The Official OLYMPIC HOCKEY TOURNAMENT thread

[Harvey Specter]

Only issue now is the back to back game if Canada wins on Tuesday because it brings up the question about goaltending again. It's going to be very interesting how the coaching staff plays this. Play Lu Tuesday, get the win and switch goalies or start Lu Tuesday and ride him for the rest of the games. I would hate to be a coach for team Canada right now, lol.

[orange7]

I say, play lu and then play brodeur.

[The_AK]

I say, hope you like pancakes, Canada

[goo3]

We have to win 4 games in 6 days and face 3 tough teams.

It was fun watching Canada dominate parts of the game. Our team is good enough to win it, but we'll need elite goaltending.

[HonestTea]

Originally Posted by jonogunn8

What was downtown like after this game?

Pretty dead actually, I didn't hit up Granville or Robson but everywhere else was pretty tame, definitely not as crazy as some of the other days.

[Harvey Specter]

I was watching CTV news at 11 and Robson look so dead but mind you it was a Sunday so I guess most people left DT after the game.

[AzNightmare]

Originally Posted by 89blkcivic

So, if Luongo was in net and we lost, who would you guys start to blame? The trainers, the zamboni?

That depends. If Luongo was playing baseball, I would blame Luongo.
If he was solid, I would blame the rest of the team.

Originally Posted by T.T

lol did anyone see this

hmm... it's the quote above that worries me more... Dual citizenship to USA?
(traitor?!)

Originally Posted by TalonTurbo

It's hard to expect Babcock to pull him so early, but damn - it should've been done.

Probably would have pulled Broduer if this wasn't a preliminary game.

Originally Posted by sas

I think everyone was WTF when Brodeur started to play baseball.

It was pretty cool until I saw it leading to another goal...

Originally Posted by Jah Gekko

Only issue now is the back to back game if Canada wins on Tuesday because it brings up the question about goaltending again. It's going to be very interesting how the coaching staff plays this. Play Lu Tuesday, get the win and switch goalies or start Lu Tuesday and ride him for the rest of the games. I would hate to be a coach for team Canada right now, lol.

Obviously play Lu if he's hot. He's a workhorse in Vancouver.
He could handle 3 games in a row if he had to.




I would honestly be quite disappointed if Lu doesn't get the start next game.
He has so much more to prove, especially playing at home. I don't buy this
"Brodeur having more experience in the big game" crap. Luongo would have
played more cautiously and wouldn't have tried to do those stupid plays.
And I thought Luongo's butterfly style would have have stopped the 4th goal,
since it was a deflection that went in between the legs. That's my opinion
anyway. Brodeur had a bad game tonight, and Lu deserves a chance to play now.

[Greenstoner]

I am not a too big of fan of Brodeur, he's got good number but he is still playing for the east and he sure has a good d-man in front of him when he plays for NJ too. Brodeur was out of position and flopping around the ice like a fish against USA in 3/4 of the game. I didnt like that at all.

I say go for Lu. All goalies has on and off game, but Luongo looked pretty solid playing at home ice this year.

He also plays well after few days of rest and Im pretty positive he can carry this team.


For the forwards, I think the passes from Crosby was too hot to handle for the rest of the team. Most of the time when Crosby made a pass and was created a turn over. I think this needs to be improve on as well.

[Tapioca]

Say what you want about Crosby, but he's one of the few on the team playing with any kind of heart. Some other notables include Rick Nash and Drew Doughty (who in my mind, has been the best defenceman so far for the team.)

Chris Pronger looked long in the tooth in Turin and he looked pretty bad against the US. Hindsight is 20/20, but Jay Bouwmeester would have been a better choice because he can at least skate.

[Hondaracer]

Nash and Crosby were great last night, as well getzlaf and doughty both playing huge

Lu should get both starts if your going to give him Germany, lu thrives on game time and IMO he will be more prepared than bro going into the Russia game
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[Tim Budong]

Here is my breakdown...one of hte 35million of them across the nation

The USA were TECHNICAL, stuck with the basics and looked VERY GOOD down low winning the battles along the boards and all that good stuff. What we say from the US was a hockey team, one mind, one goal

The canadians, once again, used the skill to fire at the net. Sadly, just like the game against the Swiss, everyone looked so lost. If we look back, in 1998 and 2002, There was chemistry which made the all star line up look like an actual team and not just an all star team.I really hope that Heatley will be REMOVED from the shark line and bumped up to the Crosby line. Heatley and Nash have proved to be a HUGE threat at the world champions and with crosby in the middle, this should be a very feel good line. I HATE JOE THORNTON, he doesnt come up big and needs to learn to FUCKING SKATE, not glide. regardless, he needs to be benched, although i did see some effort last nite, just not enough.

Our Defence...Neids was OK, clearly he's there for a leadership role, but hte thing is Neids makes the pass, te nifty passes to start a play, its like..Wellwood and that down the slot pass he can make. Things that work. Pronger needs to be dirty, not reckless, but the little cheapshot while rubbin you out along the boards dirty.

Canada MUST gel on tuesday or be prepared to pack its bags. The Russians have proven, that one move amongst the lines made the difference and will continue to stick with the line of Ovie, Malkin and Semin. It works, thats a +1 for the Russians

This game was a game to really test out if this team was clearly in ANY mental state to win gold, i didnt see it from anyone but the following

Crosby
Nash
Towes
Heatley
Doughty

As for goaltending

Martin Broduer is the WINNINGEST goaltender in the entire world. He is playing for a reason. I hereby declare support for Broduer. Simple as that

Neck in Neck, Broduer and Luongo are AMAZING GOALTENDERS...but as everyone knows, Broduer can handle the puck, whereas Luu cannot. Which brings us to the marty turco style of play, Broduer if given time due to the no touch icing can come out and make a pass to jump the rush.

