Olympic Gold Medal Game: Three Things that are True
by Hawerchuk on Feb 28, 2010 6:59 PM EST
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Print1. Canada had a better team than the US. Even with Canada up most of the game and not pressing, they still out-shot the US 61-54, including 35-24 close-in.
2. There's no reason to believe Ryan Miller is a better goaltender than Roberto Luongo.
3. Sidney Crosby has now won Gold at the World Juniors, the Stanley Cup, and Olympic Gold, where he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, which means there's nothing more he can do to keep people from hating on him.
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You fail to understand why Crosby is despised. He whines at the refs. He dives. He punches guys in the ’nads when the puck is not in play.
Crosby is not disliked because he is a loser, he is disliked because he acts like a loser.
by TylerG on Feb 28, 2010 7:05 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Hear Hear!
And you didn’t even mention the oversaturation of him. The casual hockey fan, or anyone thinking about following hockey, is going to believe that hockey begins and ends with Crosby. That there is more annoying than anything.
But you are right, he does act like a total loser. Just because you’re the greatest hockey player in recent memory doesn’t give you a license to act like a pompous jerk.
The 2010 New York Mets: Maybe it's the Phillies' turn to have 95% of its roster on the DL
The 2009 New England Patriots: At least we got our division title back
The 2009-10 New Jersey Devils: Allergic to second periods
He’s really never said anything arrogant.
This whining thing is totally overblown.
Crosby takes more abuse than any other player in the league and he soldiers on, night in, night out.
I get it that you’re tired of hearing about him, but turning that into a personal attack on the guy is just silly.
Tyler's just a fan
Of superstars who don’t complain to the refs or occasionally embellish a foul. As soon as he finds one, he’ll let us know who it is.
I've been looking at the sky
by Back In Black on Mar 1, 2010 10:10 AM EST up reply actions
Unless you are a Flyers or Caps fan (and even then you should at least grudgingly give him respect), I really don’t understand the Crosby hate either.
He may have done some whining and diving when he was a rookie, but he’s matured beyond that and now leads by example. People who still say he does that stuff aren’t paying attention and are looking for the easy excuse.
Also, it’s not Sid’s fault he’s the poster boy for the NHL. Blame the media and marketers for that.
He’s a great, great hockey player who is humble, doesn’t carry himself like a prima donna and is always a team player. What else does he need to do?
leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.
This post just proved one thing; no matter how great a player is there will ALWAYS be haters. People hated on Gretzky and called him a whiner as well.
This is a great lesson in life: sometimes you just can’t win, regardless of how often you actually win.
I was listening to some friends of mine talk about Lebron James and it was almost exactly what people say about Crosby. And I hear the same thing about Tom Brady. I think it’s jealousy.
Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)
by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Mar 2, 2010 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
3. Sidney Crosby has now won a Memorial Cup, Gold at the World Juniors, the Stanley Cup, and Olympic Gold, where he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, which means there’s nothing more he can do to keep people from hating on him.
I have never understood the Crosby hate, and never will. He is world-class.
"San Jose is where I want to be at the end of the day, and there's an opportunity now to make it there. It is where my heart is." - Jamie McGinn, 2/22/10
Fear The Fin: Where Selling Your Soul Is The Likely Solution
Mr. Plank—> not a big Caps fan, I guess
I try to hate him, but when I have so much respect for him (and it continues growing), I’m really disappointed at myself for failing to maintain a healthy strong dislike that I need to trash talk and such.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 1, 2010 9:29 AM EST up reply actions
A fourth truth: Anaheim Ducks’ and San Jose Sharks’ skaters collected more medals (7) and gold (4), respectively, than any other NHL club: http://www.puckreport.com/2010/02/2010-olympic-hockey-medals-by-nhl-team.html
MG
They also had the most players in the Olympics.
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Feb 28, 2010 10:14 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, regardless of what Ron Wilson says...
The U.S. team was going to need an upset to win this. Props for making it a close game. Enjoy your gold, Canada, U.S. is going to own it from 2014 to 2022.
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Feb 28, 2010 10:16 PM EST reply actions
Either that, or it will continue going to a different country each year
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Hmm? Canada just won two of the last three. The finalists in 2010 were the same as those in 2002, two Olympiads ago.
And the average age of the U.S. was 5 years younger than the Canadians.
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Mar 1, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions
I realize that, but still no back-to-back golds.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Please consider the World Cup of Hockey to be a real tournament!
1996 – USA
1998 – Czech
2002 – Canada
2004 – Canada
2006 – Sweden
2010 – Canada
I was just going on Olympics.
I always forget about the World Cup of Hockey. It’s been too long.
