12) Italy
11) Latvia
10) Kazakhstan
9) Switzerland
8) Slovakia
7) Germany
6) USA
5) Russia
4) Finland
3) Sweden
2) Canada
1) Czech Republic
The Czechs will win as Hasek doesn't have to play every game in the round robin as Vokun can pick up some of the goaltending, but in the elimination with one game on the line.. who would you rather have in net. Canada gets the nod in second as they have the only other guy who you'd want in net in an elimination game (Brodeur) but their defense is old... (The USA's defense is even older, and they don't have a proven money goaltender in net...)
you guys are crazy, canada will win the gold...defence is old? since when?
robyn regehr is crazy good, you guys probably just look at his stats...defensively he is unreal...also with the injuries it looks like the amazing rookie dion phaneuf will be added and hes 20!
you guys are crazy, canada will win the gold...defence is old? since when?
robyn regehr is crazy good, you guys probably just look at his stats...defensively he is unreal...also with the injuries it looks like the amazing rookie dion phaneuf will be added and hes 20!
...amazing rookie ... that would be Ovechkin not Phaneuf...
you guys are crazy, canada will win the gold...defence is old? since when?
robyn regehr is crazy good, you guys probably just look at his stats...defensively he is unreal...also with the injuries it looks like the amazing rookie dion phaneuf will be added and hes 20!
Canada's Defense, sorted by age:
Robin Regehr - 25
Wade Redden - 28
Ed Jovanovski - 29
Chris Pronger - 31
Scott Niedermeyer - 32
Adam Foote - 34
Rob Blake - 36
Not the oldest defensive group by any means (the USA is much older) but when it gets to be deep in the tourney, will the legs be there to keep up with Sweden and Czech Republic's forwards... I think they can get past the Swedes, but the Czechs have too much up front (and are strong in back, too)
...amazing rookie ... that would be Ovechkin not Phaneuf...
They're both amazing... Phaneuf had the misfortune of being born the same year as Ovechkin and a year ahead of Crosby, otherwise he'd be a shoe-in for the Calder trophy
I'm pretty much one sided... but i think canada got a good chance ;)
Originally posted by rayadp05
I rebooted, deleted temp files, history, cookies and everything...still cannot view the news clip. All I see is that fucking gay ass music video from "Rick Roll". Anyone else have a different link to the news clip?
niedermeyer and pronger will never have tired legs...niedermeyer, at 32, is STILL the best skater in the tourney
Niedermeyer is a great skater, but is he the best still? There are a bunch of great skaters in this tourney. The teams that get to the medal games will play 8 games (5 in the round robin, then three in the eliminations). The Men's hockey tourney begins on the 15th of Feb and completes on the 26th, meaning these teams will play 8 games in 12 days... guys like Pronger, Foote and Niedermeyer will have a rough go of it.
And despite that, I think Canada can get to the final game... the USA is in much worse shape with an older defense and no proven money goaltending (Canada's saving grace will be Martin Brodeur...if they make sure that Luongo and Turco get some playing time...) The one thing that the Czechs have that they didn't really have in 2002 was a quality #2 goalie... with Vokun on the roster, Hasek will be able to take a break...
They *should* get to the quarterfinals, but once they get there, there'll be no gas left in the tank...
Oh, and the youngest forward on Team USA is Scott Gomez, who is 25...most of the forwards are over 30. When the quarterfinals come up, it'll be the 6th game the USA players will have played in 8 days...
Well Tommy Salo is no where to be found... the question for the Swedes is whether Lundqvist is ready to handle the pressure. Consideirng he plays for the New York Rangers and there's all sorts of pressure there, he'll probably do very well. I figure the Swedes will get to the semis, lose to Canada or the Czechs and then win the bronze beating the Finns. However, if they match up with Canada or the USA in the semis, they could make it to the gold medal game (the USA and Canada teams are going to be hurting come the medal rounds...)
Another debate issue: Which teams have the best goaltending... my top 5:
1) Czech Republic
2) Canada
3) Switzerland
4) Finland
5) USA
And before wonder about Switzerland, remember, they have 2 NHL starting goaltenders in Aebischer and Gerber, both of whom start for good hockey teams...
Another debate issue: Which teams have the best goaltending... my top 5:
1) Czech Republic
2) Canada
3) Switzerland
4) Finland
5) USA
And before wonder about Switzerland, remember, they have 2 NHL starting goaltenders in Aebischer and Gerber, both of whom start for good hockey teams...
Another debate issue: Which teams have the best goaltending... my top 5:
1) Czech Republic
2) Canada
3) Switzerland
4) Finland
5) USA
And before wonder about Switzerland, remember, they have 2 NHL starting goaltenders in Aebischer and Gerber, both of whom start for good hockey teams...
Sweden's goaltending is that good? They have some good goalies, but no one proven... I like Lundqvist, but he's never played on a stage like this...
Remember, my posting there was about goaltending. Aebischer and Gerber might steal enough games to get Switzerland to the knockout phase (they need to finish 4th in their group) but they're going home after that...
Sweden earned that gold medal big time. They may not have been the best team, but when it mattered, they played the best. I'm glad a few of my guesses came out right (quick exit for USA, Swiss goaltending, Finns Powerplay being awesome...)
Interesting that the all tourney team included a non-medal winner for the first time since I can remember, it being Alex Ovechkin. Yeah, being a hockey fan here in DC isn't always great, but we do have one helluva reason to watch every night...
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