GDT: Semifinal - May 20 - Canada (4) vs Russia (2)

[1Gold Standard]

Canada was clearly better team even witohut PPs. Look how many PPs got Russia, and could do nothing with it. Canada was better..offensively, defensively, controlled play 5on5...outside of 2nd period, where Canada made some terrible mistakes which were punished.

It was a great character comeback win. It's good to be on the positive side of one of those for a change.

 

[XokkeyGuy]

I suspect a significant majority of Canadians disagree with your assessment, feel the opposite, and always have

Well, that's usually the case - that is also why I say that Barca gets this treatment and I am myself a far back supporter for them. But I know most fans would disagree, it's a natural support bias but it is how it is.

The major disadvantage of HFboards forums is that it is overloaded with canadiens/americans and of course whose opinions are heard most of here, along with some pro-NHL fans from Europa (I would say 95% of the members here are from those "groups").

The interesting discrepancy I have noticed is that neutral european fans tend to agree with this issue being real, and it is of course not something new, it has been talked about in newspapers and on TV during all major tournaments in Europe a little now and then about how Canada tends to get more advantages - usually all of this started when europeans saw the classic Canada - USSR games and generally feeling bad for the latter and that they were being badly treated by the refs etc.

 

[tade]

It was a great character comeback win. It's good to be on the positive side of one of those for a change.

Very deserved comeback for Team Canada. They turned the page after 2nd period, and switched to Canada's game and significantly increased the level of play - pace that Russians already could not match, since the quality of the roster, or better to say depth was on the CAN side. Russians were tired, it was visible.

Looking forward to GMG. Should be a beauty, and I am hoping that golden hattrick is completed tomorrow.

 

[Antonglk]

Interesting game. Congrats Canada with a win. We need to change something with coaching. Maybe invite someone from nhl.

 

[Bear12Good]

Canada was clearly better team even witohut PPs. Look how many PPs got Russia, and could do nothing with it. Canada was better..offensively, defensively, controlled play 5on5...outside of 2nd period, where Canada made some terrible mistakes which were punished.

Agree.
But Znaroks lousy coach
Bragin much better

 

[NyQuil]

Well, that's usually the case - that is also why I say that Barca gets this treatment and I am myself a far back supporter for them. But I know most fans would disagree, it's a natural support bias but it is how it is.

The major disadvantage of HFboards forums is that it is overloaded with canadiens/americans and of course whose opinions are heard most of here, along with some pro-NHL fans from Europa (I would say 95% of the members here are from those "groups").

The interesting discrepancy I have noticed is that neutral european fans tend to agree with this issue being real, and it is of course not something new, it has been talked about in newspapers and on TV during all major tournaments in Europe a little now and then about how Canada tends to get more advantages - usually all of this started when Europeans saw the classic Canada - USSR games and generally feeling bad for the latter and that they were being badly treated by the refs etc.

What I've noticed is that Russians in general see corruption and Western conspiracies in everything, and not in just sports.

I'm not sure if it's a cultural thing, or rooted in history, or their own society, but it's not reflected in our world view in North America.

Conspiracies do happen but are extremely rare.

Referees are fallible human beings who make mistakes but rarely on purpose.

 

[garbageteam]

Well, that's usually the case - that is also why I say that Barca gets this treatment and I am myself a far back supporter for them. But I know most fans would disagree, it's a natural support bias but it is how it is.

The major disadvantage of HFboards forums is that it is overloaded with canadiens/americans and of course whose opinions are heard most of here, along with some pro-NHL fans from Europa (I would say 95% of the members here are from those "groups").

The interesting discrepancy I have noticed is that neutral european fans tend to agree with this issue being real, and it is of course not something new, it has been talked about in newspapers and on TV during all major tournaments in Europe a little now and then about how Canada tends to get more advantages - usually all of this started when europeans saw the classic Canada - USSR games and generally feeling bad for the latter and that they were being badly treated by the refs etc.

Canada likely has the most handicapped team at this tournaments in terms of quality of players who don't go vs players who do - long flight, massive interruption to their summer plans, foreign country with relatively few fans cheering for, large ice, IIHF rules. It's "away" for non-German or France, but it's, well, doubly "away" for Canada & USA. They have significant hurdles to overcome to even the odds.

