So who was the SECOND best team?

[The Winter Soldier]

No. Best teams were....

Canada
Sweden/Finland
U.S./Russia

We are not discussing who won the medals.

Canada's toughest game was against the USA, if you polled Team Canada on who would they fear the most in an elimination game, to a man they would say Team USA.

 

[Staccato]

Sweden, obviously. They were the silver medalists.

Exactly, there is really nothing else to say. Close this thread.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Ah but that's the thing. I'm Canadian, not an American. I'm no fan of the Americans in hockey, and wish we had crushed them, not simply beat them.

And in the bronze medal game I was cheering for Finland, not the USA, in part because that helped the overall medal race of USA vs Canada.

So when I categorically state that the USA was the second best team in the tournament, I guarantee you it's not because of me being a "fan" of them. I'm not.

Fair enough. You are more than welcome to your opinion. Time to enjoy our win, my friend. We're the best!!!!

 

[bezdomnyj durak]

Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

I guess you have been watching some different game then. Just look at the penalty minutes. If Sweden was dominating, I guess they didn't had to break the rules all the time.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

We are not discussing who won the medals..

Neither was I.

I rated them on how well they played.

Canada's toughest game was against the USA, if you polled Team Canada on who would they fear the most in an elimination game, to a man they would say Team USA.

You don't know that. And, based on the interviews I heard, I disagree.

 

[Whats The Maatta]

Canada
(void)
sweden/finland


USA/Russia

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Time for everyone to give Sweden and Finland credit. They were great and it is too bad they both couldn't have won Silver.

 

[Alexei Yashvalev]

Except the Canadian team would have played with about as much "heart" as the Americans, if due to bad luck they had found themselves in the same game. Are you going to say the same thing about them?

I know it really annoys a lot of people over the ocean, but it's this mentality which helps a team like Canada win gold - we don't play to "do our best," we play to win it all.

And if we can't win it all, we don't care anymore.

It's actually a credit to the Americans that they're thinking this way more and more themselves.

Do you live in a dream world? The last time Canada was in a bronze medal game at the Olympics it was 3-2 and they outshot Finland 39-33.

The Americans tried hard to win that Bronze game until the third period when they went down 3-0, they got beat.

Even if they did 'not try' that kind of lack of pride is embarassing.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Time for everyone to give Sweden and Finland credit. They were great and it is too bad they both couldn't have won Silver.

Agreed. They are TRUE hockey nations and both made great showings. They should feel PROUD.

 

[Sher-Wood]

I guess you have been watching some different game then. Just look at the penalty minutes. If Sweden was dominating, I guess they didn't had to break the rules all the time.

I'm afraid you is the only one that wached a different game. Swedens penalty minutes came for the most from finns diving all over and the only goal Finland scored was an huge fluke. Sweden possessed the puck and had many quality chances including one in the crossbar.

Sorry.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Agreed. They are TRUE hockey nations and both made great showings. They should feel PROUD.

Amen, brother.

I couldn't have been happier with the way the medals played out.

**

I am off, guys!!! Well done Canada. We are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Holymakinaw]

We are not discussing who won the medals.

Canada's toughest game was against the USA, if you polled Team Canada on who would they fear the most in an elimination game, to a man they would say Team USA.

LMAO. You have ZERO clue of what they would say. You are some anonymous internet poster, and they are professional NHLers who are in Russia right now.

Maybe they LOVE to beat & embarrass the Americans, but fear? Who knows? There's plenty to worry about, with the Swedes, Finns and Russians.

 

[jigglysquishy]

Canada
(void)
sweden/finland


USA/Russia

That's how I would rank it too.

Great tourney by Sweden/Finland.

 

[WHY LIE GUY]

US was the second best team.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

US was the second best team.

Sorry, no.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Neither was I.

I rated them on how well they played.



You don't know that. And, based on the interviews I heard, I disagree.

Then we will cordially disagree. Finland and Sweden deserve their medals. But the way the tournament brackets lined up, I still regard the gold medal game was Canada vs USA on Friday.

The Bronze medal game for Canada and USA are throw me games, very hard to get up for a consolation game for both nations.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Agreed. They are TRUE hockey nations and both made great showings. They should feel PROUD.

Not FAKE hockey nations like Russia or the US?
Is that the gist of your post?

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

Then we will cordially disagree. Finland and Sweden deserve their medals. But the way the tournament brackets lined up, I still regard the gold medal game was Canada vs USA on Friday.

The Bronze medal game for Canada and USA are throw me games, very hard to get up for a consolation game for both nations.

We will have to agree to disagree. Time to rejoice in our greatness.

 

[WHY LIE GUY]

Sorry, no.

No need to apologize for having a different opinion

 

[The Winter Soldier]

LMAO. You have ZERO clue of what they would say. You are some anonymous internet poster, and they are professional NHLers who are in Russia right now.

Maybe they LOVE to beat & embarrass the Americans, but fear? Who knows? There's plenty to worry about, with the Swedes, Finns and Russians.

Neither do you, but I am entitled to my opinion. Incase you haven't noticed the USA is our biggest rivals in hockey now.

 

[Lomez]

Amen, brother.

I couldn't have been happier with the way the medals played out.

**

I am off, guys!!! Well done Canada. We are the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a shame. We're going to miss your insight and analysis. Ah, the texting generation: banalities 140 words at a time.

 

[OttawaRoughRiderFan*]

No need to apologize for having a different opinion

Fair enough.

 

[Holymakinaw]

Not FAKE hockey nations like Russia or the US?
Is that the gist of your post?

No, Russia is obviously a TRUE hockey nation as well.

 

[Hammer79]

Ah but that's the thing. I'm Canadian, not an American. I'm no fan of the Americans in hockey, and wish we had crushed them, not simply beat them.

And in the bronze medal game I was cheering for Finland, not the USA, in part because that helped the overall medal race of USA vs Canada.

So when I categorically state that the USA was the second best team in the tournament, I guarantee you it's not because of me being a "fan" of them. I'm not.

Well then you know that that game didn't get out of hand until the US started taking stupid penalties and Quick pulled his usual 'Not so Quick' routine. That game was still winnable going into the 3rd period at 2-0, and both teams were playing back-to-back games. USA was going for it until it was 3-0, and then the wheels came off. Again, not a throw away game.

They had an easy group (underachievers in Russia and Slovakia, and a plucky upstart in Slovenia), and an easy quarterfinal vs a Czech team that had a bad tournament otherwise. None of these teams had a solid team D buy-in, USA poured on the goals and people starting talking like they were the favorites.

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Canada

Put in Sedin, Zetterberg, Backstrom, and Franzen and the game may have been much different.

Obvioulsy ignoring the medals, my serious opinion of who has the best team when healthy:

Sweden
Canada
USA
Finland
Russia
Czech