Olympic Hockey Day 11 Preview and Open Thread: USA vs. Canada = Gold Medals, Baby
by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 28, 2010 3:15 PM EST
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Game 1: #1 United States vs. #6 Canada - 3 PM - NBC: People who are saying that this is the final everyone wanted forget the hype that was surrounding a possible Canada-Russia final. But this one's still pretty good.
Exactly one week after they met for the first time, the Americans and Canadians play for decidedly higher stakes than the top of Group A. Specifically, a gold medal. You may remember gold medals from such past winners as Roman Cechmanek, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's not important. It is.
The Americans famously won the first meeting between these two sides 5-3, stunning the Canadians (and especially Martin Brodeur) early and often, sending shock waves from sea to sea to sea, as they say up there. The Americans have generally been pretty stunning this whole tournament, displaying non-stop dominance over everyone they've faced. They haven't trailed once in this tournament, and Ryan Miller hasn't given up a single goal in the entire elimination stage of the event.
The Canadians looked awesome against Russia, but decidedly nervous and mediocre late against Slovakia, a game that Pavel Demitra came a crossbar away from sending into overtime. The Canadians have no reason to be less nervous against the Americans, and I don't think they're the type to try to convince anyone that they're the underdogs, either.
Some surprising factoids to contemplate:
- The United States has never lost a game in an Olympics held in North America in a year ending in "0." A record of 18-0-2, to be more precise. That's pretty good.
- The last team to go undefeated at an Olympics? The Soviets in 1988. That's what Mike Emrick said on TV, but Wikipedia says the Soviets lost to Finland that year, so who knows. Either way, with how few games there are in the tournament, that's a surprising drought.
- No country has beaten the same country twice on their way to a gold medal in the last six Olympic hockey tournaments.
- Every gold medal winning hockey team since 1998, when NHL players began competing, has included at least one Philadelphia Flyer.
- 10 of the 12 teams in this tournament were European. 10 of those 10 teams are not playing in this game.
The whole world is watching this game..so get ready to explain the rules of hockey to several people tomorrow.
Go USA.
(Animated flag images by 3DFlags.com)
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As if you needed any help getting fired up.
“I am sick and tired of hearing about what a great team the . . .” Canadians “. . . have. Screw ’em. This is your time.”
by Mitchell Green on Feb 28, 2010 12:12 PM EST reply actions
I kind of feel bad for you guys
we gave you hope that you could win that tournament when we let you win . But now it’s for real. Miller can’t save your ass every game and Brodeur won’t be passing to Rafalski tonight. But guys remember, even if we beat the crap out of you, we’re still friend.
Luongo hasn’t looked great either and the Canadians on the whole didn’t look great against Slovakia. They’ve played one impressive game all tournament.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 28, 2010 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
We weren’t bad against the US, we shot 45 time on Miller, and at the end of the 3rd we stayed like a minute dominating you(except Miller) in your zone, which was I think the most exciting moment of the olympic.
I agree we were sloppy against Slovakia and Switzerland
And hopefully we’ll play another impressive game in 2 hours
Saying “we let you win” is as idiotic as a stupid American claiming “we let you exist as a country”
Its game day, you gotta bring your A Game,
If Canada offers as much punch as you just did we will win for sure!
-your friend no matter what!
by Prometheus74 on Feb 28, 2010 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
I think you are a little over confident, there friend. Canada hasn’t shown a lot that says this game is going to be a blow out. Honestly, I think that Canada is going to win. We’re played great all tourney, you guys have been pretty mediocre but with the intensity and importance of this game, I don’t think Canada will have any problem getting up for this game (obviously). That being said, Team USA loves that under dog role so you never know.
Gino Reda of TSN has said that
Roenick(on our morning show) predicts 4-2 Canada win over team USA!He says the American players feel they’ve “woken up a sleeping dog”Sadly, I think that JR is right . . . Its a powder-keg and could end up badly for the Americans.
by Mitchell Green on Feb 28, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
I am pretty pumped for how excited the US is about a hockey game. Plus, its the only time that I can sit in a room with Capitals, Devils, Rangers and Penguins fans and root for the same team. After today, I go back to wishing I could gauge their eyes out.
