Olympic Hockey Thread Part III

[Glennsoe]

USA reminded me of Norway today;

No plan

No heart

Star players not showing up

Uninspired

And that's not a good thing

 

[Machinehead]

Yea, i mean, I don't care about Bronze. I thought that was clear.

3rd, 4th, it's all semantics. I don't even care about 2nd place in the finals, although it's nice to be there and experience the games. Winning is all that matters.

It's just a difference of opinion. I'm not trying to convince you and you don't have to try to convince me. I played sports my whole life (on a much lower level, obviously) and coming in second really meant nothing to me. Maybe my coaches and parents instilled in me at a young age that second really was invaluable and maybe that's not a great thing, but it's how i'm wired.

Well that's fine. If you just don't care about the bronze because you just in general don't care about it, that's your prerogative.

I just don't get some of the logic around here that "the US can't finish 3rd in the world because the Rangers finishing 8th in the league is more important." And I'm not saying that's you, but there's alot of it.

 

[NernieBichols]

Can you please explain this a bit more for me?

Not really, bc i can't reference every game I've watched in which he has played in. It's been quite a bunch of playoffs games in the past 5 years. But I've seen him a number of times when he's just not in the flow of the game. Am I going to argue his point totals, no. But I know what Im talking about.

Kane did not seem to be in sync with his line mates at any time during this tournament. Maybe here or there, but for the most part, he didn't click with anyone. I don't know what his point totals were for the tournament, but based upon what I watched, I don't think it was very good. Look with that amount of ice and space, don't tell me that because his line mates constantly deferred to him and let him carry the puck up ice every time, that he was being effective, bc it doesn't. Just bc a guy has the puck or carries it into the zone and takes a shot. Doesn't mean that player is playing good or is effective, etc.

 

[*Bob Richards*]

He wasn't disappointing, he was clearly the best puck handler on the team today and made some nice moves where space was practically none-existent. He made some nice plays around and behind the net as well.

That's nice and all but he still recording a whopping 0 goals throughout the entire Olympics. Again, he doesn't suck but he was underwhelming.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

So... I've been gone for a couple of weeks.

What's been going on here then?

Good thing I have a Canadian birth certificate and a US passport. I can dissolve into the bushes.

 

[Bardof425*]

McDonagh, Suter and Quick were by far the best players on the ice for team USA today. McD has now exhibited to the whole world what an amazing defender he is and must start moving up the list of world's best defenseman.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Not really, bc i can't reference every game I've seen him watch. But I've seen him a number of times when he's just not in the flow of the game. Am I going to argue his point totals, no. But I know what Im talking about.

Kane did not seem to be in sync with his line mates at any time during this tournament. Maybe here or there, but for the most part, he didn't click with anyone. I don't know what his point totals were for the tournament, but based upon what I watched, I don't think it was very good. Look with that amount of ice and space, don't tell me believe his line mates would defer to him and let him carry the puck up ice every time, that he was being effective, bc it doesn't. Just bc a guy has the puck or carries it into the zone and takes a shot. Doesn't mean that player is playing good or is effective, etc.

I'm not questioning his sub par game today, the US as a team should have been playing at a higher level.

I was questioning your comment about him having a tendency to be a no-show. I figured he was a pretty clutch player. Especially for the Hawks.

 

[Bardof425*]

Orpik was not nearly as terrible as I anticipated him being, but I'd say he was at fault on Benn's goal. He should have lifted his stick or something instead of just standing there.

Orpik was fine in the tournament but he did seem to be on the ice most times the puck found its way into our net. There were better choices and everyone but Bylsma knows it. Oh well. Not scoring will help you lose too.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

You said it yourself, "outside of Boston or Pitt". That's the reality. We'll probably go as far as that. As far as avoiding them, it's bracketed by division, so the only way we avoid Pittsburgh is if they're out in the first round.

Sure I like this Rangers team and I'd like a chance in the playoffs, but look at the odds here:

"The bronze medal is pointless because of the very small chance one of our players will get hurt, which will ruin the even smaller chance that we pull a miracle in the playoffs." It just doesn't make any logical sense.

Except in the bronze medal game neither team has any chance of either team doing better than 3rd. Rangers fans really need to stop being 100% sure that the Rangers aren't beating Pitt and Boston. One team is a miracle away from losing in the first round two years in a row to mediocre opponents and another team has its own issues, like their starting goalie.

 

[stan the caddy]

That's nice and all but he still recording a whopping 0 goals throughout the entire Olympics. Again, he doesn't suck but he was underwhelming.

He was basically the only player that had enough playmaking talent to do anything with the space the Canadiens gave them. I don't know what to else tell you. He can't go to the net and pass it to himself.

 

[NernieBichols]

I'm not questioning his sub par game today, the US as a team should have been playing at a higher level.

I was questioning your comment about him having a tendency to be a no-show. I figured he was a pretty clutch player. Especially for the Hawks.

Yeah I think he has a tendency to no-show, while playing on the hawks.

