OT: CAN, USA, SVK and FIN continue in Olympics ice hockey

[Jakem]

What a surprise by Slovakia when they beat Sweden! Slovakia got some help from Henrik who had a very bad day but still the one who makes most goals wins.

Canada crushed Russia and gave some payback for the losses against Russia in the recent tournaments.

How did USA play? I missed the match.

Finland vs. Cze was a thriller where both goalies played very well.

So now CAN-SVK and FIN-USA. Predictions?

 

[PeteLaramee]

I'd like to see USA vs Canada, but I think Finland vs Slovakia would be pretty exciting too. Ultimately I'd like to see Canada do well on their home ice.

How were the Crosby vs Ovechkin battles? Crosby's not as old as Jagr so I'm assuming he didn't get laid-out like Jagr did.

 

[Jakem]

I'd like to see USA vs Canada, but I think Finland vs Slovakia would be pretty exciting too. Ultimately I'd like to see Canada do well on their home ice.

How were the Crosby vs Ovechkin battles? Crosby's not as old as Jagr so I'm assuming he didn't get laid-out like Jagr did.

Jagr had his head down and Alex the Great punished him personally and Russia punished Czechs from the offensive that followed.

Jagr has some bad memories of being tackled in Olympics. Here's a dirty tackle by Ruutu.

 

[JTyson]

I'd like to see Canada win on their home ground too I think they got a bum rap for some stuff going wrong early on they had no control over. Things are running smoothly now from what I understand

 

[stefvorcide]

GO SLOVAKIA !!

I hope Jaroslav Halak (goaltender) can bring a golden medal in the Montreal Canadian room...

 

[Meathead]

I'd like to see Canada win on their home ground too I think they got a bum rap for some stuff going wrong early on they had no control over. Things are running smoothly now from what I understand

We were out-playing/out-chancing teams but their goalie was much better than ours. Hopefully Luongo can do the job.
Canada sure handled Russia a lot easier than I thought they would. Russia looked injured and tired.

Go Canada go!

 

[Jakem]

USA will crush ALL!!!

Dave, from now on we are enemies, you and I.

Yeh, you'll crush in the bronze game after Finland has taught you a lesson.

 

[Jakem]

USA will crush ALL!!!

Dave, from now on we are enemies, you and I.

Yeh, you'll crush in the bronze game after Finland has taught you a lesson.

Seriously speaking, USA has a very hungry team and great goalies. Finland has great goalies too but we can't score enough goals against good countries. We just don't have enough of NHL's top scorers like Canada, USA, Russia etc.

 

[Mudder]

USA v. Swiss: The swiss goalie, Hiller, was on his head with 42 saves. The game was a lot like USA v Can in reverse, except the USA came out on top. 2 goals were called off against the USA, so it could have been worse.

I was telling people before the games started to watch out for Finland. Those guys are just work work work work work....

 

[Jakem]

I was telling people before the games started to watch out for Finland. Those guys are just work work work work work....

The goalie work will make or break the game against USA. Finland's only chance to succeed is to work as a team without egos etc. We just don't have enough of amazing material for that kind of playing. We must succeed perfectly as a team to win Canada, Russia, Czech Republic, Sweden or USA.

It's the commie attitude that goes into Finnish youth training; all must get playing time and by this the amazing individuals get, many times, the same training as the masses because nobody can't get more in the spirit of communism. Watch out for this young Finn called Mikael Granlund in the future. (not in Olympics)

On the other hand we've managed to produce many amazing goalies during the recent years. I remember back in the 90s when Finland didn't have any amazing goalies at all. They've done fantastic job in developing the goalie training system. But hey, the commie attitude don't affect goalie training because they're trained as individuals.

 

[JTyson]

I'd like to see USA vs Canada, but I think Finland vs Slovakia would be pretty exciting too. Ultimately I'd like to see Canada do well on their home ice.

How were the Crosby vs Ovechkin battles? Crosby's not as old as Jagr so I'm assuming he didn't get laid-out like Jagr did.

Jagr had his head down and Alex the Great punished him personally and Russia punished Czechs from the offensive that followed.

Jagr has some bad memories of being tackled in Olympics. Here's a dirty tackle by Ruutu.

Jeesh, that was brutal

 

[Meathead]

Seriously speaking, USA has a very hungry team and great goalies. Finland has great goalies too but we can't score enough goals against good countries. We just don't have enough of NHL's top scorers like Canada, USA, Russia etc.

