David
Registered User
Here are somethings that I believe that Canada has to start doing with Czechs if we have any hope of getting past the quarters let alone winning the gold.
Start blocking shots. As Yzerman did at Salt Lake, a leader has to start blocking shots...and then everyone else will follow. I saw plenty of shots find their way to the net because no one was willing to sacrifice their body.
Play with urgency from the second puck drops. These European teams have figured out that by scoring early and sitting back (the ploy that Czechs executed to perfection in Nagano in '98) once they get the lead, they have a chance against the more talented and bigger Canadians.
Start playing the North American game. Canada will not and cannot win playing the European hockey against Europeans. Start hitting them at every opportunity. I realize that this will take players out of play at times, but this has to be done. We have to put the fear of GOD into the opposing players. They are buzzing around like they got permission from team Canada to go where ever they want to go. Once they get hit a few times, they'll play timid...I mean if hitting that son of a b1tch Theo Fleury can neutralize him, it can neutralize anybody name Ruscinsky or Ovechkin or Hossa or even a Koivu! But Canada has to pick its spots since some of these characters are extremely slippery...see Koivu.
Lastly, play with emotion and hussle but don't forget to relax. There is A LOT OF HOCKEY LEFT TO BE PLAYED.
Canada still has a good chance of winning if we stick to what we do best!
Start blocking shots. As Yzerman did at Salt Lake, a leader has to start blocking shots...and then everyone else will follow. I saw plenty of shots find their way to the net because no one was willing to sacrifice their body.
Play with urgency from the second puck drops. These European teams have figured out that by scoring early and sitting back (the ploy that Czechs executed to perfection in Nagano in '98) once they get the lead, they have a chance against the more talented and bigger Canadians.
Start playing the North American game. Canada will not and cannot win playing the European hockey against Europeans. Start hitting them at every opportunity. I realize that this will take players out of play at times, but this has to be done. We have to put the fear of GOD into the opposing players. They are buzzing around like they got permission from team Canada to go where ever they want to go. Once they get hit a few times, they'll play timid...I mean if hitting that son of a b1tch Theo Fleury can neutralize him, it can neutralize anybody name Ruscinsky or Ovechkin or Hossa or even a Koivu! But Canada has to pick its spots since some of these characters are extremely slippery...see Koivu.
Lastly, play with emotion and hussle but don't forget to relax. There is A LOT OF HOCKEY LEFT TO BE PLAYED.
Canada still has a good chance of winning if we stick to what we do best!