USA men eliminated by Slovakia
This is a thread for anger
Beniers was everywhere in OT, most effective player on the ice, yet did not go in the shootout
USA 2-3 Slovakia (SO)
What a waste of a golden medal opportunity on a platter
FUCK!
Tomorrow is a day to get up for the women going for gold against Canada.
But right now, this sucks.
February 16th, 2022 at 12:16 PM ^
I’ve flown to Seoul several times and you’re absolutely right - that jet lag/time difference is no joke. Would love for everyone to be back for the ohio series, but it seems pretty unlikely
February 16th, 2022 at 11:53 AM ^
My experience going to Asia is I'm typically out of it for ~48 hours before I'm back on schedule. Even if those guys hopped on a plane right after the game, I'm not really sure they'll be in great playing shape by Friday. I'd be very surprised if any of them played this weekend
February 16th, 2022 at 1:26 PM ^
I’d say if (and that’s a huge if) the US players left right after their game or first thing the next morning, there’s an outside chance they might be ready on Saturday. Friday is almost certainly out of the question in my opinion based on personal experience with international travel.
Absolute best case for them is arriving this afternoon/evening and needing 48 hours or so to adjust, and probably a little longer to feel like themselves physically. With Canada playing today, there’s virtually zero chance they’re ready this weekend even if they leave immediately.
Asking players to take a 22+ hour flight from Beijing to Detroit, maybe more depending on layovers, cross the international date line in the process. And then be ready to play hockey 2 days later is just crazy. It’s best for the players to take the rest.
February 16th, 2022 at 1:15 PM ^
Um… no I can definitely say none of these guys are used to this type of travel and having to play a hockey game right after. We’re talking a 22ish hour flight and a 12 hour time difference. This isn’t a short trip and you walk off the plane like nothing happened. There’s going to be some rest needed.
It takes most people DAYS for their bodies to readjust after a trip like that. And that’s before we account for the fact that they were playing a sport at a high level and you’re asking them to come back and play the sport at a high level while still making that adjustment.
February 16th, 2022 at 3:16 PM ^
I think you're spot on here. Having made the transpacific journey dozens of times, it is no joke and sleep, readjusting to a healthy diet, and ability to think quickly are affected. Some people adjust quickly, others do not. If they played against OSU, I'd be surprised though it really depends on how Beniers and Brisson adjust as individuals and their preference...
February 16th, 2022 at 3:55 PM ^
I would add that there’s a distinct difference between making the adjustment and making the adjustment and being able to perform at a high level.
I wouldn’t be all that surprised if they were able to adjust before Saturday’s game and they were starting to feel like themselves. They are young athletes. I’d expect they could bounce back a bit quicker than most. I just don’t think physically, they’d be there
February 16th, 2022 at 5:41 AM ^
I'll leave it to others with a more sophisticated understanding of hockey to critique the coaching, but I have never seen such an uninspired set of shootout attempts. The Slovakian goalie could have played with a patch over his dominant eye and his glove hand tied behind his back and would still have had five saves. The only explanation I can come up with (and again, I am not a hockey expert) is that the book on the Slovak goalie that he is more vulnerable up close (and to his right) but that clearly wasn't the case tonight
That being said, shoot outs (and penalties in soccer) are an insane way to settle ties
February 16th, 2022 at 7:12 AM ^
Well, that's disappointing.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:05 AM ^
don't try to fool us vlady. we know you're rocking your 'ROC' jersey behind that keyboard.
February 16th, 2022 at 12:30 PM ^
Which is on top of his Ukraine jersey.
February 16th, 2022 at 8:19 AM ^
Jack Eichel is the only reason David Quinn got a job in the NHL and then the chance to coach Team USA.
Sadly enough, this loss is very on brand for Quinn.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:32 AM ^
Jack Eichel probably was NOT the reason why David Quinn got his NHL head coaching job with the New York Rangers in 2018. It might’ve been due mainly to Quinn's connections to another Boston University alumnus, Chris Drury.
It didn’t work out well for Quinn whose Rangers missed the playoffs in two of his three seasons there. He was fired by Drury last May, a week after Drury became the president and general manager of the Rangers. Drury had been with the Rangers organization in managerial jobs since September 2015 when Jack Eichel was a rookie with the Buffalo Sabres and three years BEFORE Quinn got the Rangers job.
Eichel’s one season at Boston University (2014-15) was Quinn’s second season as BU’s head coach, having succeeded legendary coach Jack Parker who’d been head coach at BU for 40 years. He had been an assistant at BU for several years and was on the staff of their 2009 national championship team before leaving to work as an assistant coach in the Colorado Avalanche organization.
As for Quinn’s “brand”, Quinn’s first season as BU’s head coach had been a disaster (10-21-4 overall; 5-12-3 in ninth place in Hockey East), but in Quinn’s second season as BU’s head coach and Eichel’s only season there, the Terriers were 28-9-5 and 14-5-3 in first place in Hockey East and won the Hockey East tournament. Eichel won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player and BU got to the NCAA championship game where they lost to Providence. Quinn stayed at BU for four more seasons in which BU never won fewer than 21 games and made the NCAA Tournament each season. They were Hockey East tournament champions in 2018 before Quinn was hired by the Rangers.
