The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler

[EagleFan]

This point system is what the NHL needs to adopt. 3 points for a win in regulation.

[Neuqua]

I went to high school with Evan Lysacek. Graduated a year before him.

So yeah, I'm tuning into Men's figure skating tonight.

[sterlingice]

Gretchen Bleiler is easily the best I've seen so far, even with the fall (then again, I'm about an hour behind on the DVR).

That said, the girls just aren't that impressive to me so far- they just can't get the same air so they can't do the same tricks, kindof like some of the beginning guys last night.

Tho, with the air and moves Bleiler was going with, she would have scored in the top 3 guys if she could hit it.

SI

[sterlingice]

Kelly Clark can get the air, too. But she's really wobbly between moves and it cost her on the first run.

SI

[johnnyshaka]

Didn't see the goals, why did Brodeur call the Swiss goal (2nd one I believe) a "lucky goal"?

Puck hit a skate in front of the net and ended up right on the Swiss player's stick with a wide open net. It happens...Canada got a few of those bounces but Hiller just seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

The Swiss played the exact game they needed to play...trap, trap, trap...shoot...trap, trap, trap...and Canada didn't adjust by dumping it in and knocking the crap out of their d-men. The Richards line should've been out there a little more often to do just that.

Sunday should be fun, though!

[sterlingice]

Oh suck! Bleiler had the tricks and the air but just wiped out. She had such a great run but then took off a half second too early and wiped out :(

I feel cheated because she had the best moves of anyone out there but couldn't land and didn't get the gold despite looking like the best

SI

[sterlingice]

Fair scoring on the snowboarding. It's how I would have done it. The Australian was best.

SI

[sterlingice]

France-Canada in curling. The Canadians were up 4-0 but France just got back in to it with 2 in the 4th end.

SI

[johnnyshaka]

And Martin scores 5 in the 5th end.

[sterlingice]

Game over, Canada! 5 in the 5th.

SI

[sterlingice]

In Sweden-China, they just had to do a measurement. Think football where they bring out the chains. They had this bar that they stick in the middle of the ice and rotate around to see which of the stones was closer.

SI

[TargetPractice6]

I saw them do that in a USA women's match the other day. Pretty cool. I gotta say though, watching the curling online streams makes me appreciate the announcers on the regular broadcasts. I just don't know enough about curling strategy to understand what they are trying to do most of the time.

[sterlingice]

That's why I tend towards the Canadian ones- they are almost always streams piped in from Canadian tv so they have announcers.

SI

[TargetPractice6]

Oh yeah? Where can I find those?

[Oilers9911]

Crud...

Not sure what is more annoying, Crosby and his whining or Brodeur's bush league shaking of the glove tactic.

The "Crosby is a whiner" crowd is ridiculous.

[sterlingice]

Oh yeah? Where can I find those?

The current one:
Video | Men's prelims: France vs Canada | NBC Olympics (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=c688e7d9-7a06-44bc-adcd-294d8673f017.html#live+canada+france)

In general,
Video - Exclusive Coverage | 2010 Winter Olympics | NBC Olympics (http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/index.html)
Go to the "Watch the Olympics Live Online" box to find them

SI

[sterlingice]

Never mind- I think the French just conceded. Again, the Canadians picked up 5 in one end and it was over after that.

SI

[Neuqua]

Great job Evan!

[sterlingice]

Our DVR cut out so we missed the Russian at the end and the results.

FYI: China-Sweden going into extra ends

SI

[DeToxRox]

Russia vs Slovakia going into a shootout.

[DeToxRox]

Slovakia takes the shootout over Russia. The ice was a joke for that shootout. No one could deke without losing the puck. Still, great game.

[Johnny93g]

Olympic hockey is amazing!

The Slovakia/Russia game was just as entertaining as it gets.

[Logan]

I'm off next week and have nothing to do on Sunday either.

3pm RUS vs CZE, 7:40pm CAN vs USA, midnight SWE vs FIN.

Good lord.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Anybody see the divas skate last night? Russian guy 'jokingly' steps onto the gold podium before assuming his spot on the silver podium. I was hoping for a cat fight.

[MIJB#19]

I'm off next week and have nothing to do on Sunday either.

3pm RUS vs CZE, 7:40pm CAN vs USA, midnight SWE vs FIN.

Good lord.No kiddin'. I wish I had the monday monring off. That's about the best three-game lineup in international ice hockey you can get...

[whomario]

I'm off next week and have nothing to do on Sunday either.

3pm RUS vs CZE, 7:40pm CAN vs USA, midnight SWE vs FIN.

Good lord.

why can´t that be on saturday ?? :banghead:

amazing pairings really.

[Big Fo]

USA curling finally gets a win, the women beat Russia 6-4. Hopefully the men can get their first win later today against France.

[dawgfan]

Great job Evan!
I'm sure many guys don't give two shits about ice skating, but the storyline all around for last night was as good as any Hollywood writer could dream up. Great drama, great clutch performance by Lysacek.

[Samdari]

USA curling finally gets a win, the women beat Russia 6-4. Hopefully the men can get their first win later today against France.

I wonder if they will make a lineup change. How can they run a guy out there who has missed 4 game winning shots in the last 3 games.

[Thomkal]

I wonder if they will make a lineup change. How can they run a guy out there who has missed 4 game winning shots in the last 3 games.

They have made a change. They have replaced the skip with the alternate.

[Lathum]

The time zones and me DVRing the stuff have kept me out of this thread but some thoughts.

I don't see SI's hate for Mancuso, she seems fine to me. Maybe it is because I grew up in NJ and know what a real bitchy woman is like.

US mens curling has been brutal, like watching the Mets on ice.

I thought I would hate the snowboarding but actually liked it. I also told my wife the women should go first. No offense to the women, but they look like a bunch of children out there in comparison.

Olympic hockey is the nuts, it is awesome.

[Peregrine]

Is it just me, or do the medals looks kind of ugly? Looks like a collectable plate that you would order from Franklin Mint with a ribbon on it.

I thought this video was very cool about what the medals are and how they are made - really turned me around on the subject.

Vancouver 2010 Medals : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics (http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-medals/vancouver-2010-medals/)

[Samdari]

The time zones and me DVRing the stuff have kept me out of this thread but some thoughts.

I don't see SI's hate for Mancuso, she seems fine to me. Maybe it is because I grew up in NJ and know what a real bitchy woman is like.

US mens curling has been brutal, like watching the Mets on ice.

I thought I would hate the snowboarding but actually liked it. I also told my wife the women should go first. No offense to the women, but they look like a bunch of children out there in comparison.

Olympic hockey is the nuts, it is awesome.

The new guy REALLY sucks.

[whomario]

how fucked up a sport is skeleton ? Going head first down an ice track with very little space on the side in terms of protection.
I had to turn of the TV, can´t watch it. All i´m thinking is "don´t crash now, where´s the rider, why is this so fast, don´t crash please, don´t die, WTF are you doing ?"

nice insight on the medals :)

[bhlloy]

Great Britain wins a gold at the WINTER olympics!

(yeah I know we won Curling in 02, but this one is particularly impressive as we don't even have a skeleton track anywhere in the country)

And the girl in question had never won a world cup event before, but sets two track records and just performs out of her mind all week. Pretty nice story.

