GDT: May 16 • Semifinal • Canada vs. Czech Republic

[varsaku]

I wonder why they picked those three. Burns was the only one that made sense. Hall or Spezza definitely deserved it more than Giroux.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Who were the top 3?

 

[WayneSid9987]

I like Giroux, he's from my home town, but he's not been Canada's best forward.

Canada's best defensive forward for sure.
TC or the guys picking wanted to show the defensive guys/goalie some love.

 

[illpucks]

Crosby line followed by Duchene's line were the best of the game IMO for Canada.

Spezza line was the best.

 

[allan5oh]

I only caught the 3rd, but wow did Burns stand out. He had one shift that was completely dominant with about 3-4 minutes left.

 

[llwyd]

Anyway, Canada was way too good, was not an even game at all. Maybe Russia at its best can make some impact, but if they do their amazing disorganization trick today, they won't even have a chance to try.

 

[RattsSSV]

Who were the top 3?

Burns
Smith
Giroux
&
Pavs
Voracek
Jagr

 

[Aru]

Who were the top 3?

Giroux, Burns, and Smith for Canada.

Voracek, Pavelec and Jagr for Czech Republic.

 

[NyQuil]

I'd probably go with Hall.

He scored massive goals all tournament long.

 

[Suxnet]

Spezza not a top 3? Another snub for a player who must be use to snubs by now.

What a joke.

He is #1.

The team picks the players for the award.

I really doubt they care much about the award tbh and probably prefer to sort of evenly distribute it as a nice gesture to the players.

 

[nyrdettor]

Strong win by Canada. No way an allowed 2-1 goal would have changed the outcome looking at the game overall. Canada has got a few gears extra in store if CR is closing in the lead.

Hopefully CR will win the bronze, i think they deserve it.

Good luck in the finals Canada!

 

[Gormo]

I realize Smith is a major spaz and diver, and Ive never been a fan of him myself;

I just hope it hasnt evolved into some kind of weird confirmation bias.

He has let in some funny goals but I cant deny he has usually been very good when called upon; for a goalie this is no picnic when the action is so intermittent.

 

[illpucks]

McDavid's team was eliminated yesterday.

Will we see Hall-McDavid preview tomorrow?

 

[slappipappi]

Last I checked best players aren't only about points. Giroux played the most minutes of any forward, took their most important faceoffs, went up against the other teams first lines, was on the 1st pp unit, 1st pk unit, was a +10 and only on for 1 goal against and that is with facing the other team's best.

This.

Giroux was Canada's best forward much like Toews is often Chicago's best forward, even when he doesn't lead his team in points.

Hockey is about the net gain in goals while you are on the ice, not just about scoring goals.

Spezza has had a great tournament, but it's Giroux who has led the team every step of the way.

Canada had gotten this far with defensive dominance, much like Canada's last Olympic team.

 

[RattsSSV]

McDavid's team was eliminated yesterday.

Will we see Hall-McDavid preview tomorrow?

He will be finishing his schooling.

 

[Extra Texture]

He's the Pittsburgh color guy and maybe the worst homer in the league, so that was just bleeding through.

He's an absolute idiot like the rest of them, that typical of their "not saying, just saying" kind of approach on Pens broadcasting. Casting aspersions without saying anything definitive. Just like when they carry water for the team's idiotic decisions by burying current and former players.

I hate them

 

[slappipappi]

McDavid's team was eliminated yesterday.

Will we see Hall-McDavid preview tomorrow?

No.

Canada will not sit a player who has committed to this tournament full time, much less at the expense of a junior player.

 

[tigervixxxen]

Burns
Smith
Giroux
&
Pavs
Voracek
Jagr

Many thanks

 

[illpucks]

The team picks the players for the award.

I really doubt they care much about the award tbh and probably prefer to sort of evenly distribute it as a nice gesture to the players.

For a guy that has been unfairly snubbed from multiple national teams in his prime, Spezza deserves to be #1 with his performance this tourney.

 

[flaneur]

that was a fun game (especially the first period).

good luck in the bronze medal game czechs! I will be rooting for you guys.

 

[booyakasha]

Offensively? No. Overall? Probably.

Obviously his team thought so.

Not trying to be the stereotypical homer who's like "OMG Giroux best evur"... I'm just trying to guess why he was given the award and the reasons I said are my best guess.

Actually I'll change my position on that, and I can see your point...with that said then I agree of the Giroux pick.

Still not sure on the Smith one though....

 

[NyQuil]

It seems to always be a goalie, a d-man and a forward.

 

[mindfly]

I assume the canadians, both players and fans want to play team russia now that they have Ovechkin, Malkin, Kovalchuk etc?

 

[tade]

At the 2nd intermission Bob Errey said something like "if Giroux is buying in- you know everybody is buying in"

His idiocy knows no bounds.

What does it even mean?

 

[illpucks]

And some here were scoffing at the TC 2014 comparison. This game was like the Latvia-Canada game last Olympics. Close score but complete domination. Czech's weren't that bad but they were nowhere near Canada. Pavelec keep this close like he made the Ducks-Jets series sweep look close.