February 26, 2010
— DrewM Game update: Finland's coach says he sorry he started this guy in net today...
It was an interesting experiment but it didn't pan out.
Kudos to "garrett" in the comments for the scouting report on Miikka Kiprusoff.
Original Post:
Before getting to today's game just let me say I may, just may, have to reconsider my absolute loathing of womens 'hockey'. After the Canadian women beat the US in the gold medal games, the canuks hung around on the ice drinking beer and smoking cigars. The IOC is miffed but I'm...kind of aroused.
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On to today's mens game (3pm Eastern on NBC). The US is playing for a medal, today determines if it's the gold or bronze game. I honestly did not expect that coming in to this tournament. Sunday's win over Canada got them into what is no doubt the weaker half of the draw and with their win over Switzerland they took full advantage of what they earned.
As for the Finns, goalie Miikka Kiprusoff has been outstanding behind what has at times been a lackadaisical team (see their loss on Sunday to now eliminated Sweden with the number one seed was on the line).
Finland has NHL talent up front with Ollie Joakanen and the Koivu and Tuutu brothers. They also get Joni Pittkanen back on the blue line. Pitkanen missed the game with the Czech Republic due to a suspension for hitting Sweden's Patric Hornqvist in the head (with an elbow iirc). There's no doubt the Finns have the talent to play with the US and Kiprusoff is more than capable of stealing the game for them.
All that said, I like the US in this game. If they continue to use their size and strength to generate offensive chances, mind their defensive obligations and Ryan Miller stays insanely good in goal, the US believe it or not will be playing for gold on Sunday.
As for those of you on the West Coast, sorry but the game is going to be discussed and not just here but on just about every news and sport site or program. It can't be avoided, so you just need to try and avoid this thread and curse NBC (or try watching it here).
Below the fold...tmi3rd, who actually knows something about hockey breaks it down for you.
So here we go, coming off of the quarters... Slovakia had more speed than an aging, tired Team Sweden... the Finns won a staredown contest with the Czechs, where one tipped pass made all the difference... the US threw everything in the world at Switzerland, and finally broke through... and Canada came out of the chute and overwhelmed Russia.What's it all mean? Well, first of all, for the US, they demonstrated once again that they can win pretty or they can win ugly. The US owned the first period against the Swiss. They began to break down a bit in the second, and then finally broke through in the third. That's good, because Finland will be more than game to play that kind of game. The Finns only really got into trouble against Sweden, and other than that have been defensively amazing. They've given up four goals total- one to Belarus and three to Sweden. It's not like the Czechs lacked offensive firepower.
The US is going to have to be extremely physical (which is, fortunately, exactly how they've been playing), but continue to improve defensively. The up-tempo style the US plays should work reasonably well against Finland, who are somewhat of a dark horse in these Olympics... some of their guys are up in age, but have plenty of experience. This game will likely be a test of conditioning, and Finland will likely try to do what the Swiss did- that is, clear out the middle. Look for Finnish D Kimmo Timonen to be a big key to this game.
It goes without saying that Ryan Miller will have to be the first star of the game for the US... Mikka Kiprusoff has been nothing short of miraculous (as he can be for Calgary) and the Finns will be scrappy offensively. I would be surprised greatly to see this game be terribly high scoring.
USA-Finland will be on the NBC mother ship at 3 PM Eastern.
On the other side, Slovakia got past Sweden with superior team speed. Sweden was consistently scoring three goals a game, but an aging Swedish defense just couldn't quite contain Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra in particular. Jaroslav Halak has been very solid in net, and the Slovakian defense have some serious size on defense.
They will face Canada at 9:30 Eastern. Presumably, it'll be on one of the NBC cable networks.
Canada came out of the gate with their hair on fire, and quite cheerfully ran the Russians out of the barn in the first period. The game plan clearly indicated that they would hit Alexander Ovechkin back first, and the Russians came out flatter than a board. They were unprepared for the Canadian intensity (difficult to understand) and Evgeni Nabokov picked this game to utterly disintegrate. Three or four goals were completely stoppable by Nabokov, and the majority of Canadian goals came off of face-palmingly bad errors by the Russian defense.
It was said before the tournament that the Russian Achilles' heel would be their blueline, and this was borne out against Canada. It is also worth noting that their first line didn't backcheck for anything... the Russians didn't make a goaltending change until being down 6-1. With 9:58 gone in the second period, the score was 7-2.
Roberto Luongo had a few very nice saves, and did not make the kind of puckhandling mistakes that Martin Brodeur made against the US. He was beaten twice over the glove- surprising from a butterfly goaltender, and particularly on Maxim Afinogenov's goal in the second period. Long-distance shots through traffic beat Luongo in this game- worth noting for the future.
Can Slovakia beat Canada? It's unlikely but totally possible. Certainly, if Canada comes out with the same level of desperate intensity that they did against Russia, they're the best in the world. But don't lose sight of the fact that Slovakia's got huge defensemen who can clear traffic out, a goaltender who can steal the game for you, and a whole lot of scoring punch and speed. The Slovaks will need to make Canadian forwards pay a price every time they cross the blue line, and punish the Canadian defense (who have shown vulnerability) every time they touch the puck. And, of course, Halak will have to steal the game for the Slovaks.
