2010 Winter Olympics Thread

[silent_jay]

So true, he is the golden boy, he'll never have to take responsibility for a bad game again, which is pathetic, he plays bad it's his fault, although he's the same way for the Pens apparently, I've heard he whines if he doesn't get to play with Malkin. If he'd knock off the whining and crying I may actually like him a little bit as a player.

I really wouldn't want to be in Babcocks position, like you said, Luongo plays bad, everyone will say should have started Marty, Luongo plays good he looks like a genius.

Should be decent to watch, I'm more nervous about Russia tomorrow though, Canada needs to put in a really good show today to get some confidence back, they need to shoot the puck more, knock off all the fancy passing bullshit they always try, passing looks pretty, but shooting scores goals, and get some type of physical presence early on in the game, which they've been lacking in the first couple, got to get on the defencemen early, make them hear footsteps every time they go into the corner to get the puck.

[IdeoFunk]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Blame Perry for that one, watch how he starts to protect the puck and slows down when he's 10 feet away from the bloody thing rather than busting his balls to get the puck and turn the play around while Kessler is trapped because he dove for the puck.

Perry should be benched after that play. When you're down by one with less than a minute left in the third you don't start coasting for a loose puck in your end. Anyways, at least Babcock has the sense to go with Luongo for this game. I hold Brodeur accountable for the second and fourth goals last game, which made a huge difference considering how solid Miller was.

Not sure if I'll watch this game tonight... I'm still a little edgey lol

Edit: Actually I felt Crosby was pretty well one of the only Canadian players who showed any spark last game. Him, Iginla, and Stall should be interesting to see.

[Leto]

Back to ice dance for a sec...

As usual, we can count on our American cousins for good sportsmanship:

Canadian gold exposes dance divide - 2010 Olympics - Yahoo! Canada Sports

Canadian gold exposes dance divide

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports
11 hours, 16 minutes ago



VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Finally Canada owned the podium and in this instance at least, the Americans were happy to let them have it.

As Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir’s hometown heroics came under scrutiny with controversy raging over ice dance’s complicated judging system, the Canadian team’s primary source of support came from south of the border.

“Tessa and Scott did an incredible job,” said Tanith Belbin, who finished fourth with Ben Agosto. “It is very exciting for them and for Canada to win a gold medal at home and there aren’t many people who deserve this more.”



There was somewhat less graciousness from other athletes, including Italy’s Massimo Scali and Russia’s Maxim Shabalin.

“When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters,” said Scali, who placed fifth with his partner Federica Faiella. “I hope that it does not affect the judges.

“I don’t agree with the system. They [Virtue and Moir] are not real dancers. They are very technical and don’t really ‘dance’ on the ice.”

Bronze medalist Shabalin, who along with partner Oksana Domnina finished third in Monday’s free dance, also questioned the result, but there was nothing but support from Belbin and Agosto, and runners-up Meryl Davis and Charlie White, also Americans.

“The Canadians are our friends and it is an incredible achievement for them to win a gold medal,” White said. “The atmosphere of the crowd was amazing and they reacted to them. They are worthy winners.”

Virtue and Moir captured the hearts of the Pacific Coliseum audience with a sensational performance, which clinched victory by just under six points from Davis and White.

It was a perfect Monday night for Canada, rousing hopes of a big second week for the host nation after some difficult times in the early days of the Winter Olympics that threatened to make a mockery of the Own the Podium campaign.

The Canadians had a movement and elegance and a togetherness that comes from competing with each other ever since Moir was 8 years old and Virtue was 6. It also was an emotional night all around and Moir raised the nationalistic fervor by pumping the air and leaping into the crowd like a hockey star who had just clinched a shootout victory.

While Davis and White are in the infancy of their careers and have a bright future ahead of them, this is likely to be the end for Belbin and Agosto, the Torino silver medalists who came so close to more hardware.

Shabalin and Domnina, the European champions, won’t be in Sochi, Russia, in four years time either, and clearly felt their final chance had been taken from them.