[sterlingice]

US mens curling has been brutal, like watching the Mets on ice.

I thought I would hate the snowboarding but actually liked it. I also told my wife the women should go first. No offense to the women, but they look like a bunch of children out there in comparison.

Olympic hockey is the nuts, it is awesome.

I love these three observations, particularly "Mets on ice" :D

Also, I had forgotten ice dancing. Figure skating, well, I've written volumes on how I don't like it, the judging, or the coverage. But this is completely useless as a "sport" as well.

SI

[sterlingice]

Wow- great run by Svindal. The differences between the medals were a couple of hundreds of a second and he just smoked them all by 0.30

Oh, and I think you could have an Super G drinking game involving the term "weasel"

SI

[Samdari]

The ice dancers are warming up.

Who knew the Olympics could also provide comedy.

[Eaglesfan27]

The ice dancers are warming up.

Who knew the Olympics could also provide comedy.

While I agree with your general point, Belbin is a stunner.

[cartman]

While I agree with your general point, Belbin is a stunner.

ayup

http://letsblogsports.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/tanith-belbin-picture.jpg
http://images.wikia.com/openserving/sports/images/thumb/f/f6/Tanith_Belbin2.jpg/220px-Tanith_Belbin2.jpg

[cartman]

Not related to the competition, but did anyone else find it strange that for the AT&T snowboarder-in-space commercial they used the Lou Reed song that played in Trainspotting when Ewan McGregor OD'd?

[EagleFan]

Anybody see the divas skate last night? Russian guy 'jokingly' steps onto the gold podium before assuming his spot on the silver podium. I was hoping for a cat fight.

Sounds like the Russian guy is an ass. Just saw an article about him complaining that the winner isn't a real champion because he didn't try a quad something.

[whomario]

he actually has a point. It´s kind of like another snowboarder beating Shaun White with inferior tricks because he rides more smoothly on the halfpipe between jumps.

Not saying he is definitely right, but it is definitely true that the jumps and the difficulty of them have gotten an afterthought and taken a backseat to technical elements.

And it´s also true that now there are less difficult jumps being done than 5 years ago.

but who cares, it´s figure skating :D

Svindal is a monster, figuratively speaking. Once stood right in front of the guy and he really stands out. I have been following his career since years and years ago when i "called" his breakout season by selecting him in a game where everyone drew an athlete from every major winter sport in a fantasy-game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

While I agree with your general point, Belbin is a stunner.

She's also super cool. She's a local girl and I've heard a few radio interviews with her. She seems very down to earth and funny.

[Peregrine]

Interesting Winter Olympics trivia I learned through Wikipedia - Curling was included in the first Winter Olympics in 1924, then a few times as a demonstration sport, then back to full status in 1998. The sport of skeleton, which seems to have evolved from a similar sledding sport called Cresta Sledding (from a Cresta track set up for the head-first sport in St. Moritz) and was included in the 1928 and 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz but then not again until 2002 (as Skeleton.)

[sterlingice]

And now skeleton runners are known as "Of all the death defying sports in the Olympics, these guys are the craziest. They take the luge and think 'It's not crazy enough to do a sport someone died in this week. Why not try this head first?' "


SI

[EagleFan]

And now skeleton runners are known as "Of all the death defying sports in the Olympics, these guys are the craziest. They take the luge and think 'It's not crazy enough to do a sport someone died in this week. Why not try this head first?' "


SI

How many of us have gone sledding as a kid and went down a hill head first on the sled? Granted not as fast but I venture to say it is about as dangerous as we sure didn't have helmets or anything even close to protective gear. They don't have to worry about hitting rocks or trees at least. :)

[sterlingice]

Being from Houston, 0 times ;)

And once I moved to Kansas, I was mostly smart enough to go legs first (tho, yeah, I did go head first- just not down the really big hills)

SI

[RPI-Fan]

Do people really not realize that skeleton is mucho safer than luge?

[sterlingice]

No clue, personally. It sounds like a crazier idea. As for whether it's safer or not, I have no idea.

SI

[dawgfan]

he actually has a point.
Not really. As Lysacek points out, if it's all about the jumps then just have a jumping competition. It's about all the things that make up skating - jumps, spins, footwork, and wide range of artistic elements.

And to be clear, Plushenko landed all of his jumps, but many of them were wobbly and he barely pulled them out, whereas Lysacek's jumps were not only all landed, virtually all of them were nearly flawlessly executed.

[BishopMVP]

No clue, personally. It sounds like a crazier idea. As for whether it's safer or not, I have no idea.

SIGranted I've never done it at Olympic speeds, but I wager it's safer because you can see where you're going and adjust course/slow down by dragging your feet more easily. And in the event of something going wrong you can much more easily tuck and protect your head/neck/spine. (Of course, I have a scar on my chin from 30 stitches received when I was tubing headfirst, so maybe my theories are wrong.)

[BishopMVP]

btw, does anyone get MSNBC in HD yet? Can I bitch at Comcast for having to watch USA-Canada in non-HD, or is NBC/Universal really dumb enough not to put marquee hockey games on a channel like USA or Universal that people get in HD?

[Big Fo]

I'm watching Norway-Switzerland on MSNBC HD right now. Sounds like a Comcast problem.

[whomario]

valid points, but you also have a worse balance, one on the course because you have more of the body weight being up front, two on the luge itself because of your legs being bottomside up and being draged upwards by the powers in the course and third because you have to steer by shifting your body more actively.
Steering a luge is way "easier" than steering a skeleton-sled.

Plus the things under the skeleton vehicle (seriously blanking here) aren´t as "pointy" as under a luge, much less traction on the ice and thus much tougher to maintain a steady ride.

All in all skeleton is much more shaky than luge. But yeah, obviously can´t be as dangerous as it looks but youve got to admit that it really seems very wrong to go head first :D

"slowing down" is kind of a relative thing when it goes from 145 to 130 kph by dragging your feet :)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

btw, does anyone get MSNBC in HD yet? Can I bitch at Comcast for having to watch USA-Canada in non-HD, or is NBC/Universal really dumb enough not to put marquee hockey games on a channel like USA or Universal that people get in HD?

Yep, have it in HD on Time Warner.

[RainMaker]

btw, does anyone get MSNBC in HD yet? Can I bitch at Comcast for having to watch USA-Canada in non-HD, or is NBC/Universal really dumb enough not to put marquee hockey games on a channel like USA or Universal that people get in HD?
I don't get MSNBC in HD either. Not sure it's even shot in that.

[mauchow]

During the 9th end McCormick choked, yet again, Britain couldn't come up with the big shot to close out the game in the 10th.. They had a 5-4 lead with the hammer against the US and the US came away with a point. Great stuff.

[JonInMiddleGA]

btw, does anyone get MSNBC in HD yet?

Has been since last June.

from the wiki
MSNBC HD is a 1080i high definition simulcast of MSNBC that launched on June 29, 2009. All live programing as well as select long form programs air in HD.[35]

Cablevision was the only provider to carry MSNBC HD at its launch date.[36]

A Dish Network press release on May 8 indicated that it would be the first satellite service to launch MSNBC HD in June.[37] However their launch was postponed to July 8.[38]

Time Warner Cable launched the HD feed on July 22 in the New York area.[38] The feed was made available in late July in Ithaca, NY on Time Warner. It has also been reported that Bright House Networks will add the HD feed in July, with other unnamed providers to follow.[39] Phil Griffin claimed MSNBC HD would have 11 million viewers by the end of August 2009.[39]

Verizon FiOS added MSNBC HD on February 11, 2010.[40]

[mauchow]

The US without the hammer in 10th and 11th ends comes through with the win. McCormick with a big shot in the 11st to redeem herself from the 9th.

