Sochi Olympics

kasedoug

lukin2006 said:

The shootout is the most ridiculous way to end a team sport game. I never liked the shootout, never will. With the amount of talent on the ice playing 4 on 4, highly doubt that game would have went ten minutes. Unfortunately these preliminary games don't amount to much except the pool winners avoid an extra game, Canada played the extra game in Vancouver.

While I don't necessarily like the shootout either, I think they have to use it in certain scenarios like regular season NHL games or these round robin tournament formats when you have a schedule of successive games stacked up. The tie is a foreign concept to most of the sports world except soccer and formerly hockey. You want a winner decided and as much as I love the drama of a multiple OT battle, these preliminary games need to end relatively on schedule. Back in the day, it was always a bit awkward coming home from the Forum after a tie. Didn't win, but didn't lose.
The thing I didn't necessarily like about the Olympic shootout was that you could repeat the same guys (but it worked out for the US in a big way). I think you should at least have to go through your entire lineup. Also, I didn't get why the order flipped once it got to sudden death.
Looking forward to the rest of the tournament.

Wobbie

skiing > snowboarding

cutz

lukin2006 said:

kasedoug said:

Still on high from this morning's game. Woke up at 4:30am here in CA to watch it live. As an LA Kings homer, I have to say Quick got extremely lucky with that disallowed goal because that net wasn't off by much. While I don't like the rule of being able to repeat guys, Oshie was huge in the shootout. He and Quick answered the bell when needed most.

The shootout is the most ridiculous way to end a team sport game. I never liked the shootout, never will. With the amount of talent on the ice playing 4 on 4, highly doubt that game would have went ten minutes. Unfortunately these preliminary games don't amount to much except the pool winners avoid an extra game, Canada played the extra game in Vancouver.

I don't like the shootout either, but i don't think they have much of a choice in the prelims.

I do think it should just be OT in the knock-out rounds.

BLACK35

Can finally watch a Live hockey game today.....although didn't miss much in Canada's first 2 games. Fins will be going down, hope that beast Getzlaf has a great game..he is looking real good out there. Maybe cause he is on the west coast and I don't get to see him tons, but what a hockey player.

Yeah great job by Oshie yesterday...has some great moves. Reminded me of Toews at the World Junior Tourney awhile ago when he spanked the USA in the same fashion

Empty Glass

Looked like we fell asleep in the 2nd for a few minutes, but on to Wednesday. Quick should be well rested. Let's keep the train rolling.

jms

lukin2006 said:

jms said:

lukin2006 said:

kasedoug said:

Still on high from this morning's game. Woke up at 4:30am here in CA to watch it live. As an LA Kings homer, I have to say Quick got extremely lucky with that disallowed goal because that net wasn't off by much. While I don't like the rule of being able to repeat guys, Oshie was huge in the shootout. He and Quick answered the bell when needed most.

The shootout is the most ridiculous way to end a team sport game. I never liked the shootout, never will. With the amount of talent on the ice playing 4 on 4, highly doubt that game would have went ten minutes. Unfortunately these preliminary games don't amount to much except the pool winners avoid an extra game, Canada played the extra game in Vancouver.

I agree. Looks like if Canada wins in regulation tomorrow will have
1 Canada
2 Sweden
3 USA
4 Russia
5 Finland
6 Switzerland

To me that's a tough draw for Canada and a relatively easy draw for USA. The Swiss will be a tough out but US should win 2-0 if they lean hard on Suter and ride him about 30 minutes. Just can't get frustrated. And Sweden is pretty beat up but they still have second best blue line in tournament.

That's based on USA and Russia winning in regulation which they should be able to do..

I really don't get what your saying about "tough draw ... if Canada wins in regulation they advance to the QF, Sweden won their pool and if the US win they win their pool. So I assume you think these will be the the quarterfinal teams? so you'd rather play Russia again? and you think Switzerland is better than Russia? I mean I really don't get your point. I think Switzerland is a good defensive team, not so good offensively. and I know they beat us 8 years ago, but that was 8 years ago. I know you beat Russia today, in a shoot out ... but Russia is a very good team who can score.
But I am of the belief anybody can win on any given day but I think in a QF game I'll take my chances with Switzerland. But first we must beat Finland and Finland is good.

Canada will have Russia and Finland in their half of the bracket while USA should have the Swiss and a depleted Sweden in their half. Canada will have an easier QF but a much more difficult SF. USA should beat the swiss then they get Sweden who is 3 F short right now. I would rather not have to play Canada, Finland or Russia. And USA won't have to play any of those until next t Sunday if they get that far.

jms

Still one more game to go and it could change again for US if it goes to OT but I think the Swiss is as bad as it can get for US in QF. They are good but honestly if they go with Suter's pairing for about 30 min and play smart they should win 2-0 or so.

I'm hoping S Weber puts one through the net today and Canada wins 3-1 vs the Fins.

lukin2006

I don't think there is no brackets ... My understanding is teams are seeded based on points and the tie breaker is goal differential.

jms

lukin2006 said:

I don't think there is no brackets ... My understanding is teams are seeded based on points and the tie breaker is goal differential.

They are seeded on points and goal differential then teams 1-4 get byes in the bracket. Theyast several Olympics they did not reseed after each round.

lukin2006

I'm not going to worry about who we play in the medal round. After 2 games and part of a third I think we're playing really good hockey.

jms

lukin2006 said:

I'm not going to worry about who we play in the medal round. After 2 games and part of a third I think we're playing really good hockey.

Canada has been better than Finland but even on the scoreboard now. I just hope Canada doesnt win if it goes ot. I would rather see US vs Canada stay away as long as possible because I like watching both teams.

Annafalk

Where was I.. Sweden - Latvia 5-3 \:D/
Finland vs Canada hmmm I'm sheering for Canada go go go

lukin2006

This is the kind of game I expected. Finland a good team. A little to defensive for my liking. I'm sure Babcock not happy, too few Canadian shots.

Jason P

lukin2006 said:

Jason P said:

USA! USA! USA!

Suck it, Ivan!

That's what we do ... We show up at the host country's party and pee in the pool.

America, fuck yeah!

so what happened in Vancouver ...

We were just being nice because we like the city of Vancouver and didn't want to see it burnt to the ground. :-B

Jason P

lukin2006 said:

This is the kind of game I expected. Finland a good team. A little to defensive for my liking. I'm sure Babcock not happy, too few Canadian shots.

Babcock doesn't know what the word "happy" means. I'd pay to watch a PPV Connect-4 match between him and Jim Harbaugh ....

lukin2006

That was just about the most boring 60 minutes of hockey of seen in a while.

lukin2006

I can't believe St Louis has been sat for Kunitz.

jms

lukin2006 said:

That was just about the most boring 60 minutes of hockey of seen in a while.

Finland was playing for ot for a while. Reminded me of watching a Nashville game.

Jason P

Free pancakes for everyone

jms

If Canada's forwards ever start scoring like Doughty they will be almost impossible to beat. Now we get to the games that really count.