“We skated the best performance and we have a bronze medal,” Shabalin said. “What can you do? We did everything we could.”

The tantalizing prospect of a home success lit up an ice dance program that might otherwise have lacked the excitement of the individual figure skating competitions.

Virtue and Moir are a golden couple, and cemented a place in Canadian sports history with their performance. Ice dance is an odd sport, heavily subjective, and many of the factors that lead to victory will never be understood by the average fan.

But no one cared about that in Canada on this night, as the chance to flex those dwindling muscles of national pride was more than sufficient to keep the locals content.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by IdeoFunk

Edit: Actually I felt Crosby was pretty well one of the only Canadian players who showed any spark last game. Him, Iginla, and Stall should be interesting to see.

He was good in the last game, but 5 points in the prelims, with games against the Swiss and Norway, for the apparent 'best hockey player in the world', just isn't good enough in my opinion.

This quote from your article Leto seems like sour grapes to me on the part of the Italian team.

“When you compete in your home country the crowd goes crazy and it can help the skaters,” said Scali, who placed fifth with his partner Federica Faiella. “I hope that it does not affect the judges.

“I don’t agree with the system. They [Virtue and Moir] are not real dancers. They are very technical and don’t really ‘dance’ on the ice.”

From my very, very limited knowledge of Ice Dancing, it looked like they put on a beautiful skate, and won a well deserved gold medal.

[Glory's Sun]

I love the Russians complaining about everything during these games..

makes a great conspiracy theory for the next winter games in Russia...especially when the Russians win everything

[silent_jay]

Well lets hope the Canadians can make the Russians complain a little more tomorrow night. Canada looked good tonight, they were strong on the boards to win the battles, they were shooting, passes were crisp, Luongo was solid, even though he wasn't very busy good to get the blood flowing before the big game, but it was a good confidence booster for the whole team.

So glad to see Nash get a goal, the guy needed some confidence, I'm with Kypreos on this one, he should have been allowed to take the penalty shot, it was 4-1 at the time, not like it was a real close game at all, and it would have been good for Nash's head had he scored then, just happy to see it happened late in the third.

Just remembered, did anybody actually hear Pronger's name after the first period? He hasn't been playing well so I figured he was picking up splinters, he shouldn't have been picked in the first place, Bowmeester or Phaneuf would have been a better fit, and a whole lot younger.

[Leto]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

This quote from your article Leto seems like sour grapes to me on the part of the Italian team.

From my very, very limited knowledge of Ice Dancing, it looked like they put on a beautiful skate, and won a well deserved gold medal.

Yes. I thought it was particularly ironic given that the last winter games were in ITALY.

---------- Post added at 08:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:31 AM ----------

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Just remembered, did anybody actually hear Pronger's name after the first period? He hasn't been playing well so I figured he was picking up splinters, he shouldn't have been picked in the first place, Bowmeester or Phaneuf would have been a better fit, and a whole lot younger.

Yes, I heard his name used: " and a rare shift for Pronger" in the third period. Phaneuf would have been deadly. A shot like Webber's.

Did you see that puck just go THROUGH the webbing???

[silent_jay]

That was a sweet shot by Weber, picked the corner perfectly. I was watching it and was positive I saw the mesh move after the shot, but then no stoppage, play continued, so I thought I was seeing things, then they showed the replay, glad the right call was made.

[Glory's Sun]

the US is skating on thin ice with the swiss right now..

go figure.

[silent_jay]

The Swiss have a hard working team, and a Canadian in Hnat Domenichelli, they just have the scoring touch of a bunch of Tie Domi's. They played a hard game, so did the US, although I wanted the Swiss to win haha.

Edit: 4-1 end of the first- That's more like the Team Canada I was expecting to see, they're finishing their checks, making nice passes, shooting their bloody checks and winning the battles along the boards. Luongo is making the saves when he has to, all around an excellent period.

[Fremen]

Hockey newb question...

Why did the Swiss today, and another team the other day, leave their goal unguarded at the last part of their games?

