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The history of best-versus-the-best hockey competition

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My thoughts and observations after the Canada/Czechia game.


1) I thought Stamkos looked really good. Although not handsomely rewarded on the scoresheet last night, I am expecting big things from him.


2) I thought there was some weirdness with the Canadian defense in the offensive zone. Like not just strategic pinching but suddenly there was Weber or Boouwmeester behind the opposition net for no apparent reason. I heard Doughty saying pre-tournament they would be doing a lot of that and I took it as (hoped it was) trying to fake out the opposition. But he did some of it too in the first period.

Don't do that guise. It seemed to peter out as the game went on and that was good. Strategic pinching, sure - but let's just, you know, yeah.


3) While there is something to be said for the NHL game over the traditional international style - I do like the 2 hour 15 minute games we were getting in the Olympic.

A shitload more commercials, I do not need.
 
I did chuckle a bit though when it was mentioned that Team Canada's combined payroll would be 155 million, something like 80 million over the NHL salary cap.

Yap. We got the best players.

USA is not insanely far behind though. Something like 130 million, I think they said?



You know who was not happy with yesterday's performance by Team USA? Jeremy Roenick.


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Surprised that the Toronto crowd isn't a little more knowledgeable. Puck slides along the Finnish goal line behind Rinne but does not cross - shown by a couple replays. Could not have been any clearer.

But a lot of fans watching those replays reacted like they thought it was a goal. They must not realize that the puck must cross completely.

Serious hockey has been few and far between in Toronto. Learn the rules, hosers!

:laugh:
 
Mudcat
I assume you are talking about the U23 team - which is very cute and hard to dislike no doubt. But speaking for myself, I am Team Canada all the way. If Canada comes up against that U23 team I will be cheering for the youngsters to be squashed like one adorable little speedy peppy bug.

USA is enemy #1.
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Unreal.

We attempted to pass the olive branch over to our brothern of the north, and they shun us.

Buncha xenophobes up there. Totally unAmerican.

I'll be rooting for North America and USA.

Like a decent person would. Don'tcha know.
 
the 2nd period of this game is looking much better. Finally they picked up the speed.
I'm kinda liking Brett Hull's commentary between periods. :lol:

...meh, I don't know what these guys are doing, I could've had a hattrick at 52 in that game.
...maybe he should've played Byfuglien, then he wouldn't be in this mess
..actually the referees got this game going by calling a bunch of penalties
..eh, Kopitar, he's a better player than trying that weak move
 
So it is indeed a must-win for the US tomorrow versus the home side. Obviously I want Canada to win for all the conventional reasons but, just as a side-thing, were John Tortorella to do a major crash-and-burn here . . . why, I would be okay with that.
 
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