Team USA '06: Are we gonna get housed?

[Big Phil]

You've already made a fool out of yourself enough, I'd stop here.

Nobody is claiming the US is better than Canada. But you obviously just can't get it through your thick head that everyone on the top 5 or 6 teams are great players. They are all pros, and any team can beat anyone. And it really wouldn't be much of a shock if the US beat Canada.

It wouldnt be much of a shock? Look man wake me up from my coma if the USA eliminates Canada in '06. Yeah I'll admit straner things have happened like in '80 or '02 with Belarus, but Canada is likely going to ice its best team ever in the last 20 years. This team is probably going to be the third best Canadian team ever after '76 and '87 so really its a pipe dream to believe the USA could beat them. Possible? Yes. Likely? Not really. Just wake up man. Maybe in 5-10 years USA will be more competitive but they look weak this year.

 

[sabrefan27]

It wouldnt be much of a shock? Look man wake me up from my coma if the USA eliminates Canada in '06. Yeah I'll admit straner things have happened like in '80 or '02 with Belarus, but Canada is likely going to ice its best team ever in the last 20 years. This team is probably going to be the third best Canadian team ever after '76 and '87 so really its a pipe dream to believe the USA could beat them. Possible? Yes. Likely? Not really. Just wake up man. Maybe in 5-10 years USA will be more competitive but they look weak this year.

You just don't get it. These aren't 7 game series genius. I don't need to wake up, I'm well aware of the completely better talent that Canada has, unfortuantely for you, that doesn't guarentee anything.

 

[polarslam]

With Tkachuk living so "large" in the off season, maybe he can be encouraged to eat like his life depends on it until Turin rolls around and than the U.S can roll him onto the ice and into the net, giving the U.S an unbeatable netminder!

 

[Raimo Sillanpää]

The U.S.A. was 1 goal away from going to the Final.

They outplayed Finland in the Semi-Final game.

We must have watched a different game.
The game I saw had Finland maul the US from just before the halway mark to the end. There was only one team that was going to score at that point and it was Finland, the equaliser especially with Ruutu forcing the US player to lose the puck behind his net and then the winner. After that neither side had a real goal scoring chance despite solid attempts.

 

[Big Phil]

You just don't get it. These aren't 7 game series genius. I don't need to wake up, I'm well aware of the completely better talent that Canada has, unfortuantely for you, that doesn't guarentee anything.

Oh I get it man. I can see the Czechs or the Russians, Swedes or even Finns beating us in a one game elimination. But no way is Team Canada going to lose even in a one game elimination to the B Team the USA is going to send. I'll bet my mortgage on my house on it. If we play you guys in the quarter finals we wouldnt lose to them. Pat Quinn would hang the Team in the 1st intermission if it was tied.

 

[sabrefan27]

Oh I get it man. I can see the Czechs or the Russians, Swedes or even Finns beating us in a one game elimination. But no way is Team Canada going to lose even in a one game elimination to the B Team the USA is going to send. I'll bet my mortgage on my house on it. If we play you guys in the quarter finals we wouldnt lose to them. Pat Quinn would hang the Team in the 1st intermission if it was tied.

You don't know much about anything then. Sorry, man.

 

[polarslam]

I have to agree that the one game single elimination formula makes anything possible, I mean witness Sweden/Belerus in 2002. The U.S team would be beaten into the ground over a 7 game series by Canada, but to think that a U.S team with a strong core of vets, could not get lucky or ride a goalie having the game of his life to victory, or take advantage of mistakes of their opponents and win is just silly. It's not as if the U.S team is Kazakhstan or Italy. Anyone of the six main teams from Canada, U.S, Sweden, Finland, Russia or the Czechs can get lucky in one game and beat a better opponent, that's the beuaty of the tournment format and also why I'm glad the Stanely Cup is not given away to a team for one simple win.

 

[Saint Teemu]

So what I'm getting out of all this back-and-forth is that Team USA will not get housed [sic] in the 2006 Olympics because it's a single-game elimination tournament and anything can happen.

Perhaps we should rephrase the question?

Maybe something like: How does the 2006 US Olympic team stack up against the US teams in 02 and 98?

Or, given that anything is possible in a single-elimination tournament, what odds would you place on the US Olympic team winning gold? How would you rate the rest of the field?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

So what I'm getting out of all this back-and-forth is that Team USA will not get housed [sic] in the 2006 Olympics because it's a single-game elimination tournament and anything can happen.

Perhaps we should rephrase the question?

Maybe something like: How does the 2006 US Olympic team stack up against the US teams in 02 and 98?

