What did Ovechkin and Malkin do?

I was typing something when the Ovechkin incident happend, but what I figured from all these posts is that he showed his name to the crowd in a cocky way. As for Malkin, after hammering someone in the boards, he scored an empty netter, then went twards the russian bench and after some american player badmouthed him he pulled his glove to fake a bench celebration...


WOW, what's the big deal???

After scoring the empty netter, Malkin proceeded to urinate on the US bench.

Here is what I saw:

Ovechkin scored the empty netter, then after his celebration, he tugged at the logo of his jersey while facing the American bench. After that, he turned around, was talking bad to someone in the crowd, then did an about-face and pointed to his name on the back of his jersey.

Malkin rushed by the American bench and held out his hands facing them. He undoubtedly said something to them.


Granted, I didn't see what the Americans did to them earlier in the game, if anything. I'm sure there was some poor sportsmanship throughout the game, but those two incidents which occurred when the Russians had a clear victory were very disappointing in my opinion.

Here is what I saw:

Ovechkin scored the empty netter, then after his celebration, he tugged at the logo of his jersey while facing the American bench. After that, he turned around, was talking bad to someone in the crowd, then did an about-face and pointed to his name on the back of his jersey.

Malkin rushed by the American bench and held out his hands facing them. He undoubtedly said something to them.


Granted, I didn't see what the Americans did to them earlier in the game, if anything. I'm sure there was some poor sportsmanship throughout the game, but those two incidents which occurred when the Russians had a clear victory were very disappointing in my opinion.

All you need to know about a player translates into how they play the game. They were both unselfish, and highly involved all night. Malkin's composure, vision and playmaking presence was something to behold. No doubt he'll be elite. Ovechkin was Ovechkin.

After scoring the empty netter, Malkin proceeded to urinate on the US bench.

Probably dioxin...

Does any of this surprise you???

After the Kovalchuk empty net celebration before he even put the puck in the net against Canada in the 2001 tournament where he roofed it when no one was even in the same zone as him...

After that happened I no longer had respect for Russian Junior "Superstars".... I dunno why they continue to do this...

I think Russian hockey is awesome.. but is this necessary.. today's mess was bad... but maybe a little brough on by the Americans... maybe not..

does anyone remember that ****************** as****** Svitov Spitting on Brian Sutherby in the 2002 tournament..... It took everything in that young mans body not to dummy Svitov right in the middle of the ice..

It just always seems to turn back to Russians doing ridiculous things.. maybe out of passion... but there's a line and sometimes they cross it.. and as of Tuesday nite around 11:30 they'll be silver medalists....

i think it reflects pretty badly on someone when they feel the need to showboat and taunt after scoring an empty net goal...i mean seriously, an empty net goal, give me a break. that's kind of like celebrating for being able to skate without falling over.

i think it reflects pretty badly on someone when they feel the need to showboat and taunt after scoring an empty net goal...i mean seriously, an empty net goal, give me a break. that's kind of like celebrating for being able to skate without falling over.

If the opponent can't, then it's something worth celebrating.

After the cheapshots that they took all night. Good for them. The first game of the tourny showed that if the US had played their game that they could beat Russia. Instead they cared more about getting the Russians off of their game and just handed over to many PP.

i think the russians probably gave about as many cheapshots as the americans did...and they were flopping all over the place like they thought they were soccer players or something

If the opponent can't, then it's something worth celebrating.

that makes no sense


i don't care to turn this into any kind of fight concerning nationality or anything...IMO it was just a completely ugly hockey game...completely horrible. the US played like crap (could the forwards do something mildly creative? for once? how about FORECHECKING A LITTLE BIT??!!!) and the russians were diving and showboating all over...just rediculus. i make no excuses for the US in losing...the russians beat them cuz they played better, and the russian forwards played quite well...and in general i have nothing against celebrating a goal or even some slight taunting...but again, celebrating empty net goals by taunting the other team when you've already got the game locked up...it's idiocy

that makes no sense


Yes it does. If you're in a skating competition and your opponent can't even stay on his skates and you can, that means you are better and that's usually when you celebrate.


If you mean it didn't make sense because the US didn't have a chance to show what magic they can do to the empty net, all I can say is:

They should've created that chance, like the Russians did, and then score two goals in the empty net, like the Russians did.

If the opponent can't, then it's something worth celebrating.


Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process.

After scoring the empty netter, Malkin proceeded to urinate on the US bench.

:lol:

The way some people have talked about it, you would've thought that's what he had done.

Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process.


What a fine way to judge people. :bow:

What a fine way to judge people. :bow:

It is. Obviously you think taunting is OK, part of the sport, whatever. Good sportsmanship buddy.

Does any of this surprise you???

After the Kovalchuk empty net celebration before he even put the puck in the net against Canada in the 2001 tournament where he roofed it when no one was even in the same zone as him...

After that happened I no longer had respect for Russian Junior "Superstars".... I dunno why they continue to do this...

I think Russian hockey is awesome.. but is this necessary.. today's mess was bad... but maybe a little brough on by the Americans... maybe not..

does anyone remember that ****************** as****** Svitov Spitting on Brian Sutherby in the 2002 tournament..... It took everything in that young mans body not to dummy Svitov right in the middle of the ice..

It just always seems to turn back to Russians doing ridiculous things.. maybe out of passion... but there's a line and sometimes they cross it.. and as of Tuesday nite around 11:30 they'll be silver medalists....

It's not to nice see canadians start to "hunt down" opponents when they are losing either.. I've seen to numerous times in international tournaments, like at last years World Champioship final when Rob Niedermayer checked Peter Forsberg head first into the boards from behind.The hit was vicious and Forsberg was lucky not to be injured severely.I'm no fan of showboating, but trying to intentionally injure opponents is just plain wrong. And very often the offenders just happen to be Canadian..

It is. Obviously you think taunting is OK, part of the sport, whatever. Good sportsmanship buddy.

Wow. How obvious, I've only said that in 3 or 4 threads today.

I guess it's just me, but I consider taunting a lesser evil than slashing, hooking, cross checking, high sticking and all those other things the US players have been doing more and more as the tournament progresses. My avatar and that custom user title is more of a sarcastic comment on this whole thing than a presentation of my honest opinion on taunting.

Personally I'd still be more worried (I'm not worried about anything, though, but if I were an American I probably would be) about the fact that the refs are allowing all that ugly stickwork while kids are at home watching in awe and making mental notes on how to properly beat your opponent (and even when they're not, it still happens). But hey, I'm sure you're right. Taunting will most likely corrupt this fine game completely and warp the minds of the little ones permanently, turning them into mass taunters.

I guess it's just me, but I consider taunting a lesser evil than slashing, hooking, cross checking, high sticking and all those other things the US players have been doing more and more as the tournament progresses.

My thoughts exactly, except that I don't think it's just the US players that have been doing those things. High sticking, boarding, cross checks to the back of the neck etc. are really dangerous and can result in serious injuries. Still, nobody raves about these things and there have been dangerous situations in every game that I've seen (Canada vs. Finland, Czech vs. Finland, Canada vs. Czech). This taunting thing has just blown way out of its proportions. It's not that bad.

i don't really care about the taunting too much except that it was just really stupid. my "pride" isn't injured or anything like that, it just made me go "wow that was really dumb"

the diving by the russian team was pretty sad though...they don't miss a chance to play it up and act like they've just been shot. why do you think people thought the guy who got hit in the face with o'sullivans stick was bluffing at first? cuz his team had been diving all over the place for most of the game.

Hahaha, Ovechkin and Malkin own!!!

Hahaha, Ovechkin and Malkin own!!!
I guess we'll find out tomorrow. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

i don't really care about the taunting too much except that it was just really stupid. my "pride" isn't injured or anything like that, it just made me go "wow that was really dumb"

I think you have a healthy attitude towards this incident. It may have been stupid, but sometimes these things happen. It's not the end of the world, and people shouldn't drag pride, nationalism or other bs into this. Though some of these HFBoard's own ovechkins seem to be still rubbing it in. :D

Yes, it was excessive, but some people were making too big of a deal out of this. We have to remember that they are just kids, not 35 year old men, and they still aren't fully mature which will come with experiance (at least I hope so). Kids do stupid things.

Wow. How obvious, I've only said that in 3 or 4 threads today.

I guess it's just me, but I consider taunting a lesser evil than slashing, hooking, cross checking, high sticking and all those other things the US players have been doing more and more as the tournament progresses.

Pretty short sighted. Taunting leads to worse offenses than slashing, hooking, etc...there's a reason why the NFL banned excessive celebrations. Those reasons were the cheap shots and injuries that occur after those incidents.

I'm fine with taunting after being taunted, but going over the top like that is begging for someone to get seriously hurt.

Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process.

Hold on, Let me find my Phil Kessel avatar. I'll still then say I dont see a problem with what the Russians did. Judging someone's opinion from a picture near their username...come on, grow up.

