Winter Olympics 2010 Thread

[dave]

Canada is far and away the most talented team in the Olympics, and still considered the favorite by most. The loss to US the best thing to happen to them.

I love the US team but I'm not going to kid myself, they can easily lose the next one. A 1-0 or 2-1 loss is plausible. That said, a loss would be extremely disappointing.

Fins go up 1-0 as I type this. I hate the helmet rules in the olympics.

Helmet rules???
What?

[Ravin]

The Russians have excellent top end talent and very good goalies, but the team lacked depth and didn't have enough talent on defence and got exposed by team Canada this evening. Canada still has a tough road ahead but at least we are still alive.

I agree with the depth thing. The KHL is not the NHL. Sure having Ovey/Semin/Dats/Kovy/Malkin is great, and having Nabby and Ilya and some quality defence is good, but when you start going down the line, the KHL guys just don't have the physical play. Sure "on paper" they have a good team, but compared to many teams, they are just a top 6, and not a gold medal team to me.

If Canada plays like this Friday and Sunday, it won't be close. They dominated the US. The completed ran through Russia.

[Ravin]

Helmet rules???
What?

If your helmet goes off, you have to grab it or get off the ice. Same thing in Junor hockey. If not, you can get penalty.

[dave]

If Canada plays like this Friday and Sunday, it won't be close. They dominated the US. The completed ran through Russia.

I wish I shared your confidence.

Everyone wrote them off as useless after their tough win vs. the Swiss and loss to the Americans.

Now everyone thinks they're invincible because of a big win over the Russians.

I don't think it's that black and white.

[Ravin]

Of course they have to play as they did tonight. I know better then to say it is black and white clear cut win. It just takes a few bad bounces or baseball swings to send things the wrong way. I just think that loss, as omar said, was he best thing for Canada because they stepped up the pace. They are doing what they do best, getting to the puck first, and if they don't get to the puck first they are going to hit you hard. Plus with the defence seemingly stepping up in level as well, it just makes things much easier.

Plus is also helps with Lou in net.

[dave]

Assuming the Swedes advance (and it's not a given), they'll be tough.
Very experienced, great top 6, solid goalie.

Watching the Swedes-Slovaks right now. The Slovaks have a good team too.

[Ravin]

So far every game has been close except for Canada/Russia, the one game people expected to be close. The goalies on every team have just stepped it up.

[Ravin]

Fucking CTV cuts to an interview of the bobslede team and I miss two goals by the Slovaks.

[dave]

Fucking CTV cuts to an interview of the bobslede team and I miss two goals by the Slovaks.

I have Bell Expressvu. No announcers or commercials. The only way to watch the Olympics.
They have five commercial/announcer-free Olympic channels.

[nesper]

i dont know whats a bigger surprise the russia canada score or the sweeds losing. didnt get to see the game but man i didnt think that team would have trouble with anyone save canada and even then i thought they could beat canada. U.S needs to continue to ride miller. will be extremely difficult to beat the canadians if we get past the fins but i still think it is possible.

[killgod]

I seriously never got why people put Russia so high up on the ranks. I always thought they were a much overrated team. A top 6 team, but not 1 or 2.

Real easy to say that after they got knocked out.

Lindsey Vonn is utter crap.

lol wut?

[killgod]

slovakia won last night?

neato

[leaffan]

I have Bell Expressvu. No announcers or commercials. The only way to watch the Olympics.
They have five commercial/announcer-free Olympic channels.

lol sorry to hear that. I simply refuse to deal with Bell in any capacity any more.

[Sharkweather]

Damn Sweden.

Shocking.

[Senser81]

But, in my opinion, Sweden and the Russians are on paper as good as Canada.

I've forgotten more about hockey than you'll ever know. Hell, I watched the 1972 Summit Series (go ahead, Wikipedia it).

While Forsberg, Lidstrom and Alfredsson are no longer in their prime, all three remain elite players ... and incredibly dangerous in a short tourney like this.

The Swedes also have the Sedin sisters, who are tearing up the NHL right now.

Dave, I guess I really underestimated your memory.