[DaddyTorgo]

my brother has declared that him and his friend will be on the US curling team in Sochi. They're going to go sign up and start learning at the club two towns over.

[Big Fo]

USA curling on a roll, men and women have each won two straight. Shame about the horrific start though. I think the problem is that it's all Northerners competing. Get some rinks built in other parts of the country and we'll start medaling in this sport consistently.

[DaddyTorgo]

USA curling on a roll, men and women have each won two straight. Shame about the horrific start though. I think the problem is that it's all Northerners competing. Get some rinks built in other parts of the country and we'll start medaling in this sport consistently.

:lol:

[mauchow]

One addition to watching Curling on TV that would be awesome, imo would be a speed measurement and time measurement on every shot.

It's amazing to watch some of these shots go for so long so slow all because of sweepers and then it would be interesting to see how fast the take out shots are.

I think it would add a little bit more to the experience.

[MIJB#19]

Mark Tuitert! Well worth staying up until 3:00 am!

[DaddyTorgo]

Mark Tuitert! Well worth staying up until 3:00 am!

Tuitert was an absolute beast.

[Big Fo]

Celski DQ'd in the short track semi, looked like the Canadian dude made contact first and was behind Celski. Oh well. C'mon Ohno.

[sterlingice]

Wow- that second semifinal was awesome

SI

[sterlingice]

This is such a sad little second final.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

This is such a sad little second final.

SI

Yup. However, this race should be exciting.

[Big Fo]

Would have been nice to see the women's 1500m short track, an eight person final sounds nuts. NBC with their "there's a short delay on the track" bullshit :/

[Big Fo]

Only a bronze for Ohno, damn Canadian knocked him off his balance when he made his move.

[DaddyTorgo]

Would have been nice to see the women's 1500m short track, an eight person final sounds nuts. NBC with their "there's a short delay on the track" bullshit :/

lol

[Eaglesfan27]

Would have been nice to see the women's 1500m short track, an eight person final sounds nuts. NBC with their "there's a short delay on the track" bullshit :/

My DVR schedule says that race was already planned for the late night coverage tonight. I imagine it'll be shown in about 40 minutes at the beginning of that coverage.

[Big Fo]

lol

It's a fucking disgrace. I've always thought Bob Costas was an obnoxious piece of shit and a Yankees homer, to flat out lie to the entire country and say there's some kind of delay when in actuality there's a medal event going on in an exciting sport is bad even for him.

My DVR schedule says that race was always planned for the late night coverage tonight. I imagine it'll be shown in about 40 minutes at the beginning of that coverage.

Well at least we'll get to see it, I don't see why they couldn't have showed it when it happened, and I don't see why Costas felt the need to lie to everyone.

[DaddyTorgo]

what a great interview by ohno...what a classy guy

[sterlingice]

So what's up? They let it run and didn't show it live?

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

It's a fucking disgrace. I've always thought Bob Costas was an obnoxious piece of shit and a Yankees homer, to flat out lie to the entire country and say there's some kind of delay when in actuality there's a medal event going on in an exciting sport is bad even for him.



Well at least we'll get to see it, I don't see why they couldn't have showed it when it happened, and I don't see why Costas felt the need to lie to everyone.

oh i agree. i wasn't laughing at you...just laughing at the absurdity of it.

they could say "oh the women's final is going on now...tune in late-night or set your dvr to watch it later" - but they're so like...bullshitty that they don't

[DaddyTorgo]

Well at least we'll get to see it, I don't see why they couldn't have showed it when it happened, and I don't see why Costas felt the need to lie to everyone.

because we have to show it all the tape-delayed shit and the human interest bullshit

[Scoobz0202]

Only a bronze for Ohno, damn Canadian knocked him off his balance when he made his move.

After watching the replay I don't think the Canadian really didn't anything. He had his hand on him but I don't think he knocked him off balance. It didn't really look like he pushed him at all...

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah - even ohno says he just slipped a little

[Big Fo]

Ohno is just being diplomatic unlike Russian figure skaters and Korean speed skaters. Maybe.

[Tigercat]

You can't look at the video and not think that the hand had something to do with the slip, the slip was right after. Now maybe it wasn't much of a push, and Ohno should have done a better job of weathering it. But regardless, pisses me off that he got in on the finals on a BS review after riding the back of a skater, and helped cost another skater a better medal by pulling the same contact.

[Big Fo]

Damn, they showed an earlier curling shot made by Murdoch for the Brits against Canada, a difficult double deflection that finished on the button and scored them three points. So awesome.

Why is this sport so great? Maybe it's because I like playing shuffleboard at the bar and this is kind of like a giant version of that, except this is far more complicated and there's Olympic gold and petty nationalism involved. I'm becoming obsessed I think. I don't know what I'm going to do when the games are over, four more years until I get to see more curling sounds like a terrible wait.

[Big Fo]

You know, if Canada and Norway keep winning while everyone else stays clumped in the middle, the US men just might have a shot at the curling semifinals. Switzerland and Sweden are currently winning, that won't help at all though...

The women are only half a game out after winning two straight. This rollercoaster ain't stopping for awhile.

[Galaril]

Only a bronze for Ohno, damn Canadian knocked him off his balance when he made his move.

God damn is Ohno over rated. I mean he has got the press over the last two olympics, but the Koreans have owned his ass. I do not even remember him beating these guys ever other than the one last olympics that was controversial DQ'dS on the Koreans. It pisses me off now I have to listen to Mrs Galaril bragging about the South Koreans kicking Americas ass in short track again. Yes, we will argue about short track for nationalities sake.

[Logan]

Damn, they showed an earlier curling shot made by Murdoch for the Brits against Canada, a difficult double deflection that finished on the button and scored them three points. So awesome.

Why is this sport so great? Maybe it's because I like playing shuffleboard at the bar and this is kind of like a giant version of that, except this is far more complicated and there's Olympic gold and petty nationalism involved. I'm becoming obsessed I think. I don't know what I'm going to do when the games are over, four more years until I get to see more curling sounds like a terrible wait.

I think the throws and the strategy are pretty interesting. My issue with curling revolves 100% around the time of it. It just seems like there's way too much time between shots, and then there's too many throws and ends. Speed it up and I'd be able to sit through it all, instead of turning over to "Almost Famous" on TBS and missing the end of the USA-SWE match like I did today.

[Fidatelo]

Curling is about 100 times more fun to play than it is to watch. Once I get too old for more active sports I'll probably end up back in curling (I curled for 6 or 7 years as a youth). But watching it can be painful. I always liked it better when there were 8 ends, 10 seems unnecessary.

[Logan]

Okay, if a Canuck understands where I'm coming from, I think I'm on the right page.

Belarus up 2-1 on Germany...

[sterlingice]

Curling seems to be filling my winter fix for a slow moving leisurely sport (read: baseball substitute).

SI

[Chief Rum]

Curling seems to be filling my winter fix for a slow moving leisurely sport (read: baseball substitute).