That isn't to say every team doesn't have its limitations and struggles going to these tournaments, but Canada feels the full brunt of it and needs its players - many of whom will never sniff a best on best tournament roster if called upon - to play their best to succeed. The WCs aren't a place where TC can walk into the tournament and thrash every opponent with ease, which in turn makes it sometimes a more compelling watch than even a best on best tournament at this stage of their player pool.

A few perceived refereeing biases - which is 99% just how fans "feel" and have no basis in reality - isn't going to swing the pendulum in Canada's favor by a long shot.

Even NHL playoff games have received ref biases all the time - always claimed by the fanbases of the team who the call went against

 

[Scotty B]

Blatant trip in the middle of a long cycle shift and no call. These refs.

Must be in reference to the trip on Konecny after a long run of possession inside RUS zone, by the kid line...Tough to see how refs missed that one? But it went both ways...missed calls on both sides...

 

[NyQuil]

Even NHL playoff games have received ref biases all the time - always claimed by the fanbases of the team who the call went against

I also don't understand this "North American" bias.

Would a Swedish referee be accused of being biased in favour of Finland?

It's bizarre.

 

[ovikovy817]

We gave the game to the caribous. 2nd and 3rd goal were bad, Tkachev and Plotnikov gave the puck to the opponent. And now everyone will forget those two gorgeous goal that Kuzya and Gusev scored

 

[Blue prez]

But Znaroks lousy coach

Plotnikov ice time: 17:20
Kucherov: 14:44

When will Znarok comprehend the difference between "to fight" and "to win"?!

 

[tade]

After what emotions leaves a little bit, it is for sure needed to give credit to Russia, they played hard game, and tried their best to match Canada, and they looked very good after 2 periods, but in the 3rd period they could not handle the speed, pace, and physicality of Canada anymore.

It is a very young Russian team, and I appreciate it, a lot of fantastic young players who are going to get only better, possibly you need better coaching, but players are there, skill is there as always, even on defense it is going to get only better.

Hope you fight hard tomorrow and gets at least bronze medal, I know you probably don't care about bronze medal...but Russia deserves to leave this tournament with medal after this kind of performance in the whole tournament.

 

[Scotty B]

It was a penalty but why do the russians always fake injuries in these situations? Pathetic.

Agreed Schief interference call was blatant/ legit ...though I suspected embellishment too at first, but then RUS was still carrying on, on the bench...so I'm inclined to give him benefit of the doubt...although w've seen plenty of Academy Award performances by RUS's ( and even moreso Czechs ) in days of yore

 

[Mehar]

Great performance by Team Canada in the Third Period. The better team won. Canada was the better team 5 on 5. Canada needs to show much better discipline tomorrow. Stupid penalties almost cost us the game today (i.e. Simmonds with that slashing penalty, too many men).

Thankfully- we were only down two goals going into the third. I never thought Canada would be in the Gold Medal Game, since i felt our roster was inferior than last year (especially the goaltending), but i am glad this team proved me wrong. Bring home the Gold!

 

[Antonglk]

It didn't look like refs are biased. The problem is that Russia was exhausted in third. And this happened in each game that Russia played. This is Znarok's fault.

 

[General Zodd]

Did you start your TV just in time for the canadian power play session?

Very bad and needless penalties for Russia to take. Maybe it was necessary because you couldn't really keep up all that well. Well maybe next time bruh!

 

[XokkeyGuy]

I also don't understand this "North American" bias.

Would a Swedish referee be accused of being biased in favour of Finland?

It's bizarre.

Yes, and that is exactly how it is in pretty much all sports. People would laugh to death in football if you ever mentioned having a neighbouring country's ref for a match. Sweden never gets finnish refs, Russia nevet get belorussian refs, same for slovaks/czechs.. and that is normal and applies everywhere - except for ice hockey when it comes to Canada. That is fraud. I lost interest in the olympics final 2014 and didn´t watch it when I heard that canada would have its refs in the final. Totally bizarre experience.

