Olympic Hockey Thread Part II

[SauceCheese91]

Yet they still think it will be a cakewalk to Gold. I can't stand team Canada.

Lol let me be the first to tell you, nobody in Canada thinks that. If you need to make up something in order to hate us, go for it, but you couldn't be more wrong.

 

[Crease]

It's funny how these tournaments play out. Switzerland doesn't have a ton of skill, but they play a very good team game on big ice. Canada and Russia are oozing with skill, but can't seem to bring it all together. However, you can't dismiss the possibility that they find their game in the next couple of days. Looking forward to the knock out round.

 

[Clown Fiesta]

US/Sweden are my favorites right now. Then of course Canada and Russia, but probably Finland over Russia.

I'd love for Slovenia to upset someone, thought they played a good game today just severely over matched.

 

[LORENZO]

US Vs Sweden would be epic!

Hank to have a blinder, then come home and take us all the way to the Stanley Cup.

 

[Leetch3]

 

[LittleKev6D9]

Canada is gonna fold like a house of cards once USA smacks them in the mouth. Other countries might be intimidated by their skill, but I can guarantee that USA won't be.

Callahan-Backes are setting the tone for this team. Just a couple of monsters out there. Callahan has played real well in the tourney.

Pretty much every D-man minus Martin and Orpik has played really well. Orpik blows. Get so angry watching him play on this team. Yandle-EJ >>>> Martin-Orpik

Kane is starting to piss me off. He doesn't realize how good his teammates are and is acting like a complete ass out there.

Stepan does not deserve to play. Any reason Pacioretty got scratched today? I thought he was playing really well.

That JVR-Pavelski-Kessel line has to be the best line in the tournament. Amazing stuff from those 3.

I'm not sure if I want Quick or Miller for the medal rounds. I think Quick is a little more boom-bust than Miller but when he's on, he's the best goalie by far. Miller is a little safer in terms of consistency.

 

[Lime]

Gonna be interesting in the Sweden/Russia/Finland bracket. Sweden has been underwhelming IMO, haven't seen Russia play yet but from what I've read things aren't going good for them. Finland did a really good job containing Canada this afternoon but the guy down by the glass said they were huffing and puffing hard.

I'm gonna bet Russia gets going in the playoff round and ends up in the gold medal game.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Canada did not impress me much today day what you want about out possession, Finland has no transition game and looked content with sitting back and letting the game come to them (with a scoring chance every 20 mins). None of their lines look like they have that much chemistry I like the US chances against them in the quarters.

 

[Miamipuck]

I am not going to play the" how a team has looked so far" card. Canada is going to be the toughest game for the U.S.A. I don't care if Canada only beats the ECHL all star team 2-1, they will be amped up to play and a force to be reckoned with against the U.S.A.

If the U.S.A. has an easy game I would effing love it, but I expect that, like I expect Johnny Weir to start dating women.

 

[Ola]

I thought Nash was decent for Canada.

Canada's defense is incredibly strong. They are my favorite.

I think the US are the second best team.

Russia can loose against anyone, but they are almost at their best when they can sit back against someone. They are too badly constructed to create open ice, but when they get it they will jump on you. We have seen this pattern in int hockey the last 3-4 were Russia has been successful.

Sweden is just not good. A nightmare for me would be to play Finland, I think they are much better than us but we would have the pressure in that game. Could not end well for us unless Swedish PP is real lucky or something. I don't quite know how Sweden would react against playing a really good team like Can/Rus/US. We could be killed or we could dig down and play decent. No way we play well and deserve to win...

The Czech is like a half mediocre NJ team. But still, you know, that is still a tricky team to play against.

I held the Finns real high before the tournament. And I think I was right. But, I doubt they can go all the way without M. Koivu and Filpulla. With them? Watch out.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

None of this avoiding nonsense. I want to play Canada.

 

[Leetch3]

those brackets pretty much guarantee that hank will be in the medal round...some think it would be best for the rangers if he is out early but looks like very little chance of that happening.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

None of this avoiding nonsense. I want to play Canada.

Yes! Sweden May have a better " skill" matchup against the Canadians whatever that means and maybe not because of injuries but nobody plays the Canadians as tough as the US. Hard not to look ahead to the semis if the Canadians make it past the Swiss.

 

[Mikos87]

Canada did not impress me much today day what you want about out possession, Finland has no transition game and looked content with sitting back and letting the game come to them (with a scoring chance every 20 mins). None of their lines look like they have that much chemistry I like the US chances against them in the quarters.

Yeah a lot of guys no showed today. I was very surprised. Then again the coach didn't shorten his bench and benched the reigning Norris and Art Ross winner against their toughest opponent.

Canada needs to bench Vlasic and Kunitz, and start playing Doughty, Weber and Keith 30 min a night for a shot at winning. They robbed Peter to pay Paul by messing up their 4th line. Going out of their way to try and pad Crosby's nonexistent stats. I'd be worried if I was Canada.