SI

No need for a baseball substitute. Pitchers and catchers have reported, my friend! :D

[Lathum]

I wonder if a pro curling league would make it in the US with a few tweaks, shot clock, etc...

probably not.

[Pumpy Tudors]

No need for a baseball substitute. Pitchers and catchers have reported, my friend! :D
That's not baseball. That's a bunch of guys just throwing a ball around. Call me when somebody has a bat!

[Lathum]

God damn is Ohno over rated. I mean he has got the press over the last two olympics, but the Koreans have owned his ass. I do not even remember him beating these guys ever other than the one last olympics that was controversial DQ'dS on the Koreans. It pisses me off now I have to listen to Mrs Galaril bragging about the South Koreans kicking Americas ass in short track again. Yes, we will argue about short track for nationalities sake.

Hard to say a guy who has 7 medals is overrated

[DaddyTorgo]

Hard to say a guy who has 7 medals is overrated

seriously. short-track speedskating is just such an unpredictable competition, where in any given race the fastest skater can win, or potentially not win. not like long-track where they race the clock, it's more tactics-driven and you've got the whole concept of passing and bumping while you're on these razor-blade thin skate edges.

[sterlingice]

No need for a baseball substitute. Pitchers and catchers have reported, my friend! :D

I know, but it's not like I can watch it yet. :D

SI

[Galaril]

Hard to say a guy who has 7 medals is overrated

seriously. short-track speedskating is just such an unpredictable competition, where in any given race the fastest skater can win, or potentially not win. not like long-track where they race the clock, it's more tactics-driven and you've got the whole concept of passing and bumping while you're on these razor-blade thin skate edges.

Overated in that of those 7 medals he's got 2 gold only and really one was not earned but given by the judges who DQ'd the winning skater for a blocking call that even I as a USA fan thought was BS. In this olympics his silver medal was just luck when the Koreans fell. I know short track is strategy and bursts of speed but look at the Korean guy this time Jung-Su Lee he has two golds to Ohno's silver and bronze. It is great he is in the Olympics and earning medals but celebrating the boat load of non golds is like Vikings or Bills fans celebrating being in four-five Super Bowls but never winning.

[sterlingice]

Go Slovakia! (Biathalon)

SI

[Lathum]

Overated in that of those 7 medals he's got 2 gold only and really one was not earned but given by the judges who DQ'd the winning skater for a blocking call that even I as a USA fan thought was BS. In this olympics his silver medal was just luck when the Koreans fell. I know short track is strategy and bursts of speed but look at the Korean guy this time Jung-Su Lee he has two golds to Ohno's silver and bronze. It is great he is in the Olympics and earning medals but celebrating the boat load of non golds is like Vikings or Bills fans celebrating being in four-five Super Bowls but never winning.

This just makes me shake my head.

I guess we just have a different concept of what the olympics mean.

[Eaglesfan27]

Only about 10 more minutes to go.. hopefully, the game isn't a blowout.

[Dr. Sak]

Only about 10 more minutes to go.. hopefully, the game isn't a blowout.

Russian's and Czechs?

[Eaglesfan27]

Russian's and Czechs?

Yep. Looking forward to watching them before the USA-Canada game.

[sterlingice]

Looks like the USA-CAN game is on MSNBC at 7. But first, Czech vs Russia

Then a Sweden-Finland grudge map late night

SI

[Dr. Sak]

All 3 winners get byes

[BishopMVP]

Thanks for the info on MSNBC... called up Comcast, but they don't appear to be adding it any time soon. You'd think they'd do what they could to promote NBC channels and content since they're buying them, but it's Comcast. Did find out that I actually get MSNBC on 2 separate SD channels for whatever reason, so you know, thanks for that allocation of resources.USA curling on a roll, men and women have each won two straight. Shame about the horrific start though. I think the problem is that it's all Northerners competing. Get some rinks built in other parts of the country and we'll start medaling in this sport consistently.It's not exactly widespread in the northern parts either. I think it was pretty much entirely centered around Milwaukee until a couple years ago.my brother has declared that him and his friend will be on the US curling team in Sochi. They're going to go sign up and start learning at the club two towns over.Waltham? I've got friends talking about that too. It'll be interesting to see how many people stick with it past the first 6 months or if they all drop out after the short post-olympic rush.

[sterlingice]

It's not exactly widespread in the northern parts either. I think it was pretty much entirely centered around Milwaukee until a couple years ago.

I seem to remember them talking about Bemidji as the "curling hotbed of the US" during the last Olympics, which, I know how much of a capital can you be in a city of 15K, but still...

Hey, they have a curling club in Kansas City. Fat lot of good that does me now.

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Nice PP goal by Malkin.

[Logan]

Good first period, 1-1.

[Dr. Sak]

Too bad we couldn't hear Al Michaels call the US/Canada game.

[Eaglesfan27]

Too bad we couldn't hear Al Michaels call the US/Canada game.

I just wish the US/Canada game was going to be in HD.

[Dr. Sak]

Jagr got Ovechkined

[BishopMVP]

Jagr got OvechkinedAnd it leads directly to a 3-1 lead. That's how you play hockey right there.

[EagleFan]

I stll get goose bumps when I see those highlights.

[sterlingice]

It's really simple, NBC: Every minute of ice dancing or interview or montage or whatever crap you show me tonight, I'm watching MSNBC. Hell, I'm probably watching a lot more MSNBC than NBC but you'll get me to change even quicker.

SI

[Galaxy]

While I'm looking forward to the US-Canada game, the hype (both sides of each country) over the a first-round game is kind of amusing.

[sterlingice]

Sure, it's a prelim, but it's not like Canada and the USA face each other all that often, particularly with the professional players.

SI

[JonInMiddleGA]

It's really simple, NBC: Every minute of ice dancing or interview or montage or whatever crap you show me tonight, I'm watching MSNBC. Hell, I'm probably watching a lot more MSNBC than NBC but you'll get me to change even quicker.

While the women who make up the majority of TV viewing will stay right where they were: in control of the TV, watching Ice Dancing with the Obscure.

[MikeVic]

I heard Richards is gonna be on Crosby's line? Bsak, you ok with that? :)

[Galaril]

This just makes me shake my head.

I guess we just have a different concept of what the olympics mean.

I agree.

[EagleFan]

I heard Richards is gonna be on Crosby's line? Bsak, you ok with that? :)

Bad move by Canada. "Cindy" Crosby starts diving every time Richards is on the ice.

[yacovfb]

Bad move by Canada. "Cindy" Crosby starts diving every time Richards is on the ice.

So does that then cause Richards to curl up into a ball under the goal and start holding random body parts? :D

[cougarfreak]

That didn't take long, Team USA scores 41 seconds in.

[sterlingice]

Holy crap

SI

[Eaglesfan27]

Lots of excitement early.

[gstelmack]

That didn't take long, Team USA scores 41 seconds in.

Did everyone who had "Sidney Crosby gets the first goal" win their bets or not? :devil:

[DaddyTorgo]

SUCK ON THAT MARTY BRODEUR!!!!

that's why you should stay in your net instead of coming out of the crease to play the puck

[Eaglesfan27]

That was a great quick reply. :)

[cougarfreak]

There's some pretty good hitting going on..........

[k0ruptr]

yes there is some damn good hits goin on, lets go USA!

