shawn_kemp* 02-15-2006, 09:36 PM It all started this morning when Canada scored only one single goal in the 1st period against Italy. 15 minutes later things had even gotten worse as Italy tied Canada 1-1!!! :eek: Everyone was like "oh my Gosh, Pat Quinn can't coach, Crosby and Staal should have been on the team, Draper is horrible", and so on. Goodbye Canada's gold medal hopes!
Then it was the Czechs' turn to freak out. The 1st period ended with Germany leading the way 1-0!!! Hasek got injured, the Germans had scored, and every Czech fan thought the Olympics were already over for them! Jagr was naturally accused of underachieving in big events and also of playing only for the money. :speechles
The biggest upset of the day (which is, as a matter of fact, the smallest surprise of the day) : Slovakia takes down the Russians 5-3. And now we hear that the Russians are not playing as a team, that the coach doesn't know his job, whereas those same people were praising Russia's beautiful combinations and great scoring chances until the 56th minute of the 3rd ... or at least the end of the 2nd period. Yeah, it's St. Petersburg 2000 version 2.0!!! :cry:
And finally, an earthquake of the highest magnitude shakes the US!!! 3-3 tie against Latvia, a team that iced only 2 NHLers (one of whom is currently in a substance abuse program)!!!!! The US are definetly going to finish 6th in group B now, and will get outscored by at least 5 or 6 goals by Sweden and Slovakia (maybe even Kazakhstan)!!! :sarcasm:
But did anyone actually notice that we're only 1 game into the tournament? That about half of the NHL players arrived yesterday, on the day of the 1st and only practice? Did anyone notice that many of these players have never played together before?
Please don't make any conclusions so early. After all, if a bad performance in an opening match is so significant, I wonder how Canada managed to win the Gold medal in 2002?
Fact : Canada and the Czech Republic lost on their way to gold in 98 and 2002!!!
Keep faith and enjoy the show!!! ;)
sabresrat 02-15-2006, 09:41 PM I admire your optimism, but keep three things in mind:
The Czechs lost to Finland and had some guy named Hasek in the nets.
The Canadians lost to Sweden and had some guy named Brodeur in the nets after that game.
The United States tied Latvia and has John Grahame in the nets.
shawn_kemp* 02-15-2006, 09:43 PM I admire your optimism, but keep three things in mind:
The Canadians lost to Sweden and had some guy named Brodeur in the nets after that game.
Ok.
Brodeur then beats Germany 3-2 ... great.
Brodeur ties the Czechs 3-3 ... fantastic.
Ovechkin_mvp 02-15-2006, 09:45 PM It's all over, it's all over :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
I admire your optimism, but keep three things in mind:
The Czechs lost to Finland and had some guy named Hasek in the nets.
The Canadians lost to Sweden and had some guy named Brodeur in the nets after that game.
The United States tied Latvia and has John Grahame in the nets.Actually, they lost 2-1 to Russia in that year's preliminary round... :teach:
shawn_kemp* 02-15-2006, 09:46 PM It's all over, it's all over :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
Exactly. I bet the suicide rate was higher than usual in Russia and USA today. :D
sabresrat 02-15-2006, 09:48 PM Actually, they lost 2-1 to Russia in that year's preliminary round... :teach:
http://www.hockeynut.com/olympics/finalrnd.html
Sorry. :teach:
go kim johnsson 514 02-15-2006, 10:35 PM Most American hockey fans were waiting for this. None of us are freaking out. I didn't think Latvia would win, but I'm also not shocked this ended in a tie. The other 6 countries have fans that are more apt to be jumping off bridges if they needed to score in the 3rd just to get a tie.
Phil333 02-15-2006, 10:50 PM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
Teemu 02-15-2006, 10:52 PM I'd argue that all of the fear and panic was due to the top 50 prospects list ;)
sabresrat 02-15-2006, 10:52 PM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
I don't think they have much to worry about. Many people thought Vokoun should be starting ahead of Hasek anyways.
go kim johnsson 514 02-15-2006, 10:53 PM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
Why? They have Vokoun. He'd be starting for any other team not called Canada
blamebettman 02-15-2006, 10:54 PM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
yes because Tomas Vokoun is a terrible goaltender :shakehead
The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
... and Sens fans. *freaks out*
sansan 02-15-2006, 10:55 PM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
Don't you mean the Sens?
Ovechkin_mvp 02-15-2006, 10:59 PM Kazahstan's fans are the only ones not freaking out.
Those people are made of steel, I am telling you :teach:
futurcorerock 02-15-2006, 11:04 PM Typical HF Knee Jerk
Maybe it's just me but USA has had this coming for a while. They're sitting on a hiccup of over-the-top talent that's either too old to make the kind of profound impact that a Hasek or a Sakic might, or they're knee deep in players too young to make that impact.
Nevermind that USA has been hurting for years since Richter decided to call the international game quits.
Also don't forget that Irbe literally stole that tie from Team USA. If he has an equally good tournament, I could see him getting picked up by someone down the road once his European commitments are up
I have a dream......
I'm waiting for a day when 3 to 4 of today's Elite 7 (CAN, CZE, FIN, RUS, SWE, SVK, and USA) do not make the QF round of a tournament....
