The Yzerhood
Registered User
- Feb 21, 2010
- 19
- 0
Well, now that it's all said and done, I think we can all agree that these Olympics provided consistent entertainment. Not one day of Men's Ice Hockey went by without there being a great battle, whether it be an intense rivalry, a great upset, or simply an end to end contest.
So, which one took the cake? Which one was your country's greatest effort?
A few highlights that come to mind:
Preliminary Round:
Canada 3 - Switzerland 2 (SO): The first time I was nervous about Canada potentially having a Turin-like tournament. Still trying to establish chemistry, you can't take away Brodeur going 4/4 or Crosby (of course) coming through to win it. Also, Hiller had a fantastic performance.
USA 5 - Canada 3: I was pissed, but this was a bit of a blessing in disguise for Canada and a huge coming out party for an American team that too few had on their radar coming in. High scoring affair. Unbelievable goaltending by Miller. GG
Switzerland 5 - Norway 4: Once again, Hiller was good. This game meant so much in terms of the parity that is forming in International hockey. For me to have been so pumped up about a game between Switzerland and Norway, I was incredibly impressed. Coming out party for Zuccarello-Aasen and a hat-trick by a player with possibly the greatest name ever relative to the country he's from, Torre Vikingstad.
Slovakia 2 - Russia 1 (SO): A deadly team with so much potential that had yet to really demonstrate it at this stage, this was the game that gave Slovakia its momentum. Pavol Demitra showed up. The favourites were taken down in a tight game.
Russia 4 - Czech Republic 2: Russia finally got rolling and for the first time against legitimate competition, actually looked terrifying. A rematch of the '98 gold medal game. Ovechkin demolishing Jagr was very fitting in a "I'm the new generation. I'm the new you" kind of way and the resulting Malkin goal was a beauty.
Sweden 4 - Belarus 2: Many non-Swedes were hoping to see a Salt Lake City upset and almost got it. The Swedes survived a very intense late game push and because of probably their biggest fallacy in the elimination portion (Not panicking or playing with much urgency when the pressure was on), capped it off with an Alfie goal.
Sweden 3 - Finland 0: This wasn't a nail-biter by any means, but it was a match-up between two undefeated teams for first in the group, and a huge testament to Sweden's scary ability to methodically pick apart a team and cruise to a win.
Playoffs:
Switzerland 3 - Belarus 2....Czech Republic 3 - Latvia 2...Slovakia 4 - Norway 3: Again, parity, parity, parity. Hiller churns out another great performance. I was hoping for a gigantic upset by Latvia or Norway.
Canada 7 - Russia 3: The most dominant period of hockey I've ever seen. Playing Germany definitely helped Canada. They showed up to play. Remarkably similar to the 2005 WJC gold medal game. Tough as nails hockey, cycling for periods that looked like they'd never end. We finally saw why this team was built the way it was. Kind of unfortunate that a pre-tournament favourite got eliminated, but it's how it ended.
Slovakia 4 - Sweden 3: This game had me pumped up beyond words in the early hours of the morning because A. I finally got a sizable and meaningful upset and B. Canada didn't have to play Sweden. I was pretty unimpressed with Sweden's lack of urgency in the dying minutes.
Canada 3 - Slovakia 2: I was incredibly nervous that entire last minute, and my joy of seeing Slovakia make it to this point almost turned around to bite me in the ass. Luongo on Demitra was absolute clutch.
United States 6 - Finland 1: Pretty much solidified what the US was trying to tell the doubters: "We're really good, and we're not ****ing around". SIX GOALS in one period. Unfortunate game for Kipper, but at least he bounced back and won Bronze.
Finland 5 - Slovakia 3: I didn't see it, but I can imagine the comeback by the Finns was pretty intense.
Canada 3 - USA 2 (OT): Epic, historical, everything it was built up to be. We waited 4 years for Olympic redemption. We waited a few months for International hockey redemption from the US. We waited one week for redemption in this tournament alone. Tied up with 25 seconds left by the son of a '72 Super Series player turned American, won by Sidney Crosby of all people in Overtime (only the second GMG to go to the extra frame). This was the record-breaking 14th medal for Canada. This was the most fitting end possible to such a fantastic tournament. The team with all the pressure in the world to win this played the team that had to re-book it's flights because they didn't expect to be there. After so many surprises, the nation that would accept no other result at home got what it wanted. I haven't even been around for two decades, but this moment meant more to me as a sports fan and as a Canadian than any other. The game had everything you could ask for. Everyone wins.