For Canada, they're going to have to blunt the speedy Slovak attack at the blue line. Slovakia can score off the rush, or set Marian Gaborik up to snipe away. Their defense was much more part of the rush against Russia, and that worked well for them. It would be a disaster for Canada, however, if the defensemen pinch and aren't properly covered on the backline... the Slovak speed would be fatal.
The only prediction you'll get out of me is a Canadian win over Slovakia... the US game is too scary to predict.
I'll just if Canada plays anything like they did against Russia, everyone is playing for 2nd place. Thing is, it's really hard to play at that level 3 straight games. The pressure is going to be getting exponentially greater and as we've seen, that causes problems for the Canadians. But that game on Wednesday? No one could have kept up with them.
Posted by: DrewM at
10:54 AM
| Comments (298)
Post contains 1276 words, total size 8 kb.
Their embrace of the rifle. Usually expressed by using Godless commie Russkies as targets.
They drink more than anyone else in Europe, probably the world.
They apparently got away with stealing all of the vowels from the Welsh.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 26, 2010 11:01 AM (I/MqP)
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:01 AM (gAmQ1)
I
play
air hockey, ball hockey, barn hockey, bubble hockey, field hockey, floor hockey, ice hockey, kitchen hockey, road hockey, roller hockey, table hockey, twist hockey
And I play hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey, hockey all the time
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 26, 2010 11:02 AM (bbn3s)
Posted by: Jan Jones, member at large of National Assembly for Gals at February 26, 2010 11:02 AM (CfmlF)
US has a good chance of winning this early.
Mika has a bad habbit of Coughing up multiples a la Chris Osgood. He can stand on his head, amazing talent when he's one... but he can also cough up three goals in 90 seconds.
Go Blackhawks!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:04 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: CUS at February 26, 2010 11:05 AM (wOGfT)
Posted by: Obama Crotch Sniffer at February 26, 2010 11:06 AM (CfmlF)
All Hawks are still in this thing. A real good chance each one comes home with a medal.
Posted by: CUS at February 26, 2010 11:06 AM (wOGfT)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at February 26, 2010 11:07 AM (YmPwQ)
Posted by: AmishDude at February 26, 2010 11:08 AM (Vo2Ef)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:08 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Unclefacts, Summoner of Meteors, and Buckets of Scorn for the Left at February 26, 2010 11:08 AM (erIg9)
Go Blackhawks!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 03:04 PM (PfTTh)
Blackhawks sucks major ass. Only reason to go watch them is to root for the other teams and take advantage of the ticket prices ($100 for a great seat, hard to beat that unless I buy my friend's season tickets)
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:08 AM (gAmQ1)
Posted by: McLovin at February 26, 2010 11:10 AM (BN/jk)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:10 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 11:10 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: robotwhisper at February 26, 2010 11:10 AM (EiH7n)
As a bowler, it's difficult for me to hear "Mika" and not associate it with The Big Finn, "Major" Mika Koivuniemi. But that's just me.
Posted by: Vile Roman at February 26, 2010 11:12 AM (iBzKc)
Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 26, 2010 11:13 AM (pLTLS)
Posted by: McLovin at February 26, 2010 11:16 AM (BN/jk)
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 11:16 AM (/SEUy)
I so would love to party with them!
I thought they (at least a lot of them) played in a different 'league'?
Not that there's...
[...not that that would keep me from partying with them!]
And So It Begins.
I'd pull Mika.
They have keepers stacked like Cordwood in Finland.
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:16 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: NJConservative at February 26, 2010 11:17 AM (/Ywwg)
not that in to hockey, but I wish them the best of luck
Posted by: caller #9 at February 26, 2010 11:17 AM (Ed9Xn)
Posted by: Bill Clinton at February 26, 2010 11:17 AM (cniXs)
Posted by: Damn Sockpuppet at February 26, 2010 11:17 AM (YmPwQ)
Posted by: DrewM. at February 26, 2010 11:18 AM (9B5OK)
Posted by: Steve L. at February 26, 2010 11:18 AM (Gkhxf)
Posted by: Steve L. at February 26, 2010 11:20 AM (Gkhxf)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0
Posted by: schizuki at February 26, 2010 11:21 AM (KvdPX)
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 11:21 AM (hFZyS)
Posted by: Tami at February 26, 2010 11:21 AM (VuLos)
Bite me!
Posted by: Jonathan Toews at February 26, 2010 03:21 PM (omtdM)
don't hate on me because the majority of people go to a Hawks game to root for the team they're playing
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:23 AM (gAmQ1)
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 11:23 AM (/SEUy)
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 11:23 AM (hFZyS)
As a Canadian, DrewM got it backwards.
The favorite is the US team, hands down, they are the team to beat.
We Canadians fear the US team, they got something going on. They already beat Canada, and we all know that they can do it again.
