GDT: Sochi Part 2: Dis Gon Be Gud

[DaveG]

Well I just hope there's not going to be any sort of nuclear meltdown in the states due to your disappointing showing.

Anyway, Backstrom out with a migraine for the finals. Couple chances on each side so far. Pretty fast pace.

Depends on what we mean by meltdown. Can't say I'd mind seeing USA Hockey tell Burke, Shero, and Bylsma "this was your team, it blew up on us and looked atrocious in the medal round games, GTFO" and letting someone else take the reigns. Those three had WAY too much influence on the roster and it showed. This isn't 1980 where we can have the guys play together for 6 months before the games in order for the team to develop chemistry in the roles they're being picked for.

Don't care who it is, just as long as they're smart enough not to leave off guys like Ryan, Okposo, and Pominville in favor of guys like Wheeler, Callahan, and Brown. Or leaving off Yandle in favor of that back of suck Orpik.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

Pretty sure this was Poile's team, Dave. Those articles made that clear.

 

[DaveG]

Pretty sure this was Poile's team, Dave. Those articles made that clear.

Forgot him, take Poile out of that mix as well.

Not sure how much I trust Stan Bowman just yet, but I think he and Lombardi would be able to build a much more competitive team if only because I don't think they would be leaving better players at home so they can bring guys to fit certain roles.

 

[DaveG]

This is just like the Canada-USA game. Canada's absolutely having its way with Sweden right now but it's still only 1-0.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Canada just completely dominating Sweden right now. Cycling amazing and controlling the boards. Crosby just made it 2-0 on an unassisted breakaway.

They may not be scoring as many goals as certain other teams in the tournament but they're controlling games entirely.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Kunitz makes it 3-0 with an absolute snipe. Even before the goal Sweden had nothing going this period. They just look defeated. Really nothing positive going on for them at all in this game.

 

[Sens1Canes2]

KUNITZ SLAMS THE DOOR. How appropo.

 

[rocky7]

good for Kunitz..

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

LOL. Kunitz and Crosby both with unassisted goals and shutdown guy Toews gets the other.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

I get the US not "showing up." As much as you think they're professionals, they're playing for country, etc. - they lost to their bitter rival after dominating for the first four games. The Finns adore international play and probably appreciated the game as an "opportunity for bronze" rather than lamenting their loss to Sweden. From what I saw the Americans played well early, but at the first sign of adversity kind of crumbled. Which usually signifies a kind of emotional letdown.

Yeah, I agree with this. Losing a tough one to Canada when you had designs on a Gold, it's gotta be hard to get pumped for a consolation game. And you could see the letdown on their faces once down 2-0.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

LOL. Kunitz and Crosby both with unassisted goals and shutdown guy Toews gets the other.

Since when was Toews a shutdown guy? He's always scored timely goals for Canada. Very clutch player for us.

Interesting stat - in Vancouver Canada had 36 goals for and 16 against. In Sochi they have 16 for and 3 against.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Yeah, I agree with this. Losing a tough one to Canada when you had designs on a Gold, it's gotta be hard to get pumped for a consolation game. And you could see the letdown on their faces once down 2-0.

Everyone there wanted gold. That's why they're there. Finland lost a tough one to their rivals Sweden the day before as well. Finns just showed more character. Nice to see some of their old guard get one last Olympic medal in their way out.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Canada just made that look too easy.

Somewhat boring game due to the lack of push back from Sweden. Doesn't come anywhere near matching the excitement of the 2010 final.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Since when was Toews a shutdown guy? He's always scored timely goals for Canada. Very clutch player for us.

Interesting stat - in Vancouver Canada had 36 goals for and 16 against. In Sochi they have 16 for and 3 against.

It wasn't an insult or meaning to imply he doesn't score (although this was his first of the tournament), he and Bergeron are known much for the defense as their offence.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

The other thing I want to comment on is how the game on the "big ice" really didn't play out like a lot of people thought it might. People expected it to be wide open, fast skating, high scoring affairs. Team Russia was loaded with skilled scorers, but were out early. Finland played a stingy team game and achieved more than I though they would given their talent level. For all the complaining about Canada not scoring, they are playing a tough defensive game. Hindsight is 20-20, but it looks pretty obvious to me that TC was picking players (Carter is a good example) of guys that had at least a decent, if not exceptional 2-way game and if you didn't, your chances of making the team were slim.

They appeared to have focused on defense first and gave up only 3 goals the entire tournament and it was a winning strategy.

 

[nobuddy]

Now the Kunitz inclusion is justified totally! Yay!

