Re: 2010 Winter Olympics

[bukie]

I have to say, after watching the Russia-Canada game and the Czech-Finland game, I'm a lot more impressed with the US team.

[TruffleShuffle]

the refs are basically letting the players tackle each other inside 10 minutes of the third period and no calls, but a player accidentally shoots it over the glass in his own end and he's going to the box. then the finns score. what a great rule.

 

Delay rules make sense.

 

The helmet rule doesn't.

 

i'm okay with the delay rule when a player lifts the net off the moorings, but if he accidentally plays the puck up over the glass? there's no need for that to be a penalty, especially when they stop calling everything else late in games. seen that stupid rule decide too many games, defenseman swats at a rolling puck and it goes up over the glass, trying to make an outlet pass to a streaking teammate down the board and puts it a little too high, etc. just make it a defensive zone faceoff with no change for the team in their own zone, similar to an icing. or give the refs some discretion into the player's intention.

[UMFan83]

Looks like it might be Finland. After a long 0-0 draw for the first 2 2/3 periods, that goal let up by the Czech goalie was awful. Right between the pipes.

[UMFan83]

the refs are basically letting the players tackle each other inside 10 minutes of the third period and no calls, but a player accidentally shoots it over the glass in his own end and he's going to the box. then the finns score. what a great rule.

 

Delay rules make sense.

 

The helmet rule doesn't.

 

i'm okay with the delay rule when a player lifts the net off the moorings, but if he accidentally plays the puck up over the glass? there's no need for that to be a penalty, especially when they stop calling everything else late in games. seen that stupid rule decide too many games, defenseman swats at a rolling puck and it goes up over the glass, trying to make an outlet pass to a streaking teammate down the board and puts it a little too high, etc. just make it a defensive zone faceoff with no change for the team in their own zone, similar to an icing. or give the refs some discretion into the player's intention.

 

I don't like the "puck goes over the glass penalty" either but I understand why it's there, so that you can't clear the puck into the crowd and get a stop. Plus if it's deflected into the crowd at all it's not a penalty. However, I've seen too many penalties called when the player has no intention and no need to put the puck in the crowd and does accidentaly.

[UMFan83]

Let's beat Finland and get to the championship game! (and lose 10-2 to Canada)

[17 Seconds]

2 goals in 37 seconds for slovakia and then 2 in 37 seconds for sweden.

 

i'm rooting for sweden because they have the much better chance of taking down canada, but if slovakia wins at least it gives the US a much better chance of winning a medal.

[TruffleShuffle]

2 goals in 37 seconds for slovakia and then 2 in 37 seconds for sweden.

 

i'm rooting for sweden because they have the much better chance of taking down canada, but if slovakia wins at least it gives the US a much better chance of winning a medal.

 

agreed.

[TruffleShuffle]

congrats to slovakia.

 

sweden didn't look like they played with much urgency until the very end. the guy on the sedins' line (weinhandl) looked completely useless; when they were on with forsberg they had a much better chance late in the 3rd. and what the [expletive] was sami pahlsson doing on the ice as the extra attacker? you've got the sedins, zetterberg, backstrom, forsberg, franzen, alfredsson and eriksson and you put a guy out there whose career high in points is 26???? just terrible.

[hawkeyecub]

I have to say, after watching the Russia-Canada game and the Czech-Finland game, I'm a lot more impressed with the US team.

 

Defensively, yes. Obviously Canada was pretty scary last night but how many of those opportunities would they have gotten that clean against us? Evgeni was terrible, they turned it over like mad and their D's were terrible. They gave up after that 4th goal.

Watched all of those first 3 games on DVR and think we're the 2nd best team remaining. I love the way our first line is playing and think we'll get the opportunities against Finland. Unfortunately the guy in net has been pretty good. I wish Sweden would have pulled that out though.

 

Also I'm probably the only guy in here who likes watching national hockey games and occasional Blackhawks games, but have never really adopted an NHL team. I want to adopt the Devils just so I can root for Parise (and to a lesser extent Langenbrunner). Tell me why I shouldn't.

[ZFan38]

I have to say, after watching the Russia-Canada game and the Czech-Finland game, I'm a lot more impressed with the US team.

 

Defensively, yes. Obviously Canada was pretty scary last night but how many of those opportunities would they have gotten that clean against us? Evgeni was terrible, they turned it over like mad and their D's were terrible. They gave up after that 4th goal.