Funny, and quite pathetically, our Canadian identity is being tied to the success of this Olympic Men's hockey team. Canadians are void of real nationalistic substance, we only pride ourselves in "not being Americans", multiculturalism ( which is 'we believe in everything, so we believe in nothing'), and hockey playing.
Posted by: Pete at February 26, 2010 11:23 AM (ZhCZM)
Posted by: Monica Lewinsky at February 26, 2010 11:24 AM (7AOgy)
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:24 AM (gAmQ1)
All the reporter bags are talking about this game.. lol
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Posted by: Mjim at February 26, 2010 11:25 AM (V8B//)
So is that the DrewM kiss of death for a player? Kind of like being on the Sports Illustrated cover?
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:25 AM (lvYSc)
Posted by: Another South American soccer announcer at February 26, 2010 11:27 AM (/SEUy)
Posted by: Tommy V at February 26, 2010 11:27 AM (gkc1e)
Better yet, put me and Liz in. We still may score three, but it'd be a better match up.
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 11:27 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Steve the Pirate at February 26, 2010 11:28 AM (W54Uh)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:28 AM (lvYSc)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:28 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: fozzy at February 26, 2010 11:29 AM (ccEuN)
Funny, and quite pathetically, our Canadian identity is being tied to the success of this Olympic Men's hockey team. Canadians are void of real nationalistic substance, we only pride ourselves in "not being Americans", multiculturalism ( which is 'we believe in everything, so we believe in nothing'), and hockey playing.
Posted by: Pete at February 26, 2010 03:23 PM (ZhCZM)
In the name of true multiculturalism, shouldn't Canada swear off hockey for a few years and take up jai alai instead? To get fully integrated into the Americas?
Posted by: Monica Lewinsky at February 26, 2010 11:29 AM (7AOgy)
Posted by: Mallamutt at February 26, 2010 03:29 PM (V9SYy)
That's the kinda thing I would expect from the IOC
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 11:30 AM (/SEUy)
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 11:30 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 11:30 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:31 AM (lvYSc)
So the only suspense for the rest of the period is whether we'll make or miss the extra point...or go for two...
I can't wait for football season.
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 11:31 AM (/SEUy)
Andres Cantor. Argentinian who went to USC. He does commentary for Telemundo (one of the US Spanish channels) now, though he used to be on Univision (another Spanish net)
Posted by: someone at February 26, 2010 11:31 AM (njJQD)
Posted by: Steve the Pirate at February 26, 2010 11:32 AM (W54Uh)
Also milk in bags which is wrong. Though dammit I am craving Timbits liks a sonofabitch.
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:32 AM (lvYSc)
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:32 AM (gAmQ1)
Holy shit. Slaughter rule better come into effect.
True dat, Mortis! Quick, Team Finnland, put in your dead sisters's teeth so that you have an excuse for doing so poorly!
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 11:33 AM (CfmlF)
Okay, I'm pulling Miller in the 2nd.
No chance of him getting into a crisis by letting in any cheapies...and you give Quick a chance to play in the Olympics and get his chops in case he is needed in the final game.
Who would Dare Question my Game-Plan?
Come, kneel before Zodd!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:33 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 03:32 PM (lvYSc)
the milk is fresher in the bags and farmers get more money from the sale
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:33 AM (gAmQ1)
Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at February 26, 2010 11:33 AM (P33XN)
Our boys haven't scored in a while. Slackers...
Posted by: Steve the Pirate at February 26, 2010 11:34 AM (W54Uh)
I got next in goal for Finland!!!
No..I'm going. What - think it can get worse?
Posted by: Stevie Wonder at February 26, 2010 03:30 PM (V9SYy)
All right guys, but I just got my skates laced up in case you need me.
Posted by: Swiss Cheese at February 26, 2010 11:35 AM (CPhzk)
Posted by: DrewM
Barack Obama
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 11:35 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: DrewM. at February 26, 2010 03:34 PM (9B5OK)
Obama....check is in the mail.
Posted by: Tami at February 26, 2010 11:36 AM (VuLos)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:36 AM (lvYSc)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 11:36 AM (ekqTc)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 03:32 PM (lvYSc)
the milk is fresher in the bags and farmers get more money from the sale
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 03:33 PM (gAmQ1)
And if you have leftovers in the fridge the milk will taste like onions, or that rotting orange way in the back that you forgot about.
alex - Don't American doughut places sell doughnut-holes?
Posted by: fozzy at February 26, 2010 11:36 AM (ccEuN)
I think this is the first time Olympic hockey hasn't been played on an international-sized rink.
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 26, 2010 11:37 AM (bbn3s)
Posted by: Chris Matthews at February 26, 2010 11:37 AM (P33XN)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 11:37 AM (ekqTc)
Let's sing the Finland national anthem. Maybe they'll cowboy-up a little bit.
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 11:37 AM (hFZyS)
As far as I can remember you are correct. I prefer Olympic rinks for Olympic hockey.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 11:38 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 03:36 PM (lvYSc)
Go ahead...it looks like they'll be 3 more after you get back.