I know! Its been bad enough rooting for Parise, Orpik, Langenbrunner but I’ll take that over rooting for Crosby anyday! I actually respect those three, unlike Crosby.
by Mitchell Green on Feb 28, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
I'm gonna get trouble for saying this
But I met Crosby right after he scored this goal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0MVJgHd50c (and I’m a Remparts fan) And he’s actually a pretty nice guy. I know three guy who played with him when he was with the Oceanic, and they said he’s the best captain they’ve seen. I don’t like him because he’s a penguin but I respect the guy
Oh, there is no denying that the guys is an awesome hockey player. I wouldn’t say that. But, you don’t end up with the nickname “Crosbitch” for nothing. Diving, whining, mouthing off? Idk what he was like in Juniors but he’s not getting respect from me.
by Mitchell Green on Feb 28, 2010 1:35 PM EST up reply actions
I met a guy in McDonalds last night who was a Penguins fan from PA. I asked him how he felt rooting against his hero, he said he’s not rooting against him, he’s rooting for Canada. So I pulled a Dumb and Dumber and got my burger and two orders of fries on his tab and bounced before they had any idea. Stupid effin Pens fan!
by orangeandblack20 on Feb 28, 2010 1:55 PM EST reply actions
most of the fans are so new to the sport its their 1st Olympics
by Prometheus74 on Feb 28, 2010 2:09 PM EST up reply actions
Theirs nothing wrong with being a new fan to a great sport, but a lot of the new Pittsburgh fans would follow Jim Jones if he had a Crosby Jersey on
by Prometheus74 on Feb 28, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
ONLY ONE HOUR TO GO!
USA has destroyed the nerves of the worlds best goalies this tournament.
Luongo you are next in line!
It is Miller Time!
Crosby doesn’t have an “A” tonight. Veterans Iginla and Pronger do.
Interesting. I hope this doesn’t motivate him or anything.
Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued a reprimand against Lubomir Visnovsky, ice hockey player from Slovakia, for an anti-doping rule violation
D’oh.
Unfortunately I’m gonna be on the road for a little bit. Any radio coverage on this?
by andyreidswaistline on Feb 28, 2010 3:10 PM EST reply actions
XM has the game, but I don’t know about anywhere else. Can’t hurt to search the dial, though.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 28, 2010 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
USA! Let’s do this.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
Can’t use that one. It wants a username and password.
by StarbladeMKIII on Feb 28, 2010 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
atdhe.net has possibly the worst looking stream I’ve ever seen.
http://atdhe.net/12453/watch-canada-vs-usa
But at least it works
"NZFlyerfan"
There has been a ton of chances without a ton of shots getting off. This is serious heart-in-your-throat stuff on both sides.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
I wish the Flyers could play as aggressive as USA does.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
Is it just me or has this game had a completely different style and tempo to it than the one last week?
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Much more defensive. The teams don’t look as sloppy, either.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 28, 2010 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
Does it bother anyone else that the scoreboard is still on the screen for replays? Makes it less immediately clear it’s not live…
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
USA 0-1 CAN
Doesn’t get much sloppier than that.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
First time the US has trailed this whole tournament.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
We’ll get our chances. No worries yet.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
That replay… Richie. Come on, man.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
We don’t look bad, but Canda looks like they should.
Need some bounces.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
Terrible penalty.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
USA 1-2 CAN
Soft like a baby’s bottom.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
Jesus, this game
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
I bet people who dont follow the Flyers are pissed at Richie for all these missed chances.
"NO HONOR"
"We will steal the show, jolly Rogers go, we are wolves of the sea."
At the same time, he’s a monster on the forecheck today. He’s all over the place.
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 28, 2010 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
And when this is over, I’ll be hopeful that he continues that back in the NHL. For now though, he needs to stay snakebitten
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Yes ma’am
Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog. Makin' it look mean since 1967.
by Travis Hughes on Feb 28, 2010 4:49 PM EST up reply actions
Was he talking about the shot hitting the post?
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
I have a heart condition, I shouldn’t be watching this
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:10 PM EST up reply actions
Do they have any idea how lined up things are for them to win this, and yet they’re not putting in enough effort? I can’t believe it
I think there playing hard… they’re just not crisp like that last game against the Canadians. Little fatigued maybe.
There have been too many stretches where they just don’t appear to want it enough. And I knew history was on their side, but I looked a few things up and there are even more things than I knew about.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Am I the only one that misses Marty Brodeur right about now?
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Thank GOD Crosby didn’t score there. That’s the last thing I need.
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
50 years to the day boys, 50 years! And we came back from a 2-0 deficit against Canada in the medal round then, dammit, you need to score!
Okay, maybe I did need to say it out loud….
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly, we boo his team just not him as an individual. I’m used to doing that already for certain players here and there, I have no problem continuing that…. I don’t think I’m going to be able to boo Miller as an individual, either.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:31 PM EST up reply actions
Good point. I don’t have tickets for that one, else I’d volunteer to start the darn thing
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
HOLY CRAP!!!!
