from Group A, after all.

 

[Retroglyphs]

I'm not so sure about that. It's a good team, no question, but the Forwards lack a little bit of physical play, with Nino and Meier missing. Such things could be crucial if you want to go further than the QF.
And Sweden is know to start slow, they'll be ready when they need to.

Team Sweden didn't start slow last year. Zibby & friends were wide awake and dominant from the very start last year. They look different to me this year.
As for Switzerland - agreed, it'd be great to add a big body like Nino to this lineup (and gritty Ghetto is already on his way) ... looks like the Bruins are handling the Canes quite well.

 

[torero]

Now all the other games are not going to matter since we arent making the QF`s anyways. This sucks.

Baltic warrior ?

What is this mentality ?? you have a good team ... all is possible.

And Merzlikins can steal games !! i know him from the Swiss league. He is damn good.
Honestly , with the game Latvia had today, you shouldn't think like you do.
Everything is possible. I've been impressed by the speed and the tenacity of Latvia's players.
You can make marvels with this and a good goalie.

 

[mosare]

They beat a great Sweden, destroyed Norway. Czechs are almost like a home team in Bratislava, have a more than 10 NHL players (include Palat, Voracek), another one is coming (Faksa). This team is clearly favourite for medals. IMO they will not have any trouble with Latvia. It is how it is.

Palat, hmm OK, Voracek a good player, but the rest of the NHL players are not really impressing, sorry

 

[Oberyn Martell]

Palat, hmm OK, Voracek a good player, but the rest of the NHL players are not really impressing, sorry

lol. Chytil, Frolik, Vrana, Simon, Hronek, Gudas, Jaskin... not impressive?

 

[mosare]

lol. Chytil, Frolik, Vrana, Simon, Hronek, Gudas, Jaskin... not impressive?

Frolik ok, but the rest have yet to show their value

 

[Retroglyphs]

Frolik ok, but the rest have yet to show their value

Many will disagree. I've seen great performances from all of those players at the WHC.

 

[mosare]

Many will disagree. I've seen great performances from all of those players at the WHC.

I meant they have yet to show their value in the NHL

 

[member 305909]

Strange group-division this year. In one group there are 5 last year's QF teams so one will miss out while in the other group only 3 QF teams of last year.

 

[czechmate]

Palat, hmm OK, Voracek a good player, but the rest of the NHL players are not really impressing, sorry

Chytil, Vrana, Frolik and Simon play on the top 2 lines in their respective NHL teams.

 

[GX]

What is this mentality ?? you have a good team ... all is possible.

Well, you get tired of 'pretty losses' in tight games since 1997. We have solid coaching and a good team, yet clearly not good enough. There is a decent chance we pull an upset versus one of the big 3 teams of group B, but that still may not be enough.

 

[czechmate]

Very beneficial win for the Swiss team! If they manage to play more disciplined by avoiding taking unnecessary penalties, they are, as shown throughout the last years, definitely a force to be reckoned with!

 

[duga]

Palat, hmm OK, Voracek a good player, but the rest of the NHL players are not really impressing, sorry

Im a bit more conservative from swiss perspectives.
The Czechs have a very good roster. Fighting with Sweden for 3rd best on paper this tournament IMO just behind USA and Russia.

Even if Russia and Sweden are traditionally hardly unbreakable for Switzerland, unlike the Czech Rep., this year could be different.

It's as good as a home WC for them. They are absolutely motivated and physically much stronger than the Swiss.

Depending on what type of motivational status of Sweden and especially Russia the Swiss will face, I consider the chances bigger to steal points from them than from the Czechs for once.

 

[LKI]

They beat a great Sweden, destroyed Norway. Czechs are almost like a home team in Bratislava, have a more than 10 NHL players (include Palat, Voracek), another one is coming (Faksa). This team is clearly favourite for medals. IMO they will not have any trouble with Latvia. It is how it is.

If hockey games would be played on paper Swiss should never had 2 WC silvers... yet they do.

 

[kabidjan18]

Unfortunately, I cant imagine a scenario with how Switzerland is screwing up this situation. Austria is nowhere around Swiss team. Eventually, they still can get more points with stronger teams like Czechs or Sweden. This game was a most important for Latvia in terms of quarterfinals...

We can get points from Switzerland. We can and I think we will. We've gotten points from them the last two times we faced them, an OTW and an OTL. I mentioned before the Latvia game that Latvia is our nightmare matchup, because they're so much more physical along the boards and they collapse so quickly in front of their net. Switzerland is the dream matchup. They rely on skating and a lot of intricate passing schemes. Whenever you pick upsets you always run a great risk of getting it wrong. But I'm optimistic.

 

[BalticWarrior]

What would have been the point of qualifying for quarterfinals if the Czechs, Swedes and Russians are impossible to beat? The quarterfinal opponent is going to be a team of similar caliber from Group A, after all.

For us qualifying for the QF`s IS the goal. Anything beyond that would be extreme luck.