[k0ruptr]

fairly good 1st period too I'd say!

[sterlingice]

A pretty exciting first period and pretty good hitting.

As for ski cross, the Jamaican came up just short in the semifinals :(

SI

[MrBug708]

Usa usa usa

[EagleFan]

That is why I love olympic hockey, very entertaining first period.

[QuikSand]

I was interested enough to tune in to see some of the ski cross event.

Quick impressions: nearly un-watchable, apparently un-filmable, and every guy seems un-passable after the initial scrum to establish the early order

[sterlingice]

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed by ski cross. Snowboard cross had a decent number of passes but, again, once the opening sorts itself out, that's it.

SI

[sterlingice]

Tie game again in hockey

SI

[k0ruptr]

wow wow wow, this is one hell of a game. I'm super into it.

[EagleFan]

How was that not offsides? He came into the zone backwards and was in the zone first before the puck.

[EagleFan]

WTF? Why an immediate stoppage when that happened?

[DaddyTorgo]

yeah seriously...that made no sense to me

[Eaglesfan27]

YES! What a great game.

[DaddyTorgo]

CHRIS DRURY!!! COMM AVE STRIKES!!!!

[EagleFan]

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

[RainMaker]

This game is awesome.

[DaddyTorgo]

end-to-end action!!!!

wow - early whistle. brodeur didn't even look close to having that

[DaddyTorgo]

heh...yeah you can't do that stahl. you can't climb the guy's back and pull him down to the ice

[EagleFan]

heh...yeah you can't do that stahl. you can't climb the guy's back and pull him down to the ice

Reminded me of a jockey in Left 4 Dead 2.

[EagleFan]

The 3rd period is going to be INTENSE.

[DaddyTorgo]

can't do that either niedermayer...gettin a lil chippy out there

[JonInMiddleGA]

Reminded me of a jockey in Left 4 Dead 2.

Nice descriptive. Even without seeing the play, I'm pretty sure that ought to draw 2 minutes.

[gstelmack]

can't do that either niedermayer...gettin a lil chippy out there

I don't understand how a penalty or something wasn't called on that...

[EagleFan]

"uncharacteristic..." Epic announcer Fail

[DaddyTorgo]

I don't understand how a penalty or something wasn't called on that...

seriously. the period was clearly over...to the extent that the US guy didn't even fire a shot on goal, and he gets wrapped up by niedermeyer, skated over to the boards, and slammed into them.

maybe when the game comes back there will have been a penalty called on it

[Fidatelo]

I've only been able to watch parts until now, but Brodeur should be sat for Luongo next game. I'm also a little ok with the US winning, Canada needs a wake up call, better to get it now than once it is lose-and-go-home time. US is playing with more desire.

[Eaglesfan27]

GOAL!!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

man does Rafalski have the touch against his old goalie tonight or what??? hat trick for a defender!!!

[EagleFan]

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaddyTorgo]

that's gonna hurt...i still think it'll take 5 goals to win this game, but that's gotta hurt

[Schmidty]

Where the hell is this everywhere, such as NBC, and can't find it. I'm pissed.

[Fidatelo]

Canada needs to score on this powerplay if they want a realistic shot at this one.

[EagleFan]

Where the hell is this everywhere, such as NBC, and can't find it. I'm pissed.

MSNBC

[Schmidty]

Forget it, I found it. MS-fucking-NBC?????? What idiotic bullshit.

[cougarfreak]

Where the hell is this everywhere, such as NBC, and can't find it. I'm pissed.

Yeah, you wouldn't want to watch USA/Canada in HD or anything you?

[cougarfreak]

Big Penalty kill.

[Tigercat]

I keep seeing everyone say it isn't in HD. I have it on MSNBCHD right now, is MSNBCHD a rare channel elsewhere?

[DaddyTorgo]

Big Penalty kill.

HUGE penalty kill

[cougarfreak]

I keep seeing everyone say it isn't in HD. I have it on MSNBCHD right now, is MSNBCHD a rare channel elsewhere?

I don't get it with Directv.

[Eaglesfan27]

I keep seeing everyone say it isn't in HD. I have it on MSNBCHD right now, is MSNBCHD a rare channel elsewhere?

No MSNBCHD on DirecTV. After watching the earlier game in HD, it is very annoying to watch this in SD, so much harder to follow the puck at times.

[Tigercat]

Ah ok, got it on my Cox cable, its in my 780s though, so I assume its a recent add. (As I know all my other 780s are.)

[Eaglesfan27]

How did he save that?

[DaddyTorgo]

WTF!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?

how'd Miller make those saves!?!??!!?!!?!

[RainMaker]

I keep seeing everyone say it isn't in HD. I have it on MSNBCHD right now, is MSNBCHD a rare channel elsewhere?
I don't get it and RCN is usually really good with HD channels. We get Fox Business and all the other news channels, but no MSNBC.

[cougarfreak]

Wow........what a sequence.

[cougarfreak]

Dammit

[Schmidty]

Yeah, you wouldn't want to watch USA/Canada in HD or anything you?

I don't understand, and I don't even have an HDTV.

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. Going to be a tense last 3 minutes.

[DaddyTorgo]

"boy this has been tremendously tremendous" --- ummm wtf does that even mean??

[DaddyTorgo]

if they don't clear this something will go in

[DaddyTorgo]

OPEN NETTER!!!!

[Eaglesfan27]

What an awesome goal!

[JetsIn06]

Holy shit!!!!!!

[EagleFan]

Probably the first time I said this... sweet empty net goal!!!

[cartman]

Do you believe in professionals playing to their potential???

YES!!!!

:) (apologies to Al Michaels)

[Schmidty]

Woohooo!!!!!

[Schmidty]

Eat it Canada!!!!

Now you can take all of your cocky ass flags from around here and go home!!!

(Yes, I'm classy)

[BYU 14]

Probably the first time I said this... sweet empty net goal!!!

That was an incredible move by Kesler.

[BYU 14]

Ryan Miller played his ass off in net tonight, it seemed like Canada had 30 shots on goal that last 3 minutes, great game!!

[Doug5984]

That was a great finish to the game, I missed the first 2 periods because of work- but the 3rd was good. Can't wait to watch the next game- I miss hockey, we just don't see it much at all down here in Louisiana.

[BYU 14]

"boy this has been tremendously tremendous" --- ummm wtf does that even mean??

That's like tremendous squared I think. Not quite on par with the 1980 Al Michaels call eh?

[Logan]

Best empty netter I've ever seen.

[RainMaker]

How did NBC pass on this one? One of the best hockey games I've ever seen.

[MrBug708]

Biggest upset since 1980?!? I dont follow hockey that much, but I would imagine there have been others since?

[jbergey22]

Biggest upset since 1980?!? I dont follow hockey that much, but I would imagine there have been others since?

Yeah they are crazy. Its not like the USA doesnt have numerous all stars on their team and maybe the best goalie in the entire NHL.

[illinifan999]

"boy this has been tremendously tremendous" --- ummm wtf does that even mean??

Since when does John Madden do hockey?

[Galaxy]

Sure, it's a prelim, but it's not like Canada and the USA face each other all that often, particularly with the professional players.

SI

I know...I'm not saying it's bad. Just is fun.

[SackAttack]

How did NBC pass on this one? One of the best hockey games I've ever seen.

