Who will win Olympic Gold in Hockey?

Gold: Russia
Silver: Canada
Bronze: USA

Canada: Gold
Sweden: Silver
Russia: Bronze

Canada: Gold
Sweden: Silver
Russia: Bronze

Look at Russia's forwards ...

First Line
C Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins
LW Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
RW Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers

Second Line
C Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
LW Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals
RW Alexander Radulov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa

Third Line
C Sergei Fedorov, Washington Capitals
LW Alexei Kovalev, Montreal Canadiens
RW Aleksay Morosov, Ak Bars Kazan


R U REAKING SERIOUS. Malkin is one of my favorite players and is a serious mismatch for anyone at the forward position. Plus, the best player in hockey, Ovechkin on the same line? Their 3rd line is better than USA's first line.

If Russia's D stands up and they can goal tend .... LOOK OUT!

You mean RW Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils

And I 100% agree. The Russians are loaded with talent but, It will come down to the men between the pipes.

Gold: Russia
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Jamaica

If the Russian defense is even marginal, I don't see how they can lose.

The thought of a power play line with Ovechkin, Malkin, and Pavel Datsyuk up front and with Andrei Markov and Sergei Gonchar out at the blue line is simply frightening.

Miracle on ice 2010!

USA...USA....USA!!!!



I can always dream can't I!

My dream might just come true....at least on the ladies side! I know they'll have to get through Canada, but the USA Ladies sure look strong!

The Men looked pretty good yesterday as well. Just need to gel a little! Although Canada looks like they mean business. Didn't get to see any of the Russian game.

USA wins again....can't wait for the showdown Sunday evening!

Gold - Finland
Silver - Canada
Bronze - Russia

Canada all the way, eh? :)

Canada all the way, eh? :)

Not last night!!!!

WHOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! GO USA!!!!

We KILLED them for about 56 minutes! They kind of took it to us for the last 4 or so, but Miller held them off to pull off the upset!

What effort on that empty netter to!!!


GO USA!!!!

Setting up for a USA v Russia or USA v Canada Gold Medal Match.

MAN!.. that was an awesome game!! Miller was on his game like he usually is. Taking shots all day from Canada. I was getting a little nervous at the 3 minute mark at the end of the 3rd. As the commentator said.."It looks like a shooting gallery by the Canadians!" I'm glad U.S. played well and take what they learned from this game and win the next 3.

Setting up for a USA v Russia or USA v Canada Gold Medal Match.

I wouldn't say that...

We should get by the Switzerland / Belarus winner to get to the metal round but from there, it's gonna be a super tough game with either Finland or the Checks.

And let's not forget the quietest team in this tournament and defending champs Sweden is still around and in the 2 seed.

I think the Russia Canada winner in the quarters will meet the Fins in the gold medal game and Sweden will match up with the US in the bronze medal game.

And for those who aren't big into hockey, that Canada Russia game is going to be un freaking mazing.

We KILLED them for about 56 minutes!

If killing someone is getting outshot and outchanced 2 to 1, then yeah we killed them.

We played the game we HAD to play to beat Canada. We got lucky bounces, we stayed out of the penality box, Miller was the best player on the ice, we got back defensively to limit the odd man rushes and never were behind.

Overall, Canada dominated the game. If it were a 7 game series, Canada wins in 6.

Overall, Canada dominated the game. If it were a 7 game series, Canada wins in 6.

Right, and if I could play golf like Ken Climo I'd be a world champion.

There was only one thing dominant in that game and it was Miller. Canada is playing with too many players and without any urgancy. USA is playing controlled and fast, they are trying hard, and they just might be inexpereinced enough to think they can win the gold.

USA goes as Miller. If USA has to play Russia they stand no chance ... but we can beat Canada again ... not saying they will, just sayin they can.

Best comment I heard before the game between USA and Canada...
USA wants to win, Canada has to win.

Looks like USA had more urgency in their play.

As all Olympic hockey was, is, and will always be...the team with the best goaltending will win Gold!

Goaltending is the flaw in the game of hockey (and soccer). Teams should be forced to use two or three goalies in every game in the same way they rotate among three or four lines. That way, it would be more about a team rather than an individual in this key position.

Goaltending is the flaw in the game of hockey (and soccer). Teams should be forced to use two or three goalies in every game in the same way they rotate among three or four lines. That way, it would be more about a team rather than an individual in this key position.

just like JV?

i can't imagine a more artificial and unnecessary rule change. i guess pitchers in baseball should be limited to 3 innings each as well? whats next? football players should be forced to wear their jock straps on the outside of their pants? same irrelavance.

they have to rotate among 3-4 lines because of stamina and strategy, not because of a rule. stamina doesn't apply the same to the GK. as the captain/director of the defense, the GK is already integrated into the team as much or more than any other position.

