Olympic Hockey.. best series ever?

Yea, I have been watching bits and pieces of all the games. very good so far.

But what is with the lack of contact? Is checking not allowed? It's strange watching a game and not seeing one board check.


BTW, can anyone list the main differences in International rules compared to NHL?

For those who don't know CNBC has been covering many of the games. They have odd coverage of the hockey where they show the game and then they show more of the game. They also show more than the USA games. They don't even break away for lame rock video montages of the quadriplegic player who just made the team...

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
<strong>
But what is with the lack of contact? Is checking not allowed? It's strange watching a game and not seeing one board check.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Uhhh, this ain't pairs figure skating ya know.

International rinks are about 100' x 200', 15 feet wider than the NHL's 85' x 200' rinks. Much harder to do a lot of checking when you can't force the player to the boards -- too much open ice to close down like that.. Open ice hits hurt both parties equally, so there's not much of that going around unless you're Scott Stevens.

Ach, a pretty even match but USA just opened it up here in the second period.

Some pretty hockey.

Team Finland TROUNCED 6-0 by Team USA...yyyyyyyeahhh Baby! Big John LeClair with the mad hatter. Other notable goals coming from Tkachuk and Guerin (both of whom should benefit from the confidence boost, being emotional players). Team USA is looking solid. They played good D, made smart (long!) passes (something Canada couldn't do tonight), and most importantly they skated hard for 60 minutes without wearing down - and against a fast skating team.

If they continue to play like this, they will likely win the group and possibly make the Gold Medal Game. I think Canada will bounce back; they have a sickening amount of talent on their team and on both sides of the blue line - they're too good not to bounce back at least a little. I just wish certain people weren't out there to be honest - they detract from the team's image IMO.

Mario, for all his belated lip service about "focusing" on the Olympics (and by extension not the Pens) skated like he was on tranquilizers. Unimpressive. Fluery is a bitch; broke his stick over Tommy Salo's back at one point. He's a psych ward case. Were it not for those two clowns, I'd have a hard time rooting against team Canada. Oh and Pat Quinn; he's a dope too. I would've chosen Bob Hartley to coach team Canada in a second over Quinn. Much better attitude, has more respect from the players.

Anyway, I think the best round-robin game coming up other than the obvious (Russia USA) will be Sweden and the Czech Republic. They both have a lot of speed and offensive talent, with Sweden having the better defensive skill (by far) and Czech Rep. having the better goalie (by far, depending on who you ask - Oilers fans might disagree).

This tournament is going to kick ass. I LOVE IT!!!



[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ]</p>

damnit...I'm tired.

[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ]</p>

Anyone been following the US Womens Hockey? Holy carp they are whooping ass. 10-0 Against Germany, and like 12-1 against China. Both games they had more goals, then their opponents had shots.

They are damn good. It's a pleasure to watch them play - the quintessential team game.

Canada has no team. Lots of good players, but they haven't put anything together and it shows. Quinn is probably not the best choice unless he gets a lot of help from his coaches. He needs time to figure th best combinations, and is a little slower and methodical in figuring out his pairings. Bowman would have been the best choice, why wasn't he asked? Oh well.

BTW, is it just me or does a version of Sundin "to the power of x show up for international games, but not for Leaf games?

That US-Finland game was a joy to watch. I can't wait for the US-Russia game tonight. Should be some very nice hockey....

[quote]Originally posted by Falcon:
<strong>Anyone been following the US Womens Hockey? Holy carp they are whooping ass. 10-0 Against Germany, and like 12-1 against China. Both games they had more goals, then their opponents had shots.</strong><hr></blockquote>

The women's hockey tournament is extremely lopsided with the US and Canada being the two most powerful teams (by far). I believe russia also has one of the better teams, but it still doesn't compare to the US or Canada.

It pains me to say it, but the US will most likely win, they have beaten Canada time and again, and as i said the US and Canada are far superior to any of the other teams.

with regard to men's hockey, watching the Canada-Sweden game made me sick. The Canadians played like garbage, i really hope that all that talent can come together as a team.

Canada was the better team about four and a half years ago, and at th last olympics they were pretty even. But Canada went all touch feely, and decided to hire a female coach for the premier female team in Canada. The US got a proper coach. Now there isn't really any contest unless Canada comes up huge against the US Team.

I'm not saying that a woman isn't a proper coach, but with the sport in it's infancy, there is no way you're going to find a woman whose experience and knowledge compares to even the 50th best male coach. Not at this time anyway, maybe in a generation sure, but for now the best hockey coaches are all men, and any team more interested in hockey that politics is going to have a man behind the bench. Sure we ought to promote female coaches, but they have a ways to go, through the regional and college/unversity ranks before they realistically can rise to olympic level. Too bad really, that's a great team that's being let down by 4 years of poor preparation.