Because hockey isn't the same ratings draw as ice dancing. Can't air something that will leave those 25-39 y/o women looking for other things to do.

[MizzouRah]

What a GREAT game!!!

[Pyser]

havent read most of the posts today, but im glad it was on msnbc. they didnt have any commercials. try that on nbc.

[Galaxy]

So what exactly do the results of tonight's Finland-Sweden game have to be for the USA to get the first seed? Also, Canada is the 6th seed against No. 11 seed Germany. Russia is the 3rd seed? Who gets the 4th bye?

Also, are teams re-seeded after each round?

[Galaxy]

havent read most of the posts today, but im glad it was on msnbc. they didnt have any commercials. try that on nbc.

They don't have commercials during the Olympic hockey games I think.

[Crapshoot]

Great hockey game; my cousin was there, had a blast.

[samifan24]

What an exciting Team USA upset over Canada. That was one of the most exciting hockey games I've watched in a long time! USA! USA!

[Galaxy]

What an exciting Team USA upset over Canada. That was one of the most exciting hockey games I've watched in a long time! USA! USA!

Looking forward to the Sweden-Finland game as well. Two rivals with loads to talent each.

[henry296]

So what exactly do the results of tonight's Finland-Sweden game have to be for the USA to get the first seed? Also, Canada is the 6th seed against No. 11 seed Germany. Russia is the 3rd seed? Who gets the 4th bye?

Also, are teams re-seeded after each round?

If Finland wins they are the #1 seed, If Sweeden wins US is #1. The loser of this game is the #4 seed.

No reseeding after each round.

[Big Fo]

So what exactly do the results of tonight's Finland-Sweden game have to be for the USA to get the first seed? Also, Canada is the 6th seed against No. 11 seed Germany. Russia is the 3rd seed? Who gets the 4th bye?

Also, are teams re-seeded after each round?

There is no re-seeding. #1 plays winner of #8 and #9 even if say, #5 loses to #12.

If goal difference is the tiebreaker Finland will be seeded #1 and USA #2 if Finland wins in regulation. Any other result would have USA seeded #1 unless Sweden won by five or more goals.

[Galaxy]

Thanks for the info.

So: 1 vs. 8/9
4 vs. 5/12

2 vs. 7/10
3 vs. 6/11

The bracket will break out in that order?

[Big Fo]

Some funny wiki edits.

Miller is now Ryan "The Canada Killer" Miller.

And in another section

See under:

God

Broduer's was also listed having him dying today in Vancouver.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Whoever the hell MSNBC/NBC had doing the post-game highlights for the US/Canada game and handling the whole post-game analysis was absolutely awful. Abysmal. "Boom goes the dynamite" bad. Not only did have no idea what he was talking about, but he came across like a complete ass.

Eruzione and the Sports Illustrated guy were fine, but the "host" guy was... I wanted to stab him in the face.

[Lathum]

Not funny about Brodeur

[EagleFan]

I wanted to stab him in the face.

Anger issues?

[Big Fo]

Whoever the hell MSNBC/NBC had doing the post-game highlights for the US/Canada game and handling the whole post-game analysis was absolutely awful. Abysmal. "Boom goes the dynamite" bad. Not only did have no idea what he was talking about, but he came across like a complete ass.

Eruzione and the Sports Illustrated guy were fine, but the "host" guy was... I wanted to stab him in the face.

He was out of his depth for sure. And he wasn't helped by the on-screen highlights being in a different order than he thought they would be in. They probably should have just had Roenick and the other two guys from the pre-game go through the highlights.

[Mike Lowe]

NBC's coverage is just so poor so I'm going to vent over just three things I saw just in the post-game coverage:

1) They said that Brian Rafalski won 3 Stanley Cups with the Red Wings. He won just won but 2 others with the Devils right? I know these guys may not be NHL officionados but if you don't know, don't say it.

2) They had a lower-third graphic up saying that Rafalski had scored 2 goals for USA just after they mentioned, and CLEARLY showed, that he scored a hat trick (3 goals!).

3) That damn crowd shot with the reporter trying to talk over the screaming fans. Why, from a broadcast perspective, did someone not either notify that dude no one could hear him or why didn't the anchors and/or producers in studio jump in and divert?

Not to mention, half of the score-keeping graphics for some of the more obscure competitions keep leaving me saying, "huh? What the hell does that even say?!?!" I mean, it's like you have to sit and decipher some sort of code to figure out what a person's score is...and I'm not talking being unfamiliar with the sport, just the way in which they show some of the stat output.

[Logan]

Rafalski's shot was deflected in by Langenbrunner, he didn't have a hat trick.

[Honolulu_Blue]

He also kept trying to compare this game to The Miracle On Ice. It's not even close. It's a good win, sure, but it's the preliminary round and everyone on the ice was an NHL player.

[Oilers9911]

Miller was great, Brodeur wasn't even good. That's the difference. Canada dominated the game.

[Honolulu_Blue]

The NHL Network was showing the final series of the 1996 World Cup between US and Canada today. I watched the final game of that series between the Czech/Russia and US/Canada game. It's amazing what a different game it is today. Astounding.

It was also weird to see Lyle Odelein playing for Canada. I mean, really? In 1996 Lyle Odelein was one of the six best Canadian defensemen?

[DaddyTorgo]

Miller was great, Brodeur wasn't even good. That's the difference. Canada dominated the game.

not sure what game you were watching - Canada didn't dominate at all. They might have dominated brief stretches, but they far from dominated.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Miller was great, Brodeur wasn't even good. That's the difference. Canada dominated the game.

Agreed for the most part. The US got lucky getting those first two goals and putting some pressure on Canada. That second goal was particularly bad given Brodeurs ood baseball swing at the puck that led to it and then having the puck bank in off his pad. Brodeur was a bit unlucky with some of the deflections (Rafalski's first goal and the Langenbruner goal).

Other than Miller and Rafalski, there really wasn't any player who stood out for the US. Oprik played pretty well defensively and they got a solid defensive performance out of Callahan, but none of their forwards really generated much offensively. Kane had some nice moves that led to nothing and Ryan showed some flashed, but overall the US forwards were non-existent offensively. Really great effort by Kesler on that last goal.

[MikeVic]

Ok, not sure how this is even being compared to the Miracle on Ice or how this is even a crazy upset. I didn't have confidence in Canada winning today, I thought it was a toss-up. No way would I call Canada a big favourite.

Also, yes, Canada dominated (45 to 23 in shots, come on) but the U.S. took advantage of mistakes, whereas Miller was amazing for the U.S. and they took advantage of Canada's mistakes (and Brodeur played like crap).

Congrats to the U.S., I hope we meet again for a medal.

[Fidatelo]

not sure what game you were watching - Canada didn't dominate at all. They might have dominated brief stretches, but they far from dominated.

Agreed. I liked that way Canada finished, but overall I was impressed with the speed of the US forwards and felt they gave the Canadian defence some real problems at times. Canada needs to move to Luongo and really start to reduce Niedermayer's ice time. He was always the weakest inclusion on the team, I felt, and I think it's showing. This is a young man's game now.

All that said, Canada was fantastic at times (especially in the last 7 minutes or so) and if they can bring that intensity for longer stretches they will give a lot of teams fits. Miller really did save that game for the US, and if Babcock can have the balls to tell Marty and Nieds to hit the pine we may not be playing from behind all the time.

