World Cup of Hockey '04

[joncha]

Great game

[Chemical Ollie]

In other sports news, the Swedish football team beat Malta 7-0 in the first World Cup qualification game. While a victory was expected, 7-0 is really humiliation for the other team.

In yet another sports news, the Swedish Track and Field team is leading over Finland after the first day in "Finnkampen", the annual fight between the two brother nations.

[Pekka]

And we beat Andorra today 3-0... but they came with a weak team so.. and we don't make it to the world cup in football, and that's a fact!

Yeah.. we have a bad year in the field sports.. I mean worse than usually. So I guess you'll have that one this time pretty easy. Don't matter to me! I loves the hockey

[trickey]

Canada vs. Russia tonight. I'm really looking forward to see how we do against such a talented team.

[Pekka]

I have to cheer for Canada. Because if Russia wins, they'll prolly win Slovakia as well, and win the group, meaning we would face Canada in the semis.. NO nono.. GO CANADA!

[Asher]

Canada's kicking ass...up 2-0 on Russia at the halfway point.

[cinch]

This Sokolov guy is pretty damn good in net, though. Could be much worse off for the Russkies right now.

[Flubber]

Brodeur has been great-- Canada up 3-0 now

Oh and Pekka-- recall that I predicted the tie-- I guessed 3-3 but I still think thats pretty good

[Fake Boris]

Convincing Canadian victory. We are definitely the mighty team of this tournament, though it should be conceded that Russia is a very weakened team compared to what they could be.

[Flubber]

Now as a reward, Canada gets . .. . absolutely no idea who they play next. Russia has to play Slovakia and a Russian win or tie means Canada plays Slovakia. However if the slovaks win by enough (3 perhaps), it looks like Canada would get Russia. It doesn't look as if there is any way Canada gets the States in the quarters.


I will say that Russia looked pretty good-- they still show great skills 1 on 1

[Flubber]

Not suprised to see Russia leading Slovalia although thet have to be careful with the give-aways-

markov just gifted the puck to make it 4-2

[Pekka]

RUssia is winning the game.. Slovakia will lose this group.. and will face Canada in the quarters, US will face Russia... Canada will win and advance to semis with perfect record. US vs Russia is mystery game to me, if Russia brings it, they might win. US does not impress me at all in this tournament, too bad. But they might win Russia just as well.

We'll get the winner of Russia vs US as we should win Germany tomorrow in our home arena.

Canada will face Czechs or Sweden in semis. Top 4 will be Canada, Finland, US/Russia, Sweden/czechs, I predict Sweden winning, so it'll leave US and Russia. Since Russia already beat US, I think the US will return the favour and not lose twice against the same team in their home arena with high stakes. So Canada, Finland, Sweden and US.

Final game: Canada vs Finland

No other way around it. Looks like The Hockey News did correctly rank us number 2 in this tourney. Canada should win the finals, however our weak spot, scoring has proved to be vice versa, we have had effective scoring on all lines and individuals and always staken an early lead. So, all I can say is, don't underestimate our team in any shape or form and you will take the victory. However if you bag it too early in the minds of the players, it can end bitter for you. Second place is victory for ours anyway, we weren't supposed to advance from Euro Group anyway. According to some, not me. I'm a believer

[Fake Boris]

I concur with Pekka - from what I've seen it's going to be a Canada-Finland final, though the Swedes may feel like they've got something to say.

[Pekka]

Of course.. but Sweden is in poor position, as they will face Canada in the semis if they get passed Czechs, which I believe they will do. For us, it's a bit easier route, thanks to the top seed in group. Kind of funny, between us and Sweden, they got the same points too, but have far mroe difficult route to, say finals. But that's hockey.

So, Sweden I think will get to semis. They play in their home arena too. So, they should face Canada in the semis, but then again, Sweden's line ups are strong, one of the strongest in this tournament and also they play good as a team so... anyhthign can happen, I just think Canada should take it home. Nothing guaranteed, I won't be putting any money on that game.

[Pekka]

The thing is, I want us to face US in the semis. I think we have better chances against Americans, because I feel it's easier opponent for us. Not necessarily easier per se, but for us it should be easier. The Russian style of hockey they now do, it doesn't suit us very well. The 1 on 1 situation like you said, they're doing some miracles in there with the skilled individuals. I feel those individuals (Kovalev, Ovechkin, Aginogenof etc) might penetrate our defense too easy with their personal skill and talent and would score against us, even while we could dominate the 5 on 5. They might be able to get an early lead on us. Also they might tie us and get a lead with just few performances by these masters, and would play tough defense on us. It just doesn't suit us very well, their style of hockey. We always have difficulties against Russians. We're smaller, and might not be faster than they are. We can't rely on speed, we have to move the puck a lot, that gives the masters quick over turns and with the skill of their few players, they can capitalize with scary percentage on those, which could brake our backs early in the game, or at any point of the game.

With the Americans, I feel we have better chances, even if they play better as a team. Their style suits us good. I feel that US will get more penalties than us, there are few goons in there who will be sitting in the bench like Tkachuk, maybe Guerin (I mean a guy who hits a team mate in the head with a stick in practice IS a goon, no matter how good he plays) and few others as well. The aggressive hockey style doesn't play well against us, as we never crumble before it. It only makes us better if we get some heated players hitting us. Where as Canada plays hard in different way, that's a weapon against us. We can't match that physical side of Canadians, but we can match the US physical game, and will be only overrun by the goon acts, but they will face penalty for it, and I feel our PP will solve the game for us, and Kipper denies most attempts 5 on 5.

We still haven't been dominated in 5 on 5. Swedes scored all 4 goals on PP, scary PP game they have! They put a line with Sundin as playmaker, Forsberg, Modin, Holström, Näslund firing from the blue lines.. the big Z, zetterberg makign some moves, that's a scary combination to face and they do score a lot. But I don't see US having the caliber of PP that Swedes have. In 5 on 5 I don't see US dominating us, I don't see us dominating them either, and I feel we have the better goalie and with a bit luck we'll take it, when the penalty box opens when they heat up too much. So I'm hoping we face the US, even though I feel it's stronger team, but I feel we are much better off with that than with the superoverlords of the stick handlers, Russia.

That's my take.