I wasn’t even pulling for USA (sorry)….but I got goose bumps
F***………
by Ivan Monteiro Prado on Feb 28, 2010 5:30 PM EST reply actions
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
"NO HONOR"
"We will steal the show, jolly Rogers go, we are wolves of the sea."
Forgive me for just noticing like 5 seconds ago that you added the Latvian pirates theme to your tagline, but nice touch
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:43 PM EST up reply actions
Oh please no, I don’t want that either
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:36 PM EST up reply actions
Thank you for that, laughing helped me remember how to breathe :)
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:44 PM EST up reply actions
I think I have never explained the rules to so many people at once….
My whole family is going nuts about hockey now…..awesome
by Ivan Monteiro Prado on Feb 28, 2010 5:41 PM EST reply actions
I hope the refs really let them play. I don’t want a ticky tack penalty deciding who wins the gold medal.
THE WORST FUCKING THING EVER
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Feb 28, 2010 5:53 PM EST reply actions
FUCKFUCKFCKFUCK we are never going to hear the end of this.
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Feb 28, 2010 5:54 PM EST reply actions
Meh, I’d like to hear to hear a Pens fan celebrate his own country’s loss.
I don’t care if it was Richards who scored the winner, I’d still be bummed.
I’m talking more about NBC and hockey coverage in general.
by You don't have to be sweet, to be good on Feb 28, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
It’s going to happen both ways, and more. Pen’s fans will rub it in that is was Crosby and NOT Richards, NBC will never let it go, Bettman will use it as leverage to prevent the NHL from going to Sochi, etc
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
THANKS CROSBY
Sorry guys maybe in Sotchi
by MathB on Feb 28, 2010 5:55 PM EST via mobile reply actions
They also gave Niitty, the gold medal game losing goaltender, the MvP in 06
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
Remember how I said that I was pulling for Canada?
……forget it…..seeing guys lick cindy’s balls ruined the whole thing for me…….
by Ivan Monteiro Prado on Feb 28, 2010 5:57 PM EST reply actions
Call tke Fucking Karma Police
This putz Crosby can’t live such a charmed life without the universe balancing itself out some how. The universe owes him him some bad luck.
Ick, my boyfriend just reminded me how ugly the status messages are going to be if I go on Facebook later, note to self not to check it for days….
I don’t put it past the people I know in Pitt to be celebrating for Crosby even though the USA lost
I don’t put it past the people I know in Pitt to be celebrating for Crosby even though the USA lost
Any Pens “fan” cheering for Crosby over their own country needs to be fucking deported IMMEDIATELY. That right there, is grounds for treason.
Oh, This is bound to be good
You can't, but you thought that You could
My personal feelings on cheering against your own country match yours. But do you really think they care? For most of them, they didn’t like hockey before he came, and they wouldn’t care about it now if he had never come to their city. That’s why I wouldn’t put it past them.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:10 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not hockey fandom, that’s for sure.
I can be happy for Canada winning, there are some good players on that team that I really like and have grown to like over this tournament, but to be openly cheering for Canada against the US just for the sake of Crosby is grounds for deportation and/or psychological therapy.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Exactly, I can be somewhat happy that Richie and Pronger won the gold, but I’m not gonna go and cheer for team Canada simply because my teams players happen to be from there.
Oh, This is bound to be good
You can't, but you thought that You could
I completely agree with you, both of you.
Problem is, most of us are fans of the game, separate from being Flyers fans. The people I’m talking about are not, so they aren’t going to look at it in patriotic terms. Yes, that does mean they need psychological therapy, but it won’t stop them from posting crap on Facebook.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
Case in point, it’s a split. 5 people I know from Pittburgh commented on the game; 3 lamenting the loss of the Team USA (good for them), and 2 instances of “That’s my boy!!” right after Crosby’s goal. I guess I need to go drive out and pick them up, and put them on a train to Toronto or something. Nah, maybe I’ll send them to Quebec City, neither one of them speaks French….
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:30 PM EST up reply actions
Please tell them that.
People who root against their country for the sake of one player deserve to be deported. No joke.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Already been done for me in both cases due to earlier “Go Canada” posts….. variations of the phrases “Cheer for your own country”, “You’re getting deported” were said in both cases, and met with reponses where they didn’t care
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:41 PM EST up reply actions
AHHHHHH!
-New Season starts soon at Goal Line Blitz-
Get me some Flex Points Baby!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=31234716
On a positive note, Obama and his staff were watching the OT in his office according to Robert Gibbs…doubt that’s ever happened before.
