WC SF: May 14 GDT - Russia vs. Canada

[Tricolore#20]

Why should the media be any different from the players? They thought it was over too and it showed.

The media shouldn't be making broad generalizations about hockey players, based on their nationalities. That's essentially the message I got from that comment. They lack character, thus they won't come back.

 

[The Benchwarmer]

Maybe by tradition the Russian coaches are better at developing talent than imprinting defensive systems in their adepts or to device game plans to counter other teams strengths. They want to win by creative force alone, which is very hard in modern hockey.

There's just a lack of defensve and goalie coaches in the Russian system right now, and there's a lot of people out there that acknowledge that they should develop a more physical game than they have right now.

 

[kolanos]

I think your pushing the "for the most part" generalization. We have alot of International exp. and guys like Heatley and Smyth who have played alot of World Championship tourney games. Team Canada's experience is shining through now.
The point is that the Russians have revealed a brilliant cast of young talent in this tourney.

The experienced guys (28-32) are all playing on the 4th line.

Look at all the 25 and younger guys on Team Canada (or close to it)...

Nash
Thornton
Luongo
Gagne
Regehr
Hannan
Morrow
Marleau
Phillips
Heatley
Fisher

Many of those guys have been leading this team.

 

[The Benchwarmer]

I see that Russia had a lot more penalties than Canada. Was Henriksson biased against Russia or were those penalties deserved?

Henriksson has been biased against Russian teams in the past and I don´t understand how they let him judge Russia´s games.

10mins of that was a misconduct for checking from behind. You'd have thought they'd have learnt after Kovalev's penalty in the previous game.

 

[mr gib]

Canada was lucky but it had more to do with their own stupidity then anything else. This should have been a rout. It was certainly headed that way until Canada (Habscheid?) decided to sit back and let Russia attack. Sokolov looked like he couldn't stop a beach ball and they him off the hook completely.

don't blame the coach - when you get up some goal's it usually happens - you slack off - no matter who you are - some great russian grit got them back in - ( always some flukey stuff goes on too - yashin's goal - our dissallowed goal )

 

[wilka91*]

I think the Canadian media is somewhat cocky. I was listening to the game this morning on the radio, as I was getting out of bed, and Darren Dreger says,

"Canada is up 4-0. I don't think the Russians have enough character to come back from this lead."

He was essentially stating the game was over. It was a completely arrogant and ignorant statement to make. Sometimes I hate it, but I guess their patriotism blinds their objectivity.

Yeah but he apologized and admitted his mistake. Very classy commentator.

 

[Riddarn]

There's just a lack of defensve and goalie coaches in the Russian system right now, and there's a lot of people out there that acknowledge that they should develop a more physical game than they have right now.

Maybe the Russians should ask a guy like Curre Lindström, who coached Finland to their first and (yet) only WC win. He also did a good job with Latvia. Other guys I can think of is the Czech Slavomir Lener, he has great merits as a coach. I'm also curious to know what a person like Igor Larionov could do behind the bench..

 

[CSKA]

Absolutely. If they ever begin developing goalies, more defencemen and a decent coach, watch out.

How is it that a country that can produce so many skilled forwards can't produce a decent coach? Or do they just pick the wrong ones.

na na my friend Krikunov is a brilliant coach ! Dont blame him for that los ....You need a complete team to work with you know what i mean ? defence, Goaltanding etc.

 

[mr gib]

Any thoughts about reffing?

better than usual - always rotten calls both ways - gotta have video replay

 

[wilka91*]

Maybe the Russians should ask a guy like Curre Lindström, who coached Finland to their first and (yet) only WC win. He also did a good job with Latvia. Other guys I can think of is the Czech Slavomir Lener, he has great merits as a coach. I'm also curious to know what a person like Igor Larionov could do behind the bench..

Before making some critical coaching changes, the federation needs to get the best players on the team. You can't hope to win a gold medal with that kind of defense, goaltending, and without some key forwards such as Frolov.

 

[Vinceee]

that's the only explanation I've found ... because when a team keeps winning when it's being outplayed is just not logical.

Well of course I'm exagerating, Canada does play really well and everything, but there's always something that turns the game in favor of Canada ... today it was Russia's poor defense and goaltending, against Czechia it was the Czechs' lack of shooting accuracy. I wonder if something will finally break down this machine in the final.

They know how to build a team...

Good Goalies, Physical Defenseman, Finnesse Players, Big Players,
Defensive & Offensive Forwards...

Each game a player step up today it was clearly Brodeur.

He saved lots of shots today... but it doesnt make us a lucky team because of that since the goalie is a player like Nash or Smyth.
IMO A brilliant save for a goaltender = a goal

 

[Peter25]

10mins of that was a misconduct for checking from behind. You'd have thought they'd have learnt after Kovalev's penalty in the previous game.

