Saturday Morning Coffee- For underdogs, you sure yap a lot...
by WAACH 'Cast on Feb 27, 2010 10:36 AM PST
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The game was barely over before noted assaulter of cab drivers Patrick "20 Cent" Kane fired the first shot, directed at goalie Roberto Luongo: "I've had my luck against him, personally," Kane said after he scored two goals as the U.S. routed Finland 6-1 in Friday's other semifinal. "So he's a goalie I wouldn't mind facing." The Washington Post added "If he's got a book (on me), good for him," then made a point of saying Luongo stomped off. Of course he did... more after the jump...
A tense game last night? For sure. You can look at it as squeeking into the gold medal match, or you can look at it like this: with all the chips laid out on the table, Canada's last line of defense was Roberto Luongo. And with 10 seconds left, he made the big save to preserve the win. You know, that thing everyone said he couldn't do. Just more adversity that the Canadians have faced and battled through. Every time they do this, they get stronger and learn from it. And if Team USA and it's fans want to think that it was a sign their path to gold is an easy one, let them. I would love that, and so would Team Canada.
I love some of the talking points that have come out of all this. Ryan Kesler still insisting on repeating the 'underdog' card is valid for a bunch of NHL stars, undefeated in the tournament. Saying they've got the book on the goalie. The 1960 and 1980 comparisons. Yet it's the 2002 comparison that bears the most weight. You remember that one, don't you? America breezed through the tournament, while Canada struggled. But when it came down to the big game, Canada got inspired performances from it's players and took home the gold.
The questions about Canada's goaltending have begun. Bloggers and paid journalists alike are trying to plant seeds of doubt into Canadian heads that the goaltending issue is actually a controversy. That there's some talk of Brodeur starting. That Coach Mike Babcock has no faith in Luongo. They will try and tell you Luongo's never won a big game, other than last night. We heard that a lot, didn't we? Yet no one has held Miller to the same scrutiny, and I find this odd. I ask you this then: How many World Championship Gold Medals have been placed around Ryan Miller's neck?
Lots of time to speculate, to prognosticate and to trash talk. I stand by what I said; barring a total no-show of our team, I am comfortable with silver. I want gold. I want it as bad as all of you do. But I know that in all likelihood, they'll need to play the game of their lives. Given the lack of adversity that the US team has faced in their road to Sunday's game, the pressure on them to try and live up to previous 'miracles' is far greater than is being acknowledged.
Regardless of the outcome, it's good to see such a tremendous focus on the game in the US. Although NBC has embarrassed itself and the league with its barrage of ridiculous screwups and underestimation of the demand for the games, people in America are paying attention to hockey. Win or lose, most of them will stop caring by the end of next week, but new seeds are planted every time they do well in the Olympics.
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And another thing. People say Luongo hasn’t won anything. What has Miller won? Sorry if this was mentioned above already.
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.
that was kind of my point in there lol… Miller hasn’t won anything, including losing the biggest game in his life to date: the Winter Classic in Buffalo a couple years back. Who scored the winning goal in that shootout again?
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
by WAACH 'Cast on Feb 27, 2010 11:10 AM PST up reply actions
tehe
Eightyseven! :D
"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
by eightyseven on Feb 27, 2010 11:13 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
The Winter Classic the biggest game of his life?
No disrespect but you’re out of your mind. The Winter Classic was a regular season game. Every game he has played in this tournament has been bigger than that. Every game in this tournament has been bigger than that and he has won them all.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
name a game that was watched by more people?
I will check back later
what has he won? Seriously?
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
I don't know about
Canada’s ratings but here in the states the USA / Canada game played earlier this week was watched by an average audience of 8.22 million. The Buffalo / Pittsburgh game was watched by approximately 5 million people.
As far as what Miller has won, he got a gold in the 2003 IIHF Championship that he played 4 games. By this time tomorrow he’ll have either a gold or a silver. Before you say it, I already know that Luongo has a few gold medals of his own but he really didn’t play in those tournaments.
Competitive violence, that's why you're here!
Like you say, I really like that some of us are actually paying attention to hockey for once.
No doubt helped by the fact that the US is undefeated so far, but hey.
I want Lu to do well, but I also want the US to win. Both of these can happen, but it’s not very likely. Most of all, I don’t want anybody (especially Lu) to get hurt. Should be a fun game. All of us will be reunited in dislike for Columbus on Tuesday anyway.
Falling, fallen, we all fall down, it only really matters how we stand our ground
If and when we rise to our feet again, we'll be on our own
-Tomas Kalnoky/Streetlight Manifesto, If and When We Rise Again
by kentcheesehead on Feb 27, 2010 11:13 AM PST reply actions
Yeah, I heard that NBC will be live airing the gold medal game tomorrow.
It’ll kinda make up for their abundance of mistakes and the oh-so-wise decision to give skating and curling more live time.
"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
by eightyseven on Feb 27, 2010 11:17 AM PST via mobile up reply actions
yeah, it’s nice that there’s lots of people who can have the rivalry without it getting stupid, and it’s been nice to actually be on the same side of those we would usually call foe. it’s gonna be a hangover when this is all over, what an amazing tournament
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
by WAACH 'Cast on Feb 27, 2010 11:25 AM PST up reply actions
btw, in NHL news (yes, we’ll have to catch right back up on monday), the Rangers have claimed Alex Auld from Dallas off of re-entry waivers.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
thought for sure Calgary would grab him, they need some insurance and McBackup isn’t going to be the one should Kiprusieve still suck post-Olympics…
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
by WAACH 'Cast on Feb 27, 2010 11:32 AM PST up reply actions
well, after dallas traded for lehtonin a couple weeks ago, they decided to keep turco and cut auldy. turns out, NYR needs a more stable backup for lundqvist.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
yeah i thought calgary or edmonton would pick him up.
