MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 In a completely unrelated story, I actually own an authentic Czech jersey (home white) that they wore in the 1998 Olympics. An awesome, awesome jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Game over. . . . Canada escapes with a narrow 3-2 win to finish 3rd in their pool. Czech Republic will finish 4th. Canada better kiss Brodeur (31 saves - 24 of which were in the last 2 periods - most were outstanding!) as HE was the lone reason this game was a win rather than a loss. While Canada outplayed the Czech's the 1st period and the first few minutes of the 2nd, from there it was pretty much all Czech Republic. Jagr did play the whole game and I felt he played quite well (had an assist on the 1st goal). Canada had a whopping 2 shots on goal in the 3rd period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Given the Canadian team's arrogance (not to mention that I'm still miffed at the camera panning to Wayne Gretzky in 2002 and having to watch him yell "f*** yea!" after Canada scored the apparent clincher against Team USA), I'm pulling for anyone but Canada in this tournament. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Given the Canadian team's arrogance (not to mention that I'm still miffed at the camera panning to Wayne Gretzky in 2002 and having to watch him yell "f*** yea!" after Canada scored the apparent clincher against Team USA), I'm pulling for anyone but Canada in this tournament. Well, judging by the way they played 2/3's of the game today, you won't have to pull too hard. I rescind my earlier comment about them "righting their ship". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackheart Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 After this year's World Junior's, I won't be rooting too hard for Canada either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NDFlyer Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 I guess having Dominic Hasek, Patrick Elias, and Jaromir Jagr missing all or parts of games has nothing to do with the Czech's this-far disappointing results? Speaking of Jagr, the Jarkko Ruutu hit on him was one of the biggest cheap shots in Olympic hockey history. Seriously, the guy lined up Jagr from about 40 feet away, flew at him and crunched him into the boards face first. The Finnish coach, stunningly enough, said he felt it was a clean hit. On the planet Goon, maybe, but not here. Vokun was having a good year in the NHL and I wouldn't consider replacing Hasek with him to be a huge step downward, although Vokun let in a very, very bad goal in the first. Losing Elias hurts them but my point is the rest of the team has to find a way to step up and win. Sitting around crying about injuries and blaming your team's play on injuries is nothing but loser, pu$$$ talk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Given the Canadian team's arrogance... Huh? Examples?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Huh? Examples?? Here's some reading for you, Cancuk... Gretzky Comments in 2002 American propaganda...they're loving us not doing well... the whole world wants Canada to lose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HockeyMom Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Come on Slovaks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Huh? Examples?? Don Cherry January 2004 Comments As much as I like Don Cherry, apparently he DOES hate Europeans as much as Gretzky thinks everyone hates Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Vokun was having a good year in the NHL and I wouldn't consider replacing Hasek with him to be a huge step downward, although Vokun let in a very, very bad goal in the first. Losing Elias hurts them but my point is the rest of the team has to find a way to step up and win. Sitting around crying about injuries and blaming your team's play on injuries is nothing but loser, pu$$$ talk. I wasn't blaming the team's play on injuries. I think regardless of what team it is, you remove their emotional leader of it and it's a whole different ball game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 On a slightly different note, the IIHF has sent a monitor to the Sweden-Slovakia game, as they are not happy with Sweden's coach alluding to the possibility of losing today's game on purpose so they would face Switzerland rather than Canada. Now, how in the heck are they going to prove something like that? (And, as a side note, Slovakia is leading Sweden 1-0.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HockeyMom Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Okay, in the defense of Sweden, wouldn't that be a strategic move? You also have to think- what if the team loses, and can't regain it's composure after the loss? I wouldn't blame a team for not playing their top players as much in a game that really doesn't mean anything. But if you're going to do it, why on earth would you announce it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 On a slightly different note, the IIHF has sent a monitor to the Sweden-Slovakia game, as they are not happy with Sweden's coach alluding to the possibility of losing today's game on purpose so they would face Switzerland rather than Canada. Now, how in the heck are they going to prove something like that? (And, as a side note, Slovakia is leading Sweden 1-0.) Good for Sweden. Then we can hear Canada groan and complain, nevermind that they benefitted from a monster upset four years ago when Belarus upset Sweden. This is what happens when you have pool play. If you listed the eight teams left, I can guarantee you that anyone who knows anything about hockey would prefer to play either A) Switzerland or B) Slovakia in the first round. What they should do is make the tournament double-elimination from the get-go. Then there is no jockeying for position in the pool so as to avoid certain opponents in the next round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Good for Sweden. Then we can hear Canada groan and complain, nevermind that they benefitted from a monster upset four years ago when Belarus upset Sweden. This is what happens when you have pool play. If you listed the eight teams left, I can