No net front presence this game, not Canadian hockey at all. Meanwhile USA charged the net every single offensive zone possession.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

I thought Nash was decent for Canada.

Canada's defense is incredibly strong. They are my favorite.

I think the US are the second best team.

Russia can loose against anyone, but they are almost at their best when they can sit back against someone. They are too badly constructed to create open ice, but when they get it they will jump on you. We have seen this pattern in int hockey the last 3-4 were Russia has been successful.

Sweden is just not good. A nightmare for me would be to play Finland, I think they are much better than us but we would have the pressure in that game. Could not end well for us unless Swedish PP is real lucky or something. I don't quite know how Sweden would react against playing a really good team like Can/Rus/US. We could be killed or we could dig down and play decent. No way we play well and deserve to win...

The Czech is like a half mediocre NJ team. But still, you know, that is still a tricky team to play against.

I held the Finns real high before the tournament. And I think I was right. But, I doubt they can go all the way without M. Koivu and Filpulla. With them? Watch out.

You're being too humble, with Hank in net just collapse the whole team around him and you can get pretty far as history tells us NYR fans.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Yeah a lot of guys no showed today. I was very surprised. Then again the coach didn't shorten his bench and benched the reigning Norris and Art Ross winner against their toughest opponent.

Canada needs to bench Vlasic and Kunitz, and start playing Doughty, Weber and Keith 30 min a night for a shot at winning. They robbed Peter to pay Paul by messing up their 4th line. Going out of their way to try and pad Crosby's nonexistent stats. I'd be worried if I was Canada.

No net front presence this game, not Canadian hockey at all. Meanwhile USA charged the net every single offensive zone possession.

By Kunitz reasoning, Aaron Johnson should be our top pair D for being BFF with Nash. Kunitz doesn't even make the US squad, plus he comes across to me as a smug cheap shot artist with some skill. Hope they play him tons and Callahan or McD ring his bell.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I will say that every single American who was on the 2010 team has got to be excited the bracket worked out this way. I know if I were in their shoes I would want another shot at Canada before my Olympic career ended.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Finland would have had a shot if they had Filpulla, Koivu and Barkov down the middle. Their defense did a good job containing Canada on the big ice but their offense and transition game was non existent, those three would have made a huge difference.

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

By Kunitz reasoning, Aaron Johnson should be our top pair D for being BFF with Nash. Kunitz doesn't even make the US squad, plus he comes across to me as a smug cheap shot artist with some skill. Hope they play him tons and Callahan or McD ring his bell.

Let's be real, McDonough isn't ringing anyone's bell. He is a very passive physical defenseman.

 

[Miller Time NYR]

Yeah a lot of guys no showed today. I was very surprised. Then again the coach didn't shorten his bench and benched the reigning Norris and Art Ross winner against their toughest opponent.

Canada needs to bench Vlasic and Kunitz, and start playing Doughty, Weber and Keith 30 min a night for a shot at winning. They robbed Peter to pay Paul by messing up their 4th line. Going out of their way to try and pad Crosby's nonexistent stats. I'd be worried if I was Canada.

No net front presence this game, not Canadian hockey at all. Meanwhile USA charged the net every single offensive zone possession.

I hope Kunitz plays 25 minutes against the US, that pick was a joke and its being compounded each and every game, working hard clearly isn't getting it done, guys on the broadcast were applauding his hard work because he likes to relentlessly poke at the goalies glove after the pucks covered, unless Crosby's banking it off of him hes not scoring. But why am I complaining I loathe Canada, hope we see them in the semi's.

 

[Crease]

Remarkable how far the US program has come in the past 10-15 years. From beating legitimate contenders on a wing and a prayer, to becoming legitimate contenders themselves. Part of it has to do with Czech Republic and Finland not producing as much talent as they used to. But, the US has really done a fantastic job. The amount of talent coming out of NCAA is noteworthy.

 

[slipknottin]

Remarkable how far the US program has come in the past 10-15 years. From beating legitimate contenders on a wing and a prayer, to becoming legitimate contenders themselves. Part of it has to do with Czech Republic and Finland not producing as much talent as they used to. But, the US has really done a fantastic job. The amount of talent coming out of NCAA is noteworthy.

I think the next olympics will be key in determining if american hockey is actually on the up, or if this was just a little spurt of players

 

[Wolfy*]

Russia really didn't impress me, sorry Putin.

But it should be a walkover when the Russians play Norway for the QF, sorry Zucc.

Great play by Team USA, going for gold?

 

[Crease]

I think the next olympics will be key in determining if american hockey is actually on the up, or if this was just a little spurt of players

I think part of it is that they are finally developing top tier offensive talent. Guys like Kessel, Kane, Paveleski, JVR, etc.

They've never had a problem developing all-star quality defensemen. Chelios, Leetch, Rafalski, Suter, Schneider.

 

[chosen]

I am late to the party, but the U.S. Russia game is why I love hockey. Way better than an NHL game.

I wish the NHL played on that size surface. It accentuates the skill and beauty of the game.

Bet no one can name many defensemen they would take over McDonagh.