Olympic Hockey
QUICK NOTE: FEEL FREE TO USE THIS AN OPEN THREAD FOR THE GAMES, BUT I AM CHECKING OUT. DVRing the US GAME, WATCHING WHEN I GOT DONE WITH WORK AT 5. I AM NO SPOILER ALERT, BUT FOR Y'ALL WHO CAN WATCH LIVE, MAKE THIS AN OPEN THREAD
Anyone care to discuss the Olympic Hockey Tournament.
It starts today.
Here are the odds to win Gold:
Canada---Even
Russia---2/1
Sweden---5/1
USA-----5/1
Finland--12/1
Czechs---12/1
Everyone else is a major long shot.
Americans play today at 3 and are 2.5 goal favorites over the Swiss. Canada is favored by 6 over Norway. I bring that up beause at 800/1 the Norwegians are the longest of longshots.
Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this and I'm wondering if the more avid hockey followers dont have a take or two before this begins.
Also, i've been doing a daily blog on the Olympics and I would be honored if y'all checked some of coverage out at the JCB. Link to the main page is underneath my sig line. All the good stuff I did during CFB, bowl season and tracking the bubble, its the Olympics that are driving hits way up. I like these special events. Has me thinking about blogging the world cup, even though I dont know really anything about soccer.
Are they still not allowed to use hands?
February 16th, 2010 at 1:04 PM ^
ill discuss hockey all day as long as its mens and not womens, seriously when i turned on a game and saw the us womens team was winning 8-0 i changed the channel
February 16th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
Yeah, there are only 2 teams worthwhile in the women's field.
They should just let Canada and USA play a 7-game series for Olympic Gold.
I'd tune in for that game. it will be fun and the teams dont really like each other.
But every other game will be flirting with a double digit goal margin
February 16th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
To be fair, I'm pretty sure the Swedes beat the USA in '06 and took the silver in women's hockey. I think it was a monumental upset, but it happened nonetheless.
February 16th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
I had forgotten that.
Good catch. I offer the Swedish ladies a sincere apology.
I still think it would be better if USA and Canada did a best of 7, though.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:30 PM ^
Russia's first line is the kind of line you fight wars over. It's sick.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
Aren't the Swedes the defending gold medalists? I think in terms of risk/reward that they have the best odds.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:36 PM ^
Swedes are all getting old, my money is on canada over russia in the gold medal game with the US taking bronze
February 16th, 2010 at 1:44 PM ^
ice surface favors canada and the US... problem is the US just doesn't have enough talent to keep up... canada has a bunch of talented big guys that can skate... if this was being played on a international size rink then a european team would be favored... but canada is going to be able to play a physical game and keep up with the faster teams because of the smaller ice surface...
February 16th, 2010 at 1:55 PM ^
Does anybody know where you can stream the Olympic coverage streaming online for free? I'm stuck in the Dude this afternoon, and I'd really like to be able to watch the USA vs Switzerland game.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
That is the Canadian network responsible for coverage up here and they are streaming quite a bit.
February 16th, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^
No clue, sorry.
OT a little but anyone else notice this guy from the US curling team seems to be messing up a lot
February 16th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^
say basically that he is "all or nothing"... what is driving me nuts is the commentators and that they won't show the scores of the other matches... i have one of my friends from windsor updating me with the score of the canada/norway match...
February 16th, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
I like USA (obvi) and Sweden because they have 4 red wings playing. Look out for Russia though with ovechkin, malkin, and datsuyk plus Nabokov in net.
February 16th, 2010 at 2:48 PM ^
Well, i was actually gonna take Canada at even odds to win gold.
I checked lines first thing this morning, but didnt double check before i made this this thread
Anyway, in checking the lines now:
Canada -200....gulp, gotta bet 200 to win 100. I mean, I think the Habs win it, but this is way too talented a field to think somebody is a sure thing to pay that kind of juice.
russia still at 2/1
Swedes and Americans are now 6/1
February 16th, 2010 at 3:26 PM ^
I'm not really sure if the rink size is going to play a major part. Most of the top teams are composed of current/former NHL players, so they have experience. Though, to be fair, I do think a larger ice surface would favor the faster teams like Russia.
I'm surprised the Slovaks aren't considered comparable to the Czechs to be honest. Unless they figure Hossa and Gaborik will be unavailable for most of the games, the lineups are fairly comparable in my opinion.
