GDT: Bronze Medal Game • Feb. 22 • United States vs. Finland • Part II

[skolgoar]

Wow, who would have thought that losing Paul Martin would be this disastrous to Team USA? This Olympics was supposed to showcase the next generation of USA Hockey, but to me, it shows the lack of leadership on this team. Looking at Finland, they wanted to win this game for Selanne. For Team USA, when things got tough, there was no one to step up and will the team to win. Team USA has a bunch of young guys that have seen a lot of success, but if they say that true leadership shows when things go bad, Team USA fails. (Fwiw, seeing the frustration on this board, it seems that characteristic spills over to some of the fans as well.) going back to the loss of Martin? It was the loss of a veteran blue liner, whose replacement, Carlson, at times looked over his head.

In the end, this shows that it is not just talent that wins this game, it is leadership and drive, and Team USA just didn't have enough of it. Hopefully, Team USA learns from this and realizes that they need to be more mature and more driven if they want to win in the Olympics or in any international tourney.

 

[Bullseyes]

Congrats to Finland on their bronze medal.

Why are people here saying Kane is nothing without Toews? A little bit ignorant.

Kane's not even playing with Toews on the same line this year. And he's still leading his team in points.

Because it's easy to pick on Kane right now.

Kane doesn't need Toews to produce. He's one of the best players in the game who had a bad tournament. It happens.

 

[harvey]

Sad to see Kessel and JVR go home without medals

But a big congrats to Finland...you guys certainly deserved it....you guys showed tons of heart

Kessel and JVR deserve no medals

 

[realgoodleafs]

US was playing Pittsburgh hockey while every other team plays a European game. Played right into the hands of Canada and Finland.

 

[Lomez]

The US effort made a mockery of the Olympics. Disgraceful, humiliating effort.

 

[Juzmo]

Missing both Mikko Koivu, Saku Koivu, Filppula, Barkov, Pitkänen and Lydman I think Finland did pretty good job in this tournament.

If we only had Lydman.

Gold was so close.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

First, I´m not a fan of Bylsma in Pittsburgh but I don´t understand why you blame Bylsma for this loss?! It´s pretty clear that the team didn´t put out any effort in this game and the Finns were the only team who wants to win. .

The biggest job of a coach is to motivate his players.

 

[Honest M]

that's part of the point I was making.

NA teams are all or nothing. Canada has proven this in the past with poor efforts in Bronze medal as well.

Couple this with an excellent game, and hard work from the Finns, and you get a blow out.

The US were a different team until the quick 2 goals by the Finns in the 2nd. They lost their fight then. They don't care enough about the bronze to put in the required effort.

This is a lame excuse, don’t try to take anything away. Great game by the finns hope we can manhandle the canadiens in the same fashion 

 

[McLlwain]

Congrats, Suomi!
Well deserved.

Very happy for Selänne in particular, but also for Salo.

 

[Little Psycho]

Congrats Finland! Hard working team that wanted the medal.

Poor Quick, he didn't deserve it

 

[missingchicklet]

Missing both Mikko Koivu, Saku Koivu, Filppula, Barkov, Pitkänen and Lydman I think Finland did pretty good job in this tournament.

Yeah, this was an impressive team considering how many great players they were missing. Props to Finland!

 

[shakes]

Eyes opener for people who read NHL.com propaganda. They did not talk other than US and Canada being top contenders for gold. Now lets see Sweden roll over Canada tomorrow. Thanks. Finland with 1/2 or roster from Finland and KHL. Congrats to one of the greatest hockey nations. 5 million people and always dangerous. No one even considered them on NHL.com as a great team. Because they dont have that many NHL players. Eat it NHL.

Take away the NHL players and see what mighty Finland would have accomplished.. such a shortsighted post.

 

[canuck2010]

agree here 100%, as an athlete you have played a game all your life and refined your game. I doubt you want to get embarrassed like that

Sure you don't want to be embarrassed but you don't have the edge or the compete level either.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Lol, "we don't care, that's why we lost", you sound like those kids in the playground that "let you win".

 

[Holocene]

Such a joke attitude to say after a loss, well we didn't care as much so we lost. USA did try hard today, they just weren't as good as Finland.

They did not try hard today. They tried hard yesterday but were completely shut down.

 

[SuchySays]

Congrats Timonen!

 

[EP40 AKA Lil Wayne]

You know thats pathetic? The excuses.

I applaud Finland!

 

[m4tt145]

Congrats Finland. Worthy winners of the bronze.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

They're getting their bronze medals already?

 

[SwollenGoat]

I'm not talking about that. It's the little comment afterwards which I didn't think was necessary.

Oops sorry, it was a joke. Didn't mean to step on your feels bro.

 

[Corax]

3 FEL players too

Good job

This

I gor so tired of reading NHL.com about how dominant which team will be based on how good NHL players they have. Such BS.

 

[mel]

Very happy for Selanne. He's had a heck of a tournament and is an amazing player.

 

[LeafOfBread]

Anyone noticed where the hottest player in the world has been in the last two games?

The same place where guys like Kane, Pacioretty, Parise and the rest of the team were. He still created chances but he can't do it all on his own.

 

[10coach*]

The better team won.

The USA is #4 until 2018 at least.

C'mon man! take a look at that Finland roster it isn't pretty missing Koivu and a couple others.

 

[mattihp]

Filpula would coast anyway.

Filppula hasn't coasted for a single shift on the national team. He works his ass off. Heck, he makes Korpikoski look lazy at times.