If USA has to play Russia they stand no chance ...

Do you believe in miracles? :)

We played the game we HAD to play to beat Canada. We got lucky bounces, we stayed out of the penality box, Miller was the best player on the ice, we got back defensively to limit the odd man rushes and never were behind.


Sounds to me like we took it to them pretty good to me. Played like we needed to, to win, Got better bounces, played better D, stayed out of the box, scored more goals, and got the best goalie in hockey benched! Guess we just watch hockey differently......


And I'd say Rafalski was one of the better players on the ice.


GO USA!!!

Goaltending is the flaw in the game of hockey (and soccer). Teams should be forced to use two or three goalies in every game in the same way they rotate among three or four lines. That way, it would be more about a team rather than an individual in this key position.
How can someone from Minnesota say something so iggnorant about hockey. Oh and never .... AND I MEAN EVER ... compare hockey to soccer.

And I'd say Rafalski was one of the better players on the ice.

He was ... although he did have a mental gaff that allowed one of the goals he played his backside off and played well offensively.

I think Chuck was just officially voted out of the state of Minnesota with that comment.....

Teams should be forced to use two or three goalies in every game in the same way they rotate among three or four lines.


And...

Teams aren't forced to using three and four lines. They choose to. If they wanted a player or line to play all 60 min, save from time in the penality box, they have that option.

Stick to ratings, Chuck. :)

Just saying, if a game is truly a "team" game, then efforts should be made to make it so if possible. How many pitchers make it thru a whole game any more? It's a team of pitchers with specialties that has made baseball more tolerable than it used to be when pitchers pretty much played the whole game. Basketball games in the pros are long enough and the season long enough that you don't keep your starters in there all game. Unfortunately, football hasn't gotten to the point where they rotate quarterbacks. However, it's gotten brutal enough that at least you have to have a decent backup QB to make it thru the season. And the wildcat offense has diversified the position for some teams.

I don't care about soccer that much that even if they rotated goalies, the game would still be boring. But hockey is one of the better team games to watch but it's too bad the goalie can singlehandedly make or break the game more than any other player. Tell me the U.S. would still have won if teams couldn't have one goalie play more than say 35 minutes total in any game.

Goaltending is the flaw in the game of hockey (and soccer). Teams should be forced to use two or three goalies in every game in the same way they rotate among three or four lines. That way, it would be more about a team rather than an individual in this key position.

And in baseball should a team have to use a committee of pitchers? It is a team sport but an individual effort can keep a team in a game and can win a game. In the NHL the teams play a series so the goalie has to perform over a series of games rather than one game and a team can overcome a goaltender who has one brilliant game or one horrible one. Teams do not have to rotate lines. They do so because the players will burn out if they do not rotate. if you watch a marginal NHL team that has one big star he will play disproportionate minutes. Deep teams such as Russia and Canada can send waves of quality players who are always fresh. Good but not great teams like the USA can throw a handful of good lines but have to keep their eye on the matchups. Teams with a couple of big stars such as the Czech Republic, Finland or Slovakia hope that their stars will shine while the other lines avoid disaster. Because its one and done any team and any goaltender can get hot.

The USA withstood a deluge of Canadian shots and won the goaltending battle Sunday night. It was great to watch. If they play again my heart will be with the USA but my head will be with Canada. Fortunately, I root and do not bet.

agreed. outstanding GK play is more fun to watch than an offensive freeforall.

And...

Teams aren't forced to using three and four lines. They choose to. If they wanted a player or line to play all 60 min, save from time in the penality box, they have that option.

Stick to ratings, Chuck. :)

Look at Pronger .... when he played in STL he would play like 50% of the time since at that time he was the best player in Hockey and they had no other options.

Rules adjustments in sports to make them better are usually to balance offense and defense that may have gotten out of balance such as moving back the goalposts at one time or the kickoff due to better kickers, or protecting the QB with defensive penalty rules. Or in basketball allowing 3-pointers or adding the time clock limit to prevent freezing the ball. Everything done to balance the game in one direction or the other.

Not just in hockey but in several other sports, I believe you would see improvements in fairness and balance if efforts were made to require more players to play pivotal positions in the game. Imagine if the hockey coach had to decide when to send in another goalie based on the clock in the same way they strategize to change lines. Some goalies might become your penalty killer specialists.

Rules adjustments in sports to make them better are usually to balance offense and defense that may have gotten out of balance such as moving back the goalposts at one time or the kickoff due to better kickers, or protecting the QB with defensive penalty rules. Or in basketball allowing 3-pointers or adding the time clock limit to prevent freezing the ball. Everything done to balance the game in one direction or the other.