Posted by: Tami at February 26, 2010 11:38 AM (VuLos)
My kids don't want to watch anymore. One period of seal-clubbing and they're done.
Posted by: Steve the Pirate's Wife at February 26, 2010 11:39 AM (sxPda)
Posted by: sTevo at February 26, 2010 11:41 AM (OrvMD)
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 11:41 AM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 26, 2010 03:37 PM (bbn3s)
I worded that wrong (and any Olympics in the US or Canada get played on NHL size rinks). I meant in the way that our team is so young (and I would be surprised if the reason they went so young in the first place isn't to keep them together for a few Olympics), I wonder how quick they could adapt to the extra size as I don't think any of them have played on it before.
Posted by: fartbubble at February 26, 2010 11:41 AM (gAmQ1)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 11:41 AM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 11:41 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 11:42 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 11:43 AM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Johnny Weir at February 26, 2010 11:43 AM (CfmlF)
Here is the Spanish hockey feed, sound only. Spanish hockey commentators.
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 11:43 AM (hFZyS)
Posted by: BlendXD at February 26, 2010 11:43 AM (awtW3)
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 11:44 AM (hFZyS)
Posted by: bobbo at February 26, 2010 11:45 AM (+ABdJ)
Here is the Spanish hockey feed, sound only. Spanish hockey commentators.
Posted by: rdbrewer at February 26, 2010 03:43 PM (hFZyS)
Gracias Amigo!
Posted by: spanish speaking moron at February 26, 2010 11:46 AM (Vu6sl)
Posted by: bobbo at February 26, 2010 03:45 PM (+ABdJ)
He was born in Kenya, but he won't produce his birth certificate.
Posted by: finnish birther at February 26, 2010 11:47 AM (Vu6sl)
Posted by: sTevo at February 26, 2010 03:41 PM (OrvMD)
The Vancouver Olympics are our bitches!
Posted by: 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics at February 26, 2010 11:51 AM (Vu6sl)
Wow. I just noticed how many commercials I've seen touting Moms as the driving force behind athletic success at the Olympics.
Really? REALLY?
No one else had any influence over the athletes?
Talk about feminist overreach.
Posted by: Chris Matthews at February 26, 2010 11:54 AM (P33XN)
(too drunk to remember the next letter. Help me here, somebody.)
Posted by: ArcticBoy at February 26, 2010 03:53 PM (4fc2a)
I before E except after S
Posted by: Moron English Teacher at February 26, 2010 11:54 AM (Vu6sl)
Posted by: paranoid polly at February 26, 2010 11:55 AM (r7Vc3)
Posted by: Dave S at February 26, 2010 11:55 AM (PZak5)
Those commercials make me so mad. Then I watch The Man Your Man Can Smell Like and I feel much better.
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 11:57 AM (lvYSc)
So what's the over/under? 13?
Sheesh....
Posted by: HH at February 26, 2010 03:55 PM (GkYyh)
I'm estimating that they will average 6 per period, so the score should end up being 18-0. JMHO
Posted by: Moron Hockey Mathematician at February 26, 2010 11:57 AM (Vu6sl)
Salt Lake City and Calgary were definitely international-size.
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 26, 2010 11:58 AM (bbn3s)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 12:00 PM (ekqTc)
Wow. I just noticed how many commercials I've seen touting Moms as the driving force behind athletic success at the Olympics.
Really? REALLY?
No one else had any influence over the athletes?
Talk about feminist overreach.
Who do you think drives the kids to the lessons and practices when they are kids?? Ask any top level athlete, and the majority of them will say that Mom did the driving. There is a reason we call them hockey moms and soccer moms (and don't say soccer dads and hockey dads) because it's is usually the mom doing the driving, the washing of the uniforms, buying the ice skates, etc...
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:01 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Martha Coakley at February 26, 2010 12:02 PM (+lsX1)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 12:02 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Coincidence? at February 26, 2010 12:03 PM (CPhzk)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 12:03 PM (ekqTc)
for the record:
Canada 4 - Slovakia 2 .
My guess is Canada gets an empty netter to seal it, late.
Slovakia is no Cinderella. They are a Potential Giant Killer.
I was not sold on the roster until Halak showed he had the chops to anchor an Olympic Medal Bid. His D-Men are the key. They can't afford any early mistakes or giveaways to the quick striking Canadians.
Players to watch are Gaborick and Demitra. Gaborick has healed and his speed is back in spades. Demitra has a game built for international play. Just a hint less physical and he'll take advantage of it. Try too hard to hit him, and he has room to create.
I could be wrong, and I may be pulling for one more great US v Canada game on Sunday, but I think the Canadians have a huge advantage against almost anyone playing on their Home Ice...until Sunday.
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:04 PM (PfTTh)
I'd say it's a really damn good chance, but that's just me.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:04 PM (QjuDE)
Pretty good if he treats his two Princesses to totally AWESOME 'Princess Saturdays'
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 12:05 PM (QjuDE)
Well yeah, but the kids don't notice that stuff and these commercials are aimed towards the child athletes thanking moms.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:05 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 12:06 PM (ekqTc)
what do ya think dad's chances of getting layed are???
