2014 Olympics Thread (2/12-2/23)

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Would have certainly been nice to have another 30 goal scorer in the lineup? Just sayin'

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/3776/

 

[Samkow]

Would have certainly been nice to have another 30 goal scorer in the lineup? Just sayin'

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/3776/

Bobby Ryan can't even spell the thing the team lacked most today. He should have been on the team but no Ryan isn't the reason the US lost.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Rob Mixer ‏@RobMixer 1m

Update: the team that scores first is 24-4 in these Olympics. Only seven total lead changes in 28 games.

Parity, ammiright

 

[stevo61]

Big ice blows. NZ Trap hockey at its best.

That was called back checking

 

[Mayor Bee]

bobby ryan can't even spell the thing the team lacked most today.

o-f-f-e-n-s-e?

 

[CBJWerenski8]

That was called back checking

Standing 3 guys on the defensive blueline with the two D standing on the faceoff dots is backchecking? Then when they gain the zone, stack 5 in the middle? Cmon now, they trapped it up after they scored. They deserved to win, they were better.

 

[Columbus Mike]

Play that game ten times and we win five and the Canadians win five. Retroactively rebuilding the squad still gets you 5-5 most of the time.

 

[FANonymous]

Big ice blows. NZ Trap hockey at its best.

I don't know that the US would've won on smaller ice, but I guarantee the game would've been more fun to watch.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I don't know that the US would've won on smaller ice, but I guarantee the game would've been more fun to watch.

Pretty much. I guess you never appreciate the small ice until you see the other side of it. Teams were trying to dump and chase against the trap, but once they retrieved it, they had all the space in the world due to the big ice. Forechecking was useless

 

[stevo61]

Standing 3 guys on the defensive blueline with the two D standing on the faceoff dots is backchecking? Then when they gain the zone, stack 5 in the middle? Cmon now, they trapped it up after they scored. They deserved to win, they were better.

Well the forward got back as he is supposed to, that is why Babcock ran 4 lines and cut shift length down. Everyone is always fresh. You also dont get 37 shots and outshoot an opponent in a trap, Cmon now

 

[stevo61]

And I agree, I hate big ice very much. Why dont they just make the neutral zone bigger... its very annoying

 

[IHeartZherdev*]

US may want to find some good offense from the defense next olympics (Hint: Wiz can do it)

Hint: Keith Yandle

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Well the forward got back as he is supposed to, that is why Babcock ran 4 lines and cut shift length down. Everyone is always fresh. You also dont get 37 shots and outshoot an opponent in a trap, Cmon now

They were aggressive offensively, I will give you that. Once they got in the zone, they didnt leave easily.

 

[NotWendell]

I'm intrigued by this hybrid size rink they keep talking about in Finland.

 

[NotWendell]

I didn't see anything even remotely resembling a trap until the third period when they kept their center in a withdrawn position. Not enough scoring ability up top for the U.S.

 

[EspenK]

Was Richards the eye in the sky? Or was he a healthy scratch? Never saw him behind the bench.

 

[NotWendell]

Was Richards the eye in the sky? Or was he a healthy scratch? Never saw him behind the bench.

I was wondering the same.

 

[Nanabijou]

It's very hard to penetrate the scoring zone in front of net on big ice with the structure of Canada's defensive style. Finland is very similar.

This Olympics did convince me that bigger ice isn't the way to increase scoring.

 

[Crede777]

I don't know that the US would've won on smaller ice, but I guarantee the game would've been more fun to watch.

Agreed. People who don't usually watch hockey were telling me today that the US-Canada game was great and exciting.

...Uh, what? I found it to be extremely boring with very little excitement with regards to sustained offense or even physicality. It would be there sporadically, sure, but mostly it was just turnover after turnover going both directions.

 

[MoeBartoli]

It's very hard to penetrate the scoring zone in front of net on big ice with the structure of Canada's defensive style. Finland is very similar.

This Olympics did convince me that bigger ice isn't the way to increase scoring.

I love the big ice. While I don't know that it increases scoring, many of the scoring plays are beautiful. On small ice many of the goals are the "jam it in the net" variety.

 

[major major]

Pretty much. I guess you never appreciate the small ice until you see the other side of it. Teams were trying to dump and chase against the trap, but once they retrieved it, they had all the space in the world due to the big ice. Forechecking was useless

Yeah it looks like that when you play against Shea Weber, Keith, Doughty, etc.. Throw some credit will ya.

If only there were a defenseman with a reputation as a scoring blueliner who had a significant history with USA hockey.

I really have no idea who you are referring to. You might be referring to Keith Yandle, which would be an oblique reference on the Jackets board, or you might be one of those strange people who still think of Jack Johnson as a "scoring blueliner", which he assuredly is not, ranking 6th in scoring per minute 5 on 5 after the other 5 Jackets blueliners.

 

[major major]

I thought this game was tremendously exciting, with frenetic intensity on every play. Of course, if you were rooting for the Americans, then I bet the third was frustrating. But every play was world class players giving their all. Team Canada is built for shutdown (outside of maybe Duchene, name one player who can't play great shutdown when directed) which I hope any hockey fan could admire as its a big part of hockey.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Yeah it looks like that when you play against Shea Weber, Keith, Doughty, etc.. Throw some credit will ya.

It's not like David Backes, Ryan Callahan, TJ Oshie, Dustin Brown, and Zach Parise are terrible forecheckers/bangers.

 

[nhldiedinthe90s*]

I think the hockey has been thrilling. I love the big ice. The stretch passes, the room to dance while attempting to gain the line, flip side-to-side no-look passing behind the paint, etc.

What I really love more than anything is that Bob didn't get injured and now we can get back to what matters most; Jackets Hockey.

 

[EspenK]