Watched all of those first 3 games on DVR and think we're the 2nd best team remaining. I love the way our first line is playing and think we'll get the opportunities against Finland. Unfortunately the guy in net has been pretty good. I wish Sweden would have pulled that out though.

 

Also I'm probably the only guy in here who likes watching national hockey games and occasional Blackhawks games, but have never really adopted an NHL team. I want to adopt the Devils just so I can root for Parise (and to a lesser extent Langenbrunner). Tell me why I shouldn't.

 

i dont watch many devils games, but they have a reputation as being one of the most boring teams in the league.

[NewUserName]

congrats to slovakia.

 

sweden didn't look like they played with much urgency until the very end. the guy on the sedins' line (weinhandl) looked completely useless; when they were on with forsberg they had a much better chance late in the 3rd. and what the [expletive] was sami pahlsson doing on the ice as the extra attacker? you've got the sedins, zetterberg, backstrom, forsberg, franzen, alfredsson and eriksson and you put a guy out there whose career high in points is 26???? just terrible.

 

I think Sweden's coach was out thinking himself the whole tournament. Instead of having 2 very very good lines, a solid 3rd and a grinding defensive minded 4th line, he chose to try to have 4 balanced lines.

[NewUserName]

I have to say, after watching the Russia-Canada game and the Czech-Finland game, I'm a lot more impressed with the US team.

 

Defensively, yes. Obviously Canada was pretty scary last night but how many of those opportunities would they have gotten that clean against us? Evgeni was terrible, they turned it over like mad and their D's were terrible. They gave up after that 4th goal.

Watched all of those first 3 games on DVR and think we're the 2nd best team remaining. I love the way our first line is playing and think we'll get the opportunities against Finland. Unfortunately the guy in net has been pretty good. I wish Sweden would have pulled that out though.

 

Also I'm probably the only guy in here who likes watching national hockey games and occasional Blackhawks games, but have never really adopted an NHL team. I want to adopt the Devils just so I can root for Parise (and to a lesser extent Langenbrunner). Tell me why I shouldn't.

 

i dont watch many devils games, but they have a reputation as being one of the most boring teams in the league.

 

I dont think they are as bad as the late 90 Devils in being boring, but they are still rather dull to watch.

[NewUserName]

Since I have irrational man-love for Toews, I'd just like to point out that he has 7 assists and is a +9. He's tied for the Canadian lead in points and leads in +/- by 3.

 

Toews and Nash have probably been the Canadians 2 best forwards so far. Since Toews is not named Crosby and hasnt scored any goals, he is kind of going under the radar. He has played great though.

[TruffleShuffle]

congrats to slovakia.

 

sweden didn't look like they played with much urgency until the very end. the guy on the sedins' line (weinhandl) looked completely useless; when they were on with forsberg they had a much better chance late in the 3rd. and what the [expletive] was sami pahlsson doing on the ice as the extra attacker? you've got the sedins, zetterberg, backstrom, forsberg, franzen, alfredsson and eriksson and you put a guy out there whose career high in points is 26???? just terrible.

 

I think Sweden's coach was out thinking himself the whole tournament. Instead of having 2 very very good lines, a solid 3rd and a grinding defensive minded 4th line, he chose to try to have 4 balanced lines.

 

he might get canned after this olympics. a lot of swedish fans hate him and think he's been skating by because the team/goalie overachieved in 2006.

[bukie]

I have to say, after watching the Russia-Canada game and the Czech-Finland game, I'm a lot more impressed with the US team.

 

Defensively, yes. Obviously Canada was pretty scary last night but how many of those opportunities would they have gotten that clean against us? Evgeni was terrible, they turned it over like mad and their D's were terrible. They gave up after that 4th goal.

Watched all of those first 3 games on DVR and think we're the 2nd best team remaining. I love the way our first line is playing and think we'll get the opportunities against Finland. Unfortunately the guy in net has been pretty good. I wish Sweden would have pulled that out though.

 

Also I'm probably the only guy in here who likes watching national hockey games and occasional Blackhawks games, but have never really adopted an NHL team. I want to adopt the Devils just so I can root for Parise (and to a lesser extent Langenbrunner). Tell me why I shouldn't.

I'd say if you were choosing a team based on the excitement level of the games they play, I'd suggest one of Washington (Ovechkin), Pittsburgh (Crosby/Malkin) or Chicago (Toews/Kane). NJ plays a pretty boring style, but it's effective. In terms of geographical closeness, Minnesota is at least decent, but they're probably more boring to watch than NJ.

