Team USA (M) Hockey game 1 vs. Slovenia
Olympic hockey is live now on NBCSN, NBC Sports App, CBC, etc. For some primer, take a look at this thread where we discused the tournament and no NHL players. Of course it's the first time since 1994 with no NHL-ers in the Olympics. We've got one former Wolverine to watch on the team in Chad Kolarik. There's nothing like Olympic hockey...this doesn't really feel like a "Miracle" team, but let's hope for a great tourney.
Game 1: USA vs. Slovenia
Other games on now: Slovakia vs. OAR
Future USA games: 2/15 10:10 pm EST vs. Slovakia, 2/17 7:10 am EST vs. OAR (Russia)
Group A: Canada, Czech Republic, Korea, Switzerland
Group B: OAR, Slovenia, Slovakia, USA
Group C: Finland, Germany, Norway, Sweden
Friendly reminder to thank Gary Bettman by boycotting the NHL during this tournament!
Update after game 1 from group B:
| TEAM | Pts | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovakia | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Slovenia | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| OAR | 0 | 0 | 1 |
February 14th, 2018 at 11:38 AM ^
hasn't started yet due to weather also
February 14th, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
Gary Bettman can fuck himself with a rake. He has no love for the USA or freedom. He worships money, and dances to the tune of his handlers.
He would make a great congressman.
Fuck the NHL
February 14th, 2018 at 9:28 AM ^
OAR loses to Slovakia 3-2 in regulation!
February 14th, 2018 at 3:09 PM ^
That was a crazy game of poker.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:29 AM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 9:34 AM ^
very Red Wings like.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:39 AM ^
And beaten by a former Wing to boot.
But yes, it did feel like a 2018 Red Wings game. And here I thought I was taking a break from that crap by boycotting the NHL for the Olympics.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:41 AM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 9:50 AM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 9:46 AM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 9:56 AM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^
When Dats is playing.
February 14th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
February 14th, 2018 at 12:54 PM ^
"There's just no substitute for having had substantial experience of playing together as a team when it comes to competing in major international tournaments."
Well, no. There is a substitute, and a really good one: talent. The best players usually win. Canada 2014, Canada 2010, Sweden 2006, Canada 2002, Czech Republic 1998, Sweden 1994, and so on.
The fact that about 95 of the best 100 hockey players in the United States were not allowed to participate in the current Olympics has a heck of a lot more to do with their performance today than the fact that those 25 guys they did scrape up for this tournament didn't get a chance to practice together.
February 14th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^
Let's not count on 1960 or 1980 ever happening again.
As a matter of fact, that narrative "they won because they played together like a professional team" was certainly Herb Brooks's narrative, but really...how true was it? They won because they were more talented than most other USA teams and they were playing on their home ice.
There really isn't much more to it than that. If it's all about playing together as a team, why didn't the 1984 USA team do well at all? They played together from July 1983 to February 1984, and they played like garbage throughout the Olympics, beating Poland to finish 7th.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^
Hockey is probably my favorite sport considering every level (I love college football more than everything, but don't care too much for the NFL as much as the NHL, and I love college hockey too).
I've gotta say, if not for Michigan Hockey having a great rebuild year, I would be counting down the seconds until baseball season because everything else hockey this year has SUCKED.
Probably the worst hockey season of my life. I'm really hoping that once the Olympics pick up speed for hockey, the US team won't add to my list of frustrating 2017-18 hockey teams that I am a fan of.
February 14th, 2018 at 9:41 PM ^
This was the Outback Bowl of hockey....too soon?