Seeing as McElhinney, Dubnyk, Pitton and Deslauriers barely count as NHL goaltenders
"Hey, why dont you give your balls a tug you fucking pussies". - Alexandre Burrows #14
by Chuckles Canuckles on Feb 27, 2010 12:35 PM PST up reply actions
Edmonton has no reason to spend more money on players this year. And Calgary is ahead of the Rangers in the standings, so they didn’t have the opportunity until after the Rangers had their chance. They may well have taken him. Would have been interesting considering Dallas and Calgary are battling for a playoff spot.
by Beantown Canuck on Feb 27, 2010 3:14 PM PST up reply actions
Underdogs? No.
This is as close to a pick ’em game as you can get, I think.
Knights, Canucks, Dolphins, Jays and Raptors all the way.
exactly… this one is a coin toss, if you could give any advantage, it’s canada on home ice and, oddly enough, Luongo’s experience. The US has a young team, that may hurt them in the end. Our guys know how to win and that includes Lu
WAACH Blog/Podcast- The 38th best Canucks blog on the Interwebs http://waachcast.blogspot.com
by WAACH 'Cast on Feb 27, 2010 11:27 AM PST up reply actions
Ok, I’m unbiased here. I don’t really mind which team wins it tomorrow but just hope it’s a good game
Luongo didn’t look great in the Slovakia game, yes he made the save at the end, but really Demo should have put that above the pad. Luongo didn’t look totally secure in net.
Before yesterday I would have picked Canada easily to win the gold but USA looked about as good in the first 10 mins as Canada did against Russia. I would say USA are underdogs just based on what people expected before the tournament. But it should be a close game and I can’t wait for it
Demitra did put it over the pad, Luongo got his glove on it. Probably the most clutch save Luongo has ever made in his life.
So don't get violent and don't get caught with your head down, the night she stole the moon.
by thelastjohnny on Feb 27, 2010 12:58 PM PST up reply actions
It is kind of obvious with little Patty Kane that he just doesn’t have that filter between thinking of something to say…and then saying it. If he wants to draw special attention to himself against the best defense he will ever see in his career…good for him.
I gotta disagree andrew. He didn’t look great against Slovakia? After one goal that he will admit was shaky ( the first one )…name me one play he looked shaky on. The second goal was a rebound that was not his fault.
The save on Demo was amazing…but so was the one that gave Demo that rebound chance. The shot from Hossa was through some legs and tipped, for god’s sake! He still got it.
I do agree it will be close. The Canadians will bring the same intensity they did against Russia, methinks. If the USA can stand up to that and win…good for them…they deserve it.
I can’t wait either!!
"Of course you know, this means war!!"
Bugs Bunny
Medal Alert:
Jasey-Jay Anderson just guaranteed himself a silver for Canada in the men’s PGS. he has one race left to try for gold.
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
Seeds of Doubt for sure
In just a few moments on the net today, I’ve run in to the following:
I can’t get Babcock’s “I think we have 3 good goalies” line out of my head. Total non-praise of Luongo last night. Daneyko would start Marty
On William Houston’s Truth and Rumours blog In a post entitled "One Bad Goal Will Sink Canada
Canada hasn’t received anything close to excellent goaltending in the Olympic tournament. Luongo has allowed a bad goal in every game he’s played except for the shutout over Norway.
It would repetitive to ask, one more time, why the Canadian brain trust never considered giving Marc-Andre Fleury a start. But it should be asked.
But finally this sane word from Brian Burke, via @reporterchris the CP hockey reporter Chris Johnston
Burke: “I think Roberto Luongo has been the best goalie in the NHL the last two years. But I think Ryan Miller has been the best this year.”
My hopes exceed my expectations
-WeepingTile
i noticed wysh has been dead quiet on the canada-slovakia game. he went hard after brodeur and it seems like lu is barely escaping his wrath here too.
TWO GOLD MEDALS IN 10 MINUTES!!!!!!!!!
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
OLYMPIC RECORD ALERT!
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
Omgomgomg. Go Mr. Martin!
"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
by eightyseven on Feb 27, 2010 2:57 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
i really don’t understand the decision to put nick kypreos on the hockey panel for this entire olympics. the guy is operating on less brainpower than concussed willie mitchell
Token sportsnet guy, it’s the whole CTV consortium coming in to play.
So don't get violent and don't get caught with your head down, the night she stole the moon.
by thelastjohnny on Feb 27, 2010 4:14 PM PST up reply actions
I’m an American and I hope Luongo kicks ass!
AKA: Linix129, sw12
by Sean Wunderlich on Feb 27, 2010 7:29 PM PST reply actions
THAT
was probably the best 20 minutes of hockey of this whole tournament. I’m real bummed the Slovaks didn’t do it; I thought they were the hardest fighting team of the whole event. Grats to my second least favorite Canuck; he probably deserves tourney MVP not counting tomorrows game.
"Hope you like pancakes, Norway..."
good for salo, but poor poor demitra…..
Official Ambassador for Nucks Misconduct.
"God forbid Canadians try and feel any pride at all for any of our accomplishments without some American telling us we aren’t quite as good as they are. All things are relative, and relatively speaking, we freaking rule." Pamplemousse
GO CANUCKS GO!
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