So, the finals was obviously my choice, what was yours?
So, which one took the cake? Which one was your country's greatest effort?
A few highlights that come to mind:
Preliminary Round:
Canada 3 - Switzerland 2 (SO): The first time I was nervous about Canada potentially having a Turin-like tournament. Still trying to establish chemistry, you can't take away Brodeur going 4/4 or Crosby (of course) coming through to win it. Also, Hiller had a fantastic performance.
USA 5 - Canada 3: I was pissed, but this was a bit of a blessing in disguise for Canada and a huge coming out party for an American team that too few had on their radar coming in. High scoring affair. Unbelievable goaltending by Miller. GG
Switzerland 5 - Norway 4: Once again, Hiller was good. This game meant so much in terms of the parity that is forming in International hockey. For me to have been so pumped up about a game between Switzerland and Norway, I was incredibly impressed. Coming out party for Zuccarello-Aasen and a hat-trick by a player with possibly the greatest name ever relative to the country he's from, Torre Vikingstad.
Slovakia 2 - Russia 1 (SO): A deadly team with so much potential that had yet to really demonstrate it at this stage, this was the game that gave Slovakia its momentum. Pavol Demitra showed up. The favourites were taken down in a tight game.
Russia 4 - Czech Republic 2: Russia finally got rolling and for the first time against legitimate competition, actually looked terrifying. A rematch of the '98 gold medal game. Ovechkin demolishing Jagr was very fitting in a "I'm the new generation. I'm the new you" kind of way and the resulting Malkin goal was a beauty.
Sweden 4 - Belarus 2: Many non-Swedes were hoping to see a Salt Lake City upset and almost got it. The Swedes survived a very intense late game push and because of probably their biggest fallacy in the elimination portion (Not panicking or playing with much urgency when the pressure was on), capped it off with an Alfie goal.
Sweden 3 - Finland 0: This wasn't a nail-biter by any means, but it was a match-up between two undefeated teams for first in the group, and a huge testament to Sweden's scary ability to methodically pick apart a team and cruise to a win.
Playoffs:
Switzerland 3 - Belarus 2....Czech Republic 3 - Latvia 2...Slovakia 4 - Norway 3: Again, parity, parity, parity. Hiller churns out another great performance. I was hoping for a gigantic upset by Latvia or Norway.
Canada 7 - Russia 3: The most dominant period of hockey I've ever seen. Playing Germany definitely helped Canada. They showed up to play. Remarkably similar to the 2005 WJC gold medal game. Tough as nails hockey, cycling for periods that looked like they'd never end. We finally saw why this team was built the way it was. Kind of unfortunate that a pre-tournament favourite got eliminated, but it's how it ended.
Slovakia 4 - Sweden 3: This game had me pumped up beyond words in the early hours of the morning because A. I finally got a sizable and meaningful upset and B. Canada didn't have to play Sweden. I was pretty unimpressed with Sweden's lack of urgency in the dying minutes.
Canada 3 - Slovakia 2: I was incredibly nervous that entire last minute, and my joy of seeing Slovakia make it to this point almost turned around to bite me in the ass. Luongo on Demitra was absolute clutch.
United States 6 - Finland 1: Pretty much solidified what the US was trying to tell the doubters: "We're really good, and we're not ****ing around". SIX GOALS in one period. Unfortunate game for Kipper, but at least he bounced back and won Bronze.
Finland 5 - Slovakia 3: I didn't see it, but I can imagine the comeback by the Finns was pretty intense.
Canada 3 - USA 2 (OT): Epic, historical, everything it was built up to be. We waited 4 years for Olympic redemption. We waited a few months for International hockey redemption from the US. We waited one week for redemption in this tournament alone. Tied up with 25 seconds left by the son of a '72 Super Series player turned American, won by Sidney Crosby of all people in Overtime (only the second GMG to go to the extra frame). This was the record-breaking 14th medal for Canada. This was the most fitting end possible to such a fantastic tournament. The team with all the pressure in the world to win this played the team that had to re-book it's flights because they didn't expect to be there. After so many surprises, the nation that would accept no other result at home got what it wanted. I haven't even been around for two decades, but this moment meant more to me as a sports fan and as a Canadian than any other. The game had everything you could ask for. Everyone wins.
So, the finals was obviously my choice, what was yours?
