Tournament thread

Mainiac · Post by **Mainiac** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:37 pm

U - S - A, OLD - AND - SLOW, U - S - A, OLD - AND - SLOW.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:57 pm

What are Tkachunk and (dead)Weight doing on that team.....what a disgrace!

Nice for Tkachunk to argue about offsides when he was 10 feet over the line. That's the problem with you Americans......always think you're right when you're clearly wrong ('sup WMD's)

The only reason the U.S is even in the medal round is because they were softballed an easy division. Germany would hand you your asses.

1 & done in the medal round.

U-S-A!!!!! U-S-A!!!!! U-S-A!!!!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:57 pm

I'm not going to call the entire team old and slow but certainly the most important players on the team are old and slow. The team plays good defense and doesn't make any dumb mistakes in their own end. DiPietro has been a pleasant surprise and should sue his teams for lack of support. The offense, which I thought was the team's strength going into the Olympics, has been no existent. I'm not going to have a total meltdown over this since the team wasn't favored to medal anyways but they're competing well enough earn a medal. They flat out can't score goals though. In Salt Lake, the offense was lead by LeClair, Tkachuk and Guerin...they owned the front of the net and scored ugly goals. LeClair is finished and watching the games at home and Tkachuk and Guerin are shells of their former selves. The team speed has been another pleasant surprise but since the rest of the teams are quick, it doesn't matter. They need to score ugly goals.

I compare this to the Red Wings the last two years in the playoffs. They played good defensively and kept the puck out of their net but they couldn't score the key goals to win close games. Joseph was the scapegoat but it was the lack of offense that did them in. Same story for Team USA. DiPietro was very good in the two games this weekend but has nothing to show for it.

Gut check time for the Americans on Tuesday against Russia. They're going to get through to the quarters but they need to play well going into the tournament to have some momentum. They're probably just going to lose a couple of 2-1 games and go home quietly without a medal.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 6:59 pm

al? wrote:What are Tkachunk and (dead)Weight doing on that team.....what a disgrace!

Nice for Tkachunk to argue about offsides when he was 10 feet over the line. That's the problem with you Americans......always think you're right when you're clearly wrong ('sup WMD's)

The only reason the U.S is even in the medal round is because they were softballed an easy division. Germany would hand you your asses.

Take it easy, Canada...take care of your own business before you start the shit-slinging. We weren't supposed to win a medal, you were. See you in 2010...hopefully with a younger and more hungry team. :twisted:

It's not like they're being badly outplayed. They lost to two better teams by only 2-1 scores. You lost to Switzerland. I don't think I need to go any further. Finland won't be any picnic either...take care of business.

Mainiac · Post by **Mainiac** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:19 pm

Yeah, no shit. Finland could very easily hand Canada their lunch today.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:36 pm

This is where the tournament starts for Canada. After the 2-0 wake up call thanks to Les Suiss, look for Canada to roll.

6-3, the Maple Leaf.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 7:46 pm

Shoalzie wrote:You lost to Switzerland.

Who has displayed the best goaltending in the tournament thus far.

You gave Latvia their 1st point in Olympic history..

'bode Maple Leaf.......again.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:13 pm

Finns surprisingly physical!

I hope they win gold one of these years (not this year). Great hockey nation perrenially underestimated.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:37 pm

never in my wildest dreams did i imagine that mike knuble would be representing the us on the olympic team. that shows you how bad this team was this year. knuble: good player, not nearly national team worthy.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:45 pm

al? wrote:Finns surprisingly physical!

I hope they win gold one of these years (not this year). Great hockey nation perrenially underestimated.

Surprisingly physical...have you lived on the moon? Didn't you see Ruutu scramble Jagr's brains yesterday? They've always been a gritty team but right now they have it all going...goaltending, offense, defense, special teams, skating, physical play, chemistry, coaching. This is the best team in the tournament. No shame in getting housed by these guys but Team Canada is going have some questions to answer if they lose a second game this weekend. They haven't scored a goal since 19:26 of the third period against Germany. What happened to this vaunted offense? Luongo is keeping this close but Finland is clearly the better team right now.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:50 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:never in my wildest dreams did i imagine that mike knuble would be representing the us on the olympic team. that shows you how bad this team was this year. knuble: good player, not nearly national team worthy.