[Dr. Sak]

To steal a line from Bernie Parent...

"Only the Lord Saves more than Ryan Miller"

Marty Brodeur was drunk.

Way to go USA!

Canada may have the better superstars but USA had the better TEAM.

[MikeVic]

Their defensive collapsing played really well too. With the Juniors and now Olympics, the U.S. defense/goaltending has impressed me with the last two matchups.

[Galaxy]

Sabres head coach and Canada assistant coach Lindy Ruff had to be thinking of ways to beat Miller going into this game.

[Galaxy]

Agreed. I liked that way Canada finished, but overall I was impressed with the speed of the US forwards and felt they gave the Canadian defence some real problems at times. Canada needs to move to Luongo and really start to reduce Niedermayer's ice time. He was always the weakest inclusion on the team, I felt, and I think it's showing. This is a young man's game now.

All that said, Canada was fantastic at times (especially in the last 7 minutes or so) and if they can bring that intensity for longer stretches they will give a lot of teams fits. Miller really did save that game for the US, and if Babcock can have the balls to tell Marty and Nieds to hit the pine we may not be playing from behind all the time.

I thought both teams had their stretches (Canada maybe a few more).

It's interesting to think that Canada would be playing Russia in the quarterfinals. And if Sweden can win tonight, the U.S. will avoid those three teams until the medal games.

[Lathum]

Havent caught up on the thread because I have some stuff DVRed.

Watched the game tonight at a bar in Seattle, there were a ton of Canadian fans and a ton of USA fans. Was such a great atmosphere. We gave them all shit after the first goal and there was a lot of chanting and good natured ribbing going on. The whole experience was awesome, just a great time.

[Galaxy]

Any other result would have USA seeded #1 unless Sweden won by five or more goals.

Hopefully the Fins can keep Sweden from that result. :)

[Big Fo]

From what the announcers have said USA has the tiebreaker on Sweden if points and GD are equal so Sweden would need to win by six, not five like I previously posted.

Sweden are up 3-0 after two periods, it could be close.

Assuming Finland doesn't get beat that badly:

USA plays Switzerland - Beralus winner in QFs followed the winner of Finland - Czech Republic/Latvia.

So there's a good chance USA wouldn't have to play Canada/Russia/Sweden until the gold medal game. The three pre-Olympic medal favorites would all be on the same half of the draw.

[Galaxy]

From what the announcers have said USA has the tiebreaker on Sweden if points and GD are equal so Sweden would need to win by six, not five like I previously posted.

Sweden are up 3-0 after two periods, it could be close.

Assuming Finland doesn't get beat that badly:

USA plays Switzerland - Beralus winner in QFs followed the winner of Finland - Czech Republic/Latvia.

So there's a good chance USA wouldn't have to play Canada/Russia/Sweden until the gold medal game. The three pre-Olympic medal favorites would all be on the same half of the draw.

Is Slovenia the 7th seed?

[RainMaker]

Is there a reason why every team makes the medal round? Why not just knock off the last 4 so that the preliminaries mean a little more.

[Big Fo]

Is Slovenia the 7th seed?

Slovakia (close on the spelling and the geography, Slovenia did not send a team) is. They will play Norway for a chance to play Sweden (unless there's a big change in the Sweden-Finland game).

Is there a reason why every team makes the medal round? Why not just knock off the last 4 so that the preliminaries mean a little more.

Good question. Maybe the organizers don't think there are enough games to fairly eliminate some teams so they say "fuck it, let's just put everyone in the playoffs." Maybe the hockey games are a big draw and the IOC likes money.

As opposed to a less strenuous sport like curling where it's a ten team round robin with the best four teams making the semifinals and 5-10 being out of it. The US teams would benefit from a hockey style tournament in curling :(

[Galaxy]

Slovakia (close on the spelling and the geography, Slovenia did not send a team) is. They will play Norway for a chance to play Sweden (unless there's a big change in the Sweden-Finland game).
(

Doh.

Very nice that you'll have Slovakia in that bracket as well. I think they're a very underrated team. (those will be some great games to watch as well).

*-Provided the end of the Sweden-Finland game doesn't change:

(9) Belarus vs. (8) Switzerland vs. (1) USA
(12) Latvia vs. (5) Czech Republic vs. (4) Finland

(10) Norway vs. (7) Slovakia vs. (2) Sweden
(11) Germany vs. (6) Canada vs. (3) Russia


The higher seeds are the home team (including Canada, regardless of the home country advantage), correct? Advantage to the getting the right to send out their lines after the other team on play-stoppage line changes.

[Kevin]

I think the throws and the strategy are pretty interesting. My issue with curling revolves 100% around the time of it. It just seems like there's way too much time between shots, and then there's too many throws and ends. Speed it up and I'd be able to sit through it all, instead of turning over to "Almost Famous" on TBS and missing the end of the USA-SWE match like I did today.

I take the opposite view. 8 ends is too short. The World Curling Tour has cut back to 8 ends to soothe television and it has ruined big events in my opinion. I remember when Canadian Championships were 12 end games. In fact, curling in its infancy was usually 22 ends with a meal at halfway. Mind you the ice was so slow that ends took about half the time they do now.

[Butter]

I'd be a lot more excited about the US win over Canada if that had been a medal round game.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

I'd be a lot more excited about the US win over Canada if that had been a medal round game.

Tell all the Canucks in that arena last night that it was a meaningless preliminary round game.

I didn't chime in at all last night, but watched the whole game. Miller was incredible.

[Dr. Sak]

I'd be a lot more excited about the US win over Canada if that had been a medal round game.

Beating Canada (in their country) for the first time in 50 years in Olympic hockey is something to get excited about.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Beating Canada (in their country) for the first time in 50 years in Olympic hockey is something to get excited about.

It also makes the road to the medal round much easier. The US will likely play the Swiss in the quarters and then either the Czechs or Fins in the semis. Canada, on the other hand, will have to play Russia in the quarters and then likely Sweden.

Going into the tournament, Canada, Russia, and Sweden were pretty much ranked 1, 2, and 3, so that's a much tougher road.

Given the nature of the short tournament - the one and done elimination round - almost any of, say, the top 7 teams has a chance. One bad bounce, a hot goalie...

[Oilers9911]

To steal a line from Bernie Parent...

"Only the Lord Saves more than Ryan Miller"

Marty Brodeur was drunk.

Way to go USA!

Canada may have the better superstars but USA had the better TEAM.

Wrong, they had the better goaltender.

[Oilers9911]

not sure what game you were watching - Canada didn't dominate at all. They might have dominated brief stretches, but they far from dominated.

Most of the game was in the US end. They peppered Miller with shot after shot and if he doesn't stand on his end it's a blowout the other way. Yeah, Canada thoroughly outplayed the US.

[gstelmack]

Yeah, you wouldn't want to watch USA/Canada in HD or anything you?

TWC in RDU has it in HD on MSNBC-HD.

[gstelmack]

havent read most of the posts today, but im glad it was on msnbc. they didnt have any commercials. try that on nbc.

I agree with the posts earlier: hockey is even more fun to watch without all the TV timeouts breaking up the flow of the game.

[Dr. Sak]

Wrong, they had the better goaltender.