Well all i can say is Malkin has about 50million angry Yanks who want him dead.

Well all i can say is Malkin has about 50million angry Yanks who want him dead.

There arent even 50 million "yanks" who know what hockey is.

There arent even 50 million "yanks" who know what hockey is.

:lol

Alright couple of drunken politicians, a hockey team and gardener.

Regarding taunting, who cares. BUT, anyone who played the game their whole life, starting as a 5yr old, Was taught ( or should have been) to act in a classy way after scoring a goal. I personally never took part in any over the top taunting, but if another team did it, we would be that more motivated to beat that team. The USA got beat by a better team, get over it, I do not beleive the Russians will be too cocky vs Canada !

Regarding taunting, who cares. BUT, anyone who played the game their whole life, starting as a 5yr old, Was taught ( or should have been) to act in a classy way after scoring a goal. I personally never took part in any over the top taunting, but if another team did it, we would be that more motivated to beat that team. The USA got beat by a better team, get over it, I do not beleive the Russians will be too cocky vs Canada !

Whats wrong with celebrating a goal. Alright if you taunt the opposition thats not right but heh it is hockey and a lot more serious stuuf has happened than that.

Hold on, Let me find my Phil Kessel avatar. I'll still then say I dont see a problem with what the Russians did. Judging someone's opinion from a picture near their username...come on, grow up.

It's not the picture....in fact I like the picture. You can read right?

It is. Obviously you think taunting is OK, part of the sport, whatever. Good sportsmanship buddy.

Well taunting IS part of the game. You don't have to like it, I personally don't care much for it, but if you just realized this you need to wake up. Just look at any NHL game. There's guys that are paid millions to make the players on the other team lose their minds and go beserk by taunting them.

So yes, it is a definite part of the game, and will not go away. Taunting, intimidating, trapping, all tactics to put the victory on your side. Whether we like or not is an other debate, but it is there to stay. Maybe now the US will have revenge on their minds more than winning the next time they play Russia... You can find a purpose for everything.

I've seen a lot of passionate comments about those little game ending incidents and honestly I cannot understand why. Maybe it's easier to let it go when you're not cheering for either team.

Like I've said in an other thread, I think it could have been much worse considering those players are basically just a bunch of emotional kids figthing for personal pride. In light of this, I think it's fair to say it could have been much uglier than that.

It's not the picture....in fact I like the picture. You can read right?

You said, "Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process." meaning you are judging because he has a Russian player in his avatar. Are you going to retract your statements THAT fast?

You said, "Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process." meaning you are judging because he has a Russian player in his avatar. Are you going to retract your statements THAT fast?

Dude, we thought the COLD WAR was over.
:lol

You said, "Don't even waste time on this guy. Look at his avatar. Speaks volumes for his thought process." meaning you are judging because he has a Russian player in his avatar. Are you going to retract your statements THAT fast?

You crack me up. Are we losing something in the translation here? I was referring to the "words" above the avatar.

Exactly....the cold war is over....GO CANADA!!!

Taunt all they want to people like Dan Fristche, and Patrick O'Sullivan. WOW you guys are better than them get over it. We'll see how much taunting you will be doing against Canada, and when you get into the NHL. I hope they get dropped numerous times.

BUT.. Theres no denying that they are two great hockey players. And you know what you can taunt when you are going to win the game 7-2, but maybe you should show some class once in awhile.

This seems like it good lead to a few exciting rivalries in the NHL when it starts back up. With Ovechkin-Malkin-Crosby, and Kesell all going at it.

The US team played kind of dirty the whole tournament. They get what they deserve IMO. I'm from America too so...

The US team played kind of dirty the whole tournament. They get what they deserve IMO. I'm from America too so...


Shield Wearing Traitor.

Hahaha, Ovechkin and Malkin own!!!



"owwwnnnss, owwwwnnss"

"owwwnnnss, owwwwnnss"

What is your point?

The US team played kind of dirty the whole tournament. They get what they deserve IMO. I'm from America too so...

Sadly, after all the dirty hits I saw the US dishing out I felt the same way....and being American that's a pretty sad thing.

What is your point?

Any true hockey fan knows that was a Slapshot reference.

Any true hockey fan knows that was a Slapshot reference.


thank you very much.

Sadly, after all the dirty hits I saw the US dishing out I felt the same way....and being American that's a pretty sad thing.


How many were dirty hits? How many Russians were taken off the ice from dirty hits? Id love to hear your take on what a dirty hit is.

Gord Miller just said it best after shirokov's hulkster move.

"You pull that stuff in the NHL they'll be sticks and gloves all over the ice" "They'll take you home in a bucket" lol

I'd like to see him do that with Pronger on the ice.

Wow. How obvious, I've only said that in 3 or 4 threads today.

I guess it's just me, but I consider taunting a lesser evil than slashing, , cross checking, high sticking and all those other things the US players have been doing more and more as the tournament progresses.
.


:lol what do you think brought on theses slashes and X-checks, couldn't have been taunting could it??? No way right!!! :shakehead

USM, budddddddddddddyyyyy, the checks and high sticks came WAYYYYYYYY before the taunting even came about.

USM, budddddddddddddyyyyy, the checks and high sticks came WAYYYYYYYY before the taunting even came about.


You're right, the checks and high sticks came after the dislodging of nets and constant diving.

:lol what do you think brought on theses slashes and X-checks, couldn't have been taunting could it??? No way right!!! :shakehead

Oh, I forgot, taunting gives you permission to do physical harm. Sorry about that, my mistake.

:rolleyes:

Say what you like about taunting being them "asking for it", but taunting is legal, assault is not. Taunt back, beat them in the game, whatever, just keep it legal.

And the second thing: The Americans were doing their thing before the Russians even started their taunting.

Americans and Canadians play hardnosed hockey

Russians and Euros play a finesse game and find diving to be acceptable to draw a penalty.

2 different takes on hockey, so would you guys get over your pissing matches and move on. You arent solving anything.

Oh, I forgot, taunting gives you permission to do physical harm. Sorry about that, my mistake.

:rolleyes:

Say what you like about taunting being them "asking for it", but taunting is legal, assault is not. Taunt back, beat them in the game, whatever, just keep it legal.

And the second thing: The Americans were doing their thing before the Russians even started their taunting.


Really?? they did it before the player put his hand to his ear after scoring a penalty shot in the FIRST game and FIRST period for both teams???? Please, you don't show up and opponet like that, it's just shows no class: sorry...

You're right, the checks and high sticks came after the dislodging of nets and constant diving.

Well then...thats pretty stupid on team USA's part then isnt it....letting themselves being taken out of the game so early because someone knocked off the net.

The hit on Ovechkin was plain stupid...1 goal down and nearly a whole period to play and someone hits him up high like that....or are you saying that was a dive?

USA didnt deserve to win that game.....yes, Russia didnt show much class in winning, but US didnt show any in losing either

and again...I'm born and raised in the states

USM, budddddddddddddyyyyy, the checks and high sticks came WAYYYYYYYY before the taunting even came about.



NO they didn't buddy!!! it started in the FIRST period of the FIRST game for both teams when the kid that scored on a penalty shot put his hand to his ear...That is were the high-sticks came from,...not saying it is right but I did the same thing when I played if I thought somebody was trying to show me up...Score and act like you have do it before!!!

Americans and Canadians play hardnosed hockey

Russians and Euros play a finesse game and find diving to be acceptable to draw a penalty.

2 different takes on hockey, so would you guys get over your pissing matches and move on. You arent solving anything.

Nobody in my memory dived like Phil Esposito.....guess where he is from

you act like diving only started when Euros came over......

Really?? they did it before the player put his hand to his ear after scoring a penalty shot in the FIRST game and FIRST period for both teams???? Please, you don't show up and opponet like that, it's just shows no class: sorry...


Put his hand to his ear? Wow. What an incredible insult. Makes me want to take my stick and go pound his face in. :shakehead

USA didnt deserve to win that game.....yes, Russia didnt show much class in winning, but US didnt show any in losing either





:shakehead

The US didnt show any class in losing? What team took all the taunting and then and went and stood on the blue line for the post game ceremony? Those kids swallowed every inch of there pride. You have no idea what you were talking about regardless of what homeland you were born in.

The thing is, taunting does bring on retaliation. The goal of taunting is to get your opponent angry. What do you think will happen when your opponent gets angry? Perhaps in a physical sport he will try to take it out physically. This is what happened. Don't whine about boarding or slashing calls when it was brought on for obvious reasons. That stuff may fly in the motherland , but in the NHL it will result in Chris Pronger giving you a crosscheck to the face, and no one on your team or the opposing team will think you didn't deserve it

Nobody in my memory dived like Phil Esposito.....guess where he is from

you act like diving only started when Euros came over......


Are we talking about when Phil Esposito played or this tounament and current styles of hockey? Again you show little intelligence in this thread.

