Team Canada loses 2-zip to Russia, bounced from Olympics...

[ClusterFreak]

Let the bloodletting begin.

These guys simply never played as a team. In six games played, they did not score in three of them. Every player shares the blame. Except for Brodeur and Sakic. Marty stood on his head. Undisciplined penalties.

One more thing. Ovechkin is talented as hell. Almost as talented as he is cocky and disrespectful of his opponents. Did anyone see him on the bench, tugging at the Russian crest on his jersey after scoring that goal? I briefly toyed with the idea of driving to the airport, flying to Italy, and bitchslapping the little bastard within an inch of his life. :P

[Swede]

1. Ovechkin loves the game.

He loves to score,and he just won the game for Russia.

[ClusterFreak]

2. True, true and true.

What I said is also true, IMO.

[glarius]

3. He loves to score AND he is a cocky little bastard with no respect for

others. He has a track record of unclassy conduct when he scores. In 2005 world juniors he taunted the American team bench after scoring a goal.

[SixStrings]

4. Out-hustled, out-played, out-coached.

Ugly. Time for some fresh faces. Just never gelled. Pretty boring game for the most part. Jesus, how about putting a man on Ovechkin, or Kharitonov? Ovechkin does the same move EVERY time he enters the zone - cut into the slot and shoot. If he would of passed a few times there, the score would of been different.
Canada looked tired and beat.

[Bassic]

12. Out-coached is quite right.

I don't think Pat Quinn is the best man for this job, they should find a better coach.

[CanSocDem]

5. Like I said in another thread...

....individual, good players, brought together for a couple of weeks, don't make a TEAM.

Not to mention that the NHL's emphasis on size and strength proved no match for the speedier and more creative Russians. Those of you who think Ovechkin won the game are looking at the game from the 'star-system' perspective. The Russians played as a 'team' and because that strategy is so superior to the 'dump and chase' routine of NA hockey, it just looked like they were being "cocky".

Gretzky had the right idea a few years ago when he suggested kids needed "less structured" hockey practices to develop creativity. Everybody thought it was a good idea at the time but it appears even the "Great One" has been lured to the dark side of SPORTS INC.

Whatever happened to that idea of a permanent national team....????

[ClusterFreak]

6. Oh let's just blow up the Canadian approach to hockey then.

Yumpin' yiminy. Cuz, if it weren't for our bang and crash, dump and chase style, we wouldn't ever win any international hockey tournaments. Right?? Puh-friggin-leeze. We lost. We have as much skill, as much 'creativity' and ten times more depth, than any hockey nation anywhere in the world. And I never said the 'Russians', plural, I never said "they", were cocky. I said Ovechkin was. And he is. He tugged at the crest on his jersey, pulling it out as to suggest Russians were better hockey players than Canadians. What would you say if Jerome Iginla tugged at the Canadian crest after a goal sometime? Ya think that might appear just a little arrogant, a little disrespectful to his opponent, a little 'cocky'??? Of course it would.

[V. Kid]

8. We rarely agree but...

...your post is damn right. Some people will probably claim this is the end of Canadian hockey, or the start of another 50 year draught, or something else dumb like that, but like you said, we have way more eliete depth than most other countries, and we have just as much talent if not more.

But, the thing is that this team, regardless of all their talent, just wasn't that good of a team, because they didn't come together. Life, goes on...sorry to rehash an old cliche, but there's no I in team...and even though a few individuals like Burnaby Joe, and Martin Brodeur were good, by and large they didn't have it.

[glarius]

7. Of the top 10 scorers in the NHL....6 are CANADIAN!

Gee, how did these players with inferior skills manage that...hmmmm?

[V. Kid]

9. Agreeing with you too? Hmm...strange. :-)

[glarius]

10. Ya.....it's as simple as the guys couldn't mesh as a team for whatever

reason. It happens...End of story. I don't think the Russian team was all that great. They couldn't score a goal until the 3rd period on a power play. What happened to all their supposed great fire power? I bet Finland beats them on Friday. (I hope so, anyway.)....:)

[Bassic]

11. And unless I'm mistaken

more than one of those 6 weren't even on the team this year.

[glarius]

13. Where was the Russian "creativity" today against the Czechs?

The Russian marvel Ovechkin never scored or assisted...In fact no Russian scored or assisted....Like I said before....Anything can happen in a tournament like this and Canada's come-uppance just came a little before Russia's.....:)

[ClusterFreak]

14. Sorry for being a prick, but....

Where was the vaunted Russian creativity and team strategy over the last two games? They were shut out twice in a row, including today's bronze medal game. Nothing superior here.

Okay, 'Off Gloat".;-)

[CanSocDem]

17. It should be obvious today....

...why Canada lost to the european teams. Obvious, of course if you watched the gold medal game.

The usual morons calling the game, kept referring to "the zone" as in "winning it, clearing it, losing it" etc., which pretty much explains why North American hockey fans are as foolish and disruptive as the American government. They have a lot in common.

But let's stick to hockey for now.....

The theory behind 'controlling the zone' comes from a fundamental belief in the 'strength in numbers' or maximizing your strategic advantage. A good union advocate like myself has no problem with that strategy, in an oppressive environment. However......

The lack of creativity in a "zone" strategy, comes from suppressing individual initiative, which presumably weakens the larger unit. I think this is an unfair assumption. The game today was a good example of individuals working for the common good. In North America, we don't trust the individual to 'work for the common good'. Why is that....????

[ClusterFreak]

18. Uh....huh.

:yoiks:

[glarius]

19. Surely you jest????

This is a hockey game you're talking about, right?....I would say Canada's winning in the 2002 Olympics, and the Canada Cups, and World Cups etc. are a good example of individuals working for the common good in case you've forgotten. "North American hockey fans are as foolish and disruptive as the American government?"....Really????.... Boy, I'll bet you're a barrel of fun to watch a hockey game with...And it is a game you know; not a worker's revolution....

Here's to 2010...Go Team Canada!

[CanSocDem]

20. NO, not kidding.....

And you're right. My rare experiences of watching NHL hockey are not pleasant for those in my company.

But, in my opinion, all Canada's international success in hockey(in my lifetime) has been pretty much a fluke and not related to any inherent aptitude or superior style. Even when they won it was obvious to those of us who have played the game, that we were out-played and but for exceptional goalkeeping or 'Henderson-like-last-minute-goals' we would have long ago, given up any claim to hockey superiority.

"And it is a game you know; not a worker's revolution...."

When a 'pawn' can move any direction, any number of squares, then it's "a game".

Til then it's just more corporate hooey to entertain the mindless masses.

[glarius]

21. Whatever you say comerade!

:rofl:

[Spazito]

22. LOL, well your opinion is one of a VERY TINY minority around the

world with regard to Canadian hockey players. My suggestion would be for those who don't like hockey not to watch hockey as it makes for a more serene life, rofl.

[IntravenousDemilo]

15. Hey, you're nearly up to 1000 posts.

We'll have to all chip in and get you a virtual cake!

[ClusterFreak]

16. Chocolate layer cake....that would rock!

:9

...and then we'll have to get you one too!