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

It wasn't an insult or meaning to imply he doesn't score (although this was his first of the tournament), he and Bergeron are known much for the defense as their offence.

Ya, he's an amazing two-way player.

Canada just didn't score very much this tournament. Less than half the goals they scored in Vancouver. Only gave up 3 the whole tournament.

Actually all three guys who scored today got their first goal of the tournament.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Everyone there wanted gold. That's why they're there. Finland lost a tough one to their rivals Sweden the day before as well. Finns just showed more character. Nice to see some of their old guard get one last Olympic medal in their way out.

Of course everyone wants gold, but not everyone expects gold. Finland definitely showed more character, no doubt there. Since I can't get into their heads, I have no idea how the US viewed the tournament going in vs. Finland. Either way, I'm not arguing the point, US appeared o fold once the chips got down, no matter what the reason.

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Now the Kunitz inclusion is justified totally! Yay!

No one is saying that but keep trying to make Canada look silly.

We'll enjoy our Olympic championship and you can enjoy your....participation ribbon?

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Now the Kunitz inclusion is justified totally! Yay!

How is that any different than you patting yourself on the back about needing more offense when the US didn't score in the medal round? (even though the "skilled" guys on the US failed to come through).

The facts are that team Canada did exactly what they set out to do. People can speculate that they would have done the same with other players, but it's just that, speculation.

 

[nobuddy]

No one is saying that but keep trying to make Canada look silly.

We'll enjoy our Olympic championship and you can enjoy your....participation ribbon?

Canada did a great job of making themselves look silly by taking Chris Kunitz over the guys they did in the first place.

They won gold. They were the best team. Credit to them, but not a single one of their wins was overly impressive. Look at who they beat. Nothing overly impressive. Their best win was by 1 goal over a team heavily relying on Brooks Orpik for shutdown minutes.

It may be Canada's game now, but it won't be for much longer. Want proof? One gold (and one medal) in the last five years at U18s. Zero golds in the last five years at U20s. The rest of the world is catching up.

Enjoy this while it lasts, because it won't.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

Canada did a great job of making themselves look silly by taking Chris Kunitz over the guys they did in the first place.

Ya, sure.

They won gold. They were the best team. Credit to them, but not a single one of their wins was overly impressive. Look at who they beat. Nothing overly impressive. Their best win was by 1 goal over a team heavily relying on Brooks Orpik for shutdown minutes.

Nothing impressive? They were undefeated, had back to back shutouts in the medal round and gave up 3 goals the entire tournament.

 

[nobuddy]

How is that any different than you patting yourself on the back about needing more offense when the US didn't score in the medal round? (even though the "skilled" guys on the US failed to come through).

It's entirely different because Chris Kunitz scored an entirely inconsequential goal while the USA completely consequentially did not score a single one. I was right on both counts. Do you really not see how that's different?

Do you also not see how having more skilled players on the USA roster would increase the likelihood that one of them steps up to score a goal?

 

[Cardiac Jerks]

Canada did a great job of making themselves look silly by taking Chris Kunitz over the guys they did in the first place.

They won gold. They were the best team. Credit to them, but not a single one of their wins was overly impressive. Look at who they beat. Nothing overly impressive. Their best win was by 1 goal over a team heavily relying on Brooks Orpik for shutdown minutes.

It may be Canada's game now, but it won't be for much longer. Want proof? One gold (and one medal) in the last five years at U18s. Zero golds in the last five years at U20s. The rest of the world is catching up.

Enjoy this while it lasts, because it won't.

I'm not even going to waste my time going into detail for every ridiculous thing you said. What a joke of a post.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

It's entirely different because Chris Kunitz scored an entirely inconsequential goal while the USA completely consequentially did not score a single one. I was right on both counts. Do you really not see how that's different?

You were not right. Unless you have an alternative reality where you can plug other player into roles and see the outcome, it's nothing but an opinion. The fact is, Team Canada won with Kunitz. Everything else is pure speculation. Team Canada's choices were right, plain and simple, whether you like them or not.

Do you also not see how having more skilled players on the USA roster would increase the likelihood that one of them steps up to score a goal?

Maybe, but do you not also see that if they are weaker defensively, they would increase the likelihood that they would have given up more goals also? Heck, maybe not even making it past Russia? Or how Team USA beat the Czech's by basically using the "shutdown line" against Jagr and without that line, the outcome might have changed? etc.... (all speculation)

IMO, Team Canada put together an outstanding defensive team for this tournament and had just enough offense to win it. Good strategy and IMO, adding a couple more guys to team USA wouldn't have changed it.