NO they didn't buddy!!! it started in the FIRST period of the FIRST game for both teams when the kid that scored on a penalty shot put his hand to his ear...That is were the high-sticks came from,...not saying it is right but I did the same thing when I played if I thought somebody was trying to show me up...Score and act like you have do it before!!!

So....something happens games ago and you feel the need to ruin a single elimination game to "get them back" by taking stupid penalties.....I can tell you this for sure....if you did do what you say...and I was your coach you wouldnt see ice again...and if I was your teammate you would hear it as well

Are we talking about when Phil Esposito played or this tounament and current styles of hockey? Again you show little intelligence in this thread.

You are the one that made it sound like diving is a tactic invented by Euros....when in fact it has always been there

You are the one that made it sound like diving is a tactic invented by Euros....when in fact it has always been there


How many US players took dives last night? In the tourney? Embelished calls?

Name one.

















and just in case you can, name two.

NO they didn't buddy!!! it started in the FIRST period of the FIRST game for both teams when the kid that scored on a penalty shot put his hand to his ear...That is were the high-sticks came from,...not saying it is right but I did the same thing when I played if I thought somebody was trying to show me up...Score and act like you have do it before!!!


Dont worry, if Mothra wont play you, I will.

:shakehead

The US didnt show any class in losing? What team took all the taunting and then and went and stood on the blue line for the post game ceremony? Those kids swallowed every inch of there pride. You have no idea what you were talking about regardless of what homeland you were born in.

I would have been shocked had they not shaken hands, they have to do that.....they swallowed every inch of pride when they got outplayed by a wide margin on their home ice.....it was pretty low class to take 5 minute major with 20 seconds left of a 5 goal defeat....they were doing just as much mouth flappin as the Russians at the end

I don't care who taunted who. The coaches are going to watch this, and I doubt very much that they will be chosen to wear an C/A. IMO Ovechkin is incredibly gifted but still plays like a 13 year old; World Cup when he wasn't passed the puck while in good scoring position he lost his poise and slapped his stick against the ice in frustration. I can't wait to see what happens the first time he gets embarrassed.

You are the one that made it sound like diving is a tactic invented by Euros....when in fact it has always been there

He basically said that it was a European style of playing, which is ridiculous and of the Don Cherry school of thought.

The Russian team was much better than the US last night, plain and simple. As somebody said in either this or one of the other threads, the US could have kept with them if they tried to play their game. Instead, they took really stupid penalties.

Everyone whining about diving is being a sore loser. There was one weak call last night. The rest was the US team playing sloppily, which is why they lost. Frankly I was surprised that the game was close for that long.

What the Russian players did after the game and in the closing seconds was being a sore winner, but everybody is blowing it waaaay out of proportion. It was an emotional game in a hostile environment, and there were a few cheap shots taken throughout the game by the US team.

It doesn't excuse the showboating and all of that, but the US team were not saints here. There were at least two very dirty hits in the game by the US, and they were talking right at I think it was Radulov (or Lisin, not sure) and that coach/assistant in the end.

But oh well. I just don't think it's that big of a deal. It showed me more than anything that the Russian players really were playing with a lot of emotion and passion, and I liked that. I didn't like the showboating, but like I said, it's just not too big of a deal.

Shirokov's got some skills and an attitude. As long as he isn't taking cheap shots or playing dirty, mark me down as a fan. If the Penguins end up with a top pick in the second round again, I hope they take Shirokov.

I remember during the Remax tournament against the QMJHL the Russians Taunted the Montreal crowd and some posters here actually thought it was funny....Russian Taunting aint old news.

How many US players took dives last night? In the tourney? Embelished calls?

Name one.

and just in case you can, name two.

None of course.....no North American player would ever do something like that :shakehead

in the NHL it will result in Chris Pronger giving you a crosscheck to the face


And in any civilized country that would result in jail time.

from bob mckenzie's article today

"At the beginning of a period, Ovechkin's ritual is often to skate down before the puck is dropped and pretend to be shooting at the goaltender and scoring."

:lol i find that hilarious for some reason.

This and like threads show how many stupid people frequent the boards these days. What a waste of space.

from bob mckenzie's article today

"At the beginning of a period, Ovechkin's ritual is often to skate down before the puck is dropped and pretend to be shooting at the goaltender and scoring."

:lol i find that hilarious for some reason.



The good news is that's not going to happen at the next level. Well, it might once, and only once.

And in any civilized country that would result in jail time.

guess what, football hits would result in jail time, rugby hits too. Hockey checks also. Luckily there is a difference between a sport and something that happens on the street. Of course I have seen what happens in the Finnish "Elite League" when things get out of hand...instead of fighting, they go to nasty stickwork, or knee to thigh hits like the one that blew out Ruutu's knee. Very civilived.... ;)

Tommi, do you play hockey?

When you're wrapped up in the emotions of the game and someone starts taunting you, it's very easy to want to punch them in the face. It's an emotional and physical game and someone running their mouth or showboating makes me want to put even more of a beating on them.

I'm sure most people who have played or do play the game understand.

Tommi, do you play hockey?

When you're wrapped up in the emotions of the game and someone starts taunting you, it's very easy to want to punch them in the face. It's an emotional and physical game and someone running their mouth or showboating makes me want to put even more of a beating on them.

I'm sure most people who have played or do play the game understand.

It's also human nature to celebrate after scoring a goal or winning a game.

Tommi, do you play hockey?

When you're wrapped up in the emotions of the game and someone starts taunting you, it's very easy to want to punch them in the face. It's an emotional and physical game and someone running their mouth or showboating makes me want to put even more of a beating on them.

I'm sure most people who have played or do play the game understand.

I used to feel the same way.....then two things happened.

1) I watched the playoffs from the stands as my team still won....but I could not join in the celebration

2) I grew up

I used to feel the same way.....then two things happened.

1) I watched the playoffs from the stands as my team still won....but I could not join in the celebration

2) I grew up

Right.

It's human nature to get mad at things, but you have to control your anger. You can't just justify violence because somebody made you mad. Real life doesn't work like that, and neither does hockey.

By the same token, you need to control your excitement so that you do not go overboard like some of the Russian players did last night. Very few people are argueing that they didn't. I just don't really have a big problem with what the Russians did. Some arrogant and a little childish celebrating is no big deal to me.

Suckerpunching somebody in the face, or cross checking them in the face, or doing whatever other physical harm that a lot of people are childishly reccomending the Canadian team does to Ovechkin or Malkin or Shirokov or whomever, I would have a bigger problem with.

There's no place for that anywhere. Clean hits? Yes, that's part of hockey. But there's a fine line that can't be crossed, no matter what happens.

Celebrating is fine... the goal that made it 3-2 with the whole ear thing, I wouldn't go out and try and smash him through the boards after that one.

When you score an empty netter to make it 6-2 and act as if you just scored the Cup clinching goal and you skate in front of the opposition's bench to talk crap... that's about the point where I would want to punch you in the face. If you're playing a competitive hockey game and you don't get pissed off by actions like that, you're not playing with any kind of passion or fire.

So to sum it up, celebrations after a meaningful goal, great. Taunting the oppositions bench after a meaningless goal.. not really the best of ideas.

Not one of you thinks it's classless to taunt the other team's bench after a meaningless empty net goal?

I finally had a chance to watch most of the game tonite after hearing what happened last night and I must agree that many of the Russian players were absolutely class-less. I'd LOVE to see Malkin taunt a bench in the NHL after he scores an empty net goal.

Being Canadian, I am obviously going for the home side tomorrow, but win or lose, I hope we hurt a few of the Russian players now. I can't believe I just said that, it is just as bad of sportsmanship as the Russians displayed, but it's true.

Phaneuf, Webber.......... hit to hurt boys, hit to hurt.

The Russians are a disgrace to the game of hockey and to their country. What they did was unnaceptable. If they try this ***** in the NHL they will be going home in a bodybag. Constantly diving and knocking the net off the entire game.

Then hotdoggin and taunting the bench after every single goal they scored. Then they won't come off the bench after. This is not how you play hockey. What would Don Cherry think of these punks? They are going to learn respect the hard way. MARK MY WORDS.

Ovechkin/Malkin = Classless sleazebags

I dare them to try this against Canada.

The Russians are a disgrace to the game of hockey and to their country. What they did was unnaceptable. If they try this ***** in the NHL they will be going home in a bodybag. Constantly diving and knocking the net off the entire game.

Then hotdoggin and taunting the bench after every single goal they scored. Then they won't come off the bench after. This is not how you play hockey. What would Don Cherry think of these punks? They are going to learn respect the hard way. MARK MY WORDS.

Ovechkin/Malkin = Classless slezebags

I dare them to try this against Canada.
I don't fully agree with your post... but I can bet with Weber and Phaneuf against these guys, they won't be trying this.