If I was a betting man, I'd give a long look at Russia. Canada is likely a bigger, deeper, and more physical team, but given the short format of the Olympics I'll take Russia's scoring depth, adequate defense, and strong goaltending. I'd say Russia gets the gold, Canada the silver, and Sweden the bronze. The Americans are too young right now but I think they'll be a strong contender in Sochi.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:21 PM ^
I thought it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that this would be the last Olympics with professional hockey players. Which would mean that these US players will instead be contending in future World Cups (An event that the NHL has a financial interest in).
February 17th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^
Probably a little late replying to this, but several Russian players, notably Ovechkin and Malkin, have said that they will risk suspension to play for Russia in the 2014 Olympics. The NHLPA is going to fight tooth and nail to get the NHL to agree to allow players to play in Sochi. I would honestly be surprised if the NHL doesn't eventually come around to their senses and allow NHL players to don their respective countries' sweaters.
February 16th, 2010 at 3:35 PM ^
America! Fuck yea! 1-0 end of 1st period
February 16th, 2010 at 3:44 PM ^
Hopefully they can keep the pressure on, and put a couple more in the net early in the second. I wish we had a more physical presence though. I think teams like Canada will really push us around.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:02 PM ^
2-0 @ 13 minute mark of the 2nd period.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^
3-0 - between 2nd & 3rd periods
February 16th, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^
2-0 now USA has some great players they are just young. I believe they will get stronger as the tournamnet goes on. And as im typing 3-0 now off the PP. Guys like parise, Kane, Statsny (sp), backes, and JMFJ. I think they're gonna make some noise
February 16th, 2010 at 4:10 PM ^
They couldn't have come out and played a stronger opening to the period. Let's bury them, and focus on the next game.
February 16th, 2010 at 4:58 PM ^
Looking a little flat, early on in the third but starting to pick it up now. Lame PP goal by the Swiss.
February 16th, 2010 at 5:08 PM ^
3-1 USA Final
February 16th, 2010 at 6:05 PM ^
Canada is probably the odds on favorite. I think they did a good job structuring the chemistry of the team. For instance:
Marleau - Thorton - Heatley
Maybe they're not Ovechkin, Datsyuk, and Malkin, but they've been playing together all season. I think preparation of one of the most overlooked aspects of Olympic hockey.
That said, I'm thinking Canada wins it. Second and third will probably be USA and Russia. If Ryan Miller can play lights out hockey (he's the best goalie in the tournament in my opinion), then the Americans will take second.
Should be exciting!
February 17th, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
This is not a long slog - goalies steal games - sometimes for weeks at a time.
This happens in the NHL all the time, and this format is even more suceptible to it.
On paper, Canada wins - but the game aint played on paper. Chemistry matters. Roles matter.
The US is not experienced, but it is talented and capabale of stealing a game or two.
February 17th, 2010 at 12:25 AM ^
I agree the US could cause some teams a few problems...however, the idea that Canada might not win because they lack chemistry, role players etc. is just patently ridiculous. You have no idea how important this thing is up here; every player on that team is acutely aware of that fact.
February 17th, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^
please tell that to: joe thornton, patrick marleau, and dany heatley... those 3 make up san jose's top line... oh and then there is: perry, getzlaf and niedermayer they all play for the ducks and you can even toss pronger in there who used to play for the ducks... and lets not forget chicago's top 2 defencemen in seabrook and keith... and then we can look at it this way there is a good portion of the players on canada that played in the world jr's together... so i really doubt that lack of chemistry is going to be the reason why canada doesn't win this...
February 17th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
You actually said that Ryan Miller was the best goaltender in the Olympic tournament. That's pretty good. Thanks, I was in need of some humor.
I will agree that Canada wins it.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
If I were building a team right now, he's my first choice in goal. Will he be as good all time as Brodeur for instance? No...not even a chance.
But I'm not drafting for the Hall of Fame. I'm talking about the 2010 Olympics. I just don't see another goal tender who I'd rather have. Vokoun is having a great year too, but Luongo and Lundquist have disappointed this year in my opinion.
If the Americans medal, it will be because of Miller in my opinion. They can't compete with the top Canadian and Russian lines, but if Miller can come up big they have the potential to steal a few games. In this type of tournament, that's all you need. Just ask Sweden.