Like Finlands' chance of winning this hockey game?
Posted by: HH at February 26, 2010 12:06 PM (GkYyh)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 04:02 PM (QjuDE)
Yeah, and after mom drives the kids all day , what do ya think dad's chances of getting layed are???
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 04:03 PM (ekqTc)
About as much as us coming back to win.
Posted by: The Finns at February 26, 2010 12:06 PM (CPhzk)
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:06 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 12:07 PM (lvYSc)
Wow. I just noticed how many commercials I've seen touting Moms as the driving force behind athletic success at the Olympics.
Really? REALLY?
No one else had any influence over the athletes?
Talk about feminist overreach.
My Mom would kick your ass if she heard you say that!!!
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 12:07 PM (/SEUy)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 26, 2010 12:08 PM (ekqTc)
So does the USA have its second stringers in now?
Posted by: ArcticBoy at February 26, 2010 12:11 PM (4fc2a)
Posted by: ArcticBoy
No, with only 22 guys (I think) per team, there isn't enough depth to do that.
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 12:13 PM (QjuDE)
All kidding aside, I thought Finland looked pretty good for the first few minutes, then Kipper made that bonehead "look at me, I'm Patrick Roy" pass, and the Finns lost their composure completely.
In any event, for anyone who DVR'ed the game- go back and watch how many bad turnovers the Finns committed at either blue line early. That's pretty basic hockey- turnovers at either blue line are usually fatal. I thought the Finns were matching the US in terms of speed, intensity, and physicality, but when that first goal went in, the Finns lost control.
And just to back up Drew- great call on Kiprusoff, Garrett. I can totally buy your prediction for tonight, as well... Canada would do well to not overlook the Slovaks. If Halak brings his A game tonight, the Slovaks will be extremely tough.
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 12:16 PM (u+G1L)
Posted by: Johnny Weir at February 26, 2010 12:18 PM (CfmlF)
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 12:20 PM (/SEUy)
After what happened to Mikka, I'd appreciate it if you just wouldn't talk about me.
Posted by: Jaroslav Halak at February 26, 2010 12:20 PM (9B5OK)
My apologies if it's already been linked.
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby, Consort of Hades at February 26, 2010 12:21 PM (sZ+lP)
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 12:21 PM (u+G1L)
19 "Blackhawks sucks major ass. Only reason to go watch them is to root for the other teams and take advantage of the ticket prices ($100 for a great seat, hard to beat that unless I buy my friend's season tickets)"
Of course you know this means war!
IIRC, the Blackhawks were named after a military regiment. Now that tight-fisted "Dollar" Bill Wirtz (he let Bobby Hull go to Winnipeg fer chrissake) has gone to his final reward, the Hawks are (finally) joining the modern era of hockey. Plus, there's 6 (SIX!) olympians on the team and the US shoulda taken Dustin Byfuglien too--he's 6'4" ish and about 250 lbs.
Posted by: TheThinMan at February 26, 2010 12:22 PM (W3XUk)
Posted by: Dr. Spank at February 26, 2010 12:24 PM (0FiCa)
tmi-thanks. I am glad that 5 years of NHL package has paid off!
I'm hoping I'm close on tonight's matchup, as I could use seeing a good game. Also, Canada has to be paying at least some attention to their energy level seeing that they are palying a ton of games in a short time. If they want to win Gold at Home, they'll need to keep from drawing the tanks down too low tonight.
That Slovakia, Sweden game was great, but it didn't help the sport that it ended at 2:00 am EST!
Kipper has been waning these last two seasons, bigger the game, bigger the flail. I am surprised you hadn't noticed that. Also, he has a penchant for walking out - literally. A Goalie can't have chinks in the armour like that.
US fans, watch for (and hope for) the Slovak team to put some doubt in the Canadian Teams Goalie Confidence. If the Slovaks can beat Lou on the Glove side, it wil be an interesting call for Babcock to have to make shoould Canada get to the gold Medal Round.
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:24 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 12:24 PM (zgZzy)
Plus, there's 6 (SIX!) olympians on the team and the US shoulda taken Dustin Byfuglien too--he's 6'4" ish and about 250 lbs.
Love Big Buff!
But he's a penalty liability in Int'l play...
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:26 PM (PfTTh)
O/T but almost as delicious as Team America Hockey:
ATTEMPTS by Newsweek CEO Tom Ascheim and Editor-in-Chief Jon Meacham to reshape the magazine into a lower-circulation weekly with a more Economist-like feel do not seem to be paying off.
Tucked in the fourth-quarter earnings report from parent Washington Post Company were numbers that suggest the magazine lost $28.1 million in 2009, the first year of the process.
The company said its magazine unit -- encompassing only Newsweek and the recently divested Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel -- lost $29.3 million last year, as revenue declined by 27 percent to $184.2 million.
Bwhahahahaha! Effete, elitest Libtards hardest hit!