[ 02-16-2002: Message edited by: Matsu ]</p>

The men's short tournament is more evenly matched and an interesting mix of characters and backgrounds too. The games have been excellent so far, but I shouldn't say too much with USA-Russia going on now. Despite the fact that I pay particular attention to defense and goaltending, I'm liking this no-redline business.

Gaw, what a close US-Russia game. It was a nail-biter, that ended with an wth.

These hockey games, with exception to the early touney blowouts, is shaping up nicely. Even Germany is gave Canade a run for its money tonight. I'm getting hooked...

Team USA leading Belarus 3-1 after being down 1-0 after the first period. John LeClaire has two more, Hull had the first. The Hull-Modano-LeClaire line is kicking major ass...not surprising given that Hull and Modano played together in Dallas. Guerrin and Amonte are making some nice plays / moving the puck well also.

As for Team Canada, they have no chemistry. The look a lot like the Americans did in 98. What pisses me off is that Mario Lemiuex, after using "Focus on the Olympics" as his excuse for missing so many games when he was "only 90%" in Pittsburgh...missed last night's game "because he was only 90%." Starting to remind me of the old Lemiuex. Whining, diving, etc. He seemed a lot tougher / more hungry last season. Now you know why I didn't really start cheering for the Pens until after he retired...great that he came back from Hodgkins (really was), but beyond that he seems to lack toughness.

Hockey players are not known for sitting it out because they're only 90%...pain and injuries are part of the game, Le Magnifique or not.

Now a trivia question: what's the only thing better than watching Team USA in an Olympic matchup on a Monday afternoon?

Watching team USA on a Monday afternoon, while breaking in a brand new pair of Bauer skates. Waaa Hooooo! These things are SWEET.

Modano + Hull = goals

Did I say 3-1? I meant 8-1. Final.

5 goals in 3rd period, with the also-smokin line of Guerrin, Deadmarsh and York scoring three of them. Billy G had two, which I think is big - we need him to play well going into the second round.

Team USA wins Group, will face Germany next. Unless of course Russia beats Finland by 11 goals (not).

The Canada vs. Czech Republic game was GREAT. Possibly the best game so far, it competed with the Russia vs. USA game. This tourney is only getting better. But now Russia will play the Czechs in the rist round of the elimination series, so one of them can't even medal. Getting interesting.... none of these teams can be counted out (OK, maybe Germany ).

I understand why the most of you think that the games involving Us and Canada has been the best. But as an outsider I have to say that all the games have been f***ing great - never seen anything like it - it's the best hockey i've ever seen. That is only when the "great six" are playing against eachother.

Yesterdays match between Russia and Finland got my vote as the best eventhough it would have been more fair with a tie.

Best og luck to all tke teams. The two most exciting quarterfinals: Russia vs. Tcech, and Canada vs. Finland

Hockey is definitely the best part of the Winter Olympics - for me at least.

Wouldn't bet on Germany getting clobbered...they'll probably succomb to Team USA's talent at some point, but I bet they'll give them a fight. Germany's coach wanted a matchup with team USA (he played in the 80's when Germany got knocked out of the Gold Medal Game by the Americans).

As for all the games thus far, I agree they've been awesome. Finland is playing extremely well now and I wouldn't doubt it if they medaled. Like always, they can play some serious D, and Selanne is playing well to give them a serious offensive threat. Lehtinen is doing all right also.

I think of the games coming up, US - Canada will be hard to beat and as will Finland - Sweden. Big rivalries there, with the neighboring country thing going on. The US and Canadian teams have very similar styles, while the Swedes and Fins are more or less opposites (but both very good skating / passing teams).

This tournament is the best I've ever seen so far. I suspect it will only get better.

Bela-freakin'-rus?! They really were a 10 million to 1 shot, but their goalie has stood on his head for two games in a row.

I really wish I caught both the Sweden/Belarus and Czech/Russian games -- looks like they were both great.

I had forgotten we were into the single-elimination rounds already. I didn't see the Belarus - Sweden game but MAN what an upset. Sweden (until today) was playing better than any other team. Just goes to show...one or two bad periods will do you in. Gotta play all 60, every game.

Saw the end of Russia Czech Rep. Kasparaitis popped Jagr in the face when there was a scrum at the net. Sweeeet! Go get em Kaspar! Until of course you meet Team USA tomorrow (hopefully). If you start swingin' at that time, someone is gonna have to put the smack down on yer Rusky ass.



