Open Thread: Bronze Medal Game - USA vs. Finland
Both teams come off of devastating losses to their neighbors and rivals. Sweden and Canada are off to the Gold medal game. Finland and USA need to put yesterday's games behind them quickly and get focused today. The bronze medal game is still hugely important, and the difference between 3rd and 4th is massive. This is also big for the US in that it will affect the total Olympic medal count.
Let's hope the boys in red, white, and blue get back to work. Maybe score some goals, eh?
Bronze Medal Game: USA vs. Finland, 10:00 a.m. EST
Tv: NBCSN
All-time hockey medals: USA 2 gold, 8 silver, 1 bronze; Finland 0, 2, 3
USA's lone bronze medal came in 1936.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:59 AM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^
I don't even know what to say. :(
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:10 PM ^
We need to accept USA hockey for what it is. Very good, but not a favorite or co-favorite. Medaling would be a decent accomplishment and a gold a fairly rare occurance.
It aint our sport.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
That's just not true. We were certainly a co-favorite going in, and had to be considered a favorite after the group round.
I refuse to accept that hockey is not our sport.
February 22nd, 2014 at 6:12 PM ^
Canada is the First Nation of hockey. It is what it is.
February 23rd, 2014 at 7:47 AM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:22 PM ^
When you're a nation as big as ours, there's no need to just rule anything out as "not our sport." As mentioned, Finland packs a lot of hockey punch for a nation of under six million. I'm sure finding that number of hockey fans in this country wouldn't be a problem.
We might not be the best team in the world, but it's closer than it looks based on the outcome of one game. We're certainly at any given moment somewhere around top five territory. There are a lot of countries that like hockey more than we do that would love that kind of success.
All that said, yeah, we really embarrassed ourselves today. Some emotional overreaction is warranted!
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
Scoring a ton of goals against lacklustre opposition and a broken Russian team didn't prepare the US when the toughness test and adversity came with Canada and Finland today.n
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
but Patrick Kane just again proved himself to be an idiot. Needless slashing penalty.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
I thought he acted like a petulant child, personally.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:51 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
2018 USA roster needs to have more guys that give a shit. More guys that understand the pride and effort they must carry and exemplify at all times. This team absolutely folded when faced with adversity. The display of effort they showed today was entirely embarrassing and everyone in that locker room should be ashamed of this result.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:14 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
That said, I wonder how Bobby Ryan and Brian Burke are feeling these days...
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:24 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:06 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 2:16 PM ^
Finland has medaled in six of the last eight Olympics, so I don't think "bronze is gold" for them.
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:22 PM ^
Fourth place sucks. Nothing left to do but have misery vodka shots with the Russian team.
February 22nd, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
February 22nd, 2014 at 12:23 PM ^
In the end, we were nearly there with shots on goal - Finland had 29, and we came in at 26. Of course, Finland also had 5 goals and 10 assists, whereas we sadly had zero of each. Hopefully, this does not set the tone for my trip to Yost tonight.
February 22nd, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^
For anyone who thinks America can't compete, or whatever, here is a ranking of countries by number of registered hockey players (from Wikipedia, granted, but it seems legit). The top ten:
1. Canada - 617,107
2. USA - 511,178
3. Czech Republic - 95,094
4. Sweden - 69,921
5. Russia - 64,326
6. Finland - 56,626
7. Germany - 27,068
8. Switzerland - 26,166
9. Japan - 19,975
10. France - 17,381
So, aside from Canada, we have far more players than countries #3-10 combined. We're not hurting for talent.
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:58 PM ^
Pure numbers enrolled does not equal talent or skill. You have 10x the population that Canada has. You should have a million enrolled atleast.
February 22nd, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^
Go Sweden!
Go Carl Hagelin!
February 22nd, 2014 at 5:40 PM ^
is just for losers.
</wishing US had won anyway>
February 22nd, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^
This is for Pat Caputo who not only said that the US would throttle Canada, but this is the best US hockey team ever assembled.
February 23rd, 2014 at 2:36 AM ^
February 23rd, 2014 at 2:36 AM ^