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

[reno cool]

It was the most entertaining game so far. Some up and down action. Russia can forecheck. They manhandled those kids at times, but then they just back off. You can't be doing that when you're rarely able to break into the offensive zone clearly yourself

 

[Mudcat]

Okay so I will be taping the Canada/US game and picking it up - i.e. starting from the beginning - when I get home which will probably be 9-ish by the time I am showered and settled in.

I don't feel like there will be a lot of danger of spoilers. Obviously I won't have the radio on in the car. I have to stop at the store but the chances of someone blurting out a score feels slim.

Actually it will probably be better because I can fast-forward through commercials and crap and end up with the 2 hour 15 minute game I was remembering so fondly a few posts back.

 

[reno cool]

With Sweden's win Russia can be out even if winning their last game.
They can also be in by losing.
I think if NA beats Sweden by 1 and Russia wins by 1 they're out. If Russia loses by 1 and Sweden wins by 3 or 4 they're in. This is why the stupid asses needed to keep the pressure on once getting up by 3 yesterday.

 

[roguejuror]

14 seconds

 

[reno cool]

not many Canadian players I've really enjoyed watching in recent times. Theo Fluery. St. Louis, Cliff Ronning(?). Duchene is one of those. stupid Avalanche should've made him captain.

and what you mean rj?

 

[tullamore]

Does team north America have an anthem?

 

[Mudcat]

Okay so I will be taping the Canada/US game and picking it up - i.e. starting from the beginning - when I get home which will probably be 9-ish by the time I am showered and settled in.

I don't feel like there will be a lot of danger of spoilers. Obviously I won't have the radio on in the car. I have to stop at the store but the chances of someone blurting out a score feels slim.

Actually it will probably be better because I can fast-forward through commercials and crap and end up with the 2 hour 15 minute game I was remembering so fondly a few posts back.

Yap. 2 hour game. Minimal ads. Pretty noice.

That's the way you do it. Money for nothing - chicks for free.

 

[Mudcat]

and what you mean rj?

Canada's first 2 goals were 14 seconds apart.

14 seconds from being down 1-0 to being up 2-1.

I assume that's what RJ was referring to.

 

[reno cool]

yeah I noticed they really dragging it out with the breaks. Even the between period breaks seem longer. At least yous guys, I assume, don't have to listen to Barry Melrose laugh in the middle of the game.

 

[Mudcat]

Nope no Melrose here. We got Don Cherry. Whom I actually enjoyed last night. I did stop and listen to what he was saying whenever he was on. He did a good job of setting the mood pre-game and generally added to things between periods.



I will be repeating the delayed viewing procedure for tonight's game. Start watching about an hour after it starts.

Unfortunately it is an almost meaningless game. Nothing to play for in terms of positioning. I don't care who we play in the semis. Gotta be able to beat everyone.

About all I want to see is my hosers snap to attention a bit. I was left with a slightly bad taste from last night's game as they seemed to drift into a weird semi-complacency as time ran down.

 

[Mudcat]

On a side-note, how bout them boards at the Air Canada Centre AMIRITE?

 

[reno cool]

sitting on the worst possible score for Russia. 1 goal lead for NA. The only worse scenario would be a higher scoring 1 goal loss. Right now Russia needs to win by 2 to move on and possibly 2-0 wont do it. Might have to score 3 or 4 and win by 2.

 

[reno cool]

well thats better. Russia needs to win in regulation or ot. So thats good, if they can't do it they don't deserve to be in.

 

[Boner_18]

Isn't the best vs. the best hockey competition the Stanley Cup final? I'm confused.

 

[Mudcat]

well thats better. Russia needs to win in regulation or ot. So thats good, if they can't do it they don't deserve to be in.

Yeah any win over Finland should do it. That would create a two-way tie with TNA which Russia would win by virtue of their head-to head match-up.

 

[reno cool]

boy, the way Russia's playing, even if they pull this out : I'm afraid of the asskicking they might get from Canada. How can you have that many star players and play so feebly :sparesomecutter:

 

[Mudcat]

Yeah, the potential. They make this Canadian plenny nervous.

 

[Mudcat]

As for the future of best-on-best, next two winter Olympics are: South Korea - Beijing.

NHL + NHLPA doesn't really give a crap about South Korea - at least if they continue with the current deal - which is basically: we, the NHL, will provide you with the absolute prime content for your games - in return you, the IOC, give us nothing and keep all of everything.

Well okay, not exactly; the NHL gets some vague, unquantifiable marketing to the world.

So the NHL would like the IOC to sweeten the pot - i.e. pay for insurance and provide for families and maybe some straight-up sharing of some dough.

But the NHL + PA does want to go to Beijing - even under the current "deal" - believing it is a prime global marketing opportunity. I myself am skeptical of that thinking but apparently that's what they think - and they would be willing to throw South Korea into a deal with some concessions.

Work it out you buncha tubesteaks.



Actually the one thing I find really interesting about the current state of things - at least compared to past experience - is the level of harmony between the NHL and the NHLPA. Donald Fehr and Gary Bettman.