[ 02-20-2002: Message edited by: Moogs ]</p>

For all the best of seven series we've gotten used to in NA sport, you gotta admitt that there's something great about single elimination formats. Anybody can win. 2 or 3 standout performances and all of a sudden a team with no chance ends up world champ. I love it... as long as Canada wins.

And go ladies! I think the US team will win, but I hope the Canadian girls pull out the upset.

Yah, the single-elimination games make it pretty exciting / nerve-racking. Now that I got the brackets and scheduling straight in my head I'm really looking forward to Friday and Sunday. Should be awesome. Kind of wish Finland had pulled off that last second shot on goal by Lehtinen - barely missed. That would've been brutal on all the Canucks, especially whiner Wayne.

Gotta give it up to Stevie Y though - hard to dislike anything about that guy. Sakic, Nolan, Jovanovski and Smyth as well. All five of those guys kick ass as players and personality wise / attitude wise. Just wish they were on a different team than Fleury, Peca and Niedermeyer, the punk asses. But let's give Michael credit - at least he doesn't wear a turtleneck like Yashin, the big pussy.

canadian/finland game was great. I'm watching the replay of US/germany now on MSNBC. Landslide

(un)Fortunately chances are good it will be Canada vs USA in the gold medal game.

I was really hoping Sweden or Finland would get in just to have some european flavor in it ya know

[quote]Originally posted by applenut:
<strong>
(un)Fortunately chances are good it will be Canada vs USA in the gold medal game.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

What? Russia looked awfully good when they plated USA the other day. I thought we were fortunate to get a tie. We were seriously outshot. They'll be tough to get past.

Why is Neidermeyer in the company of Fleury?

USA/Canada would be a most excellent matchup, at least for the setup at work and on these boards. Though I agree that Russia is a favorite over the US given their play the other day.

Hey Moogs,

Fleury is our secret weapon. They're gonna sprinkle a little coke behind the opposing goal -- no one will be able tostop him from going to the net then!

And Gretzki, just reinforces my belief that great players shouldn't become managers when they retire. Can't do anything but tarnish once you take that route.

That shot Selanne put on Pronger at the end of the game was nasty. I was really impressed with his grit; Fins aren't usually known for their toughness. Teemu was everywhere last night.

Someone was asking about Niedermeyer:suffice it to say I lost some respect for him after the Domi incident last year. He faked the extent of his injury to the point he got up and walked to the locker room under his own power once he was in the tunnel. He was even giving interviews afterward, even though he acted like he was dead on the ice. He was trying to draw a suspension, which is lame. Rafalski kicks Niedermeyer's arse in my book.

Also, just so you understand, I don't like Domi at all. He's an asshole, first class. Thank God he's not on team Canada or I wouldn't watch them.

<img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

Wow. USA women are being killed right now. Getting beaten to every puck, passing to no one in particular, not nearly aggressive enough, awful powerplay, etc. Canada leading 3-1 and likely to win in the next five minutes. Congrats to our beaver loving (I mean that in the platonic sense) friends upstairs.

GO BEAVERS!


CANADA WINS! WOO-HOO!

A little post game celebratory nastiness from the Canadian star, but the American girls have shown a little bad form too. Interesting, could be that this means more to the ladies than to the guys, since this is basically it for the women. In one week, the guys can go back to being pampered whiny stars.

I didn't think they'd do it. But they were really prepared. Could be the Americans choked a bit under pressure, but overall you have to say the Canadians won it more so than the Americans lost it.

hrrrmmmm... I hate it when reality screws with my pet theories: maybe a lady coaching ladies isn't the cause of their previous bad play? Maybe see was a super strategist, purposely losing the last 8 exhibition games. Well, I still think that there were at least 50 men with more experience than Canada's current women's coach. However, you gotat start building experience somewhere, and Canadian Women's Coaching just got a huge boost.

...and now, Canada-USA men's final! We'll take vengeance on your weak-dollar maple-leafin' curlin'-and-ice-fishin' asses!

That USA-Russia game was either too lopsided or too close, I don't know which. Funny how the Russians got back into it with the ol' North American dump-n-chase. I prefer the games that are TIGHT throughout rather than these big swings in momentum, but it was still a good game.

It's nice to know that unlike 1980, this was just a game , no alterior motives, just passion, sportsmanship, y'konw, guys playing hockey. I think people's perception of hockey (and hopefully its popularity) is getting a big boost from these teams' great spirit.

I'm happy about the result but it really wasn't that great of a game, until the third period that is. Even a team as talented as Russia can't fall behind 3 goals and pull it out in one period.

Well, I was worried about this one and now it's behind us. Go USA! I'm glad the gold medal game will be against Canada. It should be a good one.