The Russians are a disgrace to the game of hockey and to their country. What they did was unnaceptable. If they try this ***** in the NHL they will be going home in a bodybag. Constantly diving and knocking the net off the entire game.

Then hotdoggin and taunting the bench after every single goal they scored. Then they won't come off the bench after. This is not how you play hockey. What would Don Cherry think of these punks? They are going to learn respect the hard way. MARK MY WORDS.

Ovechkin/Malkin = Classless slezebags

I dare them to try this against Canada.

all this from someone who has a serial killer for an avatar

priceless

I don't fully agree with your post... but I can bet with Weber and Phaneuf against these guys, they won't be trying this.


It probably wouldn't have happened last year with Mark Stuart as the U.S. captain either. That was one of the key elements missing on this year's team: toughness on the blueline.

all this from someone who has a serial killer for an avatar

priceless

Shouldn't you be watching a bunch of showboating disrespectful turds jumping into the bench and acting like morons after every goal they score?

I DARE Ovechkin or Malkin to do this against the Leafs, Blues or Flames. They will never make that mistake again.

I don't fully agree with your post... but I can bet with Weber and Phaneuf against these guys, they won't be trying this.

What do you disagree with? That game was an embarassment to the game of hockey.

The thing is, taunting does bring on retaliation. The goal of taunting is to get your opponent angry. What do you think will happen when your opponent gets angry? Perhaps in a physical sport he will try to take it out physically. This is what happened. Don't whine about boarding or slashing calls when it was brought on for obvious reasons. That stuff may fly in the motherland , but in the NHL it will result in Chris Pronger giving you a crosscheck to the face, and no one on your team or the opposing team will think you didn't deserve it

What a bloodthirsty crowd. Retaliation and physical injury as remedies for taunting...some people got their values screwed up in a sad way.

I DARE Ovechkin or Malkin to do this against the Leafs, Blues or Flames. They will never make that mistake again.

Guess you havent seen much Mathew Barnaby then......

and what will they do....break into their house and shoot them while they sleep like your hero Richard Ramirez? yea...thats a real class guy

all this from someone who has a serial killer for an avatar

priceless

:lol

What do you disagree with? That game was an embarassment to the game of hockey.
The part how the Americans were taking runs at the Russians all game. I don't agree with what the Russians did, but the Americans arent angels in this. The American team this year lacked toughness, as Rabid Ranger says.

The Russians are a disgrace to the game of hockey and to their country. What they did was unnaceptable. If they try this ***** in the NHL they will be going home in a bodybag. Constantly diving and knocking the net off the entire game.

Then hotdoggin and taunting the bench after every single goal they scored. Then they won't come off the bench after. This is not how you play hockey. What would Don Cherry think of these punks? They are going to learn respect the hard way. MARK MY WORDS.

Ovechkin/Malkin = Classless sleazebags

I dare them to try this against Canada.

Wake up, this is about sport not about war. I think you are in need of clear thinking, sedatives and basic values.

Guess you havent seen much Mathew Barnaby then......

and what will they do....break into their house and shoot them while they sleep like your hero Richard Ramirez? yea...thats a real class guy

Quit acting like a comedian. If this is the future of the NHL, I think i'll stick to junior hockey. I've only seen Ovechkin a few times, and he showboats after EVERY SINGLE GOAL. Before the game he pretends he's shooting at the net and celebrates. What the hell is wrong with him?

Being Canadian, I am obviously going for the home side tomorrow, but win or lose, I hope we hurt a few of the Russian players now. I can't believe I just said that, it is just as bad of sportsmanship as the Russians displayed, but it's true.

Phaneuf, Webber.......... hit to hurt boys, hit to hurt.

Yeah, way to go. Violence is the answer to these deadly serious crimes against the pride of true hockey.
Make sure your future kids will embrace these values. The world will be a better place.

Yeah, way to go. Violence is the answer to these deadly serious crimes against the pride of true hockey.
Make sure your future kids will embrace these values. The world will be a better place.

There's nothing wrong with a clean body check or open ice hitting. There IS something wrong with knocking off the net on purpose, diving and acting like you just cured cancer after you score every goal.

I missed this game but it really seems like a whole lot of nothing... you know, simple Don Cherry fodder.

Seems like it'll make a surging U.S. - Russia rivalry that much more heated.

As for celebrating an empty netter... pretty lame. However, an empty-net goal is basically a sign that a game is won... which means they may have been celebrating the assured victory more than anything.

As a fan of the U.S. team I'd likely be irritated but other than that I'd hold off judgement. As for accusations of taunting the crowd... if the crowd can taunt the players, the players can taunt the crowd.

And you think these guys don't taunt each other all game? What kinds of things do you imagine they say to each other at the faceoff circle?

Everyone saying "let's see them try this in the NHL... they'll get murdered", you say it as if you think it should happen. And shame on you. The "I've got your number" crap ends up with broken necks. Kovalchuk celebrated an empty-netter and the worst beating he got was from Don Cherry's angry tongue. Frankly, he deserved to celebrate after a big hat trick during a very trying time for the team.

I prefer a guy who scores and doesn't blink, or perhaps settles for high-fiving a guy. However, most people like a bit of showboating, and I can't say I do not either. Every sport has it; hockey has the least of it. To be honest, it is probably a big part of what draws people to the other sports. I don't think it should be encouraged just to get ratings, but it is an issue that needs to be dealt with. These guys are kids, lets not forget.

If Canada or U.S. players did it, I'm guessing this would be a lot less of an issue.

Again, I didn't see what happened and I'm not sure if they crossed the proverbial line (yes, there is one). If they did, it still isn't something to get all hot and bothered over. Just like the players involved that much less and move on.

The real disgrace is the way the U.S. played Belarus and, judging by the score, Russia--hell, the whole tournament.

Any true hockey fan knows that was a Slapshot reference.

Thanks for the info.
I've seen that movie about 25 years ago. No chance for remembering quotes from it.

I prefer a guy who scores and doesn't blink, or perhaps settles for high-fiving a guy. However, most people like a bit of showboating, and I can't say I do not either. Every sport has it; hockey has the least of it. To be honest, it is probably a big part of what draws people to the other sports. I don't think it should be encouraged just to get ratings, but it is an issue that needs to be dealt with.

Exactly. People ***** about hockey not getting any popularity in the US, then people ***** when things like this "taunting" happens and it draws attention to the sport in a neutral(some will say its negative, but to the casual fan, its not) way.

I missed this game but it really seems like a whole lot of nothing... you know, simple Don Cherry fodder.

Seems like it'll make a surging U.S. - Russia rivalry that much more heated.

As for celebrating an empty netter... pretty lame. However, an empty-net goal is basically a sign that a game is won... which means they may have been celebrating the assured victory more than anything.

As a fan of the U.S. team I'd likely be irritated but other than that I'd hold off judgement. As for accusations of taunting the crowd... if the crowd can taunt the players, the players can taunt the crowd.

And you think these guys don't taunt each other all game? What kinds of things do you imagine they say to each other at the faceoff circle?

Everyone saying "let's see them try this in the NHL... they'll get murdered", you say it as if you think it should happen. And shame on you. The "I've got your number" crap ends up with broken necks. Kovalchuk celebrated an empty-netter and the worst beating he got was from Don Cherry's angry tongue. Frankly, he deserved to celebrate after a big hat trick during a very trying time for the team.

I prefer a guy who scores and doesn't blink, or perhaps settles for high-fiving a guy. However, most people like a bit of showboating, and I can't say I do not either. Every sport has it; hockey has the least of it. To be honest, it is probably a big part of what draws people to the other sports. I don't think it should be encouraged just to get ratings, but it is an issue that needs to be dealt with. These guys are kids, lets not forget.

If Canada or U.S. players did it, I'm guessing this would be a lot less of an issue.

Again, I didn't see what happened and I'm not sure if they crossed the proverbial line (yes, there is one). If they did, it still isn't something to get all hot and bothered over. Just like the players involved that much less and move on.

The real disgrace is the way the U.S. played Belarus and, judging by the score, Russia--hell, the whole tournament.


I agree with all of this. It seems as we are looking for things to knock them about.

I agree with all of this. It seems as we are looking for things to knock them about.

And again, I'm sure I'd be irritated if I watched it, being a U.S. fan. And if the U.S. did it to Russia I wouldn't be irritated, which is the point. I'd be just as irritated with the fact they scored a goal as I would be with the taunting.

Exactly. People ***** about hockey not getting any popularity in the US, then people ***** when things like this "taunting" happens and it draws attention to the sport in a neutral(some will say its negative, but to the casual fan, its not) way.


Hockey's popularity in the states has nothing to do with a player over celebrating an empty net goal. That's not exciting. That's not worth paying $150.00 to go see.

Hockey's popularity in the states has nothing to do with a player over celebrating an empty net goal. That's not exciting. That's not worth paying $150.00 to go see.

Think harder.

Dig deeper.

