Big Phil
Registered User
- Nov 2, 2003
- 31,703
- 4,156
Okay I saw the whole game last night. First off someone on TSN mentioned this and he was dead on: "The Russians were robbed of a goal not a gold medal!" The first ten minutes of the game Russia was dominating, Malkin looked sharp and Canada looked on their heels. then they started to hit. Then came two goals, two of them soft especially the first one. After that Malkin was shut down and Russia almost looked out of the game even just before their "goal" in the second.
That goal being disallowed is not why they lost. Why dont people worry about as to why their goalie allowed a pair of soft goals. Or as to why Malkin couldnt take out Steve Downie on the first goal. Yes it woudl have been 2-1, but even that goal barely squeaked through. You think Staal and Parent would have just sat back and let Malkin come to them? No way. It was just one goal and the final was 5-0 by the way. Could it have changed the game? I just dont think the Russians had enough motivation to win. A goal or no goal it still would have been like a 4-2 or 5-2 game for Canada. Just look at how the game was going at that time. Russia's goaltending and lack of play by Malkin were why they lost. Plus Canada's concept of playing as a team helped them win. I'm sorry it went that way really, Canadians hate to win that way but its not like it was in OT or anything, and you still have to admit that the better 'team" won. But here's some old controversy's that are much worse that have gone against us!
WJC Gold Medal game '02 - Be honest the Russian goalie (I forget his name he was the back up) intentionally pushed the net off with about three seconds to go while Canada was frantically trying to tie it up with a scramble in fornt of the net. The buzzer goes and no penalty shot is awarded and Canada's Brad Boyes goes ballistic. Did the goalie knwo he did that? Yes. How do I know? He looked over at the ref just before he took off his gloves and celebrated. He sure knew he was guilty. but is that why we lost? No way. We had an extremely talented team there that was one of our best ever, but the reason why we lost is because we had a mental breakdown in the second period. 4 of the 5 goals Lecalire allowed went between his legs. That folks is why we lost. Plus going against a vey good Russian team as well. No penalty shot. That's not fair. but hey where were we for the first 59 minutes?
1996 World Cup final Can/USA Game 3 - This one needs no explanation. Hull ties the goal with a high stick with about three minutes left in the game and it ignites the Americans and they score the winner 43 seconds later. Is that why we lost? hardly. We peppered the Americans especially in the second period. It should have been 5-1 by the end of the second but it wasnt. Who cares if Hull scores an illiegal goal then? But Mike Richter stopped shot after shot after shot even when we had sure goals. that is why we lost. then in the third the Americans took over.
So you see, we have had much worse in tighter games before. But if a team is so good they shouldnt let that beat them. They should be ahead two or three goals if they are truly better. Dont forget how the officiating is in the WJC. A clean bodycheck is a penalty for crying out loud! Who do you think that benefits? Not Canada. yet year after year we go through it and we are always there at the podium, often in Gold. You see the great teams dont let marginal calls kill them. And believe me I wish I could have changed the goal back form last night but as a team, including goaltending, Canada was just a bit better.
That goal being disallowed is not why they lost. Why dont people worry about as to why their goalie allowed a pair of soft goals. Or as to why Malkin couldnt take out Steve Downie on the first goal. Yes it woudl have been 2-1, but even that goal barely squeaked through. You think Staal and Parent would have just sat back and let Malkin come to them? No way. It was just one goal and the final was 5-0 by the way. Could it have changed the game? I just dont think the Russians had enough motivation to win. A goal or no goal it still would have been like a 4-2 or 5-2 game for Canada. Just look at how the game was going at that time. Russia's goaltending and lack of play by Malkin were why they lost. Plus Canada's concept of playing as a team helped them win. I'm sorry it went that way really, Canadians hate to win that way but its not like it was in OT or anything, and you still have to admit that the better 'team" won. But here's some old controversy's that are much worse that have gone against us!
WJC Gold Medal game '02 - Be honest the Russian goalie (I forget his name he was the back up) intentionally pushed the net off with about three seconds to go while Canada was frantically trying to tie it up with a scramble in fornt of the net. The buzzer goes and no penalty shot is awarded and Canada's Brad Boyes goes ballistic. Did the goalie knwo he did that? Yes. How do I know? He looked over at the ref just before he took off his gloves and celebrated. He sure knew he was guilty. but is that why we lost? No way. We had an extremely talented team there that was one of our best ever, but the reason why we lost is because we had a mental breakdown in the second period. 4 of the 5 goals Lecalire allowed went between his legs. That folks is why we lost. Plus going against a vey good Russian team as well. No penalty shot. That's not fair. but hey where were we for the first 59 minutes?
1996 World Cup final Can/USA Game 3 - This one needs no explanation. Hull ties the goal with a high stick with about three minutes left in the game and it ignites the Americans and they score the winner 43 seconds later. Is that why we lost? hardly. We peppered the Americans especially in the second period. It should have been 5-1 by the end of the second but it wasnt. Who cares if Hull scores an illiegal goal then? But Mike Richter stopped shot after shot after shot even when we had sure goals. that is why we lost. then in the third the Americans took over.
So you see, we have had much worse in tighter games before. But if a team is so good they shouldnt let that beat them. They should be ahead two or three goals if they are truly better. Dont forget how the officiating is in the WJC. A clean bodycheck is a penalty for crying out loud! Who do you think that benefits? Not Canada. yet year after year we go through it and we are always there at the podium, often in Gold. You see the great teams dont let marginal calls kill them. And believe me I wish I could have changed the goal back form last night but as a team, including goaltending, Canada was just a bit better.