[chuckywang]

So this means every single Blackhawk is still alive in the Olympics and they will all play the max number of games.

[gflore34]

Since I have irrational man-love for Toews, I'd just like to point out that he has 7 assists and is a +9. He's tied for the Canadian lead in points and leads in +/- by 3.

 

Toews and Nash have probably been the Canadians 2 best forwards so far. Since Toews is not named Crosby and hasnt scored any goals, he is kind of going under the radar. He has played great though.

 

I believe so as well, Toews' line has been on of Canada' best, seems like every time they're on the ice they generate a scoring chance. And it's, quite often, Toews setting the table.

[hawkeyecub]

I'd say if you were choosing a team based on the excitement level of the games they play, I'd suggest one of Washington (Ovechkin), Pittsburgh (Crosby/Malkin) or Chicago (Toews/Kane). NJ plays a pretty boring style, but it's effective. In terms of geographical closeness, Minnesota is at least decent, but they're probably more boring to watch than NJ.

 

Can't take one of the first three. Like I said I've been a casual fan since the lockout ended, watching national games, watching as much of the playoffs as I can, playing NHL and watching some Hawks games. The Hawks make the most sense because of geography, tv (love Olczyk) and being fun to watch. I would just feel like a dirty ho for jumping on the bandwagon. It's like someone deciding he wants to be a Bulls fan in 1992. The same goes for the Pens and Caps but they would be even worse because they don't have the geography.

 

Yeah I don't think I could get into the Devils, I just love watching Parise and he sounds like a pretty cool dude. I need an American cold weather team that's enjoyable but doesn't make me feel like I'm jumping on a bandwagon. The Blues are in St. Louis, so that's that. The Wild are just meh.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd say if you were choosing a team based on the excitement level of the games they play, I'd suggest one of Washington (Ovechkin), Pittsburgh (Crosby/Malkin) or Chicago (Toews/Kane). NJ plays a pretty boring style, but it's effective. In terms of geographical closeness, Minnesota is at least decent, but they're probably more boring to watch than NJ.

 

Can't take one of the first three. Like I said I've been a casual fan since the lockout ended, watching national games, watching as much of the playoffs as I can, playing NHL and watching some Hawks games. The Hawks make the most sense because of geography, tv (love Olczyk) and being fun to watch. I would just feel like a dirty ho for jumping on the bandwagon. It's like someone deciding he wants to be a Bulls fan in 1992. The same goes for the Pens and Caps but they would be even worse because they don't have the geography.

 

Yeah I don't think I could get into the Devils, I just love watching Parise and he sounds like a pretty cool dude. I need an American cold weather team that's enjoyable but doesn't make me feel like I'm jumping on a bandwagon. The Blues are in St. Louis, so that's that. The Wild are just meh.

 

Jumping on the hawks bandwagon now wouldn't be like wanting to be a bulls fan in 1992, they had already won a title by then. Also, it's not like Chicago has a Jordan on the roster and you are just waiting for the inevitable title. It is not a foregone conclusion by any means that they win. I think they are a perfectly acceptable bandwagon to join, especially if you are just getting into it.

 

Jersey has the plus of being a team that will beat the NY and Philly teams, but other than that, they are fairly boring.

[Careless]

Did I just not notice the comical Canadian accents these curling announcers have until today, or did something change?

[jersey cubs fan]

http://deadspin.com/5480239/russian-bobsledder-a-little-too-pleased-by-canadian-wipeout

 

This is really a hilarious video. The Russian's reaction is at the end, and it surpassed my expectations when I read about it.

 

 

I'm a fan of the Canadian skip in curling, and the Swiss have a dark horse candidate as well.

[Garwilly]

Exciting finish to the Canadian/Swiss curling semifinal.

[kujay]

Just got a random package in the mail at work. Was pretty sure it wasn't a bomb, so I opened it. Wife had a Kane U.S.A. jersey t-shirt sent to me. Pretty sweet.

[Garwilly]

Just got a random package in the mail at work. Was pretty sure it wasn't a bomb, so I opened it. Wife had a Kane U.S.A. jersey t-shirt sent to me. Pretty sweet.

 

Good thing you didn't assume it was a bomb.

[NewUserName]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/NBC-analyst-Mike-Milbury-not-a-fan-of-Russia-s-?urn=oly,224135

 

Interesting. My guess is Mike Milbury will not be around for the rest of the Olympic coverage...to bad because he may not always be right but at least he says things that are mildly interesting.