Regardless, last nite was dissapointing for me. He flopped like a fish, and clearly, the curse/record proves that Broduer sucks at GM place. rmb two seasons ago? 5-0 rout on Broduer at home here?

I stand and defend my support for Broduer. but to be really honest, I dont give two shits who starts tuesday. I wanna see whats infront of our goaltenders come through. Becuz we have two goalies back there that can get the job done, We have forwards up front that need to start winning

so guys?
Heatley Crosby Nash as a line for tuesday?

[MarkyMark]

Has Thornton ever done anything when an actual game that means something is on the line? He sucked in Turin, he's not a big presence now, and he didn't rise to the occasion in the playoffs last year either...he's not a big game player

And people need to forget what brodeur has done in the past and focus on what he's doing now
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[Noir]

Originally Posted by darthchilli

Canada MUST gel on tuesday or be prepared to pack its bags. The Russians have proven, that one move amongst the lines made the difference and will continue to stick with the line of Ovie, Malkin and Semin. It works, thats a +1 for the Russians

Russia has the same problem as Canada. It's not about gelling or clicking as both teams outshoot and outchance their opposing teams on all 3 games they've played so far.

The trouble is they both have an over-abundance of skill-players that have no trouble generating that initial shot; but not enough blue collars for follow up plays. Both teams have the players to generate plays and shooting lanes, just not enough players that scrum in front of the net or down low on the boards.

Canada's still the best team in the tourny if they could ever depart from the skill based identity and be more blue collar. Perhaps a healthy balance of both would've been nice.

[Hondaracer]

For everyone saying Marty has a great history guess what his Olympic record is..

In his last 16 games he's won 5

keep him in!

I'll want to fucking blow my brains out once Lu runs with it and all the haters are back on his dick

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[Tim Budong]

Originally Posted by Noir

Russia has the same problem as Canada. It's not about gelling or clicking as both teams outshoot and outchance their opposing teams on all 3 games they've played so far.

The trouble is they both have an over-abundance of skill-players that have no trouble generating that initial shot; but not enough blue collars for follow up plays. Both teams have the players to generate plays and shooting lanes, just not enough players that scrum in front of the net or down low on the boards.

Canada's still the best team in the tourny if they could ever depart from the skill based identity and be more blue collar. Perhaps a healthy balance of both would've been nice.

what i meant ther is that the russians have PROVEN a line combo worked and is now going to run the ball with it

The canadians still need to find that combo and i suggest Heatley Crosby and Nash

[skiiipi]

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[skiiipi]

So this is what the rest of the tourney will look like, some epic battle potentially coming up, Canada Vs. Russia, Canada Vs. Sweden, Canada Vs. Usa for gold....2002 finish again?

Here are the four games in the qualification round Tuesday:
Czech Republic vs. Latvia
Canada vs. Germany
Slovakia vs. Norway
Switzerland vs. Belarus

Then we move on to the quarterfinals Wednesday, which will feature:
1. Winner of Switzerland-Belarus vs. USA
2. Winner of Slovakia-Norway vs. Sweden
3. Winner of Canada-Germany vs. Russia
4. Winner of Czech Republic-Latvia vs. Finland

Then the semifinals, which are slated for Friday:
Winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 4
Winner of Game 2 vs. winner of Game 3

And, of course, the winners of those two games face off for the gold medal Sunday. The losers play for the bronze Saturday.
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[Hondaracer]

^ can you or anyone tell me who's playing at GM place Tom at 12?
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[rb]

^ no one? "QP1 - if playing in Qualification playoffs, USA to play in the 12.00 game"


http://www.iihf.com/home-of-hockey/c...mpics-men.html

[sas]

Agreed with the Heatley, Crosby and Nash. Heatley looks good and always seems to be in position. Give Crosby some room and magic will happen.

Can't believe I am cheering for Crosby.

I had puke in my mouth when Thornton had that breakaway. I didn't like that Shark lineup to begin with (except Heatley).

[raygunpk]

Nash-Getzlaf-Heatley should be reunited and tried at least once.

[DanHibiki]

I totally agreed with the choice of taking the entire San Jose line and putting them on the team (despite the fact that we all know Thornton is a choke artist but I figured it was a fair gamble). Chemistry is important and clearly they have it. It's hard to say no to the #1 line in the NHL.

But after 3 games, I think it's needed to break them up. Heatley is doing fine but Thornton is dead weight. Gotta move Heatley to a more productive line. I wouldn't mind seeing him with Crosby and Nash like sas said above.

[MDMA]

Ppl need to watch their step before hopping off this bandwagon
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[Tim Budong]

The Sharks lineup is great, dont get me wrong, but if they are not getting the job done, something needs to be done here to shake it up a bit.

Heatley and Crosby will be the breakout stars for Canada this tournament
I also believe that Crosby doenst have to score for Canada to win, but Crosby can make the nice plays, and lead us to victory

alot of weight on crosby we know, but I can say here, 3games, he doesnt give a shit about this pressure, he wants to FUCKING WIN

[raygunpk]

LUONGO TO START VS GERMANY