Knuble is a good player but you're right though...the depth in American hockey is hurting right now. The best talent is probably in the junior and college ranks. With these last three years of WJC teams, the hopes of American hockey rest of those young players to step in for the team in 2010. I like the play of guys like Cole, Gomez, Gionta and Liles but they don't have the cupboard stocked like Canada and Russia does with great young talent. This is a transitional period for Team USA...stealing a medal in Torino would be a bonus. It's frustrating that they aren't playing poorly as a team...they just can't score goals. They held two potent offenses to just two goals each...they just could solve the other goalie on the other end. They need to do some soul-searching between now and Tuesday and give Russia a good test going into the elimination round.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:57 pm

Shoalzie wrote: Team Canada is going have some questions to answer if they lose a second game this weekend.

Namely:

1) Why keep letting losing ass Pat Quinn coach this team. He doesn't know what he's doing.....ie: Draper should start every pk.....he's the best in the league.

2) Individuals like Bertuzzi and Thornton do not make better teammates than guys like Maltby and Kariya and Shanahan.

For whatever reason, Canada usually needs to paint themselves into a corner before they gel. Sometimes they leave it too late.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:01 pm

is that Bertuzzi on the PK?!?!?!?!?!

WTF?!?!?!?!?!!

just another example of Toronto buggerring things up.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:07 pm

Shoalzie wrote:Didn't you see Ruutu scramble Jagr's brains yesterday?

guess he'll think twice before wearing that gretzky-jofa helmet again. idiot.

The Rat Pack · Post by **The Rat Pack** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:35 pm

Ho Ho I forgot that Selanne labelled Pronger back in SLC.

The Rat Pack · Post by **The Rat Pack** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:58 pm

Not looking good for Quinn & the Turds. They completely wasted that key PP.

Ruutu flattened Redden.

..and Nash is injured?

Anyway, who was the bonehead that said Canada would win 6-3? Maybe they should take up following a sport they actually know something about.

Now draper is swinging sticks like an ape.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:05 pm

5 minutes left in this game, Canada won't come back.

Full marks to Finland. Canada starting to gel, but nothing I've seen indicates they have what it takes for gold. Lucky we got a softball division like the US.

al? · Post by **al?** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:10 pm

You know Jari Kurri loves this.

The Rat Pack · Post by **The Rat Pack** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:11 pm

Well, the Finns just flushed the turds.

Again... What a disgrace. 0 goals in two games. A disgusting disgrace.

For shame

Mainiac · Post by **Mainiac** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:13 pm

What's that I said about Finland handing Canada their lunch?

Two facts are emerging from this tournament so far:

1)The rest of the world has caught up to Canada and passed the USA.

2)The rest of the world wants it more than Canada or the USA.

Fact #2 is far more important and obvious to see.

The Rat Pack · Post by **The Rat Pack** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:17 pm

Mainiac wrote:What's that I said about Finland handing Canada their lunch?

Two facts are emerging from this tournament so far:

1)The rest of the world has caught up to Canada and passed the USA.

2)The rest of the world wants it more than Canada or the USA.

Fact #2 is far more important and obvious to see.

I can't argue with that. The days of Cherry's "floating Euros" seem a long ways away. I've seen some amazing fore-checking & hits by the Euros.

Mainiac · Post by **Mainiac** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:26 pm

Don't forget the Russians, they are looking better and better with every game. Their skill level is immense.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:30 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:
Shoalzie wrote:Didn't you see Ruutu scramble Jagr's brains yesterday?
guess he'll think twice before wearing that gretzky-jofa helmet again. idiot.

You wonder if he wore his regular bucket, he wouldn't have gotten as hurt. He still played today against Italy and looked pretty good. He seems like he's okay after it all.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:33 pm

The Rat Pack wrote:I can't argue with that. The days of Cherry's "floating Euros" seem a long ways away. I've seen some amazing fore-checking & hits by the Euros.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at Don Cherry's house right now. The Swiss and Finns answered the bell and played physically, were well coached and their goaltending completely stimied the high-powered Canadians. Just like Team USA, they're going to the quarterfinals but they need to regroup in their final game in the prelims.

