• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

Men's Olympic hockey

Crazy. Happy for Selanne though.

Clearly this is a byproduct of the US nation's individualistic nature.

US hasn't scored in awhile. I guess it's harder when you play teams like this.
 
Crazy sequence there, and an uncharacteristically poor play by Komarov. Finns were tired and he gave away the puck cleanly to Kane for a breakaway and that let to the slash and the penalty shot.
 
Good for Teemu. That was brutal defensive play by the Americans though. Selanne was directly in the middle of 4 of them.
 
I do feel bad for Phil and JVR  We would not have beaten Finland either. Gold or bust.  We've done this as well (crapped the bed in a Bronze medal game).
 
Hughson: "I think Canada would have played this game the same way as the Americans"

I get the emotional letdown after losing the SF, but I would hope that Canada would show a little more effort and pride in this scenario. Sure they played for the bronze in Nagano and lost but that was the first year that the NHL was at the Olympics and I would hope and think attitudes have changed since then. Winning a bronze is still an accomplishment, especially with the strength of these teams and the big ice adjustment.

At the same time, full credit to the Finns who have been solid and played the same game all tournament. Even if the Americans had been playing with 100% focus and desire I think the Finns still woulda won.
 
Stebro said:
He thinks that there are better options.
Click to expand...

Do you agree? Has OEL had a bad tournament? I've only watched a bit, but it seems like Edler is having a better tournament than I would have expected and that might turn his poor season around. Karlsson is Karlsson. I'm guessing he doesn't want to break up the Chicago pairing. That leaves Ericsson and Kronwall. I didn't expect Ericsson to excel on the big ice, but I can't really say much about how his tournament is going.

It's just crazy to me that OEL, a player who has the reputation right now of being a top-10 defenceman in the league, is being benched.
 
You have to wonder what might have happened if Rask had been able to play in the semi-final game.

I have another 'what-if' with respect to Rask and it makes me sad.
 
riff raff said:
You have to wonder what might have happened if Rask had been able to play in the semi-final game.

I have another 'what-if' with respect to Rask and it makes me sad.
Click to expand...

Looking toward tomorrow I think Canada got the easier opponent.  Not because Sweden in general isn't a good team but without Zetterberg and Sedin they are a lot weaker and Rask, to me at least, is the best goaltender on the planet.
 
Good for Komarov too. i don't think he got a point in the tournament but he was his usual super-pest self and had some dominating shifts in the offensive zone with his linemates; especially vs the Russians.
 
Shutout in the final 2 games against the only real medal contenders that they faced? Hmm, I wonder if the 3rd highest scoring American this season could have helped. Or the two highest scoring American defencemen this season. Or the 2nd highest scoring American since 08/09.

With that said, the blame shouldn't be entirely on the management team. I've only caught the 3rd period of this game and nobody in blue has really stood out. But against Canada I said Kessel and Kane were really the only dangerous players offensively. And they did play two teams that played very well defensively.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

About Us

This website is NOT associated with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the NHL.


It is operated by Rick Couchman and Jeff Lewis.
Back
Top