[silent_jay]

They were down by one goal in the third period, coaches usually pull the goalie with anywhere between a minute and two minutes left in the third period when they're down by a goal or sometimes two, to get an extra skater on the ice and try to get the tying goal. Coaches will do the same thing when a delayed penalty is being called, pull the goalie and put an extra skater on the ice until the team getting the penalty touches the puck.

Edit: Well we spanked the Russians, great all around effort by everyone, Doughtey is really coming into his own in the tournament, the kid is playing solid defence, Luongo made the saves like he should, Russia just looked flat.

Gold, Silver in womens bobsleigh as well, saw thew runs after the game, those women were flying.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Gold, Silver in womens bobsleigh as well, saw thew runs after the game, those women were flying.

That German spill was brutal, though. She's going to feel that in the morning.

[Embic]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Gold, Silver in womens bobsleigh as well, saw thew runs after the game, those women were flying.

I was so stoked when we took gold and silver.

Also very proud to say Kaillie Humphries is my cousin, I cant wait to congratulate her when she gets home

[Charlatan]

That was a kick ass day for Canada.

By the way, the women on team Canada are kicking most of that ass. I think they are responsible for over 75% of the medals in our count.

[silent_jay]

Wow the Slovaks knock off the Swedes, Halak made a big save right at the buzzer off Lidstrom, Canada/Slovakia up next on Friday, hopefully they're flying again.

[Fremen]

Thanks, silent_jay. Appreciate it.

-----

So, what are the US Men's Hockey chances of getting gold?

I'm torn. On the one hand, I want my home country to win, but on the other, I'd like to see Canada, as the host country and modern day hockey inventor, to win.

[Leto]

to add to Silent_jay's explanation: the strategy to pull the goalie is that since the team is down by a goal and trending to lose anyways, pulling the goalie and risking the other team scoring an empty netter is an acceptable risk to take for the chance to tie up the game.

Canada tried that in their game against the US earlier in the tourny, but it backfired, as Kessler managed that amazing one-handed empty net goal to put the game completely out of Canada's reach with the time remaining.

US chances of gold? Very Good. To me, they seem to be the team that most closely resembles Canada. Players from the same talent pool (NHL) while the other teams are mixed. What was the thought of the KHL players on Team Russia last night? How did they measure up to NHL calibre? Maybe unfair to ask as the entire Russian team seemed to mail it in for that game. But I wold be interested in an NHL/KHL friendlies tournament...

My biggest fear is that Team Canada will be stonewalled by a hot Ryan Miller. I've seen the Leafs throw too many shots at the Buffalo Sabres and still lose due to him to be confident. That's also assuming that Canada gets past the surprising Slovakian team.

[Glory's Sun]

It's going to be Canada or the US wearing the Gold. Canada has the more natural ability to score, but the US has found some lines that are working very well. Miller is red hot and as long as he continues the streak, it's going to be hard to beat him. Although, if Canada and the US have to play again, Canada is going to be playing MAD and will want extreme revenge.

I think Canada has found enough of a groove to get past the Slovaks, but stranger things have happened.. (ahem.. the US beating Canada on home ice )

[Leto]

ahem... oh ya, that.... yes that smarted. Will we be coming out MAD? Quite likely so. Or as the Russians said, like Gorillas from a cage:


Canada comes at Russia like ?gorillas coming out of a cage? - Vancouver 2010 Olympics - thestar.com




Canada comes at Russia like ‘gorillas coming out of a cage’


February 25, 2010
Comments on this story (7)

Paul Hunter

VANCOUVER – It wasn’t much of a game. The Canadians made sure of that. But it was a glorious, chest-thumping, flag-waving display of hockey superiority on a grand stage. The Canadians made sure of that too.

In the much-anticipated showdown between two great hockey nations Wednesday, Canada rolled over Russia 7-3 and into the Olympic semi-finals on Friday against Slovakia, which upset the defending Olympic champion Swedes 4-3 in a late game. The other semifinal has Finland against the U.S. on Friday.