February 16th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
Quinn's best season with BU was the one year he had Eichel.
You're right though, his relationship with Chris Drury and with then GM Jeff Gorton is what got him the job. He consistently was a one mistake and you're relegated to the 4th line type coach with younger players, despite him coming in to help develop the kids. He did very well with some like Pavel Buchnevich but failed with others and those Rangers teams always seemed to make 3rd period leads far more interesting than they needed to be.
It was Chris Drury who was the one who rightfully so fired Quinn shortly after he was named President and GM this past May.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
Good for Slovakia. Their hockey needed some good news as they have fallen off a bit in recent years.
Obviously in a 'best on best' tournament this result would have been a lot less likely as Slovakia these days doesn't have many NHL stars while the U.S. may have more than ever.
But I think Olympic hockey without the NHL is basically the time and place for the smaller countries to generate some positive PR that motivates more kids to get into hockey.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^
I certainly agree with what everyone else has said on this post about the PP and the uninspired coaching. What I didn't get was how bad the refs were. Is cross-checking legal in international play? I saw at least 3 instances of flagrant high sticking that went uncalled, 2 with blood drawn. Slovakia bullied us. I feel bad for the kids on that team, with the whole situation letting them down.
February 16th, 2022 at 3:20 PM ^
Plus 1 to your comments. I also counted three uncalled high sticks, lots of clutching and grabbing, a few cross checks, and the pull down on Knies on the last minute breakaway (the defender had his stick horizontal across Knies body and hands, which is typically called in the NHL and college).
February 16th, 2022 at 9:34 AM ^
Shoot outs shouldn’t be used for elimination games
February 16th, 2022 at 9:46 AM ^
Damn!
February 16th, 2022 at 10:19 AM ^
I hope we get the guys back in time for OSU.....and heres hoping Canada loses and we get those guys back....Silver lining and all.....If it were me? Id be hopping on the next plane home so I could help my TEAM win a conference title...there Kids they have a TON of stamina
February 16th, 2022 at 11:54 AM ^
And Canada lost as well! Craziness.
February 16th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^
Even if they get back in time, they’re going to be suffering pretty heavily from jet lag. It’s probably a stretch to have them ready for this weekend
February 16th, 2022 at 10:22 AM ^
If we lived in a totalitarian regime, Quinn would be tortured to death in a village square upon returning to the US.
Total failure.
February 16th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
1) That's pretty pathetic but it seems to follow a theme this Olympics of a lot of American athletes choking/failing.
2) Does this mean we get Brisson and Beniers back for this weekend's series? (Silver Lining?)
February 16th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
Looks like Canada is about to go out to Sweden as well...both teams out in the quarters? has Canada ever not made it to the semis? (Too busy/lazy at work to check...thanks to someone who inevitably will!). I guess for U of M this went as well as it could since all players have a better chance to return/get acclimated for rest of season.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:38 AM ^
2006 in Italy was very poor for both USA and Canada
February 16th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
The Canadian team in 2006 both underperformed and was oddly built. The Americans in 2006 were in a weird spot, old guard was too old and new guard was too young, plus they had horrible goaltending.
The Swedish team that won the Gold was absolutely stacked.
February 16th, 2022 at 10:45 AM ^
Great news is Canada just lost as well. Not sure if Power and Johnson would be able to get back this weekend as well but it would be nice to at least have them in the building for senior night even if they aren't able to play.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:31 AM ^
I dunno if it's "great" news. It's sad for Kent and Owen. I don't mind Canada doing well; the 72 summit series was among my dad's proudest moments as a Canadian.
But both the US and Canada getting eliminated now does give the faint silver lining that the Michigan players will have fewer miles on their legs and *might* get home sooner. Even if they're on campus by this weekend (questionable) I think they are wiser to be rested, but I agree that it would be nice for them to be in the building. It's a night for the seniors, but let's not pretend that these top draft picks will be back again next year.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:37 AM ^
It's great news.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^
Sure. Great news in context for us as Michigan fans. It stinks for them and was an awesome opportunity to play for their home country in the Olympics. Hopefully in four years when they're all in the NHL they can do it again.
February 16th, 2022 at 3:21 PM ^
To me, this is bummer news. I wanted to root on some Wolverines to the gold. I feel for these young men.
February 16th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
Watched the whole game. Slovakia had the better game by far and Mann was the only reason it wasn’t a blowout. They put so many shots on goal in the 2nd whilst the Americans were struggling big time.
February 16th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
Let down game from the Canada win? I think so.
Ooof, bad loss.
February 16th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
FIRE BORGES!!
February 16th, 2022 at 7:17 PM ^
Reminds me of so many "what couldve been Redwing teams" last minute goals killed so many great Wings team too
February 17th, 2022 at 9:17 AM ^
Will not be back for this weekend and maybe next weekend. Think they may be staying for closing ceremony….