Welcome To Miller Time: U.S.A. 5 Canada 3
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:21 PM PST
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What a game. Even in a losing effort by Canada, a hockey fan can appreciate that kind of display. While the Americans came out of the gates with a lot more gusto than Canada did, and made them pay early, I thought Canada responded well from the middle of the 1st period-on. They just couldn't solve Ryan Miller on enough occasions. It was both amazing and bewildering to watch. 42 saves on 45 shots by Miller. Many of those stops were outstanding. Many of them you wished Canada would shoot top shelf (or just a bit higher) on the guy to beat him but didn't.
Unreal. If you missed it, you missed out on what hockey is all about: physicality, end-to-end action combined with structured defensive play, lights-out goaltending, grit, determination, etc. A hockey classic it was.
Canada never held a lead in this one. You can thank Miller for that, plus you can thank his mates' play in front of him, somewhat. The U.S. mean business. Brian Rafalski may be the oldest guy on Team USA, but he was the 2nd best player. 2 goals and 1 assist for him. Chris Drury may be a sieve on the Rangers but not on Team USA. He generated a lot of chances but was also a force in his own end...as was Ryan Kesler. Kesler sealed the deal on this game with one of the best empty net goals I've seen. He must be on cloud 9 right now.
The U.S. has that certain something as a team that the Canadians do not. Call it chemistry, faith in eachother, structure, kick ass goaltending....or maybe all of the above. Something is missing from the Canadian team. Killer instinct? Lack of discipline? Lack of finish? Lack of execution especially on the power play? Lack of quality goaltending? All of the above.
Speaking of goaltending..Martin Brodeur comes under fire now for not playing stellar at all. He was "over-playing" pucks on 3 of the U.S. goals, whether it was batting the puck out of the air and not out of the zone, playing the puck to an opposing player behind his net, or aggressively poking a loose puck to an opposing player for the winning goal. So now the big question that will dominate the Canadian media is: "Who starts the next game against the Germans?" You can voice your opinion in the poll. Brodeur is a world class goalie who can absolutely stymie opponents after a bad game. On the other hand, Roberto Luongo is licking his chops right now and waiting to solidify his spot as Canada's starting goaltender RIGHT NOW.
I say go with Luongo against Germany and if he plays a monstrous game then keep on playing him. Hell, he is playing in his home rink after all. He was solid against the Norwegians even though Canada dominated that game.
This loss should not create panic. Sure Canada has to play another game before meeting the Russians in the medal-qualifying round, but it gives them more opportunity to get their team game together and perhaps roll through the medal rounds.
We'll see what happens. I don't mind the adversity. I also don't mind that more teams are emerging in the international scene. It's good for hockey. Now excuse me while I go drink away my disappointment and curse the names of Thornton (not his dominant self), Getzlaf (dumb), Perry (dumb and dumber) and Brodeur.
Final shots: Canada 45 USA 23. A 93.3% save percentage by Miller and an 81.8% by Brodeur.
Your thoughts on the game?
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Doughty and Keith surprised me today. Such smart play.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
Weird…I didn’t notice them. I was paying too much attention to Canada’s play in the US zone
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:31 PM PST up reply actions
How about that Serge Savard spinaroonie at the blue line late in the game?
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:40 PM PST up reply actions
I think that Kesler’s heart, grit and determination have infected the entire US bench. Despite Wilson’s cluelessness as coach—fourth line my ass!—Kesler looked like a possessed demon out there.
Canada looks like most all-star teams: too many chiefs, not enough injuns.
It’s a classic all-star problem. At some point, one has too much talent. Canada is, I think, at that point.
Yeah..we need that Draper-Maltby type of players, not 12 all star forwards
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:44 PM PST up reply actions
true..but they are captains of their respective teams are they not?
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:56 PM PST up reply actions
Richards and Morrow are not the types needed. They are point leaders on their respective teams and captains. We need grinders….grinders I say! Grinders who play like Kesler did today for example
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:14 PM PST up reply actions
The leaders/captain thing doesn’t matter to me and doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t grinders/gritty. Both of them can play that style well IMO, and have showed it this tourney from my point of view. Richards is basically a Canadian version of Kesler, or vice versa if you prefer.
Poutine & Meatballs
but the original point is too many chiefs and not enough injuns.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:40 PM PST up reply actions
You didn’t see the opening ceremonies, did you?
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
My thoughts...
copy+pasted from the game thread:
-Brodeur was awful for his standards. He tried to do too much and ended up out of position a bunch of times. USA was smart with getting on him quickly if he came out to play the puck, which was often.
-Miller was incredible and the main reason why they won IMO.
-Doughty impressed me with his poise, the kid is a stud.
-Kesler probably scored the best empty net goal ever. Perry was asleep on that one, why was he on the ice anyways?
-Way too many stupid penalties by Canada.