Last time I checked the goalie was on the team, unless in Canada they have a different set of rules. Goalies are a big part of the game especially in a short tournament. We also had the better defense man since Rafalski had two goals, none of your defense men had 2. Watching as much hockey as I am sure you do, shots don't always tell the story. Yeah Canada had their extended time in the US zone but they didn't have the sense of desperation to score the goals that the US seemed to have. That's why I stand by my statement the the US is a better Team. They are built like a hockey team with 3rd line gritty guys and players who know their roles. Where the Canadians are a bunch of superstars expected to mesh. If they play in the gold medal game the game could go completely different, but until then the final score read USA 5 Canada 3.

[Honolulu_Blue]

TWC in RDU has it in HD on MSNBC-HD.

Unfortunately, my Comcast doesn't have MSNBC in HD. Disappointing.

I agree with the posts earlier: hockey is even more fun to watch without all the TV timeouts breaking up the flow of the game.

Same could be said for pretty much any sport. But having no timeouts during the period for the US games has been excellent. A much swifter pace and a little more time for analysis.

[bronconick]

I'd be a lot more excited about the US win over Canada if that had been a medal round game.

It wasn't an elimination game for last night, but it eliminates either Canada or Russia before the semifinals, which is a huge bonus.

[Lathum]

Most of the game was in the US end. They peppered Miller with shot after shot and if he doesn't stand on his end it's a blowout the other way. Yeah, Canada thoroughly outplayed the US.

I bet you're a Vikings fan also.

[johnnyshaka]

Last time I checked the goalie was on the team, unless in Canada they have a different set of rules. Goalies are a big part of the game especially in a short tournament. We also had the better defense man since Rafalski had two goals, none of your defense men had 2. Watching as much hockey as I am sure you do, shots don't always tell the story. Yeah Canada had their extended time in the US zone but they didn't have the sense of desperation to score the goals that the US seemed to have. That's why I stand by my statement the the US is a better Team. They are built like a hockey team with 3rd line gritty guys and players who know their roles. Where the Canadians are a bunch of superstars expected to mesh. If they play in the gold medal game the game could go completely different, but until then the final score read USA 5 Canada 3.

No offense, Dr. Sak, but I think you are a little off-base here. Watch that game again and tell me the Canadians didn't have them on the ropes for probably 75% of the game. Miller and the "collapse to the net and block as many shots as possible" gameplan won that game for you...not being the better team. I'm sure the US led in shot blocks as well and I'm guessing that number would've been pretty close to the number of saves Miller made, if not more.

I'm not trying to take anything away from the Americans, again, they played to their strengths by huddling around Miller...but that is a risky sort of gameplan because they need to get ALL the bounces...and they did...to win.

[Samdari]

No offense, Dr. Sak, but I think you are a little off-base here. Watch that game again and tell me the Canadians didn't have them on the ropes for probably 75% of the game. Miller and the "collapse to the net and block as many shots as possible" gameplan won that game for you...not being the better team. I'm sure the US led in shot blocks as well and I'm guessing that number would've been pretty close to the number of saves Miller made, if not more.

I'm not trying to take anything away from the Americans, again, they played to their strengths by huddling around Miller...but that is a risky sort of gameplan because they need to get ALL the bounces...and they did...to win.

Canadian refuses to credit hockey talent of another nation. Stunning Development.

[FrogMan]

Did a search for a few keywords in this thread but could not find anything about it.

Slovenian cross country skier Petra Majdic fell into a ditch, more like a 10 foot high ravine, while warming up for her cross country sprint qualifying race last Wednesday. She was helped up and was in pain, what nobody knew is how much pain she was into. Turns out it was later learned that at the time, she had broken four ribs and had suffered a collapsed lung. She still went on to compete in not one, two, nor three races, but in all it was two qualifying races, a semi-final and the final, so four races, ending with her winning a bronze medal. Simply mindboggling stuff. Here's one report on her fall:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/talkofthegames/2011137739_skier_won_bronze_despite_broke.html

They did a piece on CTV with a physiologist they often have about what happened to her and how she dealt with it and he said he could not understand how she did it. We all know that cross country skiing is really taxing on the lungs, but he went on to show a video of her skiing all the while naming all the muscles who interact and put pressure on her ribs. He said her coach's words to her before that final were that the pain was nothing compared to the 22 years she's been training to get where she was that day. No shit....

I'm sure some of us have had injured ribs, me first after diving hard to stop a ball as a soccer keeper, and we all know how much of a bitch an injury to your ribs is, to see her race four times and never give up and ending with a bronze medal is simply amazing.

They showed a video of how they had to help her up the podium when they gave her the medal, had me choking up some tears. Great, great stuff...

As for that physiologist on CTV, they has some clips on ctvolympics.ca of a series of little pieces he does called SuperBodies. Some really neat stuff in there. Here's a link, I hope it's viewable to people outside of Canada:
http://www.ctvolympics.ca/video/collections/collectionid=45845/index.html

FM

[digamma]

So, in the men's hockey all of the teams from the preliminary round make the medal play-offs?

Story totally checks out.

[Lathum]

Canadian refuses to credit hockey talent of another nation. Stunning Development.

+1

Obviously gameplan, goaltending and shotblocking aren't part of hockey. If you have more shots on goal then you are the better team.

[Dr. Sak]

No offense, Dr. Sak, but I think you are a little off-base here. Watch that game again and tell me the Canadians didn't have them on the ropes for probably 75% of the game. Miller and the "collapse to the net and block as many shots as possible" gameplan won that game for you...not being the better team. I'm sure the US led in shot blocks as well and I'm guessing that number would've been pretty close to the number of saves Miller made, if not more.

I'm not trying to take anything away from the Americans, again, they played to their strengths by huddling around Miller...but that is a risky sort of gameplan because they need to get ALL the bounces...and they did...to win.

They did have a lot of the play in the American's end for long periods of time but you are a being bit contradictory in your statements. The American's played to their strengths, they know they can't match line for line with the talent the Canadians have so they did what they had to do and yes they were the better team, the scoreboard showed it at the end.

Up two goals late in the third, really what did you expect the Americans to do but hunker down and try and block everything? They weren't going to take any chances.

We (Americans) all knew that we would have to ride Ryan Miller to the gold. How is that any different than what New Jersey did with Brodeur for their cup runs? They didn't have my offense, so were they not the better teams all those years they won the cups just because they had the better goalie?

Pronger and Nidermeyer looked their age last night, and Brodeur did not have a good game at all. The US has done a better job than Canada (as of this moment) putting the right line combos together. They have two above average scoring lines and two checking lines. Guys have defined roles on the team, unlike Canada who IMO believe that they are just going to roll over teams with their superstars. Russia found that not to be true against Slovkia.

At the beginning of the Olympics most thought that the Shark line combo and having two Blackhawks that play together were going to be a huge plus for the Canadians, but Joe Thornton is treating the Olympics like he does the playoffs every year and has become MIA out there.

I'm sorry but I'm sick of hearing on sports shows etc about Canada being the better team, no they weren't. I heard after their close call against the Swiss that America better watch out because that game woke up Team Canada.

With all due respect Canada didn't win the game therefore they weren't the better team, in that game. That doesn't mean that if these two teams meet again in the Gold Medal game that Canada won't win, but I am just getting tired of it seeming as if the American's lucked their way into that victory last night.