 

[NyQuil]

Yes, and that is exactly how it is in pretty much all sports. People would laugh to death in football if you ever mentioned having a neighbouring country's ref for a match. Sweden never gets finnish refs, Russia nevet get belorussian refs, same for slovaks/czechs.. and that is normal and applies everywhere - except for ice hockey when it comes to Canada. That is fraud. I lost interest in the olympics final 2014 and didn´t watch it when I heard that canada would have its refs in the final. Totally bizarre experience.

The joke is that a Finnish ref would be seen as "anti-Swedish".

So if anything, Canada is overcoming the handicap of having a rival referee their game.

That's what is so funny about your assertion.

Personally I think you have a massive case of confirmation bias and it's ruining your enjoyment of the sport.

 

[Kshahdoo]

Plotnikov ice time: 17:20
Kucherov: 14:44

When will Znarok comprehend the difference between "to fight" and "to win"?!

He will never do it. He's that kind of a person, always was. He even was fighting vs Balderis back to when he just moved to Dynamo Riga as a player, and Balderis was a legend in Latvia.

He of course is a good coach, but not great. And being a good coach simply isn't enough to beat Canada.

 

[Tree-hugger]

We aren't finns.

Russia is a very special nation.

 

[XokkeyGuy]

The joke is that a Finnish ref would be seen as "anti-Swedish".

So if anything, Canada is overcoming the handicap of having a rival referee their game.

That's what is so funny about your assertion.

That "anti-canadian", "anti-swedish" theory is very lame. It is a very known fact pretty much everywhere that a neighbouring ref of any kind usually gives you an advantage. When the teams meet there is rivalry, but outside it's friendly, and a finn would prefer Sweden over any other if they get to choose and that applies to the other examples.

Don´t you remember that quarter final back in 2008 when the finns scored a goal through a hole in the net vs USA and the guy the ref called said it's a goal? That guy was a swede and he was fired from his job after that tournament.

 

[Scotty B]

no penalty?

B Schenn on Dadanov (sp? ) clean hit=shoulder to shoulder then Russian fell face first to ice...only by IIHF standards, or lack thereof, would that EVER be penalized...

Refs, to their credit, weren't making chincey calls...other than that 2+10 against a Russian...Even with Maple tinted glasses...didn't look like a head shot to me?

 

[NyQuil]

Don´t you remember that quarter final back in 2008 when the finns scored a goal through a hole in the net vs USA and the guy the ref called said it's a goal? That guy was a swede and he was fired from his job after that tournament.

I'd say he was fired for being incompetent.

There is a lot more about a person than simply their nationality.

Again, you are suffering from confirmation bias.

 

[Rob]

Yes, and that is exactly how it is in pretty much all sports. People would laugh to death in football if you ever mentioned having a neighbouring country's ref for a match. Sweden never gets finnish refs, Russia nevet get belorussian refs, same for slovaks/czechs.. and that is normal and applies everywhere - except for ice hockey when it comes to Canada. That is fraud. I lost interest in the olympics final 2014 and didn´t watch it when I heard that canada would have its refs in the final. Totally bizarre experience.

I just did looked up the 2015 IIHF WHC gold medal game between Canada and Russia. The refs were from Switzerland and the Czech Republic. So you conspiracy about an American referee always being used in a Canada vs Russia game is false.
Your conspiracy is unfounded when it comes to IIHF run tournaments.

 

[NyQuil]

I just did looked up the 2015 IIHF WHC gold medal game between Canada and Russia. The refs were from Switzerland and the Czech Republic. So you conspiracy about an American referee always being used in a Canada vs Russia game is false.

Your conspiracy is unfounded when it comes to IIHF run tournaments.

Yeah, but Switzerland is where the IIHF is based and the IIHF is in Canada's pockets. Referee bias.

Meanwhile, the Czechs have never forgiven Russia for 1968. Referee bias.

Russia invaded Finland in 1939. Referee bias.

The US is Russia's major rival. Referee bias.

Sweden and Russia clashed over submarine incidents for years. Referee bias.

Germany and Russia have fought numerous times throughout the 20th century. Referee bias.

Latvia was a reluctant part of the USSR. Referee bias.