I've always liked Finland's team...sort of have to as well, my girlfriend is Finish.
2 of Canada's forward lines are all NHL captains...no problem with fire power.
The goalie just needs to keep the puck out of the net.

Goaltending is gonna win the gold.

 

[mrp5150]

Obviously everyone wants to see USA against Canada in the finals. I'm torn on who I want to win though. Being a Pens fan and a huge Ovechkin hater I'd love to see Crosby have a big game and win the gold to go with his Stanley Cup, but I'd also like to see the US pull the upset again. Either way, Crosby > Ovechkin.

 

[Jakem]

Crosby < Ovechkin.

I fixed it for you, Mark. No need to thank.

It'll be a tight game between Finland and USA, I think-

 

[mrp5150]

Crosby leads in points head to head and the Pens have won 11 out of 17 games against the Caps. Crosby and the Pens also won their only playoff matchup. And most importantly, Crosby has 2 Stanley Cup Finals appearances with 1 cup while Ovechkin has yet to even make it there. Crosby will also probably add an Olympic Gold Medal and beat Ovechkin while doing it. Youngest NHL captain in NHL history and also improves the play of everyone around him, rather than just taking 12 shots a game and taking cheap shots on people like overrated Ovy. Sorry, Crosby wins easily.

And more Crosby domination...

Here are Alexander Ovechkin's final stats from the Oympic tournament.

Games = 4

Goals = 2

Assists = 2

Points = 4

+/- = +1

In the game against Canada Ovechkin finished with a -2 and had 3 shots on net.

Meanwhile Crosby and the Canadians will move on and play against the winner of the game between Slovakia and Sweden.

Crosby's Olympic stats after February 24, 2010

Games = 5

Goals = 3

Assists = 3

Points = 6

+/- = +1

 

[Meathead]

Crosby leads in points head to head and the Pens have won 11 out of 17 games against the Caps. Crosby and the Pens also won their only playoff matchup. And most importantly, Crosby has 2 Stanley Cup Finals appearances with 1 cup while Ovechkin has yet to even make it there. Crosby will also probably add an Olympic Gold Medal and beat Ovechkin while doing it. Youngest NHL captain in NHL history and also improves the play of everyone around him, rather than just taking 12 shots a game and taking cheap shots on people like overrated Ovy. Sorry, Crosby wins easily.

And more Crosby domination...

Here are Alexander Ovechkin's final stats from the Oympic tournament.

Games = 4

Goals = 2

Assists = 2

Points = 4

+/- = +1

In the game against Canada Ovechkin finished with a -2 and had 3 shots on net.

Meanwhile Crosby and the Canadians will move on and play against the winner of the game between Slovakia and Sweden.

Crosby's Olympic stats after February 24, 2010

Games = 5

Goals = 3

Assists = 3

Points = 6

+/- = +1

So you only like Team Canada because Crosby is on it? You fanboy!

If it were reversed and Ovechkin was on team Canada and Crosby was on team Russia, I'm sure Ovechkin would be moving on. Crosby's on the better team.

Crosby is great no doubt, I like him and rooted for the Pens last year in the finals. But Crosby didn't 'win it' for Canada by any means in the Olympics so far....up here we've actually been saying that he should be playing better.

 

[killertone]

USA is playing great. Rafalski is on fire and Miller is a brick fucking wall. We are hungry as hell, too...there is blood in the water and we can smell it. That win over Canada was a major boost. If we can keep up this energy we will do very well.

 

[Meathead]

USA is playing great. Rafalski is on fire and Miller is a brick fucking wall. We are hungry as hell, too...there is blood in the water and we can smell it. That win over Canada was a major boost. If we can keep up this energy we will do very well.

Miller is a problem...but he will be beat.

 

[D-Rock]

Canada has a "take no prisoners" attitude now. They are really seeing the ice and the grinders and checking line are ravenous. Our defense is focused and extremely fast, big and talented. I'm looking forward to a US Canada Gold medal matchup. The Americans won't have a sloppy, risk taking, wet noodle flopping Brodeur to score on this time.

 

[srommes]

I see it like this:

Canada beats the Slovaks
USA beats Finland

Canada beats USA

I'd love to see the USA win the gold but Canada just has too much talent and everything seemed to come together for them against Russia. I don't see them not showing up for a rematch against the USA. That said, I'd be more than happy with a silver considering the USA wasn't even expected to medal.