At least the “watching from the Oval Office part”, you might be right.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:06 PM EST up reply actions
I was wishing for some bad fireworks at the end to take out Sid.
-New Season starts soon at Goal Line Blitz-
Get me some Flex Points Baby!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/signup.pl?ref=31234716
by CasperzGhost on Feb 28, 2010 6:25 PM EST up reply actions
At least he’s trying to be classy in his interview.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Well they interviewed Miller too, up until that point it was bearable. But of course NBC keeps focusing the cameras on him, and it would be that way even if he hadn’t gotten the GWG.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:27 PM EST up reply actions
I guess so.
I take solace in the fact that he was largely a non-factor throughout the whole tournament, missed a wide open breakaway that could have sealed the game in regulation, and only got this game-winning goal because Iginla (my favorite non-Flyer on Canada) made a perfect pass.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Yeah…but you know that none of this matters and everybody will just talk about “The Wonder of Crosby” and how “clutch” he was….
by Ivan Monteiro Prado on Feb 28, 2010 6:34 PM EST up reply actions
Silver medal has never been this disappointing
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Feb 28, 2010 6:31 PM EST reply actions
At least in Salt Lake, We have Flyers on both sides of the gold medal game, and I don’t remember anybody on Canada I hated the way I hate Crosby.
Are the Canadians still burying Loonies under the ice, like they did in Salt Lake?
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
i’m a bit of a sore loser, I’ll be the first to admit. But most of the americans looked like they couldn’t care less about the silver medal. I feel the same way. If no gold, time to leave
TAKE THE FALL, ACT HURT, GET INDIGNANT
by CoburnsCuddleBuddy on Feb 28, 2010 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
It hurts extra hard because they don’t get to process what happens before the ceremony happens. If it were like some of the other events, like some of the skiing, for example, it’s a few hours before the medal presentation. By that point, they’d be able to take a step back and be at least a little bit happier on the podium
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly. This team has everything to be proud of and nothing at all to be ashamed of. This was supposed to be a down year for the USA. The finals was supposed to be Canada vs. Russia and there were several other European teams that were thought to have a better chance at taking a medal in these Olympics than the United States, and look what happened. They surprised everyone by getting where they were.
They can look back and really be proud of what they accomplished and I hope the fans that followed this thing throughout like all of us can look back and be proud of winning a shiny silver medal (personally I’ve always felt silver was a prettier color than gold) in a year when people thought they had no chance and were too young and too inexperienced to even have a chance. And here they beat Canada once, and only in overtime in the second game was Canada able to beat us. That’s pretty darn good, if I don’t say so myself.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
This has been just a tremendous day for hockey in this country though. I have no doubt this was the most watched hockey game ever, and who knows how many four, five, six, seven, eight year olds are now going to start playing in local leagues. And casual fans even tuned in and enjoyed the games; maybe they’ll tune into or go to some NHL games now. They’ll be disappointed if they think all games are this exciting, of course :-)
Good point. Since I just checked facebook, I can vouch for at least 10 people who said something to the effect of “Watching hockey for the first time in my life”. Anything like that is good for the game, and this was a good game to watch. I’m pretty sure the previous most watched game in the US ever was the 2002 gold medal game, so I’m sure this one is up there too.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions
Good news: Penguin fans over at Pensburgh have the right perspective on this thing and are not openly cheering against the USA just for the sake of Crosby.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
Yay! At least we don’t have to deport the whole city, just some of them.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
I say we do it anyway, just on principle.
Oh, This is bound to be good
You can't, but you thought that You could
It wouldn’t matter, because we’d have deported the owners, any players that live nearby, and all the stadium employees, right? Too much effort, we might as well just get rid of the blind Crosby worshippers; they’ll be real easy to spot today and tell them apart from the actual hockey fans.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
“No matter how mad you are about this, remember that it’s not half as mad as Ovechkin must be right now.”
The Daily Forehand -- SB Nation's Tennis Destination.
Broad Street Hockey.
by Ben Rothenberg on Feb 28, 2010 7:02 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Having had a few moments to digest everything… outcome and outcome-causer aside, that game was pretty fucking epic.
Outcome-causer = Iginla.
Person who was in a lucky spot at the right time and shot a hockey puck = Crosby.
Iginla should be receiving the accolades for that play.
Proudly supporting a Flyers team with "no honor".
And it was Iginla who managed to get around Suter, who had been having a good day. Iginla is getting robbed, you’re right.
by DragonGirl0583 on Feb 28, 2010 7:23 PM EST up reply actions
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