guarantee you that anyone who knows anything about hockey would prefer to play either A) Switzerland or B) Slovakia in the first round. What they should do is make the tournament double-elimination from the get-go. Then there is no jockeying for position in the pool so as to avoid certain opponents in the next round. Well said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 MafiaMan, Was anything Gretzky said untrue? Just read the numerous comments on this very board, and it isn't hard to fathom that, when it comes to hockey, a lot of people would like to see Canada lose. That's just the facts. Just like a great many people surely took delight in Team USA's disappointing finish in basketball a couple of years ago. As I've said, ad nauseum, when you're the perceived top dog in something (ie., NY Yankees, Duke basketball), people want you to lose. I don't equate pointing this out with arrogance. Especially when pinning comments made in 2002 and 2004 to this year's team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 End of 1st - Russia leads US 2-1. US (Rolston) scored on a power play goal with 1:20 left in the period. Russia has had one even strength goal (odd man rush) and one short handed goal (Malkin - another odd man rush). Esche is in net for US and Nabokov is in net for Russia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MafiaMan Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 MafiaMan, Was anything Gretzky said untrue? Just read the numerous comments on this very board, and it isn't hard to fathom that, when it comes to hockey, a lot of people would like to see Canada lose. That's just the facts. Just like a great many people surely took delight in Team USA's disappointing finish in basketball a couple of years ago. As I've said, ad nauseum, when you're the perceived top dog in something (ie., NY Yankees, Duke basketball), people want you to lose. I don't equate pointing this out with arrogance. Especially when pinning comments made in 2002 and 2004 to this year's team. "American propaganda"? You show ME an example of anti-Canadian propaganda by the US sports "machine." I think Gretzky's "us against the world" speech back in 2002 was pure genius, but I beg to differ on the level of "hate" people feel towards Canada. Besides, for being such a "proud Canadian," Wayne surely enjoys the benefits of living in the United States. At least Brett Hull received dual-citizenship. In Wayne's defense, he has toned it down a bit since 2002. Don't think I'm Wayne-hating here, either, Canuck. I admired his standing up and commenting on George W. Bush, even though someone decided to hang a nice sign around the Gretzky statue in Edmonton mocking him as a lap dog for the USA. I guess if Canada doesn't win gold at this Olympics, they at least have an excuse to take a couple of Olympics off and blame it on the 'anti-Canada' attitude that runs rampant in Olympic hockey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 Oh my - Ovechkin LEVELED Chris Chelios (head down - bad idea!!) behind the net!! Chelios got up looking at the ref for a call. He got back at Ovechkin though by hooking him shortly thereafter. Now Chelios is sitting in the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 "American propaganda"? You show ME an example of anti-Canadian propaganda by the US sports "machine." I think I can actually do so, I just don't have them with me at the moment. I actually saved several articles from U.S outlets after the 1996 World Cup because they were so ridiculous in their rhetoric. The Gretzky rant in 2002 was obviously timed and calculated, but there is no denying a large portion of hockey observers would like to see Canada lose. Again, that just comes with the territory. I don't know what you mean by "US sports machine," but I see no problem with people rooting against Canada, nor do I see harm/arrogance in Canadians like Gretzky pointing it out. I'm guessing the American propaganda comment was directed solely at a sensationalistic media, not the everyday U.S. hockey fan like yourself. Look no further than how this betting scandal was portrayed by the same media. Never was there any indication Gretzky himself would be implicated of any wrong doing, and Rick Tocchet himself was ACTUALLY CHARGED. Yet what are the headlines in the New York Post, the USA Today and so on? "The Great Betzky," etc, etc. Now that Gretzky has officially been all but absolved of any involvement, the media doesn't touch the story, nor do they recant their assumptions that Gretzky was involved. I have watched every single minute of Olympic hockey this year on both networks, and I have yet to see any display of this arrogance you alude to by members of this year's team, its coaching staff or its management. That's the only point I was trying to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sioux_Yeah_Yeah Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 The boys seem to be having trouble finding the net.... I have this feeling, I just don't know if it's good or bad!!! LET'S GO USA!!! PS... It'd be nice to see #55 score!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 About 7 minutes left in period 2. US outplaying Russia, as usual, just can't finish the scoring chances. Russia has iced the puck several times, trying for yet another odd man rush. (Which they have scored on twice.) It sucks to watch a team work so hard and not get a goal, only to see a team throw it out of the zone, get the odd man rush and score! UGHH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 3-1 Russians can finish - alas, US cannot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsiouxnami Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 The boys seem to be having trouble finding the net.... I have this feeling, I just don't know if it's good or bad!!! LET'S GO USA!!! PS... It'd be nice to see #55 score!! Guess it was bad - #52 scored, but it was for Russia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sioux_Hab-it Posted February 21, 2006 Share Posted February 21, 2006 About time that they cashed in a power play. Gionta makes it 3-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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