-USA did a pretty good job of jamming up the middle of the ice and forcing everything to the outside.
-I’d say Canada owned about 45-50 minutes of the game and arguably deserved to win more than USA.
I think they have to go with Luongo for the next game, Brodeur has not impressed me as a whole.
Poutine & Meatballs
Yeah, I’m a little bitter over the lack of respect given my squad…but I expect that will change now.
I think all Canadian fans respect the US team. That doesn’t mean we didn’t dominate most of the game.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 21, 2010 9:00 PM PST up reply actions
I know I respect them. Bunch of kids with reckless abandon and a kick ass goalie. The sky is the limit with those guys
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:03 PM PST up reply actions
Kane, Parise, Kessel, Kesler, Stasny……big time future for them. Plus the Johnsons
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 21, 2010 9:05 PM PST up reply actions
Nah, most of the fans here respect the US team, we just think the Canadian team is better. If we replayed that game 10 times, who would you take to win that series?
by Vancouverguy on Feb 21, 2010 10:48 PM PST up reply actions
With Broduer starting? I will take Ryan Miller’s team everytime.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 21, 2010 10:51 PM PST up reply actions
Does Broder make those mistakes on a different day? Wait.. what am I saying? He did pretty much the same thing the last game too…..
Never mind…
by Vancouverguy on Feb 21, 2010 10:55 PM PST up reply actions
Replay that game 10 times and we take it for sure.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 22, 2010 12:17 AM PST up reply actions
How does that make sense?
We all know that Lu’s not as good when he gets rusty (hasn’t played since Tuesday).
Brodeur might choke away the game against the Germans too. /tongue in cheek
Poutine & Meatballs
it makes no sense at all. If Brodeur plays against Germany and wins, he’ll keep playing.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 8:57 PM PST up reply actions
and just to add to our canadian misery, china is currently beating our women 4-2 in the 6th end of the curling match….. great…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
Team Canada oldies have gotta shine.
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
The one with a “C” on his chest? =/
"I was thinking it would be cool to see a game on the road. I have been looking all over this atlas but I don't see Vancouver anywhere. What state is this sh*t in!?"
- Dallas Stars Forum
Keith
Doughty
Webber
Boyle
Seabrook
Scotty
Pronger
In that order IMO and Pronger should get as few minutes as possible. He has been shocking.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 21, 2010 9:01 PM PST up reply actions
Move Seabrook to the bottom and I agree. Check out the ice times tonight:
Keith 24:05
Doughty 23:20
Webber 19:09
Boyle 13:25
Seabrook 8:02
Scotty 17:07
Pronger 14:05
Poutine & Meatballs
I had been looking for this information too.
I finally found it at www.vancouver2010.com
I would way rather see Seabrook out there than either of Niedermayer or Pronger. They have both proven to be over matched in this tourny so far.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 21, 2010 10:38 PM PST up reply actions
it’s actually kinda funny how loud the spectators have been during the team canada curling matches…
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
most likely.
i myself was in (local junior) curling for 5 years, the spectators were never anywhere close to this numerous, yet alone loud…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
Well to the curlers who bitch about the noise levels: they can suck it, excuse the vulgarity. More fans = more noise. Use headsets or hand communications or SOMETHING. This ain’t golf FFS..or is it?
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:06 PM PST up reply actions
well, i’ve seen things like the women’s Scottie Tournament of Hearts on tv before, and the spectators do make a bit of noise there.
but with the crowd singing O Canada during the men’s match last night, that was crazy.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
I was at the curling session this morning and was very impressed by the number of people getting the beers in at 10:30am! Lots of noise and a great atmosphere, even if GB did get blown out by the Swiss :(
by British Canuck on Feb 21, 2010 10:52 PM PST up reply actions
is anyone else still watching the canada-china curling? crazy rock setup in the house before the hammer.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
wow, canada was lucky there for the steal to tie it up.
and now i’m switching to the sweden-finland hockey game.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
Oh yeah! Gotta watch the Swedes. Haven’t seen them play yet.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:06 PM PST up reply actions
best of 7 to gold
anyone thinks it is starting to feel like a best of 7 (including round-robin games) series to the gold?
at that, we’re down 3-0 in the series. No more losses.
Can’t wait for next game – luongo better start, he’s been resting good lol
silly ctvolympics.ca
my primary (accurate) source for channels was saying CTV when it was actually RSN…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
haha that doesn’t happen too often. henrik on a near shorthanded breakaway, but it was salo defending against him…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
seriously? mats sundin joining the intermission panel???
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
correction: it’s just hodge interviewing mats at the panel table.
hey Sean, you still awake up there?
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
GO CANUCKS GO!
Oh, I can never get enough Matsisfaction. Miss the bugger.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 21, 2010 9:51 PM PST up reply actions
Kesler in an interview with Puck Daddy last year:
Awesome. And beyond that, will you also guarantee that we’ll beat the Canadians?