Or, given that anything is possible in a single-elimination tournament, what odds would you place on the US Olympic team winning gold? How would you rate the rest of the field?

I don't think there's any doubt that the 2006 squad is weaker on paper than the 1998 or 2002 squads. That being said, I don't think there's any doubt that the U.S. will ice a fresh, well-coached team that will be quick and opportunistic. In a short tourney like the Olympics, such a team can do well.

 

[Big Phil]

I think the USA team of '06 will be about as good as between their '81 Canada Cup team and their '84 team. In other words, I'll be suprised if the US team makes it out of the quarterfinals. And riding a hot goalie? Look Robert Esche doesnt put the fear of God into anybody. Sorry.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I think the USA team of '06 will be about as good as between their '81 Canada Cup team and their '84 team. In other words, I'll be suprised if the US team makes it out of the quarterfinals. And riding a hot goalie? Look Robert Esche doesnt put the fear of God into anybody. Sorry.

Right......

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I know it's early in the NHL season, but I'm already seeing a few developments that could lead to a shake-up in what I envision the U.S. Olympic team to look like.

One of the areas I question is goaltending. I assumed that DiPietro, Esche, and Conklin would be the guys, but Conklin and Esche have struggled a bit to start the season, while guys like Grahame and Miller have looked good. I wouldn't be surprised if either Grahame or Miller is one of the three. Miller especially in the number three position.

I also think it's likely there will be several "youngsters" on the team, such as Dustin Brown and perhaps Zach Parise. Brown in particular has been very impressive.

The last development I see revolves around one or more "veteran" who has struggled of late being named to the team if they return to form this year. A guy like Tony Amonte for instance.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

If a center from NJ will be playing for Team USA it should be Parise. He has been much better then Gomez all preseason and regular season. He is better defensivly, a better PK'er, and a better scorer.

 

[Big Phil]

If a center from NJ will be playing for Team USA it should be Parise. He has been much better then Gomez all preseason and regular season. He is better defensivly, a better PK'er, and a better scorer.

Parise is good, but he's no Crosby or Ovechkin. If a rookie makes your team he'd better have that name. Other than that I'm afriad your team is in trouble.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Parise is good, but he's no Crosby or Ovechkin. If a rookie makes your team he'd better have that name. Other than that I'm afriad your team is in trouble.

Thanks for your concern......

 

[Big Phil]

Thanks for your concern......

Nope no concern at all. I just would be if I were you. Look at your '04 Team. That lineup is pretty dull, no take a veteran or two away form there like Hull or Amonte or Tkachuk and that team is even worse. The goaltending is going to get hung. And its not like Robert Esche is a reincarnation of Terry Sawchuk. Rick Dipietro is your best and I dont think he's ever seen the talent he's about to see before at the '06 games. In all seriousness I think you guys should give Mike Richter a call. At least he put fear into Canada form '96-02 whenver we played him.

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Nope no concern at all. I just would be if I were you. Look at your '04 Team. That lineup is pretty dull, no take a veteran or two away form there like Hull or Amonte or Tkachuk and that team is even worse. The goaltending is going to get hung. And its not like Robert Esche is a reincarnation of Terry Sawchuk. Rick Dipietro is your best and I dont think he's ever seen the talent he's about to see before at the '06 games. In all seriousness I think you guys should give Mike Richter a call. At least he put fear into Canada form '96-02 whenver we played him.

Dipietro can steal games...he is an amazing goaltender and if you are looking past him then you are in trouble allready. The USA team can upset Canada just like Belarus upset Sweden, only USA has a good chance at doing so. Their defense is fast and mobile, their forwards are young, fearless and fast. You don't look past teams like this.

 

[espo*]

Dipietro can steal games...he is an amazing goaltender and if you are looking past him then you are in trouble allready. The USA team can upset Canada just like Belarus upset Sweden, only USA has a good chance at doing so. Their defense is fast and mobile, their forwards are young, fearless and fast. You don't look past teams like this.

Very true.It's such a big rivalry that the U.S always plays us hard and vice versa.You can most likely count on a doozy of a game when/if those two teams meet.On paper Canada shoudl beat them but we all know paper does'nt mean much.It's a one game knockout,take a team lightly and you'll get some sand kicked in your face or at least get the scare of your life.These are'nt best of seven game playoff nhl type competitions,if it were Canada would most definately be the favourite and teams like the U.S.A would get taken out by us without much of a doubt.But in one game? I'll garuntee Canada won't take the U.S lightly,they better not!!

And yeah,Dipietro IS capable of stealing that one game,as a matter of fact,so is Esche.Keep your head up Canada!!!Lot's of tough games to reach the top of that podium.