You will get it.

Do you honestly think Ovechkin was celebrating the empty net goal??? NO. That goal clinched the game for Russia, that's what he was celebrating.. When I listened to the game last night I celebrated that empty netter as well because I knew taht now Russia won for sure.

Hockey's popularity in the states has nothing to do with a player over celebrating an empty net goal. That's not exciting. That's not worth paying $150.00 to go see.

Just like basketball's popularity has nothing to do with adding a 360 tomahawk to a wide-open dunk in the waning moments of a blowout game?

Think harder.

Dig deeper.

You will get it.


Oh I got it. You think this "taunting" that went on in last nights game actually made sports headlines. It didn't. The only time hockey is in the news is when something bad happens. (Bertuzzi cheapshotting people, people dying in stands, naked guy jumping over glass)

Exactly. People ***** about hockey not getting any popularity in the US, then people ***** when things like this "taunting" happens and it draws attention to the sport in a neutral(some will say its negative, but to the casual fan, its not) way.

The taunting is actually what a lot of people DON'T like about other sports and other leagues. Taunting/showboating/whatever led to the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons brawl, the repeated fines in the NFL for endzone celebration and sometimes bench clearing brawls in baseball. It's a slippery slope. Fans love characters...and hockey needs more of them...but take it too far and it just ends up turning people off...

As for what happened...I don't particularly have a huge problem with it. But if you're going to taunt, back it up (which they did)...but also don't be surprised and act like you're super shocked when the other team gets upset about it. Malkin and co. acted like they never did anything wrong when the US bench got upset at the end of the game....

Bottom line, a win is a win, but a classy team that wins gets more respect from me.

Hockey's popularity in the states has nothing to do with a player over celebrating an empty net goal. That's not exciting. That's not worth paying $150.00 to go see.

People also won't pay $150 to see an empty-net goal. That is hardly the point.

Just like basketball's popularity has nothing to do with adding a 360 tomahawk to a wide-open dunk in the waning moments of a blowout game?


That's your comparison?? :lol


What you said is more comparable to Datsyuk making Turco look like an idiot when the game is already 5-2.

I am no fan of taunting, but it seems to me this was kind of minor and has been blown out of proportion.

Read today that Ovechkin likes to skate down the ice and fake a shot at the opposing goalie before the game. He'll only do that in the NHL once. I don't care how smart a player he is, he won't get away with that.

I am no fan of taunting, but it seems to me this was kind of minor and has been blown out of proportion.

Read today that Ovechkin likes to skate down the ice and fake a shot at the opposing goalie before the game. He'll only do that in the NHL once. I don't care how smart a player he is, he won't get away with that.
That's funny as hell :lol

Shouldn't you be watching a bunch of showboating disrespectful turds jumping into the bench and acting like morons after every goal they score?

I DARE Ovechkin or Malkin to do this against the Leafs, Blues or Flames. They will never make that mistake again.
I remember Dan Cloutier challenging the Islanders bench after beating up Tommy Salo (I think it was Salo) so don't act like it doesn't happen. Look at what all of the "pests" in the NHL do. Look at what Tie Domi used to do after he won fights, of what P.J. Stock does, and these are grown men, not teenagers.

The taunting is actually what a lot of people DON'T like about other sports and other leagues. Taunting/showboating/whatever led to the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons brawl, the repeated fines in the NFL for endzone celebration and sometimes bench clearing brawls in baseball. It's a slippery slope. Fans love characters...and hockey needs more of them...but take it too far and it just ends up turning people off...

As for what happened...I don't particularly have a huge problem with it. But if you're going to taunt, back it up (which they did)...but also don't be surprised and act like you're super shocked when the other team gets upset about it. Malkin and co. acted like they never did anything wrong when the US bench got upset at the end of the game....

Bottom line, a win is a win, but a classy team that wins gets more respect from me.

I don't see how you can parallel a guy throwing a cup at a player which results in a fight to celebrating a goal. Also, NFL fines are for what they consider to be overboard; they allow a whole lot. Who is to say that fan reaction causes them to make these fines, anyhow?

Sure, you put a limit on things, but hockey purists tend to get far too out-of-whack over some celebrations.

I'm not saying everyone likes celebrations, but the average sport fan is engaged by them. It can multiply their love for their favorite star or deepen their hatred for the opposing team's aggitator. Either way, the result is an involved feeling. You know, like the adage, "there is no such thing as bad publicity".

Oh I got it. You think this "taunting" that went on in last nights game actually made sports headlines. It didn't. The only time hockey is in the news is when something bad happens. (Bertuzzi cheapshotting people, people dying in stands, naked guy jumping over glass)

Making headlines also isn't the point I intended.

I remember Dan Cloutier challenging the Islanders bench after beating up Tommy Salo (I think it was Salo) so don't act like it doesn't happen. Look at what all of the "pests" in the NHL do. Look at what Tie Domi used to do after he won fights, of what P.J. Stock does, and these are grown men, not teenagers.

Those guys will answer the bell. They won't cower and hide on the bench afterwards.

If the US were cheap shotting the Russians. The best way to get revenge is to beat them. Showboating, taunting the fans and acting like an idiot is just gonna end up with some people getting hurt.

Those guys will answer the bell. They won't cower and hide on the bench afterwards.

If the US were cheap shotting the Russians. The best way to get revenge is to beat them. Showboating, taunting the fans and acting like an idiot is just gonna end up with some people getting hurt.

You seem to be far more interested in the fights than in hockey itself. Become a boxing fan instead and you won't be missed by many here.

So....something happens games ago and you feel the need to ruin a single elimination game to "get them back" by taking stupid penalties.....I can tell you this for sure....if you did do what you say...and I was your coach you wouldnt see ice again...and if I was your teammate you would hear it as well


Glad you were not my coach :) ...To be serious now, I just don't like what some of the players on Russia did, (espically the ear thing) and no I wouldn't run somebody if it was a close game but when the score got to be 5-2, I would be looking...oh well and yes I wore the "C" for my junior and senior year in high school and for my prep team...

I finally had a chance to watch most of the game tonite after hearing what happened last night and I must agree that many of the Russian players were absolutely class-less. I'd LOVE to see Malkin taunt a bench in the NHL after he scores an empty net goal.

Being Canadian, I am obviously going for the home side tomorrow, but win or lose, I hope we hurt a few of the Russian players now. I can't believe I just said that, it is just as bad of sportsmanship as the Russians displayed, but it's true.

Phaneuf, Webber.......... hit to hurt boys, hit to hurt.
"hit to hurt"

Talk about classless, wishing harm on 18-19 year old kids

Lot's of you complaining about tauting the fans... as long as I know americans fans are capable of being very arrogant; let's imagine some redneck yelling at Ovechkin: «go back to your dirty poor country you f@ckin stupid communist», I don't say it happend, I say it's a probable situation.. Is Ovechkin's reaction such a shame.. sort of just told him to shut up pointing the back of his jersey?

Now don't throw rocks at me, I'm not intending that american fans are all like that or anything. Among fans, from anywhere in the world, you have a lot of drunk rednecks trying to do their own show.. and my guess is that it could have very well happend yesterday.

Lot's of you complaining about tauting the fans... as long as I know americans fans are capable of being very arrogant; let's imagine some redneck yelling at Ovechkin: «go back to your dirty poor country you f@ckin stupid communist», I don't say it happend, I say it's a probable situation.. Is Ovechkin's reaction such a shame.. sort of just told him to shut up pointing the back of his jersey?

Now don't throw rocks at me, I'm not intending that american fans are all like that or anything. Among fans, from anywhere in the world, you have a lot of drunk rednecks trying to do their own show.. and my guess is that it could have very well happend yesterday.

I have to say, this is a pretty arrogant post right here..Talk about generalizations, despite your disclaimer that "not intending that american fans are all like that." That's like saying you are all jerks, not all of you, but among fans from anywhere in the world, you are all jerks. It's a circular argument you have, and it's pretty ignorant.

If there are any moderators here, I suggest this thread be closed. It's getting out of hand with the anti-Americanism, even though some posters try to say they're not anti-American yet resort to generalizations and stereotypes.

EDIT: Also, there are tons of threads dealing with this topic, and the arguments are getting redundant. No one will agree with anything, and there are just going to be a lot of insulting statements made.

How many were dirty hits? How many Russians were taken off the ice from dirty hits? Id love to hear your take on what a dirty hit is.

I saw at least 3-4 times when Russians were hit into the glass from behind, nevermind the unbeleivable whack in the face with the highstick.....there is no reason that happens other than intentionally or the kid should be permantly wearing a helmet and riding a short-bus....and almost forgot, the cross-check to AO's grill. And just because a guy isn't injured doesn't mean a hit wasn't dirty.

Remember, I wanted the US to win.

