GDT: Latvia Vs Canada | 7:30PM | Group A - Canadian Tire Centre

JTB1974

Registered User
Oct 16, 2022
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114
I still hate that shootouts can decide a winner and a loser. Though I also hate that 3 on 3 can decide a winner and a loser. You play 60 minutes of a game that doesn't involve any 3 on 3 and then decide to say "Hey let's decide this hard fought game on 3 on 3 and then a skills competition if no winner.
 
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JTB1974

Registered User
Oct 16, 2022
86
114
You can criticize them, sure, but people saying they can't medal or they choose the wrong team because of an SO loss is quite dramatic. They may still win the group and it becomes irrelevant.
Anything less than gold is a big failure for Canada. Especially playing at home. With Canada it's always been gold or bust when it comes to Hockey.
 

Namejs

Registered User
Dec 24, 2011
4,311
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Oslo
Clearly you missed an obvious hyperbole. But in all serious, how many future NHLers do you see on Latvia then?
Murnieks
Osmanis
Mateiko
Berzkalns
Naudins

There's going to be about 8 NHL draftees out of this Latvia team.

Most of the key players will be here again next year. Several leading players will be at the U18 WJC - we are going to be more competitive at the U18s.
 

Divine

Registered User
Dec 18, 2010
19,566
13,813
Anything less than gold is a big failure for Canada. Especially playing at home. With Canada it's always been gold or bust when it comes to Hockey.

That's fair and they haven't lost the gold medal by losing this game. It's better to lose this game right now than in elimination games.
 

JTB1974

Registered User
Oct 16, 2022
86
114
Huge win for Latvia. They have every right to celebrate. This is a massive upset and Canada should be ashamed. Who would have thought leaving out extremely skilled players like Misa and Sennecke would backfire?
And having OHL's leading defenseman in scoring by a mile as your #5 or #6 Dman getting no PP time.
 

NyQuil

Big F$&*in Q
Jan 5, 2005
99,746
66,691
Ottawa, ON
We Canadians will always have something to be anxious about.

In tournaments where we are undefeated, fans worry that the team hasn’t faced enough adversity before the medal games.

Will definitely make the remaining games of the round robin that much spicier and compelling.
 

JTB1974

Registered User
Oct 16, 2022
86
114
That's fair and they haven't lost the gold medal by losing this game. It's better to lose this game right now than in elimination games.
But if you can't beat this team how are you going to beat the top teams? The coach is a moron who's personnel decisions are just baffling.
 
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Blitzkrug

Registered User
Sep 17, 2013
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Anybody but Canada, That's all that matters.


Vancouver
Even Vancouver had some questionable choices.

I'd argue Salt Lake City. Gretzky was in charge and straight up loaded the team with as much talent as he could. f*** your role designation, archetypes, just blow everyone else away.
 

Divine

Registered User
Dec 18, 2010
19,566
13,813
But if you can't beat this team how are you going to beat the top teams? The coach is a moron who's personnel decisions are just baffling.

You can have a bad game and still win the tournament. They allowed 2 PP goals - maybe work on the PK or, more importantly, stop taking needless penalties against a team who's doing nothing 5v5.

Winning a game 10-0 isn't any more significant than winning a game 1-0 when it matters. Canada beat Latvia 2-1 on the way to a gold medal at the Olympics.
 

Oilslick941611

Registered User
Jul 4, 2006
17,698
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Ottawa
Even Vancouver had some questionable choices.

I'd argue Salt Lake City. Gretzky was in charge and straight up loaded the team with as much talent as he could. f*** your role designation, archetypes, just blow everyone else away.
And that SLC under performed in the group stage as well and was criticized in the media for it.
 

WarriorofTime

Registered User
Jul 3, 2010
32,098
21,474
The one saving grace. A team playing on a back to back versus a team coming off a rest day is always a tricky matchup. Canada as host basically was able to give themselves the easiest opponent but it does tend to lead to the most unexpected results.

Now Latvia is on a back to back playing USA who was off today so it wouldn’t be shocking if they get blown out tomorrow and people overreact.
 

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