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 12:26 PM (CfmlF)
Posted by: Alex at February 26, 2010 12:27 PM (JNyHq)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 12:29 PM (zgZzy)
Garrett - I'm a Flyers and Pens fan, but Kane and Towes are awesome.
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 12:32 PM (zgZzy)
I don't know about that. The US is content to just clear the zone and attack with only one guy. Getting very conservative offensively to not give up any cheapies.
Still, the Finns hit the post.
Posted by: CUS at February 26, 2010 12:32 PM (wOGfT)
Anyway, I haven't been able to see much other than Dallas Stars games this year (and the occasional NBC game). As a Preds fan (got to hang out a bit with Shea Weber and Ryan Suter when I was still in Nashville, and guys like Vern Fiddler and Paul Kariya are good guys as well), it's hard to get too fired up about the Stars... particularly this year.
Anyway, coming off of the Czech game, I thought Kipper looked pretty darn good... but much like Nabokov, here came his patented meltdown. Now let's see if Bobby Lou can do the same on Sunday...
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 12:32 PM (u+G1L)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 04:29 PM (zgZzy)
I'd hit it!
Posted by: Moron that always says "I'd hit it!" at February 26, 2010 12:33 PM (Vu6sl)
Hawks are an exciting team to watch...they learned a lot losing to the Wings these past few years.
If Kane keeps watching tape of Pavel and bulks up a bit these next two years...he'll be one for the ages.
Hockey with great Puck Control is a pleasure to watch!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:34 PM (PfTTh)
It's a Scandinavian goalie thing to pull themselves from the game if they personally feel as if they have lost their mojo. It's how they are trained.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:34 PM (QjuDE)
Whats the score? Whats the score?
As for Canukistan, look, I don't get it. They weren't that magnificent against the russians... the goalie just choked.
They're probably the 1st or 2nd best team there is and will take either a gold or silver is my guess. But the russians kept up with them in other aspects. People are knocking them on other issues of how they played like the lack of checking, but if Nabokov didn't have a nervous breakdown right on the ice, that game would have been competitive throughout and you can't really qualify the psychological aspect of having your goalie go on strike in the middle of the game.
And having a coach too dumb or blind to notice the goalie trying to hide behind the net from the nasty pucks and replace his ass.
At least 3 of those goals shouldn't have happened. More, even. Nabokov should have been pulled before the 2nd period where he gave up 2, and the new goalie gave up another warming up, plus all his suckitude in the 1st period.
Whatever you say about the russians sucking, they might have looked a lot fresher and a lot meaner if the score had been 3-4 instead of 3-7.
You put somebody like Vokoum in there instead of Nabokov who knows, score could have been 3-1.
And here we have Kiprusoff, a fantastic goalie who practically robbed the Czechs by filling the whole damn net with brick and mortar, doing the same damn thing against the US.
That Nabokov dude, I'm pretty sure, can't go back to Russia now. Ever.
Posted by: Entropy at February 26, 2010 12:39 PM (IsLT6)
It's a Scandinavian goalie thing to pull themselves from the game if they personally feel as if they have lost their mojo. It's how they are trained.
I didn't know that, but it makes sense. Imagine the difference in business if managers did the same thing.
Posted by: HH at February 26, 2010 12:39 PM (GkYyh)
I watch at least a period of every game...excepting those that would preclude a Hawks matchup.
The Predators are a favorite 'to watch' team as they are a Central rival and they play a hard-nosed brand of Hockey. Their fan base is also very impressive for Hockey below the Mason Dixon line!
I am pissed at the VS, NBC, Directv cabal as I have never canceled my Hockey package, and my agreement with the league precludes all of their claims! I am not looking forward to being pre-empted out of playoff games this year...
Dallas needs to move on from Turco. He's been wieghing them down and holding them back for at least two seasons IMO. Also, I don't seem to think their Satr players are well suited to one another. Ribiero is a force, but a tempermental bitch.
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:40 PM (PfTTh)
Don't forget the Slovaks have the Hossa brothers. Marian is a beast. Earlier this year he knocked a puck outta the air with his glove and then swatted the puck in the net before the puck hit the ice. Game summaries here in Chicago always include quotes from the opponents saying Hossa is "the man".
I pray that Hossa runs right over Sidney "don't call me Johnny Weir" Crosby at the first opportunity.
oh, and "fart bubbles"? the best thing about going to a Blackhawks game is the National Anthem.
Posted by: TheThinMan at February 26, 2010 12:40 PM (W3XUk)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 12:41 PM (zgZzy)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 12:42 PM (zgZzy)
It's how they are trained.
I know as much, Elizabeth. But he walked on the Olympic team a few years back. No reason, just bailed. He also bails on the bench from time to time in Calgary.
He's a Prima-Donna.
He should play for the Rangers.
(ducking)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:42 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: unknown jane at February 26, 2010 12:43 PM (5/yRG)
To my astonishment, they're going to ride Turco and Kari Lehtonen in Dallas, and they released Alex Auld (who just happened to have more wins and a better goals-against...)