WOW you guys are taking this far too seriously! All the cheap shots and bad blood.. you'd think the game was still on! The Russians are an incredibly talented and fun to watch hockey nation. I have no hard feelings as a Canadian towards the Russians but I think they should've cooled it with the taunts and been more professional. That of course has something to do with the coaching. As for the Americans... they've come a long way as a hockey nation and with a little Canadian lineage (Bourque, Parise etc...) they've become a very exciting nation to watch and play a real entertaining aggressive style. Having said that I think they took their frustrations of being embarrassed on home ice out in a very immature way on the Russians. I've been embarrassed by another hockey team and can only imagine how magnified that would feel in this circumstance. If they would have stuck to playing hockey, it could have been a much closer contest.

Angry exchanges on this subject however seem pointless and immature, this board should be a place to discuss Hockey subjects intelligently and without malice, and not to discuss politics or personal bias towards other peoples.

Besides.. the bottom line is... everyone is an also ran in this years tourney! They should have just given the gold to Canada to begin with! :D

I have to say, this is a pretty arrogant post right here..Talk about generalizations, despite your disclaimer that "not intending that american fans are all like that." That's like saying you are all jerks, not all of you, but among fans from anywhere in the world, you are all jerks. It's a circular argument you have, and it's pretty ignorant.

It's really easy to turn my post around to your advantage I knew it before I posted.. but hey, I think it's realistic. I don't think Ovechkin would be making fun of people being nice to him, so I guess they were not that nice to him...

The thing is that the crowd was american, so you guys will be all on my case, but I would have said the same about any crowd around the world...

It's really easy to turn my post around to your advantage I knew it before I posted.. but hey, I think it's realistic. I don't think Ovechkin would be making fun of people being nice to him, so I guess they were not that nice to him...

The thing is that the crowd was american, so you guys will be all on my case, but I would have said the same about any crowd around the world...

Yes, and since they're American, they HAVE to be rednecks.

Yes, and since they're American, they HAVE to be rednecks.

Sorry, my english is limited...

Rednec/idiot

To me it's just a word like another

Sorry, my english is limited...

Rednec/idiot

To me it's just a word like another

You do realize that by assuming these "rednecks" were calling Ovechkin a "communist," you are making the same generalizations about the fans that you are condescending upon. In other words, it is very hypocritical.

i.e. American= Redneck ; Russian = Communist

P.S. I'm a fan of both Malkin and Ovechkin but NOT taunting.

wow... a mod should just come in and close this thread cause some people seem incapable of having a mature intelligent discussion about HOCKEY! Maybe there's a world politics board that some would be more interested in...

It's not the taunting that bothers me. Taunting happens every game. However, there IS such a thing as going too far. It's just like a body check; a clean hit is good and makes the game fun to watch, but an elbow or a suckerpunch will get fans (rightfully) riled up.

Now because I didn't see what Ovechkin and Malkin did, I can't say if I feel it went too far. It sounds like they did, though.

You do realize that by assuming these "rednecks" were calling Ovechkin a "communist," you are making the same generalizations about the fans that you are condescending upon. In other words, it is very hypocritical.

i.e. American= Redneck ; Russian = Communist

P.S. I'm a fan of both Malkin and Ovechkin but NOT taunting.

ok ok ok.. I resing, check mate.. don,t want to go further in that direction.

Anyone can tell me what happend at the U18 between those two teams? I heard they had trouble out there too?

Sorry, my english is limited...

Rednec/idiot

To me it's just a word like another

Just so you know, it's more than just a word to Americans. It's a really offensive term.

I'm sure you didn't mean that kind of offense, but next time just using jerk or idiot would be more appropriate to make your point :)

Just so you know, it's more than just a word to Americans. It's a really offensive term.

I'm sure you didn't mean that kind of offense, but next time just using jerk or idiot would be more appropriate to make your point :)


I will, I really didn't knew it was offensive to americans... I think there's lot's of rednecs in Quebec and in Russia... :innocent:

I will, I really didn't knew it was offensive to americans... I think there's lot's of rednecs in Quebec and in Russia... :innocent:

Just watch Deliverance :D

Oh, I forgot, taunting gives you permission to do physical harm. Sorry about that, my mistake.

:rolleyes:

Say what you like about taunting being them "asking for it", but taunting is legal, assault is not. Taunt back, beat them in the game, whatever, just keep it legal.

And the second thing: The Americans were doing their thing before the Russians even started their taunting.


where you where one of those kids who liked to pull the dog's tail and was always suprised when it bit you? No, it's not equally and due punishment, but the 'victim' doesn't really deserve alot of sympathy.

You seem to be far more interested in the fights than in hockey itself. Become a boxing fan instead and you won't be missed by many here.

I like good clean, tough hockey and athletes who show respect for eachother. It seems like you are more interested in showboating and garbage like that. Maybe you should start watching the NBA or NFL?

And if you left you would be missed? Gimme a break. Only a European would condone their actions. If not, you should start watching European hockey where players are high sticking eachother, diving and showboating. It seems right up your alley.

If USA or the Canadians would do the samething as the russians did it would sound otherwise at the HFBOARDS......"Did you see Stafford taunt the russian bench?How cool!!!!!! :yo: " or "The Crosby celebrations after that emptyneter was very nice :)"

If USA or the Canadians would do the samething as the russians did it would sound otherwise at the HFBOARDS......"Did you see Stafford taunt the russian bench?How cool!!!!!! :yo: " or "The Crosby celebrations after that emptyneter was very nice :)"

Think again. If Crosby did that or anyone else, im guessing more than 70% of Canadians here would be upset. All you Euros would be calling for his blood as well. I don't even want to imagine the uproar of this message board if the Americans started acting that way.

If USA or the Canadians would do the samething as the russians did it would sound otherwise at the HFBOARDS......"Did you see Stafford taunt the russian bench?How cool!!!!!! :yo: " or "The Crosby celebrations after that emptyneter was very nice :)"
I'm not too sure about that. Maybe a few Crosby fans who get arosed just by hearing the name Crosby would find such a behavior cool but the majority of Canadians dislike showboating and especially taunting. Just take Don Cherry for exemple. You can't deny that the guy is extremely pro-Canadian yet he didn't hesitate to critiizice the most hyped Canadian prospect for sliding on the ice with his knees and calling him a hot dog.

where you where one of those kids who liked to pull the dog's tail and was always suprised when it bit you? No, it's not equally and due punishment, but the 'victim' doesn't really deserve alot of sympathy.


Again, that's different. Pulling a dogs tail actually hurts the dog, taunting doesn't. If you were a normal person you would barely even notice it.

And second of all, dogs are quit simple creatures, they react fast and really with just instinct, whereas standard humans have brains and should be able to use them. Then again, maybe the US players should be compared to the dogs. I don't know.

And no, I have never pulled a dogs tail.

All you Euros would be calling for his blood as well.


I wouldn't.

Some of you people should switch over to less intimidating sports, like collecting stamps or chess.

It was one thing when Ovechkin was making the we can beat the Canadian comments, but his smack talking is dangerously close to the Daniel Alfredsson psychic predictions that have the same validity of Miss Cleo.

Personally I don't have a problem with the taunting as I think it only goes to fire up the Canadians, and as long as Ovechkin backs up his mouth with his play to me it is fine, but you have to draw the line when you are affecting your whole team. You are a non-physical team and are going up against a really physical opponent.

i think it reflects pretty badly on someone when they feel the need to showboat and taunt after scoring an empty net goal...i mean seriously, an empty net goal, give me a break. that's kind of like celebrating for being able to skate without falling over.

Don't you think they were celebrating a victory, not a goal itself?

I like good clean, tough hockey and athletes who show respect for eachother. It seems like you are more interested in showboating and garbage like that. Maybe you should start watching the NBA or NFL?

And if you left you would be missed? Gimme a break. Only a European would condone their actions. If not, you should start watching European hockey where players are high sticking eachother, diving and showboating. It seems right up your alley.

1) Read my posts, not once have I approved showboating/taunting. On the contrary, I find it pretty stupid behaviour.

2) You seem like a true expert in making stupid generalizations. Based on your 'logic' I could as easily say that all canadian hockey players are goons, because of what the likes of Bertuzzi and Bobby Clarke have done. Would that be fair?

3) I like physical hockey too, with clean hitting, but without headhunting, without intent to injure (injure here meaning things like broken vertebrae etc.).

It's people like you that give hockey a bad name by approving and embracing unnecessary violence (evident from some of your earlier posts in the thread). Sometimes I am ashamed to be a hockey fan.

I don't see how you can parallel a guy throwing a cup at a player which results in a fight to celebrating a goal. Also, NFL fines are for what they consider to be overboard; they allow a whole lot. Who is to say that fan reaction causes them to make these fines, anyhow?

Sure, you put a limit on things, but hockey purists tend to get far too out-of-whack over some celebrations.