 

[Guyute]

Orpik was fine in the tournament but he did seem to be on the ice most times the puck found its way into our net. There were better choices and everyone but Bylsma knows it. Oh well. Not scoring will help you lose too.

it's hard to generate any offense when you are constantly pinned in your own zone because orpik-carlson turned the puck over every time they stepped on the ice.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Yeah I think he has a tendency to no-show, while playing on the hawks.

I think some Blackhawks fans might whole heartily disagree with you there.

 

[Matt4776]

Price just played the easiest 1-0 shutout of his life. The US didn't even have one scoring chance that had me on the edge of my seat. This looked like one of those November games against Anaheim and LA where the Rangers couldn't generate any offense. Canada's D just suffocated us in their zone and got the puck out quickly. They had the book on how to beat the US. Quick is team MVP for the tournament for me. Kessel scored all his goals on weak teams.

Fortunately, the US will be back. In 2018, they will still have the goalie depth, and the roster as a whole is going to be younger, faster, and more skilled. Too many slow skating passengers on this team (Orpik, I'm looking at you).

For my money, the 2018 Korea team looks something like

Pacioretty-Galchenyuk-Kessel
JVR-Kesler-Kane
Kreider-Stepan-Pavelski
Parise-Backes-Brown
Eichel has a shot of making it as an extra, with Oshie, Callahan, and Ryan also fighting for spots

McDonagh-Faulk
Fowler-Shattenkirk
Suter-Jones
Carlson and Yandle the extras

Quick
Howard
Gibson

No way Trouba doesn't make that team.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

USA lost and my right hand at work just quit.

WORST DAY EVER. NEED WINE ASAP

 

[silverfish]

No way Trouba doesn't make that team.

That 2018 team is going to be a team of no-name US Euro players and college kids.

Even assuming NHL players will be at the 2018 games, predicting a roster is a bit premature at this moment.

Think four years ago anyone would have thought JMFJ or Bobby Ryan wouldn't be on the team?

 

[lJuicel]

As a Ranger fan from Canada I usually just lurk on these boards reading posts. Just wanted to post and say great game, its criminal that these only happen every 4 years.
McD showed his stuff during these handful of games against the worlds best no doubt.

 

[aufheben]

Except in the bronze medal game neither team has any chance of either team doing better than 3rd. Rangers fans really need to stop being 100% sure that the Rangers aren't beating Pitt and Boston. One team is a miracle away from losing in the first round two years in a row to mediocre opponents and another team has its own issues, like their starting goalie.

Why are people still going on about this? At least keep it to the other thread. Nobody is saying it's impossible to beat Pittsburgh or Boston, but we would be heavy underdogs against either of them. There's optimism, and then there's delusion. It's far from a guarantee that this team even makes the playoffs, especially now that our best forward and arguably the MVP of the season may be missing time.

Boston not only made it the SCFs last season, but embarrassed the Rangers on their way. Of course we could beat them, that's the nature of the playoffs: everyone technically has a chance, but you can't blame people for looking at it realistically.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

Well, its official, we are a nation of hockey chokers. Both genders. 3 players showed up today. No respect for Canada either who neutral zone trapped their way to the most boring Olympic semifinal in a long time. They played scared of the US, and yet the US let them. Pathetic.

 

[Thirty One]

Well, its official, we are a nation of hockey chokers. Both genders. 3 players showed up today. No respect for Canada either who neutral zone trapped their way to the most boring Olympic semifinal in a long time. They played scared of the US, and yet the US let them. Pathetic.

Interesting take on the game.

 

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

Interesting take on the game.

When was the last big game the full national team won? 96? That is the definition of choking. I thought the US had their worst game of the tournament save Quick and Mcdonagh.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Speaking of Benn, how good is he. I remember how good he's looked against the rangers this year. I remember thinking, now thats what I thought Nash would be. I know he's not one of the good ole boys on team canada. But he surely proved that he belongs.

Yeah, he's really good. I've been high on him for awhile, he has developed into quite a unique player.

 

[NernieBichols]

I think some Blackhawks fans might whole heartily disagree with you there.

Im sure they would be a mix of both sides. Just like Ranger fans. Doesn't mean its not true.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Why are people still going on about this? At least keep it to the other thread. Nobody is saying it's impossible to beat Pittsburgh or Boston, but we would be heavy underdogs against either of them. There's optimism, and then there's delusion. It's far from a guarantee that this team even makes the playoffs, especially now that our best forward and arguably the MVP of the season may be missing time.

Boston not only made it the SCFs last season, but embarrassed the Rangers on their way. Of course we could beat them, that's the nature of the playoffs: everyone technically has a chance, but you can't blame people for looking at it realistically.

I'm bringing it up because machinehead is comparing the bronze medal game and being 3rd in the regular season. That was a different team. They also almost got punked by a mediocre Toronto team in the 1st round. If 2 can play that game.

 

[Ryan McDonut]

When was the last big game the full national team won? 96? That is the definition of choking. I thought the US had their worst game of the tournament save Quick and Mcdonagh.

i'm american so it might be biased but that game was definitely not even that exciting, even if it was a 1 goal game