JD · Post by JD » Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:40 am

One of Canada's problems is that they've got a bunch of players that haven't won shit. Thornton, Bertuzzi, Nash, Redden, Heatley, Pronger, and I'm sure others I'm missing off the top of my head, have not won a thing in the NHL playoffs. As a fan of the Flames, I'm used to watching my team do the little things well to win games, and this Team Canada does very few of those little things very well. Certain players who have been there and done it in the NHL are playing that way, but until that rubs off on the prima donna types, that team ain't gonna win.

Last Olympics we had guys like Nieuwendyk and Yzerman, fuck, even Theo Fleury, busting their asses and playing their roles... roles they knew and understood having had true success in the past. You can't ask Thornton Bertuzzi and Nash to play the role of the 3rd line on this team because they haven't the faintest clue on how to do that. Quinn is a fucking idiot for expecting it.

At any rate, I think we need to see more of the Smyth, Doan, Draper types that are getting in there and getting their noses dirty. Get banging and crashing. Play Canadian hockey. I'm tired of watching soft-on-the-puck Thornton try to dance through the traps of the Finns and Swiss while Bertuzzi is tippy-toeing through the crease or going off-side.

And Chris Pronger needs to act like he actually feels like being there. Absolutely pathetic the penalties that he took and that schooling Saku Koivu gave him behind the net on the first Finnish goal. Pronger has been nails for the Oilers all year long... to have him playing like this for Team Canada is actually insulting.

Mainiac · Post by **Mainiac** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:11 am

Canada's problems also start at the top. Gretz was the greatest player ever but like Michael Jordan in basketball, he can't manage or coach worth a damn. Pat Quinn is, well, Pat Quinn. What the fuck has he ever won? Somebody remind me. They couldn't get a better pair to run this ship?

Hey, watch them go and win the gold now after all this gnashing of teeth.

I doubt it.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:16 pm

just watched the highlights from the canada/czech game, and i cannot stand for the life of me seeing all the highlights from the behind the goal cam. if anything, it makes the goalies look like idiots since they are in the center of the shot the entire time.

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:11 pm

Canada/Russia and US/Finland tomorrow....I can't see any chance of the US beating the Finns, Teemu is playing like a 25 year old.

tough love · Post by **tough love** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:02 pm

Aside from the final score; I doubt anyone on TCanada is looking at today's sorry performance as a win.

See You Next Wednesday · Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:03 pm

Cross Traffic wrote:Canada/Russia and US/Finland tomorrow....I can't see any chance of the US beating the Finns, Teemu is playing like a 25 year old.

Why not? Certainly they aren't playing anywhere near as well as Finland, but coinsidering it is a knockout stage, anything can happen. Would I bet on the U.S.? No way, but they can win.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:06 pm

The only good thing going for Team USA is that they pumped in 4 goals against the Russians. Both Canada and Team USA's offense came alive today but both teams are in trouble tomorrow with their matchups.

I'm going to assume DiPietro will start in net for Team USA against Finland. If the game can stay low-scoring...I give the Americans a decent shot but in a goal fest, advantage Finland. The Finns were the best team through the prelims...no one has really challenged them or matched their play.

As for Canada-Russia...just don't turn over the puck to the Russians and take away their passing game. The Canadians looked strong against the Czechs but nearly blew the lead late. They too got their offense going today and that game with the Russians should be outstanding.

Slovakia-Czech Republic will be an intriguing matchup but I favor the Slovaks because of the play of the Hossa-Demitra-Gaborik line. Vokoun has been shaky in goal and I see the Slovaks advancing in that one.

Sweden-Switzerland...I see this going to the Swedes unless the Swiss goaltending catches fire again. They seemed to be a bit of a fluke after watching them struggle with the Germans and the Italians after their upsets of the Czechs and the Canadians. They seem to play up to and down to their opposition. Sweden has too much firepower...they'll go to the semifinals.

al? · Post by **al?** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:10 am

If Canada can beat Russia, they'll go to the final.

Likely going to be one and done for North America.....worst olympics EVER (not just hockey).

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:17 am

al? wrote:worst olympics EVER (not just hockey).

I've really enjoyed the hockey tournament so far. I would've like to see Team USA win a couple more games in the prelims but I'm not letting the lack of success hurt my experience with watching the games on TV. It's been exciting and unpredictable. The officiating has been so-so but when has it ever been perfect? I don't care what the media says that the NHL shouldn't be in the Olympics, I think this has been another success much like 2002. These quarterfinal games will be exciting tomorrow and they'll set up two tremendous semifinal games. If you can't get into this, that's your problem and I have no use for you.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:20 am

Too funny, I see that all ('cept Hap) the Quinn bashers are out in full force yet not a one of them has bothered to mention the slight fact that Quinn didn't have any say in the roster.