Yeah but Russia had six 6 minute penalties in the first period alone where Canada had only two. I have to wonder if there were some bias from the ref there.

 

[kolanos]

The thing about Russia and Canada is that they're playing styles are so very different that it is easy for one side to see the other as inferior (Canada lacking skill, Russians lacking heart -- both stereotypes, obviously). It's a shame that that's the case, but it's just the competitive nature of the game and the exploits of nationalism.

 

[mr gib]

Before making some critical coaching changes, the federation needs to get the best players on the team. You can't hope to win a gold medal with that kind of defense, goaltending, and without some key forwards such as Frolov.

ya gotta go with what your given though - i think darius k could've really helped today - the canadians always seem to be willing to go to the traffic areas and sacrifice their bodies -

 

[Riddarn]

Before making some critical coaching changes, the federation needs to get the best players on the team. You can't hope to win a gold medal with that kind of defense, goaltending, and without some key forwards such as Frolov.

True, but there have been some strange coaches in Russia the past few years. Like getting Tichonov back at age 353 or the guy before him.. was it Mikhailov? Maybe Krikunov is the right guy to build on though, I don't know.

Hey, is Krikunov related to Vancouver prospect Ilya Krikunov?

 

[Vinceee]

Yeah but he apologized and admitted his mistake. Very classy commentator.

Its quite normal that a canadian commentator will cheer for the local team...

 

[The Benchwarmer]

na na my friend Krikunov is a brilliant coach ! Dont blame him for that los ....You need a complete team to work with you know what i mean ? defence, Goaltanding etc.

Yeah I'd have to agree with your comments, look at the job he did with Dinamo Moscow this year, it was a machine.

They really need to go back to grass roots level and spend more time developing defense and goaltending.

Perhaps also try to beat this puck hogging out of some of their stars too.

 

[mr gib]

The thing about Russia and Canada is that they're playing styles are so very different that it is easy for one side to see the other as inferior (Canada lacking skill, Russians lacking heart -- both stereotypes, obviously). It's a shame that that's the case, but it's just the competitive nature of the game and the exploits of nationalism.

when kovalev turns it up - man - i don't care what country your from - he's right up there

 

[Macman]

Maybe by tradition the Russian coaches are better at developing talent than imprinting defensive systems in their adepts or to device game plans to counter other teams strengths. They want to win by creative force alone, which is very hard in modern hockey.

There almost seems to be an arrogance with their coaches that because their teams has so much skill they don't have to react to what's happening on the ice. They had last change in this game and they did nothing to get the Doan-Draper and Maltby away from their top line -- and Russian teams do this all the time. They had Yashin, of all people, killing penalties. Look at the '87 Canada Cup when Tikhonov puts out a 19-year-old Igor Kravchuk on defence in the final minute of Game 3 against Gretzky, Lemieux and Hawerchuk while Fetisov sits on the bench.

 

[wilka91*]

Anyway I didn't think that Russia would ever outshoot Canada let alone reach 40 shots on goal!!! It used to be the other way around for decades.

 

[wilka91*]

Its quite normal that a canadian commentator will cheer for the local team...

what?

 

[mr gib]

Why should the media be any different from the players? They thought it was over too and it showed.

i never thought that - too much firepower and you know canada was gonna sit back - all it took was one goal -

 

[Tricolore#20]

If anyone wants the Canadian avatar that I have, let me know.

The one I have right now is too big for non-sponsors, so if you aren't a sponsor and want it, I'll send you the smaller version.

We need to fill up the Canada bandwagon for the game tomorrow!

 

[Pepper]

I think it has something to do with the russian attitude, don't mean this as a flame or anything but IMHO they have always (well, recently atleast) had 'selfish' attitude meaning everyone wants to be the top forward scoring the deciding goals. That results poor teamplay and lack of talent in defense and goal.

Remember shinny-hockey as kids? Everybody wanted to be a forward, nobody wanted to be a d-man or let alone a goalie. I see a similar attitude in Russia all the way to the top. This was not a problem during the CCCP-days when there were very strict coaching & system which made sure that d-men were also top-notch.

Finland is maybe just the opposite, we're too humble so everybody is happy enough to be a hard-working 3rd line grinder or defensive d-man and nobody has the ambition to be a top scorer. Canada is somewhere in between which results a great balanced system. Of course there are exceptions and this is only my observation.

 

[kolanos]

Another thing about Canada's luck. Canada develops their players at all positions. Whereas there are nations that excel at one or two positions, Canada builds depth at all positions. Canada may not be the best in the world at any position in particular, but they do have competitive depth throughout their roster, at every position. The better your team is at all positions, the fewer weaknesses there are to exploit and the stronger your team will be overall. It's surprising that Canada has had such great success at this development strategy, considering they are a nation of but 30 million.

Having the best goaltender in the world doesn't hurt either.