A lot of fans from those countries will be freaking out, but if there are more elite nations in hockey (up from today's 7) then the hockey world will be better overall! :handclap:
jcpenny 02-15-2006, 11:09 PM A lot of fans here are overreacting over one game. Its a long tournament and these guys arent use to play with each others yet.
USA will get better and they dominated the game, im looking for Dipietro to take over for the rest of the Tournament.
Canada didnt even brake a sweat against Italy in a game which they played not embarass the opposition. To get alarmed after this game is just stupid.
Russia is known to step it up as the tournament goes on
same goes for Czechs
Skroob* 02-15-2006, 11:12 PM Why? They have Vokoun. He'd be starting for any other team not called Canada
or sweden
futurcorerock 02-15-2006, 11:19 PM I have a dream......
I'm waiting for a day when 3 to 4 of today's Elite 7 (CAN, CZE, FIN, RUS, SWE, SVK, and USA) do not make the QF round of a tournament....
A lot of fans from those countries will be freaking out, but if there are more elite nations in hockey (up from today's 7) then the hockey world will be better overall! :handclap:
Unlike the Civil Rights movement, your dreams probably won't be coming true any time soon.
Germany, Latvia, Kazakhstan, and Switzerland ( arguably the teams that would need to take said superpowers' place) are going to have to make some magnificent strides in player development aside from the occasional starting NHL goaltender
Ovechkin_mvp 02-15-2006, 11:26 PM Germany looks pretty good to me.
I think they might as well make the top 8 in 10+ years or so.
Blades of Glory 02-15-2006, 11:27 PM Germany looks pretty good to me.
I think they might as well make the top 8 in 10+ years or so.
Sharks prospect Tomas Greiss starts against Canada tommorow. I'm hoping he can keep them below 7 goals.
futurcorerock 02-15-2006, 11:28 PM Germany looks pretty good to me.
I think they might as well make the top 8 in 10+ years or so.
Actually I probably said Germany in haste, I do see them being a team in contention if they keep up the pace of player development.
Substitute Germany for Japan in this case
Ovechkin_mvp 02-15-2006, 11:28 PM Sharks prospect Tomas Greiss starts against Canada tommorow. I'm hoping he can keep them below 7 goals.
what happened to Kolzig?
Blades of Glory 02-15-2006, 11:30 PM what happened to Kolzig?
Nothing. I guess just back to back games.
Ovechkin_mvp 02-15-2006, 11:31 PM Nothing. I guess just back to back games.
interesting choice
Yep. Kölzig just gets a little rest. The games on Saturday and Sunday against Switzerland & Italy are much more important than the game against Canada since we'll lose against Canada anyways.
Germany's goal is the 4th place and a loss to Canada won't really affect that. Kölzig needs to be as sharp as he has been today and 4 games in 5 days isn't easy.
nyrmessier011 02-15-2006, 11:53 PM awesome post!
Ovechkin_mvp 02-16-2006, 12:01 AM Yep. Kölzig just gets a little rest. The games on Saturday and Sunday against Switzerland & Italy are much more important than the game against Canada since we'll lose against Canada anyways.
Germany's goal is the 4th place and a loss to Canada won't really affect that. Kölzig needs to be as sharp as he has been today and 4 games in 5 days isn't easy.
Last time around Germany played a very good game vs Canada.
Why not to aim at a tie?
you never know
khy206 02-16-2006, 12:11 AM I don't think they have much to worry about. Many people thought Vokoun should be starting ahead of Hasek anyways.
1. Sens fans worry Hasek.
2. Czech fans worry too not because Vokoun isn't capable but they might have to play him every single game. This Olympic has very tight schedule.
Garbs 02-16-2006, 12:22 AM How are you even comparing the initial reactions to the Canada, Czech Republic, and Russia games to the ones seen when the United States of America tied Latvia?
If criticism and concern isn't warranted when Team USA is going into the third period losing to Latvia, then I really don't know when it is. First day of the tournament or not.
Wisent 02-16-2006, 04:25 AM The only people who should be freaking out are the Czechs because of Hasek's injury.
The only people who should be freaking out are the Sens because of Hasek's injury.
Danny__K 02-16-2006, 04:28 AM "oh my Gosh, Pat Quinn can't coach,
The fact Quinn can't coach has nothing to do with Canadas slow start against Italy :sarcasm:
Gozer 02-16-2006, 04:32 AM I almost wanted Sweden to play a bad game against Kazahkstan. It seems that every time they start a tournament good, they end up sucking at the end.
jumptheshark 02-16-2006, 06:38 AM When Italia scored that first goal
the BBC showed a shot of the Canadian bench and I could have sworn I saw a players say
"****, the game started----why didn't I get my walk up call"
Last time around Germany played a very good game vs Canada.
Why not to aim at a tie?
you never know
Why not give Greiss a chance ?
He struggled the first 10 minutes, but then had a very good game. Remember that this was just his 3rd game in the National dress...
I have a dream......
I'm waiting for a day when 3 to 4 of today's Elite 7 (CAN, CZE, FIN, RUS, SWE, SVK, and USA) do not make the QF round of a tournament....
A lot of fans from those countries will be freaking out, but if there are more elite nations in hockey (up from today's 7) then the hockey world will be better overall! :handclap:
That day will come right around the same day i'll step on the Moon, which is probably right about NEVER!!! :)
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