Olympic Hockey Thread

[Pekka]

I also believe this is not settled on paper, like it never really is.

So.. only teams I'mk really worried about is Canada and Russia. I see us having a great chance with anyone else, because of the style. Canada has the same style but they are better in it, and Russia has too much individual skill, it makes or breaks them. There are many players who can score the goals to take it so I'm worried about that, especially the PP of them.. I find it dangerous, more than with other countries, excluding Canada. We always play well against Sweden so that doesn't worry me. USA is not a true contender this year IMO and Slovakia is weaker, though very dangerous. Then... who's left.. Yeah the Czechs.. well that's a semi-concern.. it's really good team, but it can play pretty badly and it's game can be broken with the proper style. I feel we can break the center of the ice, that they really need to dominate, because they need to get passed the blue line in speed to make those very dangerous offensive moves they have, and if you break the center with the diamond, like Canada plays and we play, I don't see them doing anything special, except on PP and turnovers. So no mistakes, giving those turnovers, and not too many penalties, and it's ours!

[Pekka]

I'd like to point out that the hockey news agrees with my views how this will unfold. I'd like to point out that last time with WC, they were right

[Pekka]

Ok we played against Italy and won 6-0.

GOod things, we scored 5 goals on PP, yesterday we scored .. 3 or 4 on PP. So, pretty good PP.

Can't remember who scored all the goals but Selänne scored 2, Koivu 1.... Jussi Jokinen 1.. forget the last one.

And just like I've been saying, our 3rd and 4th line are too average. They will be run over against tough teams.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

looks like the #9 team just beat the #2 team . . .

[Footie Mad]

Hello hockey people. What do you think of the Russia - Sweden game so far? Seems to me that both teams are playing it a bit safe, keeping positions and trying to be stable in their game. Maybe it will open up in the second period.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia
looks like the #9 team just beat the #2 team . . .

Great result for the Swiss but the prelims always have a few of those results. THis win probably means the Swiss can make the quarters (I assume they will beat Italy) but they could still miss out if they lose to Germany.

I still expect the Czechs to far outperform the Swiss in the final result in this event. Remember that this Swiss team also lost to Finland 5-0 so we can't go getting too crazy over one result (either way) in assessing a team

[Pekka]

Well, it's difficult to say anything about the Sweden Russia game yet.. Russia started strong, very strong, but then Tre Kronor game back. We'll see where this goes.

LoA, That's because Czechs aren't #2 except in idiot rankings

[Pekka]

THis gives us nice position to go for second in Group A though.. And maybe get US or Slovakia for QFs.. which would be nice...

[Pekka]

But nice game developing... Sweden starts to look good, it's getting more physical now.. some hits.. plus Nabokov seems to have a good day too, so good game coming uP!

[Flubber]

Oh and it seems Aebischer was on fire for the Swiss. While the Swiss had 16 shots for the game, the Czechs apparently had 20 shots in the second period alone.

So a historic win for the Swiss but no reason for them to be dusting off a place on the mantle for a hockey medal

[Footie Mad]

Well something opened up, our goal! Does not look very good but maybe it's better to have one weak performance and improve some issues rather than when it's playoffs and to late.

[Pekka]

yeah.. if you want to lose, better do it now..

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Pekka


LoA, That's because Czechs aren't #2 except in idiot rankings

I agree that nothing matters except the games. While I might have some disagreement with the TSN rankings as well, its tough to find many places where you would ever move a team more than 2 spots. Take Finland . . maybe #6 is too low but given the players that did not come this time, its tough to predict them in the top 3 . . . I wouldn't.

maybe the Czechs without Hask are not #2 but I have a tough time placingm them below #4. There's still a lot of talent there. Maybe the Swiss are better than the Germans but #8 is as high as I could place them even though I am tempted to place this American team lower.

My bottom line has always been that there is a Top 7 which are the top 7 in the rankings by TSN ( but not necessarily in that order) and then there's the rest.



In Pool A Czech , Canada and Finland will qualify while the Swiss and Germans fight for the last spot.

In Pool B I see Sweden, Russia and Slovakia as qualifiers while the US should qualify but might not. Their tie with latvia could come back to haunt them

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Pekka
yeah.. if you want to lose, better do it now..

QFT

Canada, even with its best teams, typically stinks in a preliminary game somewhere along the way. the test is whether or not you are prepared for the playoffs

[Guynemer]

Canada is all over Germany early on.

Russia blitzed Sweden.