Olympic Hockey Thread

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Flubber


Ya I'd actually rather play the Swedes or the Slovaks

GO Sweden!!!!

We should have dropped today's game...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Zoid


3-0 this is the worst game I´ve ever seen... A ****ing travesty of hockey We don´t deserve a medal with this kind of play

Just curious but do you think Sweden just played bad or do you think they really wanted to throw the game?

[Flubber]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


We should have dropped today's game...

Maybe -- but it was probably better to get some confidence going

[Chemical Ollie]

Some fans on Swedish TV said that dropping a useless game to get a preferable playoff opponent is comparable to a crosscountry skier positioning himself behind the leading opponent to save energy until the final lap.

He might be correct, but I think a hockey game is different. Every game should be played to win.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

Sweden is about to get SERVED by the cheese eating fondue heads.

[Zoid]

Originally posted by Flubber


Just curious but do you think Sweden just played bad or do you think they really wanted to throw the game?

Considering that they played the worst game in history when they had something to gain by doing so, I´d say they threw the game. If they shine against Switzerland tomorrow it´ll be even more obvious. This is a sad day for swedish hockey really. It´s unsportsmanlike behaviour this, and even if they win a gold medal it will be tainted by this scandal... Ugh...

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Zoid


Considering that they played the worst game in history when they had something to gain by doing so, I´d say they threw the game. If they shine against Switzerland tomorrow it´ll be even more obvious. This is a sad day for swedish hockey really. It´s unsportsmanlike behaviour this, and even if they win a gold medal it will be tainted by this scandal... Ugh...

I wouldn't go that far -- it stinks but it happens

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Chemical Ollie
Some fans on Swedish TV said that dropping a useless game to get a preferable playoff opponent is comparable to a crosscountry skier positioning himself behind the leading opponent to save energy until the final lap.

Its not quite the same. I could take that analogy to include doing things like resting your top goalie and playing your top line sparingly-- To me those are completely acceptable.

besides-- its all Canada and ther Czechs fault.. if they had won like they were supposed to do, the tournamnet would work as it should . . . Higher finishers get supposed easier opponents . . .


Now I will be cheering against Sweden for the rest of the event . . . I would LOVE to see the SWiss kick their ass . . I don't think it will happen but it must really burn to have an opponent intentionally lose to get to play you

[Zoid]

Yeah, I´m a little upset right now. It´ll probably feel better in the morning.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Zoid


Considering that they played the worst game in history when they had something to gain by doing so, I´d say they threw the game.

I thought the same from the score but the IIHF saw nothing wrong with the effort

TORINO, Italy (AP) - Peter Bondra, Marian Hossa and Radoslav Suchy each scored as unbeaten Slovakia shut out Sweden 3-0 on Tuesday in Olympics men's hockey.

A stir was created before the game when Sweden coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson suggested his team might be better off losing because it would face Switzerland in the quarter-finals Wednesday, instead of Canada or the Czech Republic.

Kalervo Kummola, chief of the Finnish Hockey Association, monitored the Sweden-Slovakia game and was pleased that the Swedes were playing their stars and appeared to be playing with effort.

"It is very important that you play hard because people do not understand if you lose on purpose," Kummola said after the first period, with Slovakia leading 1-0.

The Slovaks (5-0) will face the Czechs (2-3) when the medal round begins Wednesday, and Sweden (3-2) will face Switzerland (2-1-2).





Bondra, an Atlanta Thrashers star, scored late in the first period on a slap shot that was so hard it tested the strength of the net.

Hossa, Bondra's NHL teammate, kicked the puck with his right skate to his stick and fired a wrist shot with Minnesota Wild defenceman Daniel Tjarnqvist draped on him early in the third period. Suchy of the Columbus Blue Jackets scored with 1:02 left.

Karol Krizan made 17 saves for the shutout, and Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Mikael Tellqvist stopped 28 shots for Sweden.

[Flubber]

So

A1 Finland US
A2Canada-Russia



B1 Slovakia- Czech
B2 Sweden -Swiss

would be how I think they will be grouped for the semis since the usual method is a fist place team can't face the other first place team or the second place team from their own pool until the finals.

So unless the North-American teams buck up a lot we could see a Finland Russia semi. As a canadian fan I'll predict Canada and Finland though.

On the other side I see the Swedes taking out the Swiss and I'll predict the Czechs wake up and take out Slovakia

[OneFootInTheGrave]

I am sooo looking forward to the Swiss beating Sweden 2-1. That would server them right

---

to add... well losing just like that is not unknown to sport, and is taking competitive advantage of someone elses position, but... just to flat out 3:0... doh... at least show some spirit.

I'd say that Swedes should get a Swiss suprise... if they are not geared up 100% they could get one.

[Flubber]

Oh and I was reading and its not like the Slovaks saw this as a must-win game . . . Apparently the slovaks played their THIRD- string goalie. He got the shutout with 17 saves.


The Swedes played within the rules . . . its just I hate when its just a simple quirk of scheduling order that lets teams have that type of "advantage"--- heck the Swiss could have mucked up the plan if they would have lost to Italy LOL.

[Zoid]

It´ll be an interesting game tomorrow either way. Let´s just hope Switzerland doesn´t become another Belarus

[Flubber]

Ohh and everybody!!! Its All NEW now. What anyone has done to this point is irrelevant except to the extent it has prepared them for the games to come.

Consider

If the US could pull off a victory against the Finns, then how would you look at those teams when it comes to Olympic success

If the Czechs could win against the Slovaks, how would you view the Olympic success of each

If Sweden loses to the Swiss, how will the Swedish gambit be viewed?

Canada is getting roasted at home for poor play-- a victory over Russia and all would be forgiven

My picks

Finland, Canada, Sweden and Czech

Canada is a sentimental "homer" pick since I haven't seen a lot to give me confidence. I wanted to pick the Swiss but I just don't think they have the talent to take out Sweden. The Czechs are my upset pick and the Finns should have too much for the U.S..