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in a while. Here’s an exercise- take a look at what Team Canada will look like in 4 years time- you can count on a 20-30% improvement over an already overwhelming squad. This was the USA’s last chance for a while, I think.
I am Mikhail Grabovski's smirking revenge.
Really? Next time for Canada, likely no Brodeur, Luongo, Niedermayer, Pronger, Boyle, Morrow, and others (although replacements Fleury, Green, Burns etc are still pretty good). USA really can retain everyone save Rafalski (throw in Bogosian or maybe even Carlson), Miller (give Quick the starting job) and Drury (I’m sure there’s some replacement). I see it like both teams will get better, but the US will have a few extra players getting better.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 1, 2010 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
The US doesn’t have an impact forward that approaches Crosby, nor do they have the kind of forward depth in the 25-29 age range that Canada has
by R O on Mar 1, 2010 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
Why no Luongo? It’s only 4 years.
Replacements like Fleury and Ward will be available. Doughty will still be awesome, and still not in his prime, plus you can replace players like Iginla with Stamkos, Tavares, maybe even Hall. On defense, aside from those whom you’ve mentioned, you have Luke Schenn, Tyler Myers, Alex Pietrangelo… Canada is so deep that they should be able to ice an equally talented roster next time.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
I dunno if we were watching different games
but Luongo looked really shaky in the 3rd against Slovakia and against the US, he, to indirect quote J.P., had Varlamov’s glove. Fleury or Ward will be starting if the NHL plays in Sochi, I don’t think there’s much question. They are both already great proven clutch goalies, and that’s what counts.
With all due respect, Canada will lose at the very least three future HoFers, maybe more. Not easily replaceable, those guys.
And the Olympics after all is where you only need 19 (or even less) competent players to be dangerous. I just see Canada slipping a little and US gaining a little.
FWIW, most all-world offensive players peak around age 23-24.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 2, 2010 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Offense may peak at that age, ability to help teams win is a different story.
I don’t really care what your agenda is, as long as you don’t confuse anybody else. The fact of the matter is that the US does not have an impact player on the level of Crosby nor a depth advantage at any position and that includes goal. Miller is overrated, even this season – his EVSV% is decent but it is his unsustainable PKSV% buoying him up.
by R O on Mar 2, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
Question
Anybody know where I could find box scores for the games that include Time on Ice?
Bettman's Nightmare: A Blog Where Hockey Aficionados Dismantle That Mighty Empire, One Balsillie at a Time
http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/
by Bettman's Nightmare on Feb 28, 2010 11:51 PM EST reply actions
1. Canada had a better team than the US. Even with Canada up most of the game and not pressing, they still out-shot the US 61-54, including 35-24 close-in.
Moreover, they controlled the tempo, aside from just a couple of thrusts by the US in the 3rd. That, I feel, was the key. They never let the US get going. If the Americans sent three guys fast on the rush, Canada had 3 guys back and a 4th backchecking like a demon, or even a 5th. And the skill really showed too—the Canadians were just dancing around the US defensemen all night (Canadian D got owned a couple of times too, notably Niedermayer by Jack Johnson, but not as frequently).
2. There’s no reason to believe Ryan Miller is a better goaltender than Roberto Luongo.
I concede this point, although I think both could have played better. Luongo let Kesler’s through his body and in the 3rd had poor rebound control, I thought. Miller I thought was overplaying and overthinking a little, judging by his play and how he described Crosby’s goal.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
I think Hawerchuk would admit that Miller was better in the tournament and the game (you’d have to be a huge homer not to see that), but I think he’s just playing on all of those people who grill Luongo for “not being a winner”
Silver Seven: the Daniel Alfredsson of Ottawa Senators blogs.
Whether or not it was luck or composure
he certainly made the saves he needed to.
I wonder how Fleury would have done.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 1, 2010 1:21 PM EST up reply actions
Kesler’s goal was a tip from very close in, the fact that Luongo could even make an attempt at saving it was amazing.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Mar 1, 2010 4:33 PM EST up reply actions
The deflection was slight, it looks like on the replay. It’s not a terrible goal to give up, but he has to make that save. It’s the gold-medal game.
Ovechkin = Green Backs
by red army line on Mar 2, 2010 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
In the gold medal game, Miller has to close his five hole.
Dammit we could play this game all day.
Fact is that some shots are unstoppable and in the case of the Kesler goal and the Crosby goal they were directed in from locations that make them basically unstoppable unless the goalie guess correctly. Both guessed wrong.
Luck plays a huge role. But Canada was flat-out the better team and it’s not even in doubt. And they will continue to be the better team for the next four years, that’s not in doubt either. Whether or not “being better” translates into “wins” in Sochi – well, Lady Luck has the final say.
by R O on Mar 2, 2010 1:33 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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