I'm not saying everyone likes celebrations, but the average sport fan is engaged by them. It can multiply their love for their favorite star or deepen their hatred for the opposing team's aggitator. Either way, the result is an involved feeling. You know, like the adage, "there is no such thing as bad publicity".

I agree. I don't want to watch a bunch of robots either. My only disclaimer is that letting your players run wild with celebrations of any kind just so you can "involve" more fans is a dangerous thing to do...and I would theorize that leagues such as the NFL and the NBA are trying to curtail these types of things because they don't want their players to get even more larger than life than they already are...because that can lead to a lot of headaches on and off the court/ice/field.

And as for the Ron Artest incident, he was lying on the scorer's table when the incident began...it's not the same as overtly taunting, but he was doing something out of the ordinary that drew attention...that's all I'm saying...things like that can turn bad in a hurry...

I'll say again, I don't really have a huge problem with the taunting/showboating, particularly since Russia is the visiting team, but I would have respected them more if they had not done any of it...if you listen to interviews, Ovechkin is super cocky and confident...that's a good thing...everyone knows he's a great player, I would have preferred it if he let his stats back him up as opposed to any other antics...

Don't you think they were celebrating a victory, not a goal itself?

Either way, my problem is that there was showboating all the way through the game...cupping your ear to the stands, jumping into the bench...after the game is when you go crazy and mob your goaltender and celebrate...during the game you take care of business...that's how I would want my team to play anyways...there's a difference between a fist pump to celebrate a goal and skating by another team's bench and showboating, etc...

That Shirokov has some pretty good taunts too :lol

Pulling a dogs tail actually hurts the dog, taunting doesn't.

What if the dog's drunk?


S L

He basically said that it was a European style of playing, which is ridiculous and of the Don Cherry school of thought.

Everyone whining about diving is being a sore loser. There was one weak call last night. The rest was the US team playing sloppily, which is why they lost. Frankly I was surprised that the game was close for that long.




If I am ridiculous answer this.

Name all of the power forwards in the NHL that are Euro or Russian. Now then compare them to how many the US and Canada have produced. the list isnt even close. Also name all the Europe enforcers other than Oliwa in the NHL. Again the list isnt even close.

Ever watched a soccer game from Europe? If you have then you have seen a guy get another player to draw a yellow card, get carried off on a stretcher and jump up on the side lines and run around, obviously not hurt. It is found as acceptable behavior in Europe to gain a man advantage. Not only is this the case in soccer but the Russians made it very clear they play the same way. When AO got hit up high he acted like Mike Tyson punched him in the 12th.

Im not a sore loser either. I accepted the loss and have stated that the Russians played a great game.

Don't you think they were celebrating a victory, not a goal itself?

no, they were showboating and taunting cuz they scored an empty net goal

If I am ridiculous answer this.

Name all of the power forwards in the NHL that are Euro or Russian. Now then compare them to how many the US and Canada have produced. the list isnt even close. Also name all the Europe enforcers other than Oliwa in the NHL. Again the list isnt even close.

Ever watched a soccer game from Europe? If you have then you have seen a guy get another player to draw a yellow card, get carried off on a stretcher and jump up on the side lines and run around, obviously not hurt. It is found as acceptable behavior in Europe to gain a man advantage. Not only is this the case in soccer but the Russians made it very clear they play the same way. When AO got hit up high he acted like Mike Tyson punched him in the 12th.

Im not a sore loser either. I accepted the loss and have stated that the Russians played a great game.

Agreed about the power forwards. Europeans are mostly thought to bring in skating and skills, not enforcing.

However, in soccer when a guy gets carried away on a stretcher his team will be one man short until there is a whistle. So this actually gives a 'PP' opportunity to the opposing team. Only if the penalized player gets a red card, does the other team get a man advantage.

honestly i think the reason taunting is "bad" is evident in this thread, this discussion...obviously a lot of people don't like it (whether or not they only don't like it when it's against their team is irrelevant) and when you do stuff that really pisses people off...there are sometimes consequences that are not good. if russia and the US played another game...there's a pretty good chance that ovechkin and malkin would get run and possibly hurt. and in the end, that would be a result of their own taunting. i'm not saying it would be right to hurt them or something, i'm saying that when you provoke people, bad things can happen and people need to be aware of that.

Agreed about the power forwards. Europeans are mostly thought to bring in skating and skills, not enforcing.

However, in soccer when a guy gets carried away on a stretcher his team will be one man short until there is a whistle. So this actually gives a 'PP' opportunity to the opposing team. Only if the penalized player gets a red card, does the other team get a man advantage.


I should have used red card as a better example which is what I meant to do.

I saw at least 3-4 times when Russians were hit into the glass from behind, nevermind the unbeleivable whack in the face with the highstick.....there is no reason that happens other than intentionally or the kid should be permantly wearing a helmet and riding a short-bus....and almost forgot, the cross-check to AO's grill. And just because a guy isn't injured doesn't mean a hit wasn't dirty.

Remember, I wanted the US to win.

3-4 hit from behind........how many boarding calls were made?

All I have to know is that you considered O'sullivans high stick intentional. You have no idea what you are talking about.

And if you want to argue the ref cant see everything, then I will tell you this. There was no initial penalty called after that high stick, but the officiating crew that worked that game did a great job. When the ref saw that there was a injured player he got to together with the linesman who saw it and called the penalty.

So all of this dirty play resulted in how many people going to the hospital, getting stiched, being carried off in stretchers, not being able to play in the gold medal game?

If O'Sullivan intentionally hit the guy in the face with his back to him, then O'Sullivan has incredible aim with one hand. He should be in fencing then.

With his back to him? At the point of contact from Patty's stick to the Russians face, they were eye to eye.

1) Read my posts, not once have I approved showboating/taunting. On the contrary, I find it pretty stupid behaviour.

2) You seem like a true expert in making stupid generalizations. Based on your 'logic' I could as easily say that all canadian hockey players are goons, because of what the likes of Bertuzzi and Bobby Clarke have done. Would that be fair?

3) I like physical hockey too, with clean hitting, but without headhunting, without intent to injure (injure here meaning things like broken vertebrae etc.).

It's people like you that give hockey a bad name by approving and embracing unnecessary violence (evident from some of your earlier posts in the thread). Sometimes I am ashamed to be a hockey fan.

You don't condone it. Yet you are defending Ovechkin and Malkin?

Did you hear me embrace unnecessary violence or intent to injure? If Ovechkin starting taunting the bench, the fans and hiding on the bench in the NHL, things would get ugly very fast. He is trying to anger the players and fans. Garbage like that is unsportsmanlike and is just going to end up with people getting hurt. Im suprised the US didn't do anything to him, im sure they would have if he wasn't hiding on the bench.

I thought Ovechkin was going to be different than most Russian players. But after that display, I realize he's just another bum.

Also, Why are you bringing up things like Bertuzzi and broken vertabrea? Would you be saying that to me if I wasn't from BC? I feel like I can't even talk to other hockey fans without people playing the Bertuzzi card on me.

You don't condone it. Yet you are defending Ovechkin and Malkin?

Did you hear me embrace unnecessary violence or intent to injure? If Ovechkin starting taunting the bench, the fans and hiding on the bench in the NHL, things would get ugly very fast. He is trying to anger the players and fans. Garbage like that is unsportsmanlike and is just going to end up with people getting hurt. Im suprised the US didn't do anything to him, im sure they would have if he wasn't hiding on the bench.

I thought Ovechkin was going to be different than most Russian players. But after that display, I realize he's just another bum.

Also, Why are you bringing up things like Bertuzzi and broken vertabrea? Would you be saying that to me if I wasn't from BC? I feel like I can't even talk to other hockey fans without people playing the Bertuzzi card on me.

Ok. I'll go through these paragraph by paragraph.

I am not defending anybody, just stating that acts like their's, while being pretty stupid, definitely don't merit headhunting/unnecessary violence.

The tone of some of your earlier posts implied that you approve retaliation/headhunting in certain cases. To me that's unnecessary violence and intent to injure. However, if you deny approving actions like that, I'm totally fine with this and that's it: end of discussion.

The Ovechkin comment I'm not gonna even touch.

The obvious recent example about headhunting/retaliation happens to be the Bertuzzi incident, that's why. It also nicely illustrates what can happen in such a scenario. I have nothing against BC.

shouldn't this thread be closed? or do we only close threads that say Ovechkin is better than Crosby?

If I am ridiculous answer this.

Name all of the power forwards in the NHL that are Euro or Russian. Now then compare them to how many the US and Canada have produced. the list isnt even close. Also name all the Europe enforcers other than Oliwa in the NHL. Again the list isnt even close.

Ever watched a soccer game from Europe? If you have then you have seen a guy get another player to draw a yellow card, get carried off on a stretcher and jump up on the side lines and run around, obviously not hurt. It is found as acceptable behavior in Europe to gain a man advantage. Not only is this the case in soccer but the Russians made it very clear they play the same way. When AO got hit up high he acted like Mike Tyson punched him in the 12th.