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 12:44 PM (u+G1L)
And here we have Kiprusoff, a fantastic goalie who practically robbed the Czechs by filling the whole damn net with brick and mortar, doing the same damn thing against the US.
I tried pulling him after 2, but I don't speak Finnish!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:45 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: beerologist at February 26, 2010 12:46 PM (tgXx6)
Crosby was high-sticking and cheap shotting the whole game against the US.
When Bobby (?) Ryan read him the riot act I had another Ryan (besides Conressman Paul) to cheer for.
Posted by: TheThinMan at February 26, 2010 12:47 PM (W3XUk)
It was my understanding (if I am remembering correctly and not confusing him with someone else) that the bench bailing and the Olympic baining is for the same reason... I heard through the hockey grapevine something about him having some sort-of Crohns disease type-thing (it might even be Crohns itself). And that he gets disease flares that cause him to have to take a step back occasionally. But I might be confusing him with someone else.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:48 PM (QjuDE)
I know!
Insanity...Auld is a good goalie. Not a proven anchor for an entire Org., but a quality netminder.
It is as if they are trying to emulate Detroit's insistance on paying Hasek, or Osgood in any given season!
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:48 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:49 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Nose at February 26, 2010 12:50 PM (J47hg)
Ok I know jack-shit about hockey, but isn't 6-0 a complete blowout? They shouldn't even play the 4th quarter if this keeps up.
Posted by: Dang Straights at February 26, 2010 12:51 PM (frdTv)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 12:51 PM (QjuDE)
Still, all the Finns need is a touchdown and an extra point.
Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at February 26, 2010 12:54 PM (EWvJ6)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 12:54 PM (QjuDE)
Ok I know jack-shit about hockey, but isn't 6-0 a complete blowout? They shouldn't even play the 4th quarter if this keeps up.
I don't believe there is Olympic Mercy rule - Just humiliation.
Posted by: paranoid polly at February 26, 2010 12:55 PM (r7Vc3)
I didn't know that, but it makes sense. Imagine the difference in business if managers did the same thing.
Or if government bureaucrats were to fire themselves for poor performance!
Posted by: NC Ref at February 26, 2010 12:55 PM (/SEUy)
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 12:55 PM (u+G1L)
Posted by: DrewM. at February 26, 2010 12:55 PM (9B5OK)
Kipper, Crohn's ???
Never heard that...too many Lingonberries?
Heh. Unfortunately, the Scandis have a much higher chance of getting auto-immune diseases than the rest of the population. My family is just full of diseased scandis.
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 12:56 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 12:57 PM (PfTTh)
tmi3rd's analysis is actually pretty good. Nobody imagined the Finns losing their s**t like they did.
Posted by: Steve the Pirate at February 26, 2010 12:58 PM (W54Uh)
Posted by: LizLem at February 26, 2010 12:58 PM (lSuMX)
Finns you know, aren't actually really even Scandi. They're more like Russian.
Posted by: Entropy at February 26, 2010 12:59 PM (IsLT6)
Ok I know jack-shit about hockey, but isn't 6-0 a complete blowout? They shouldn't even play the 4th quarter if this keeps up.
Posted by: Dang Straights at February 26, 2010 04:51 PM (frdTv)
It's really hard to come back from 6-0, almost impossible, but South Korea beat Thailand in a tournament 92-0. That's a blowout.
Posted by: fozzy at February 26, 2010 12:59 PM (ccEuN)
Screw it, it's not even 4:00 and I've fixed my first drink.
Oh me aching head! The cookoff starts in an hour and I'm still recovering from basting my brain in Crown last night.
Tomorrow it starts at 11am.
Posted by: Dang Straights at February 26, 2010 01:02 PM (frdTv)
Ok I know jack-shit about hockey, but isn't 6-0 a complete blowout? They shouldn't even play the 4th quarter if this keeps up.
Posted by: Dang Straights at February 26, 2010 04:51 PM (frdTv)
Doh! I just noticed now you said 4th quarter.
Smartass.
Posted by: fozzy at February 26, 2010 01:03 PM (ccEuN)
One thing Miller is not is sensitive. He might be the toughest goalie in the NHL, mentally. He has weathered a lot of disappointment in buffalo that was not of his making.
I would have put Thomas in for the 2nd, and Quick for the 3rd.
This would have given me a chance to settle on one as the back-up for Miller in the gold medal game.
I am not sold on Thomas over Quick as #2.
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 01:03 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 01:03 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 01:05 PM (u+G1L)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 01:07 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: garrett at February 26, 2010 01:08 PM (PfTTh)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 01:08 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Thomas at February 26, 2010 01:11 PM (attGn)
Posted by: Elizabeth at February 26, 2010 01:14 PM (QjuDE)
Posted by: Wyatt Earp at February 26, 2010 01:15 PM (zgZzy)
O/T but sort of funny:
MOSCOW (Reuters) – A Russian chimpanzee has been sent to rehab by zookeepers to cure the smoking and beer-drinking habits he has picked up, a popular daily reported on Friday.