I guarantee that we’ll beat the Canadians.
Kesler deserves a ton of credit for that, but what the hell, Perry’s got to get to that when it’s an empty net… right? Or am I not giving Kesler his fair due?
by Vancouverguy on Feb 21, 2010 10:51 PM PST up reply actions
I knew before the teams were even announced that Miller would need to carry the US against the tougher competition for them to have a chance.
Sounds like that happened tonight/this morning/today (choose which time zone you want to go by).
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 21, 2010 10:19 PM PST reply actions
That Loui Eriksson is good, 2 goals tonight.
Hornqvist just got smoked by a Pitkanen elbow to the head. 5 minute major and game misconduct.
Poutine & Meatballs
I’d argue he’s playin’ with a pretty decent fellow. Backstrom is no slouch.
But yes, Loui E. is awesome.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 21, 2010 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
Maybe this will put to rest that “Backstrom only gets stats because he plays with Ovechkin” argument.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 21, 2010 10:38 PM PST up reply actions
Not at all. Put him between 2 NHL 3rd liners and see how he does
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 22, 2010 12:20 AM PST up reply actions
There’s only so much you can do given certain parts.
The point is he’s producing in the Olympics without Ovechkin. Are his wingers (Alfredsson and Loui E it seems) terrible? Of course not, but they aren’t on Ovechkin’s level.
Now drink with me deeply of the bourbon, scotch, and rye until such time as we are fighting drunk.
by Steckel Me Elmo on Feb 22, 2010 1:32 AM PST up reply actions
I hope someone takes out Malkin in the quarters. That little weasel is still allowed to play after he hits Mitchell from behind and effectively taken him out of our lineup for awhile now. I want to see him get destroyed. Hopefully by Pronger so we won’t have to put up with him on our team anymore.
Is the tie-breaker goal differential? If so, USA could be the number 1 seed should Sweden win by 4 or less which could very well happen seeing as they are up 3 right now.
Is anyone else finding it extremely weird to see Henrik wearing #20?
by British Canuck on Feb 21, 2010 10:50 PM PST reply actions
FYI
The standings pool leaderboard and part 2 submission thread is up.
The deadline is in less than 35 hours, so get your submissions in soon!
Sean, could you move the thread onto the front page for visibility? Thanks.
Poutine & Meatballs
“He was the best I’ve ever seen”
-Ryan Kesler on the performance of Ryan Miller. If you’re Lu, or another Canuck teammate, how do you feel about that? I don’t like that. I understand the heat of the moment and why Kes might say that, but I don’t like that.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 6:46 AM PST reply actions
If you don’t mind me asking. Why do you have a problem with that quote?
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 22, 2010 10:14 AM PST up reply actions
Well, he’s been Miller’s teammate for three games and is already declaring him the best goalie he’s ever seen… meanwhile Lu’s been the rock of the Canucks for the most part for 4 years now… and will be Kes’s goalie again in just over a week… it seems like a slight to me to be so definite about Miller’s status. He could have said “one of the best”. Players usually do that.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 10:26 AM PST up reply actions
Well I have to admit I think he probably meant the best he had ever seen at the Olympics. Or maybe he did think it was the best goaltending performance he had ever seen. Either way it isn’t a slight against Luongo in my opinion. He played the best game Kesler had ever seen doesn’t mean Kesler thinks he is a better goalie than Luongo. And I don’t think that Luongo would be thin skinned enough to care if Kesler did think that.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 22, 2010 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah I’m not thinking it’s a big deal. I’m just slightly miffed… I can fully understand him saying that in the moment after that big of a game had just occured and the high he must be feeling. I think you’re right.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 11:20 AM PST up reply actions
Ah, the day after Armageddon. Sun’s still shining, the earth didn’t fall of it’s axis. I may play more Type O Negative on Youtube than is safe, but no worries. A quick spin around the internet revealed one glaring fact. Los Americanos seem to think last night was the gold medal game. The road only gets steeper from here, you flag-waving, Chevy-driving, American Idol-watching, fast-food gulping, baseball worshipping, Toby Keith listening, Bud swilling sumbitches.
See? it’s going to be a beautiful day.
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
99.9% of the Americans didn’t even know what time exactly the game was on, because of NBC’s stupid monopoly on the Olympics’ broadcasting. And of course, they did not show the game live. I almost missed it myself, finally found it on MSNBC, which most of Americans probably don’t watch anyway.
Too bad, because this is one time in a million when the entertaining side of hockey could have been shown to the whole nation and people would have watched it.
Los Angeles, CA
Just found out that the Americans didn’t even have a chance to see the Miracle on Ice in real time, 30 years ago. It was broadcast hours after the game ended. The Canadians, however saw it all live. What a joke!