This was a reputation-changing stunner — not unlike the opener of the 1972 Summit Series won by the Russians 7-3 at Montreal — and far different than the taut, down-to-the-final-shot, nail-biter most fans expected. Instead, these teams answered the question, what if there was a hockey cold war and only one superpower showed up?

“They came,” said Russia goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov of the Canadian onslaught, “like gorillas coming out of a cage.”

Canada dominated fully and completely from the start. The newly formed line of Jonathan Toews between Rick Nash and Mike Richards — along with pounding hits from Shea Weber and Drew Doughty — took Alex Ovechkin out of the game early. The APB could have issued after Weber’s first hit.

Meanwhile, the Canadians were only one goal short of their own Great 8.

“We came out with that physical edge right away,” said Corey Perry, who led Canada’s offence with two goals.

“Everybody knew what was at stake. Everyone knew what we had to do. And we went out and showed everybody what we wanted to do.”

That, more or less, summed it up. The Canadians did exactly what they wanted to do. With ease. It was breathtaking. They not only pounded the Russians in to submission, they tossed the puck around the way, over the decades, we’ve seen the Russians artistically control play when at their high flying best.

The Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby subplot was neutered early by effective Canadian checking and questions about the goaltending of Roberto Luongo were also muted because it didn’t really matter if he gave up two or three or four, so dominant was the Canadian offence. Though Luongo made a statement of sorts with a terrific save on an Evgeni Malkin breakaway late in the third.

Canada again got scoring from a variety of sources, including Perry’s linemate Ryan Getzlaf, who had been quiet here. A resurgent Dan Boyle had a goal and two assists as Canada’s defence — which must get free roaming minutes — continues to help out offensively. Weber scored his second in two games, though this one didn’t dramatically burst through the mesh. Canada’s blueliners have four goals in the last two games after scoring none in the three preliminary games.

Crosby, always with the big picture in mind, declined to put a tick on his side of the ledger in his long-standing rivalry with Ovechkin, though he didn’t dismiss the idea either.

“It’s up to you to decide,” he said. “We won a quarterfinal game. It happened to be against Russia.”

And it happened to be watched by millions of Canadians, not to mention the hoarse supporters here who likely didn’t believe what they were witnessing but loved every moment of it. Our national nervousness was suddenly replaced by swagger as the fans chanted “We want gold” towards the end.

“It was an electric atmosphere,” said Luongo.

Canada will now play for a medal. Friday’s game will decide the colour. The Russians will go home with nothing.

And that left both sides with a very different perspective on what unfolded on the ice Wednesday.

“You want to do well,” said Canadian coach Mike Babcock. “Because you’re proud and you think hockey is Canada’s game. Now, it’s pretty obvious it’s the world’s game. But we still think it’s ours and I’m a bit of a redneck so I like to think it’s ours.”

“In saying that, it’s going to be one country’s game this year. There’s no guarantees. You’ve seen in all these games. There’s a fine line. All we’ve done is set ourselves up with a chance. We like our team. We like our opportunity. There’s pressure on us because we feel we have a chance. To me, that’s a really good thing.”

Bryzgalov, forced into the game in relief after starter Evgeni Nabokov, was shredded for six goals on 23 shots, was asked how this will play out at home.

“Same thing like Canadians if they lose.”

Meaning?

“Disaster.”

In truth, on Wednesday, the line between owning the game and the other option wasn’t very fine. It was, instead, very clearly defined. The Canadians made sure of that.

[Glory's Sun]

I'd love to continue this topic..but I'm banned now.

[silent_jay]

Should be a fun game to watch, I expect Canada to come out like they're possessed again, they have to set the tone early, and establish that no matter what Slovakia does, they're going to lose.

[spindles]

Aussies are pretty happy - for a country with bugger all snow, we've two gold and a silver (even if the silver is from a Canadian import). Best Games Ever!!

[silent_jay]

Canada wins gold in women's hockey, no real surprise there, seems the talent in women's hockey needs to increase or it risks being dropped.

The future of women's ice hockey at the Winter Olympics could be in doubt if other nations do not start challenging the domination of Canada and the United States, IOC president Jacques Rogge said on Thursday.