An ex-performer, Zhora became aggressive at his circus and was transferred to a zoo in the southern Russian city of Rostov, where he fathered several baby chimps, learned to draw with markers and picked up his two vices.
"The beer and cigarettes were ruining him. He would pester passers-by for booze," the Komsomolskaya Pravda paper said.
It added he has now been transferred to the city of Kazan, about 800 km (500 miles) east of Moscow, for rehabilitation treatment.
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 01:18 PM (CfmlF)
Posted by: fluffy at February 26, 2010 01:23 PM (4Kl5M)
I don't know where to play right now.
I'm not too into the hockey but there's all kind of lawyer rage on the other thread 
New thread??
Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 26, 2010 01:23 PM (aYqvi)
Finns you know, aren't actually really even Scandi. They're more like Russian.
Does that make them Russia's Canada?
---------
If they call Finland "Suomi", why don't we call Finland "Suomi"? I've never understood that about country names. If the Germans call Germany "Deutschland", why don't we call it "Deutschland"? Is Nippon too hard to pronounce?
P.S. -- I'm getting so fucking sick of Dennis Haysbert.
Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2010 01:23 PM (OGbpf)
Posted by: Mortis at February 26, 2010 01:25 PM (QjuDE)
I don't know where to play right now.
I'm not too into the hockey but there's all kind of lawyer rage on the other thread
New thread??
No lawyer bashing going on here. We are the inclusive and diverse thread! Lacey, it's safe in here!
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 01:29 PM (CfmlF)
Posted by: fluffy, dirty Skandi at February 26, 2010 01:33 PM (4Kl5M)
A short hop to legal booze for this youngster...
Posted by: Cathy at February 26, 2010 01:38 PM (b0AML)
Lacey, it's safe in here!
*snuggles right in*
There is some seriously nasty shit going down in that other thread. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, if I wanted to hang with a bunch of nasty misanthropes, I'd be online with the Kos Kids.
Posted by: laceyunderalls at February 26, 2010 01:44 PM (aYqvi)
Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2010 05:23 PM (OGbpf)
Most of those pronunciations come from garbled version of the original countries' names via 2nd or 3rd languages. Japan supposedly came from the Malay Jepang, filtered through Portuguese, and it came out as Giapan in Olde English.
Posted by: Iskandar at February 26, 2010 01:46 PM (/o58C)
Posted by: The Atom Bomb of Loving Kindness at February 26, 2010 01:54 PM (CnrIa)
Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2010 01:56 PM (OGbpf)
Posted by: John at February 26, 2010 02:02 PM (6FYZ6)
A sport that involves janitorial skills is just....odd.
That one Canadian chick ain't half bad lookin tho...
Posted by: eleven at February 26, 2010 02:18 PM (OGbpf)
Just on an Olympic theme...
I decided to dig through some stuff that I've had from the Games. Found some hats filled with pins, which I think I'm gonna mount. Very cool pins, if any of you have ever traded them.
Weird thing though. In the same box I found all this old stuff I had forgotten. Stuff that my sister sent me when she worked for George Lucas.
All sorts of odd promotonal material, concerning Star Wars, and also "Empire Strikes Back".
Oddly all this stuff is placed in those old fashioned high-school folders, except they are Star Wars Covers.
Is that worth anything, or should I just junk it?
What do you peoples think?
Posted by: HH at February 26, 2010 02:23 PM (1kwr2)
Weird thing though. In the same box I found all this old stuff I had forgotten. Stuff that my sister sent me when she worked for George Lucas.
All sorts of odd promotonal material, concerning Star Wars, and also "Empire Strikes Back".
Heh! I'm sure there are some morons that would cagefight eachother to the death for that stuff. You could start a Star Wars loving morons all out war right on this thread. Throw it up in the air and watch the hilarity ensue!
Posted by: runningrn at February 26, 2010 02:27 PM (CfmlF)
Posted by: tmi3rd at February 26, 2010 02:31 PM (u+G1L)
Pretty fresh. One thing I have is the origanal promo booklet for Star Wars.
The other thing, looking at the promo stuff I have ( and this is allmost all from '79) , is some company named "Black Falcon". Seems they were in on the publicity concerning "The Empire Strikes Back".
Anyhow, that's just what I have in my possession.
Posted by: HH at February 26, 2010 02:48 PM (1kwr2)
Will there be a new hockey thread?
Posted by: qwerty1 at February 26, 2010 04:33 PM (udVuV)
Posted by: qwerty1 at February 26, 2010 05:08 PM (udVuV)
Posted by: SGT Dan at February 26, 2010 10:08 PM (KLFGv)
So is that the DrewM kiss of death for a player? Kind of like being on the Sports Illustrated cover?
Posted by: alexthechick at February 26, 2010 03:25 PM (lvYSc)
God...don't remind me pleeeeease.
Posted by: Tiger Woods at February 27, 2010 12:02 AM (eQz0m)
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When's olympic football get started?
This time of the year is to sports entertainment what the Sahara desert is to Africa.
Posted by: pendejo grande at February 26, 2010 10:59 AM (ZZf1e)