Let's put the new posts here.
There is nobody better at anything than Mike Emrick. He makes me feel like a kindergartner when it comes to hockey lore.
Let's put the new posts here.
There is nobody better at anything than Mike Emrick. He makes me feel like a kindergartner when it comes to hockey lore.
Comments
canucks,,, good luck against russia!
Amazing games today.
Who do you think will start in goal for Canada next game?
Go Forsberg!
i think i would go with roberto,
I think I would too.....but then, I would have gone with him tonight too.
Rocky, after the world jr. tournament and i saw the canadian people cheering for all of the other teams when they played against the usa kids, that really turned me off, i didnt know canadians didnt like the U.S, that much,,,, well sorry about your luck tonight u big bad canucks,, have another labatts blue and get over your U.S.A. BEATDOWN!!
Congratulations to all of the ugly Americans (just kidding)
I do think Canada will win when it counts.
If they wanted to shake things up, give Fleury the start in the meaningless Germany game to get his feet wet. Then you give Luongo the start when it counts. Neither he or Brodeur were playing great coming into the playoffs but I like the chances better with Bobby Lou in net at this point.
No excuses for giving the US kids a hard time in Saskatoon at the world juniors. It goes back to 2006 when ironically the Jr. tourney was played in Vancouver. That US team had Phil Kessel,Robby Schremp and the Johnsons. They were a favorite to win that year. But they didn't endear themselves to the fans for whatever reason and they underacheived.The fans in 2006 were on Jack for an elbow on Steve Downie. Did you notice few boos last night when Jack had the puck?
Anyway only a few years removed and fairly close geographically to Vancouver the fans in Saskatoon had long memories.
Mr. Snufflupugus, Ryan Miller hadn't been playing well coming into the Olympics either. I think the pressure is finally getting to old Marty.
Go Russia!
The U.S. should come away with at least a silver medal now. The next huge game should be Canada vs Russia with the loser out of the games.
Good call on Flower, MR. S.
So do I understand this correctly, either the Russians or Canadians won't medal now.
Wow, what a great day of hockey!! Super Sunday, indeed!!!
Sweden shutout Finland late last night/this morning so the USA gets the #1 seed and will play Wed. at 3pm vs the winner of the Belarus/Swiss qualifying game....
Tues. Qualif. games:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=518504
That's correct, rgurney.
Congratulations to the USA team. It was an exciting game with plenty of end-to-end action. The time for celebration is now over, and the time for more work has begun. Even with the victory there were signs that the Canadian team was more talented. ( I think I held my breath most of the game as Canada controlled the play.) The real tournament starts tomorrow and the U.S. has put itself in a great postion to go forward, that's true. However, getting too high off this victory could be a big mistake. One game at a time, one period at a time, one shift at a time. That's the secret. The tournament is just now beginning. Let's keep our composure until there is something real to celebrate.
I forgot. Did anyone else catch Commissioner Gary Bettman's comments about the possibility of not allowing NHL players to participate in the next Olympics (in Russia)? He cited travel, schedule difficulties, the fact that the Olympics interrupts the NHL just at the time when they are not competing with football and baseball ( that's a huge laugh-like they would be dominating the attention of sports world???), the idea that some players and teams will not benefit equally from the sabatical from NHL hockey that Olympic hockey would demand. Sure, he has some valid points, but the next Olympics is four years away. Do some planning, Commissioner. The NHL participating on a world stage is the best thing that could happen to the NHL. It gives them tremendous exposure and can help launch the NHL to once again be a "major sport". But no, throw that chance away. Try to make the right decision, Mr Commissioner. By your past record I know that may be tough.
Allan: I think the commish is goading the players union. I belive every player in the world wants to be part of the Olympics. But there will be another collective agreement coming up with the NHLPA and I think Bettman will look for some concessions if the players want to participate. Big problem for Gary, the games are in Ovechkin's home country. I don't know if they want to take him on. The Kontinental League would love to have him back in Russia. It will be interesting.
Exactly, Mike. Bettman will just use it as a bargaining chip and every player knows it.
I'd say the games are down to 4 teams now; the winner of Canada/Russia against the winner of USA/Sweden. However it plays out I'm trying to soak in the last appearances of guys like Forsberg, Fedorov, Jagr, Selanne, and Brodeur.
There are several teams with game stealing goalies...Czech's w/Vokoun, Slovaks w/Halak, Swiss w/Hiller, etc... I'm not ready to give the medals to anyone just yet...
The only thing about having NHL'ers in the Olympics that I dont like is the crazy 1st half schedule they've had this year... They need to start looking at a more friendly schedule now for the games in Russia to come up with a better 1st half schedule because not having NHL'ers in the Olympics is just wrong...
Any team can still win the gold. The qualifying round is kind of like a very short regular season of sports. Now the playoffs begin, so to speak.
The top 4 seeds don't have to play on Tuesday--US (1), Sweden (2), Russia (3), and Finland (4). The other 8 teams play on Tuesday based on seeding 5-12, 6-11, 7-10, 8-9. Canada is a 6 and should beat up Germany (11).
On Wednesday, the games are 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5 if there aren't any upsets. (otherwise, use the seeding of the team upset to bracket out these games) US will have the winner of the 8-9 game and should win barring a huge letdown. There's a bit of a drop off after the top 7 teams.
The big game on Wednesday is Canada-Russia, with the loser going home. Many suggested this could be the gold metal match up. This will be a great game to watch!
After the games on Wednesday, you have four teams remaining. They play on Friday. Losers play on Saturday for bronze, winners play for gold on Sunday afternoon.
Likely games on Saturday:
Canada or Russia vs. Sweden
USA vs. Finland
Having Sweden win last night was really huge as it keeps Canada and Russia away from the US until a metal game. Finland is tough and I don't want to overlook some of the other teams, but being the top seed is pretty huge here.
Can't remember a single day of multiple games of more exciting hockey than yesterday. Of course the1980 victory and the Turner Cup in 2008 were some of the best single day games.
Above should say likely games on Friday, not Saturday.
I think that Finland will get upset on Wednesday. US wins a silver metal on Sunday afternoon
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/bracket/ice_hockey
A link to the bracket with game times for the first two rounds.
JR. you make a good point about the first half of the NHL schedule. But get this. The league was actually looking at expanding the preseason next year. Why don't they look at cutting it back and go to a one year (Olympics) 78 or 80 game schedule with the players picking up 50% of the lost revenue. As was mentioned earlier the NHL gets mileage out of their players being in this tournament. They made concessions this year, so keep it going. Just an idea from a crazy canuck. Glad you folks can figure out that schedule. Thanks.
Anytime Count Dracula errrr Bettman talks I tend to turn the channel. Until he stops thinking hockey is better off in Tampa and Phoenix instead of Winnipeg and Quebec City, he has no credibility with me.