World Cup of Hockey '04

[Fake Boris]

Anyone else thought that the Czechs desserved the game?

BTW, is the US-CR game going to be broadcasted in Canada?

[Pekka]

There is no US-Czechs.. they won't be playing for the third one.. there's no medals. They both get 100k canadian dollars though. Finals is the only game left.

[Imran Siddiqui]

It would be nice to have Brodeur back.

Funny how much one player can mean to the team.

Yeah, I'm rooting for the Canadians now, because of Marty . Now you guys know that it ain't just the defensive style of the Devs that makes Marty good .

[Pekka]

Right, another Finn Hater..

[Ben Kenobi]

Now you guys know that it ain't just the defensive style of the Devs that makes Marty good

Oh, I considered him to be just about the best goalie ever awhile back.

Just look at his career accomplishments, and he could have another 10 years in him!

[Flubber]

I will say that Canadians are pretty honest in their hockey assessments . . .. Every media report I have read seems to be in accord with my own view that Canada is very lucky to be in the final. The Czechs outplayed Canada and at no point was Canada clearly the better team.


Some could say that this is a delayed revenge for Hasek stealing a game from Canada at Nagano . All I can say is that the best etams find ways to win, even when they probably don't "deserve" the victory.

As fro Luongo . .. he was spectacular at times and the media has given him a glowing report. I'll admit that its tough to step into that situation and he acquitted himself reasonably well BUT, the Czechs third goal was a bit soft.

My assessment is that he played well enough that there's no way Theodore plays, BUT if Brodeur is capable, he would be the preferred option. Heck, Brodeur gave up only 3 goals in FOUR games . .. you have to want to have him in the nets.

[Flubber]

So now both Canada and Finland have efforts that were far from dominant. This shows that the other teams were pretty strong as well but in the end, two pre-tournament favorites made it through.


My assessment of Canada has been pretty consistent. They are the most talented team overall and should be favored to win. Their first four games did nothing to dispel that idea. The bad effort against the Czechs was a suprise and yet not a suprise-- I posted about 5 times concerning how worrisome that matchup was to me. I am just pleased Canada managed to survive the match.

The Finns-- I have thought them to be a contender from the beginning. The early games, particularly when they smoked the Czechs were impressive. Then when they blew a lead against Sweden, some of the old demons reappeared. An uninspired elimination game against the Germans had me doubting them. As for the game against the US, the Finns showed smarts and executed a good game plan but did not appear to be dominant.

As I posted at length before, Finland does not have much ( any ) history winning it all at this level. They have often fielded highly competitive teams that somehow manage to finish second. This team has talent and the clutch goaltending necessary to break this pattern but the question is " Will they"??


I think it will be a great final. Its actually win-win. Either Canada will assert itself as the dominant hockey power and I am "homer" enough to enjoy that result. OR Finland will finally make a historic breakthrough and assert itself as a hockey nation that isn't content merely to be "good".

[optimus2861]

Originally posted by Flubber
As fro Luongo . .. he was spectacular at times and the media has given him a glowing report. I'll admit that its tough to step into that situation and he acquitted himself reasonably well BUT, the Czechs third goal was a bit soft.

I have trouble blaming Luongo for that third goal because the two defencemen in front of him seemed to be competing with each other over who was a better bumbler & stumbler. They got themselves completely twisted around, didn't even try to take a man, and there were no forwards coming back to help either. I would have liked to see a behind-the-net angle replay to see if all that confusion wound up screening Luongo.

Anyone else find it funny that Asher's sticking up for Ville now after trashing him repeatedly in the playoffs this spring?

[Asher]

Originally posted by optimus2861
Anyone else find it funny that Asher's sticking up for Ville now after trashing him repeatedly in the playoffs this spring?

I didn't trash him repeatedly in the playoffs, in fact I complimented several plays he made.

I did trash him for some stupidity, like taking dumb penalties too much.

As I said in this thread, he's a very good player when he behaves.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber
As fro Luongo . .. he was spectacular at times and the media has given him a glowing report. I'll admit that its tough to step into that situation and he acquitted himself reasonably well BUT, the Czechs third goal was a bit soft.

Are you nuts? Did you actually watch the game? Luongo was incredible. Canada would have lost without him. He made a bunch of incredible saves.

As for the third goals, Opitmus is right. The D screwed up battling over the puck, leaving a guy in the open who fires off a screen shot.

And what a game! Just watch it. Great, great hockey. The Canadians fought hard, but the Czechs were equally incredible. Vokuon put up a great fight and made some great saves.

And what can you say about LeCavilier. How the hell did he get that goal. It was almost an impossible angle.

As for the final, the Finns haven't got a chance. The only team that could have beat Canada was the Czechs. Too bad this game wasn't the final. Now that would have made a classic.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Asher
Ville.

He got an assist.

Not

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Tingkai


Are you nuts? Did you actually watch the game? Luongo was incredible. Canada would have lost without him. He made a bunch of incredible saves.

Sorry if using the word "spectacular" wasn't enough for you. .

I seriously doubt Canada would have lost that game with Brodeur between the pipes either. Did you watch the other games? Three goals in 4 games on 100 shots. Now thats incredible.

On the 3rd goal, I agree the D backed in too far but the shot was one that many goalies stop all the time. Overall a very good performance but I still think you go with Brodeur if he is healthy.

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by Flubber
I seriously doubt Canada would have lost that game with Brodeur between the pipes either. Did you watch the other games? Three goals in 4 games on 100 shots. Now thats incredible.

On the 3rd goal, I agree the D backed in too far but the shot was one that many goalies stop all the time. Overall a very good performance but I still think you go with Brodeur if he is healthy.

In some ways, Luongo is the better choice against the Czechs. He's used to stopping tonnes of shots in a game and still being able to stay focused.

A lot of Broduer's greatness comes from being able to stay focused through minutes of inactivity in his end, and then responding perfectly to stop that one scoring chance.

A lot of goalies can't stay focused while their team is dominating in the other end.

[Tingkai]

Well, the Finns are definitely going to lose.

Looks like they've decided to bench Vile and without him they of couse don't stand a chance.

[notyoueither]

Something comes to mind about chickens being counted and hatching, or something like that.

Good luck to both teams. I hope it's a good game.