He's dealing with the hand he was dealt.

And for all of you Quinn bashers that now say it's all his fault when Canada can't win, by default then, when Canada won at Salt Lake, it must have been all Quinn's fault too eh?

Watch those ankles boys, jumping on and off the bandwagon can be hard on them.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:28 am

Mainiac wrote:Canada's problems also start at the top. Gretz was the greatest player ever but like Michael Jordan in basketball, he can't manage or coach worth a damn. Pat Quinn is, well, Pat Quinn. What the fuck has he ever won? Somebody remind me. They couldn't get a better pair to run this ship?

Coach Pat Quinn and Team Canada defeats U.S. 5-2 to win Gold Medal

That ring a bell?

al? · Post by **al?** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:42 am

Quinn was master and commander of the Leafs for a bit.....look at all that playoff success.

It's not all Quinn's fault, and it would be preposterous to suggest I know more about hockey than him. He gets paid to make bad decisions, I don't. I'm just saying, he's never been a winning coach/GM, so why does he keep getting this job?

The other teams just seem to be better 'teams' this time around.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:52 am

I don't think Canada is lacking leadership but you wonder what Yzerman and Lemieux brought to the table in 2002 that they don't have this time around. They've got several current and former captains on that team and most of those guys have played together some form of international play. I said before, in a best-of-7, I take Canada over the field but in a one-and-done scenario, any great team can have an off night and end up out on their arse. Aside from Sweden-Switzerland, I see three fairly even matchups in the quarterfinals. The Swiss beating Sweden would be the only shocker of the four games. There really isn't a lot of seperation between the best team and the worst team...should make for a great tournament.

Cicatrix · Post by **Cicatrix** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:43 am

With the comments the Sweish coach made about it not being so bad if they lost and then had to face the Swiss I hope those holey-cheesey chocolate eating fucks kick the hell out of the smorgasbord chowing pukes.

I'm not racist.

MuchoBulls · Post by **MuchoBulls** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:14 am

Shoalzie wrote:The only good thing going for Team USA is that they pumped in 4 goals against the Russians. Both Canada and Team USA's offense came alive today but both teams are in trouble tomorrow with their matchups.

I'm going to assume DiPietro will start in net for Team USA against Finland. If the game can stay low-scoring...I give the Americans a decent shot but in a goal fest, advantage Finland. The Finns were the best team through the prelims...no one has really challenged them or matched their play.

I am not convinced that the U.S. is in trouble. The only thing that could hurt them is to let Finland have a good number of PP's. The U.S. has played well defensively, minus today's result, but that was with a goalie who was only seeing ice time because the game didn't matter in the Pool Standings. The offense got on track, which is a good sign. DiPietro has been solid. First goal is key!

I am really looking forward to the Russia-Canada game. That should be spirited to say the least.

I agree with you on enjoying the games so far. Love the speed, hitting, and numerous odd man rushes and scoring chances. It's too bad the NHL won't widen the rink.

fix · Post by **fix** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 4:02 am

al? wrote:Quinn was master and commander of the Leafs for a bit.....look at all that playoff success.

It's not all Quinn's fault, and it would be preposterous to suggest I know more about hockey than him. He gets paid to make bad decisions, I don't. I'm just saying, he's never been a winning coach/GM, so why does he keep getting this job?

The other teams just seem to be better 'teams' this time around.

Let's see.. only once in his NHL coaching career has he coached a team that didn't make the playoffs.
Quinn's teams have made it past the 1st round on 11 different occasions.
He's not a winning coach?
Really?
His record says you're wrong.

But in case you missed it, he did coach that winning team back at Salt Lake. You know, the one that won Gold...
That's why he got the job this time.. along with his assistant coaches.
Perhaps you've heard of them too? Hitchcock and Martin.
Are they both bad coaches now too?

The other teams are better for one reason alone, they each play the same system no matter who is coaching them. So it doesn't take that much practice for them to gell since they're all familiar with the system that their country uses in International hockey competitions.

For example, the Sweeds play the Torpedo.