Not just in hockey but in several other sports, I believe you would see improvements in fairness and balance if efforts were made to require more players to play pivotal positions in the game. Imagine if the hockey coach had to decide when to send in another goalie based on the clock in the same way they strategize to change lines. Some goalies might become your penalty killer specialists.

Rationalize all you want. That will not change how absurd your idea is. In hockey they changed the balance between offense and defense by calling more strictly the holding and stick work infractions on players without he puck, i.e. the increase in interference and holding calls. The last thing any sport wants to do is to take their best players off the field (or in this case ice) for any reason. Your idea would only benefit the powerhouse teams (in the NHL or International Play) with the most best players. It would relegate the miracle on ice impossible. It would futher deepen competative imbalance.

Also penalty killing is less about the goalie and more about the players in front of the goalie. Your comments only show how little you actually know about the great sport of hockey.

Chuck has spoken. This thread is now over.

That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. The NHL isn't Little League Baseball were all players are required to play. I'm assuming you must have rode the pine as a kid? That's why you thought of this, am I right?

No it isn't.

You think Hockey is flawed because a single player...Goalie.. can have too big an impact. You want him limited to 35 minutes?

What about when a single player, say Ovechkin or Crosby gets a hat trick in a 3 - 0 game?

Should he be sent to the bench after his 2nd goal to make it more fair. After all, we don't want a single player to dominate this team sport.

If the Russian defense is even marginal, I don't see how they can lose.



I'd say tonight's Russian defense wasn't even marginal. :p

I think everyone expected more out of the Russians. It hurt to even watch that game. The channel was turned to something else when the Canadians scored 6. If we have to play them again..... it's going to be interesting.

What a close game that was last night(at least that's when I watched it) with the US vs. Swiss. The US team looked bad most of the game, kind of like they thought they could breeze through since they had already beaten them once.

Who will win Olympic Gold in Hockey?

Gold: Russia
Silver: Canada
Bronze: USA

Wrong answer, Crosby beats Olvechkin again! Had to say it after our discussion in the NHL thread ;) Although I will admit, I didn't think Canada would get through them that easy.

So far the only people that could be right with their picks are the ones that only picked the gold winners. Gotcha, Pterodactyl, and my dream pick of USA.

USA...USA...USA...USA!!!

Was that Canada or the incredible hulk playing last night? Don't make them angry, you won't lkike them when they're angry. :eek:

I think Matthew Barnaby, who I heard this AM talking about the game said it best. That was the single greatest played international hockey game ever. Canada came out with a chip on their shoulder, they punished the Russians and the only one who hit back was Ovechkin ... even Malkin, who I love, looked pathetic. If the USA is lucky enough to get to the gold medal match they'd better hope Canada doesn't play like that against them.

I think Matthew Barnaby, who I heard this AM talking about the game said it best. That was the single greatest played international hockey game ever.


I respectfully disagree....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySnRtd_9Uc4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySnRtd_9Uc4)

:)

I'm with you Gotcha

Miracle-Herb Brooks" Pre-Game Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CdJTfGiRCI
Herb Brooks' pre-game pep talk before the famous 1980 "Miracle" game against the Soviet Union. as performed by "Rizzo" (4 yrs old)

Well the women looked like they hit a wall last night...that wall, the Canadian goalie! :O Just couldn't seem to get anything going, hope the men don't hit that wall!

Although I agree the miracle is the best win ever, I think Canada played better against Russia ... They all seemingly played at their peak level and they are all, All-Star NHLers. It was a thing of beauty. Now if we do get to the gold medal game and beat Canada a second time ... WOW. We may need to get shaq to come up there and rap

Hey Canada, tell me how my ***** taste!

I live this young USA team! I shall be sporting my USA hockey sweater today!

http://image01.demandmade.com/IMGSRV/s/product_media/34004.jpg

They *****'d out the word B L E E P ... for real?

I shall be sporting my USA hockey sweater today!

http://image01.demandmade.com/IMGSRV/s/product_media/34004.jpg

Your use of the word "sweater" proves you know a thing or two about this sport..... ;) :D

Well the game lived up to the hype, tremendously played on both sides. Only fitting that the Kig gets the game winner. Good showing boys, we'll get 'em next time!

Fun game to watch! Lot's of heart shown by the US team to battle back from 2-0! Just needed a little more shooting early on and we'd of might of got them with their shakie goalie play.

If the pros are still playing in 2014 this was a huge experience builder for the youngest team in the tourney.

GO USA!!!