Im not a sore loser either. I accepted the loss and have stated that the Russians played a great game.

Power forwards and tough guys are totally irrelevant in this discussion.

This is about you saying that the European style is to dive. This isn't about soccer games, this is about hockey. I don't recall Ovechkin overexaggerating a hit, but maybe I missed it. Like I said, I remember one dive in this game from the Russian team.

I remember two distinct cheap shots from the Americans.

I want to ask you straight up. Do you believe that it is a European style of hockey to dive?

The obvious recent example about headhunting/retaliation happens to be the Bertuzzi incident, that's why. It also nicely illustrates what can happen in such a scenario. I have nothing against BC.

Bingo. I don't care where anybody is from. If you are hinting or hoping or saying that it's justified to have cheap physical attacks on players, regardless of what they do to provoke it, then you are basically asking for more situations like the Bertuzzi or Perezhogin incidents.

If a player is arrogant, fine, they are a tool. If they spit on you, fine, they are a moron. But nothing they do to you gives you the right to actually try to injure them. There's no justification there, simply put. Anyone who thinks there is is just talking out of anger, ignorance or spite.

Power forwards and tough guys are totally irrelevant in this discussion.

This is about you saying that the European style is to dive. This isn't about soccer games, this is about hockey. I don't recall Ovechkin overexaggerating a hit, but maybe I missed it. Like I said, I remember one dive in this game from the Russian team.



Here is my original quote that started this.

Americans and Canadians play hardnosed hockey

Russians and Euros play a finesse game and find diving to be acceptable to draw a penalty.

There it is in English.

You made your little Don Cherry comment and said my statement was ridiculous so power forwards and tough guys are VERY relevent because I stated that the countrys play two different styles. One is tough nosed hockey and the other is more of a finesse game. i used the soccer reference to show that it just isnt in hockey that this is done.

Also I never said it was there style to do it, did I but I did say they find it acceptable.

Also I never said it was there style to do it, did I but I did say they find it acceptable.

Some do, some don't. I personally detest it like the plague.

As someone who was at the game, watched the replay at home, and saw every highlight 40 times...

a) Russia played an alright game. Not a great game, but enough to win. Ovechkin didn't impress me all that much, but Malkin did.

b) Outside of the first period, US played like crap and didn't deserve to win.

c) The Russian taunting and showboating, regardless of the reason, was classless and while its not unexpected from a bunch of kids (regardless of the nationality), it still is regrettable.

d) Instead of ignoring them or challenging them with their fists, the US turned to sticking and cheapshots to vent their frustration. Might have been more classless than the original taunting.

So, it was just an ugly game all around. Niether side has much room to complain about the other.

I personally detest it like the plague.

You're in Toronto though.

Here is my original quote that started this.

Americans and Canadians play hardnosed hockey

Russians and Euros play a finesse game and find diving to be acceptable to draw a penalty.

There it is in English.

You made your little Don Cherry comment and said my statement was ridiculous so power forwards and tough guys are VERY relevent because I stated that the countrys play two different styles. One is tough nosed hockey and the other is more of a finesse game. i used the soccer reference to show that it just isnt in hockey that this is done.

Also I never said it was there style to do it, did I but I did say they find it acceptable.

No, power forwards and tough guys are completely unrelated to what I asked you. I never said that European players play that way. They generally play a much more finesse game, I totally agree.

Soccer is moot, unless you are trying to argue that Europeans in general think it's ok to dive, which is ridiculous to say the least.

I just didn't see all the diving everyone seems to talk about from the European players in the NHL, and specifically in this game from the Russians.

Diving is a problem in the NHL, but it isn't as though only European players dive. Players dive because they can get away with it, not because of what country they are from.



... and one addition I'd like to make to my other post about leading to Bertuzzi/Perezhogin situations. When stuff like overexcessive celebration and taunting happens, refs need to take action against it with penalties. Just because players responding to situations like taunting or general cheap play with extreme violence is unjustified and wrong doesn't mean that it won't happen.

You can't let players get away with provoking their opponent...

But, in this USA game with have the same situation basically reversed, although instead of responding to some chippy plays and a few cheap shots with violence, the Russians ended up responding to it with arrogant celebrating, which is why I didn't take issue with the whole thing. It's childish, but much better than the alternative.

A lot of it comes back to the refs. They need to establish control in games, control over instruction-type things that are prevelant in the NHL and happened in this game, and also control over the players behavior.

They didn't really have it in this game, although it wasn't that bad, but thankfully nobody ended up injured.

No, power forwards and tough guys are completely unrelated to what I asked you. I never said that European players play that way. They generally play a much more finesse game, I totally agree.

Ok I cant back up the part of my quote with a fact that North Americans play Hardnosed hockey with the power forwards and enforcer part but we can agree on the finesse......whatever man.


Soccer is moot, unless you are trying to argue that Europeans in general think it's ok to dive, which is ridiculous to say the least.

why is it ridiculous?

Ok I cant back up the part of my quote with a fact that North Americans play Hardnosed hockey with the power forwards and enforcer part but we can agree on the finesse......whatever man.

I'm not talking about the style in which players play, I was asking you if you thought European players dive as part of their game, which clearly you do. I wasn't even talking about power forwards or tough guys.

I just don't see how what kind of players North Americans generally are relates to European players diving. Finesse doesn't relate with diving. Diving is diving.

why is it ridiculous?

Because it's on par with any generalization that you can name. Just because one player does something, doesn't mean similar players will do the same thing. Because one black guy robs a bank, doesn't mean that all black guys will rob a bank. Because one white guy kills a man, doesn't mean that all white guys will kill a man. I could go on and on.

You don't have any factual basis for saying that Europeans in general think it's ok to dive and take dives, that's why the statement is ridiculous. One European player may dive, but that doesn't mean his teammate will too.

Like I said, a player dives because they can get away with it and draw a penalty. There are no labels to be put on a vast general people, who are each a unique player.

Players dive because they get away with it and because they want to draw a penalty, not because they were born in Sweden or Russia. For a rational person, that is very easy to see.

You're in Toronto though.

Yep, but born and bred in Finland. :)
Although that may be unimportant, because the Finns tend to play a more physical game (hockey, that is) than some other Europeans. It's our style.

You people have got to be kidding me. I love watching Russian players play the game because they LOVE to win. They show emotion and don't hide it in fear of ridicule. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what the Russians did in that USA game. If the Americans don't like it they should have won the game.

If I score on you, I deserve the chance to rub it in. Don't like it? Hit me. Score on me. Beat me.

That's sports people. It's a competitive game and taunting a team is showing them you own them. The Russians dominated the Americans and are playing in the Gold medal game. They are the better team and they KNOW it. I love that they know it and I'm happy they showed it. Sure it's not all that sportsmanlike but who cares. Really?

I would have no problem with any team taunting my Canadians if they were to beat us. Know why? Because they are the better team. If I want my revenge I will show my support next year and hope my team can bring home the win and my right to brag and taunt.

Enough said.

You people have got to be kidding me. I love watching Russian players play the game because they LOVE to win. They show emotion and don't hide it in fear of ridicule. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what the Russians did in that USA game. If the Americans don't like it they should have won the game.

If I score on you, I deserve the chance to rub it in. Don't like it? Hit me. Score on me. Beat me.

That's sports people. It's a competitive game and taunting a team is showing them you own them. The Russians dominated the Americans and are playing in the Gold medal game. They are the better team and they KNOW it. I love that they know it and I'm happy they showed it. Sure it's not all that sportsmanlike but who cares. Really?

I would have no problem with any team taunting my Canadians if they were to beat us. Know why? Because they are the better team. If I want my revenge I will show my support next year and hope my team can bring home the win and my right to brag and taunt.

Enough said.

you sir are a dolt :dunce:

I thought Ovechkin was going to be different than most Russian players. But after that display, I realize he's just another bum.


I'm just curious exactly what you saw him do.....point to the back of his jersey? His EN goal celebration was no different from his other from what I saw...and considering it iced the game I can understand the excitement......what makes him a bum?

Russians and Euros play a finesse game and find diving to be acceptable to draw a penalty


Also I never said it was there style to do it, did I but I did say they find it acceptable.


the problem is you make it seem like Euros invented diving....its been around as long as I can remember....which is well before Euros played on every team

I want to ask you straight up. Do you believe that it is a European style of hockey to dive?

Sure, just ask Jeremy Roenick :lol

You people have got to be kidding me. I love watching Russian players play the game because they LOVE to win. They show emotion and don't hide it in fear of ridicule. There was absolutely nothing wrong with what the Russians did in that USA game.

...and I'm pretty sure that your a thinly disguised Russian.

Ovechkin is a disgrace to his country and to the game of hockey. He was a little brat three years ago and it's pretty clear that he's become an even bigger brat!

He could use a big helping of humble pie right about now to help him later on in life.