GDT USA vs Latvia 2-15-06 9:00 PM Torino time, 3:00 P.M. EST.

[Ola]

Guys don't underestimate "the jetlag" and Latvias quickness up front. I doubt US will go 0-3 against Slovakia, Russia and Sweden. Latvias quickness was a perfect fit against Hatcher and Co. The commentators mentioned something about US having the biggest team in the tournament, I am not sure about that, but they will be able to controll a team like Russia for example pretty well. I would not put allot of money on Russia against US thats for sure...

Every international tournament there is a upset like this.

 

[imyourhuckleberry]

Ryan Miller is laughing in Buffalo......

 

[Avant-Gardien]

****ing skating bears would've been better then our defense tonight.

Christ, I wouldn't want to face a bear on defence! Bears are jerks!

 

[Ola]

USA need to put their players on the diet Can't have a team with only 100+ kg's players. Some are decent on skates but many of them look painfully slow compared to Russia and Slovakia.

I seriously belive that a big part why Slo-Rus looked so fast was because neither of the teams played a good hockeygame... I think this US team will win atleast one game against thoose two.

It seems like I am alone on the entire HF board of beeing a bit impressed by this USA team. I think they might take some big scalps this tournament...

 

[DaMick]

Ryan Miller is laughing in Buffalo......

Didnt he go? i thought he was on the Taxi squad

 

[DevilsFan38]

Didnt he go? i thought he was on the Taxi squad

He's on the taxi squad, but he's staying in the US. He'll fly over if he's needed.

 

[David Puddy]

Chelios looks like he's 60 years old...he shouldn't be playing...

I was thinking about Brett Hull in the World Cup of Hockey in 2004.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

The problem with Team USA is that everyone on the team is trying to be the hero. Gomez and Gionta are the worst offenders- everytime they touch the puck they try to go end to end with it. And Jason Blake..wow...I have never seen someone dive this much.

Are you kidding right now??

Gionta and Gomez were two of the bright spots for the US in what can only be described as a dissapointing tie. What game were you watching?

 

[HellsBells]

Ryan Miller is laughing in Buffalo......

Why? Because he would have scored the game winner? The US team tied this game, not the lack of goaltending.

Miller isn't the only player that deserves a spot that was not given one.

 

[David Puddy]

Ryan Miller is laughing in Buffalo......

Maybe he's watching with JR shouting, "Death to America," though I doubt Miller would.

 

[HughJass*]

I missed the game! Did Irbe just win a trip to the waiver wire?

 

[DaMick]

I missed the game! Did Irbe just win a trip to the waiver wire?

39 saves - 42 shots?
id say he earned himself a shot somewhere

 

[Blades of Glory]

The goaltending was fine. Too bad that we couldn't score. I can see 5th or 6th place for us fairly easily. No offense to Latvia, especially good 'ol Arturs Irbe (Loved him when he played for SJ) but they are the 2nd worst team in the tourney. There's no way we should have tied.

 

[crashlanding]

The goaltending was fine. Too bad that we couldn't score. I can see 5th or 6th place for us fairly easily. No offense to Latvia, especially good 'ol Arturs Irbe (Loved him when he played for SJ) but they are the 2nd worst team in the tourney. There's no way we should have tied.

Kazakhstan and Italy are worse.

 

[Blades of Glory]

Kazakhstan and Italy are worse.

Forgot about Kazakhstan. Okay 3rd worst. I can't see us beating any of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czechs, or any other team outside Germany, Kazakhstan, and Italy.

We could have another miracle though.

 

[MLH]

The goaltending was fine.

Yep. The goaltending was good enough to tie Latvia. That's all you can really ask for.

 

[crashlanding]

Yep. The goaltending was good enough to tie Latvia. That's all you can really ask for.

If you don't think Grahame had a decent game, a game good enough to win your TV is broken.

Defense was the problem here, not goaltending. I don't think Miller would have done too much better.

 

[Blades of Glory]

Yep. The goaltending was good enough to tie Latvia. That's all you can really ask for.

If we can't score more than 3 goals on Latvia, the offense is the problem.

 

[Miracle80]

Forgot about Kazakhstan. Okay 3rd worst. I can't see us beating any of Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czechs, or any other team outside Germany, Kazakhstan, and Italy.

We could have another miracle though.

Don't let the score fool you, Germany could have beat the Czechs today.

 

[MLH]

If you don't think Grahame had a decent game, a game good enough to win your TV is broken.

Defense was the problem here, not goaltending. I don't think Miller would have done too much better.

I think he had a "decent" game. We were playing Latvia and this is the Olympics. "Decent" isn't good enough.

I think the US would have gotten two points with Miller, but Miller's not in Italy so it doesn't really matter.

 

[gobolt7]

Folks, this is the gameday thread for the United States and Latvia. It was intended to discuss the game and the players that played in the game, not who you think should or should not have made the team. There are plenty of threads out there for that. Please keep this to game talk only. Thank you.

 

[MLH]

If we can't score more than 3 goals on Latvia, the offense is the problem.

Why? Latvia's strength is it's defense and goaltending. If it's going to take 4 to beat Latvia, what's it going to take against Sweden? 8?

 

[glue]

Wow...U.S fans...here's a song ya'll might wanna get familiar with..."na na na na...na na na na....hey hey hey...goodbye.." - j/k

But seriously...its just the first game..doesn't mean much (likely that lot of the players are fatigued)..once they get that chemistry going and IF their goalies start playing well...they could still be contenders..

 

[Blades of Glory]

Don't let the score fool you, Germany could have beat the Czechs today.

I know. They scored first, and played well from what I heard. I'm rooting for them, especially since so many Sharks play on that team. Prospect Tomas Greiss will get the start in goal against Canada tommorrow.

 

[Hockeyfan02]

If we can't score more than 3 goals on Latvia, the offense is the problem.

I think Laviolette tried to implement his system too early in the tourney. Some guys are used to playing like that, but some guys aren't which is why there were numerous odd man rushes for Latvia today. He needs to simplify things for the players to get used to it. Goaltending wasn't the problem today, but some will blame whoever is in net because one of their guys isn't starting.