For evidence of the lopsided competition, one needs look no further than the results. Canada had 46 goals and allowed two going into the gold medal game on Thursday against a U.S. team that scored 40 goals and conceded two.

It also marked the third time in the four Olympics women ice hockey players have competed in that the North American rivals have met in the gold medal game. Sweden and Finland are the only other countries to win a medal in women's Olympic ice hockey.

"There is a discrepancy there, everyone agrees with that," Rogge told reporters. "This is maybe the investment period in women's ice hockey. I would personally give them more time to grow but there must be a period of improvement. We cannot continue without improvement."

Ice hockey officials believe the skills gap is related to levels of participation, and successful Canadian and U.S. squads inspire more women to play, building the talent pools.

"The Canadian and U.S. girls are living on another planet," said International Ice Hockey Federation head Rene Fasel, who estimates there are 80,000 girls playing ice hockey in Canada compared to 267 in Slovakia.

The lack of broad participation has repeatedly been cited by the IOC as a reason they have not allowed women's ski jumping as sport in the Winter Olympics.

Sweden's women's ice hockey coach Peter Elander dismissed suggestions that non-North American teams do not prepare as well, saying they just do not have the same resources.

"We've worked our asses off," he said, when asked about the sport's future after his team finished fourth with a loss to Finland in the bronze medal game.

Elander added that for a close tournament all teams need to prepare in the same way, suggesting less-developed programs get aid to match the resources of North American teams.

Some have suggested Canada and the United States help their rivals by setting up a training system similar to the men's that would allow more European players to develop their skills in North America.

"We're at the point where the U.S. and Canada have to take leadership roles," said Daniele Sauvageau, who coached the Canadian women's team to a gold medal in 2002.

Finland's goalie Noora Raty said the team's bronze at the Vancouver Olympics will help in her homeland.

"I think the gap is going to be a lot closer in four years. Now we will get more practice and we can practice more."

Women's game must improve, says Rogge | Sports | Reuters

Joannie Rochette wins bronze tonight, an excellent performance considering the week she had, I'm sure her mom was smiling down, watching her skate.

[Craven Morehead]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Joannie Rochette wins bronze tonight, an excellent performance considering the week she had, I'm sure her mom was smiling down, watching her skate.

What a bittersweet moment that is for Joannie. Amazing that she was able to perform at such a high level.

[Poppinjay]

I was thinking about man crushes earlier today, because I have no life to speak of and use my free time to indulge in useless speculation. I was thinking I am not the type to ever have a man crush.

Then I realized I have one on Shaun White. He was on Rachel Ray this morning and it was clear she did not watch his gold medal winning McTwist. She asked him the usual fluff crap I used to ask when I worked at my campus radio station. Then she asked him about his charity mainly to say she also has a charity. No mention of the McTwist. Dumb bitch.

I admit it. I'm waiting for his new line of boots to come out at Target.

[IdeoFunk]

Sweet, managed to get out of working tonight so I can watch the game. I'm sad I missed the women's finals last night... those games are always fantastic.

[silent_jay]

Nice, hockey's more important than work anyways, we're Canadian. I missed the women's game as well, thought it was on i nthe evening and when I went to find it, it was alredy over. Wish they had some body contact in women's hockey, that would make it more enjoyable to watch.

Anyone else expect more out of the Fins today? I didn't watch the game, but caught a little of it in replay and highlights and damn, they just got their asses handed to them. I was at least expecting them to give the US a strong show.

Almost time for game time, wonder how many telly's are going to be tuned into this game across the country tonight. Hopefully Canada comes out like they did against the Russians.

Unfortunately we still have to hear that tool Mcguire, the guy's not even Canadian what the fuck is he always doing on Canada's games? Go to NBC so I don't have to listen to you every bloody time I watch Canada play, or a game on TSN for that matter.

Edit: We lost to the Swedes......in curling......damn, wasn't expecting that, well at least the women still got the silver medal, not to wait and see how the men's team does.