Los Angeles, CA
Tells us how much NBC cares about hockey, doesn’t it. Why’d they even bother bidding for the NHL rights? And why not form an Olympic broadcast consortium like was done up here, if you’re not going to broadcast hockey, or anyother sport, live?
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
I agree, it seems like they just want to money, but don’g give a shit about most of the sports.
Los Angeles, CA
I'm in Chicago
they broadcast the game on MSNBC and we couldn’t even get a high-def feed here.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Don’t tell me they bumped it for ice dancing again?
Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.
Hey, I like Chev’s! haha…and fast food
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 22, 2010 9:58 AM PST up reply actions
It’s funny how some of my American friends, who love hockey, were cheering for the Canadian team. Here in So. Cal., liking hockey equals liking Canada, so many people can’t decide who to root for.
I was cheering for Canada (I am still a Canadian national), but I thought the US team was the hungrier and grittier team (versus the All-Star-heavy Canadians), so it didn’t hurt as much to lose to the Americans. However, my 7 year-old son, who is American, was really disappointed and pissed off that the Canadians lost, and wanted to break his little hockey stick. I asked him, how come he is so much against his own country? He is not sure, but just wants to be a Canadian. I am flabbergasted.
Los Angeles, CA
Wow. Thanks for sharing that Attila. I am both shocked and pleased! So. Cal is cooler than I thought!
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 22, 2010 10:00 AM PST up reply actions
I have to say I find it extremely funny that one loss to a hot goalie and all of a sudden the Canadian team has “too many All Stars”
I mean come on. Really? Too many good players? Did you see Rick Nash running around hitting everything that moved? Did you see us out shoot the other team badly? Too many All Stars? Maybe not enough since we are struggling to score goals. Anyone watch the Flyers play and think to themselves that Mike Richards isn’t a gritty player? Bergeron, Morrow even Iginla are all players who can and do play a game heavily influenced by grit and determination. Coupled with skill. The only problem this team had against the American’s was they couldn’t solve Miller often enough and their older guys on the back-end (Broduer, Pronger and Captain Scotty) didn’t perform.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 22, 2010 10:19 AM PST reply actions
I agree completely. Seabrook has been out of step too in my books. Miller was on fire, but we still scored 3 goals on him. If your opposition’s best player is their goalie, you NEED to be capable of beating them when you score 3 goals. Defence lost us this game.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
Yeah. You score 3 in the Olympics you should win. Simple as that. And let’s be honest Martin didn’t make any really spectacular game saving saves but did let in some questionable goals.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 22, 2010 10:31 AM PST up reply actions
Personally, I did not mean to say that “too many all-stars” is a bad thing. I am not being critical of the star status. If I were the coach, I would probably do the same thing, get the best players available. What I meant is that a US team, against significant odds, beat a Canadian dream-team, with all those stars in it. It is human nature to feel for the underdog, and admire the US team for beating the big boys.
Los Angeles, CA
Yeah for sure. I wasn’t necessarily responding to you which is why I didn’t write that as a response to your comment. But we all know that the Americans have the best goalie, or one of the top 2 goalies in the tournament. And he is more than capable of stealing games which he did. The USA team is young fast and hungry you have to admire that.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
"Giggs gets past Viera, past Dixon, who comes back at him, it's a wonderful run from GIGGS!!!" - Martin Tyler
"He's got a man deep..wait, no that IS Mandeep!!" - Don Taylor
by Section 312 on Feb 22, 2010 10:35 AM PST up reply actions
Bah! True but that was a bunch of Canadians not executing.
by Sean Zandberg on Feb 22, 2010 4:36 PM PST up reply actions
I also question the decision to play Brodeur over Luongo in crucial games like this. Phychologicall, who want the gold more: Brodeur, who has already won it all so many times, or Luongo, who desperately wants to win something at this point in his career?
I think everybody agrees that Luongo is the one who wants it so much more. The intense guy he is, he would have played his heart out. I don’t think Brodeur did that yesterday.
Los Angeles, CA
I don’t question the decision to play Brodeur at all. He’s never been a letdown at any level ever, in my opinion. In the end he just didn’t perform well enough last night. I would think Luongo will play next game, but frankly I can still understand sticking with Brodeur, for precisely the reason I said in my first sentence.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
Right on.
Brodeur had to lose his spot which I don’t think he did against the Swiss, but he definitely did against the USA. It looked like he concentrated more on playing the puck than his primary duty of stopping the puck. Against a fast forechecking team that’s not going to fly.
If Luongod doesn’t start next game, there will be hell to pay.
Poutine & Meatballs
Yeah. We don’t need a puck moving goalie when we’ve got 7 puck moving d-men. We need a puck stopping goalie. And opposition containing d-men, quite frankly.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 22, 2010 11:55 AM PST up reply actions
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