GDT: Playoff round - February 20 - Switzerland vs Germany

[rimpirate]

We kept two streaks going: losing Olympic elimination games and losing must-win games against Germany.
Oh well, hopefully, Peking 2022 will be with an actual national team coach with actual experience and quality as a hiring criterion rather than «swissness».

God, I hate Fischer so, so much!

 

[DEVILS130]

Having the NHL guys back will help Switzerland too. Can’t be understated that they also took a pretty big hit there

 

[stv11]

I don't think coaching is to blame for this tournament, so many players underperformed. Guys like Haas, Praplan or Almond had a great WC last season, looked good during international games this season and then disappeared at the Olympics.

 

[rimpirate]

Having the NHL guys back will help Switzerland too. Can’t be understated that they also took a pretty big hit there

Having the NHL guys is not guaranteed, but it is much less important than getting rid of the festering pit of incompetence choosing and «coaching» the team.

 

[albator71]

I'm happy that Germany won, it means i won't have to look at Rufenacht's face anymore, man i dislike him so much!!!

 

[LemmyUlanov55]

Yeah, looks like it. Still very disappointing, it's still better than the top league in Germany.

That's not exactly a sign of quality. I mean, the AHL is probably better than DEL. Kinda surprised how the Suisse team played, thought they would play a much more skilled game but grinded like Team Germany.

 

[FinPanda]

That's not exactly a sign of quality. I mean, the AHL is probably better than DEL. Kinda surprised how the Suisse team played, thought they would play a much more skilled game but grinded like Team Germany.

Then it sounds like a coaching problem.

 

[rimpirate]

I don't think coaching is to blame for this tournament, so many players underperformed. Guys like Haas, Praplan or Almond had a great WC last season, looked good during international games this season and then disappeared at the Olympics.

Sure, several players did not come close to their usual level. But the problems run deeper than that. Neither Almond nor Praplan were exactly tearing it up in January, and players like Blum and Untersander (not even speaking of DuBois) took their defensive problems with them.
I certainly blame Fischer for selecting too many frilly supposedly offensive D-men over having at least a few capable of clearing the crease. But most of all, I blame the coaching staff for the atrocious special teams. I am a fan of EHCB and thus used to a rather crappy PP, but what the team showed was downright pathetic. I expect a national team coach to be knowledgeable enough about modern international hockey to emphasize special teams enough as not to be completely laughable.

And to be fair, there were a few laudable exceptions to the putrid showing. I hate his guts, bit Scherwey might well be the best Swiss in this tournament. At least he seemed to give a duck about competing.

 

[stv11]

Sure, several players did not come close to their usual level. But the problems run deeper than that. Neither Almond nor Praplan were exactly tearing it up in January, and players like Blum and Untersander (not even speaking of DuBois) took their defensive problems with them.
I certainly blame Fischer for selecting too many frilly supposedly offensive D-men over having at least a few capable of clearing the crease. But most of all, I blame the coaching staff for the atrocious special teams. I am a fan of EHCB and thus used to a rather crappy PP, but what the team showed was downright pathetic. I expect a national team coach to be knowledgeable enough about modern international hockey to emphasize special teams enough as not to be completely laughable.

The defense is more or less the same players that worked well at the WC last year, if Fischer had picked other players and things didn't go well, he would be criticised for not going with what worked well. And it's not like there are tons of possibilities, the depth just isn't there. You can argue for Genazzi over Du Bois, but in the end that wouldn't have changed a thing.

PP is obviously more of a coaching thing, although many times the setup was good but players made dumb decisions or execution was lacking.

As much as I would blame Fischer for the poor WC in 2016, that one is on the players.

 

[ZEBROA]

I expect a tough game against Germany. Not a sure win at all. Sweden have a hard time playing good being favorites. The best team playing as favorites is Canada.

 

[rimpirate]

I'd have taken Maurer over DuBois, but obviously, I am biased and it would have been a gamble, although hid played decently in his few international games. What I certainly can't wrap my head around is taking Almond over Richard given their current form and Richard's performance on the international stage.

 

[Tomas W]

Sweden need a better effort against Germany in the QF, than what they had against them in the round robin game, that's for sure.

 

[filip85]

Congrats to Germany, well deserved ! I feel sorry for the Swiss, hopefully NHL results will go their way and with NHL-ers they can rebound at IHWC.

 

[SirKillalot]

Germany and Norway in the QF...anyone who would have made a bet on that last year? And, more importantly after the worst Olympic game ever played between the two in their game? Well, maybe harsh, but that was a crappy game (even though a very tactical loss ).

 

[Bure80]

Think it will be a easy win for Sweden in QF. Germany will be a bit tired.
Not sure if Swiss is stronger as Germany at WHC. Most Swiss players are in Playoffs. Looks like Germany will have Draisaitl.

 

[TorstenFrings]

Think it will be a easy win for Sweden in QF. Germany will be a bit tired.
Not sure if Swiss is stronger as Germany at WHC. Most Swiss players are in Playoffs. Looks like Germany will have Draisaitl.

And Rieder. Which as NHL talent goes really is what matters to Germany.