[Baraka_Guru]

Just saw Charles Hamelin take the gold in speed skating short track. Apolo Ohno was disqualified, so Tremblay took the bronze.

What a messy but satisfying finish. The whole race almost wiped out.

[silent_jay]

Shit, I missed it, I like watching speed skating, they're really in tight quarters in short track, so it's always interesting, well glad more Canadians got medals today, we're coming on in the second week for sure.

Oh yeah, 2-0 Canada, first period was good, Canada seems to be dragging a little bit of ass in period two.

[Baraka_Guru]

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Shit, I missed it, I like watching speed skating, they're really in tight quarters in short track, so it's always interesting

Sung Si-Bak, who won silver, slid across the line, while Hamelin literally spun out just as he crossed the line. Ohno had caused Tremblay to wipe out completely.

well glad more Canadians got medals today, we're coming on in the second week for sure.

We're now tied with Norway for third overall.

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru

Sung Si-Bak, who won silver, slid across the line, while Hamelin literally spun out just as he crossed the line. Ohno had caused Tremblay to wipe out completely.

Damn, sounds like a really interesting finish, Ohno seems to wipe people out a lot if I remember correctly, doesn't seem like the most sportmanlike skater ever.

We're now tied with Norway for third overall.

Looks like maybe the 'Own the Podium' program was announced to have failed too quickly, I even thought it was going alright when that guy said it was out of sight or whatever his words were. I mean 9 gold, and 20 medals overall seems like a success to me anyways.

3-0 Canada, Getzlaf get another.

[Baraka_Guru]

It's official: the brothers Hamelin will share the podium. The men's 5,000 m relay has been won by the Canadian team.

[silent_jay]

Very nice, 10 gold medals so far I believe, with I'm sure a couple of more coming in the next couple of days.

I'm loving the Canadian fans chanting 'we want USA, we want USA' at the hockey game, 3-1 with 8:25 to go, let's get another couple to put the game to rest.

Edit: 3-2 with just under 5 left to play, fuckin horrible defensive zone coverage, Bergeron shit the bed there went for the totally wrong guy, getting nervous again.....

[laconic1]

That dq of Ohno was bullshit. Slow motion replay showed his hand was already off Tremblay a good step before Tremblay wiped out on his own.

[Fremen]

Canada -vs- USA!

Good luck, guys!

[silent_jay]

Originally Posted by Fremen

Canada -vs- USA!

Good luck, guys!

That was a stressful last couple of minutes, they just sat back for too long without enough pressure, and what about that save by Luongo off Demitra, that was intense, he just threw the legs and arms across and hoped for the best.

That dq of Ohno was bullshit. Slow motion replay showed his hand was already off Tremblay a good step before Tremblay wiped out on his own.

Just watched the race now, he did have his hand on his hip, and it was in the turn, and it did seem like the hand on the hip contributed to the fall, even if his hahnd was off his hip a step before he fell, it looked like the hand still contributed to the fall.

[m0rpheus]

I thought I was actually going to have a heart attack during those last few minutes lol.

Go Canada!

And while I'm at it great job to the ladies hockey team too! Oh and as far as I'm concerned if they want to drink some pints and smoke a few stogies on the ice... hell they've earned it!

[Leto]

me too. I couldn't even watch the play for the last 5 seconds. I kept my eyes on the clock, and just listened for the horn. I think my heart rate was wll above what my doctor would think was safe. I could feel it in my ears.

They better play harder/better against the yanks.

[IdeoFunk]

Wow those last five minutes of that game had my head spinning. Seeing how ineffective Slovakia had been offensively (yet great defensively) all game I was not expecting such a large push at the end. I guess after playing three highly emotionally charged hockey games within a week the team started to become a little too complacent. Eitherway I'm glad to see we pulled it off, and let's wish Slovakia luck, they have an incredible team considering the size of their country.

As for the Canada-US showdown. Oh boy, it's going to be tense. Let's not forget that just as Canada almost lost to Slovakia the US almost lost to the Swiss in the game before Finnland, so who really knows what to expect. The only thing I reckon that will be for certain is that both teams will be revved to the max