USA/Canada ... OUT!
 

I hate to say "I told you so", but I knew neither team would win a medal in men's hockey.

For Canada, it was particularly sad:

- Only once in the final 12 periods of hockey did they manage to score
- Shut out completely in 3 of the last 4 games
- Final record of 2-4 (incl. a SO loss to the Swiss)

Where did they go wrong?
Started with naming Quinn, Hitchcock and Martin as coaches - all 3 had a big influence on the naming of the team and all lean towards experience vs. youth on their own teams. They were completely convinced that the same Salt Lake team would work here - even though on a bigger ice and with tighter rules, an entirely different type of team is required.

Of the top 10 Canadian goal scorers in the NHL, only 4 made the team.

Big, immobile defencemen like Blake, Pronger and Foote made the team instead of quicker guys who can move the puck. (Though it wasn't their fault that Niedermayer got injured - the biggest loss to the CDN team)

Same on forwards: Thornton, Bertuzzi, Richards, etc. who were all almost invisible and generally slow. Quick, gifted players like Crosby, Staal, Spezza, Kariya, Cheechoo were left off the starting roster or team altogether.

Of course, guys that anyone would have agreed should be there like Iginla, Sakic, Nash, St.Louis didn't play well at all.

The bright side? In Vancouver in 2010 on a smaller rink and with home ice, Canada will most likely bring home the Gold.

Better luck next time like they say

That was an exciting game :)

Can't argue that - it was incredible to watch.
A few too many penalties, but they led to tons of chances and both goalies were awesome.

shocking that bertuzzi was in the box on the game winner.....that guy just seems to be a fuck up at all levels of the game......lol most over rated player in the game......

only wish the nucks would ship him out of here.....hopefully for defencemen seeing how we lost ohlund, salo during the olympics to go with jovo being out too....shiiit

I agree, it doesn't look good for you guys!
But you are still doing well overall. My poor Kings were sinking like a rock just before the Games - thankfully we came back vs. the Stars to win, down 6-2 in the 3rd in the last game.

GOD FUCKING DAMNIT... i was not going to look at gfy today just becuase i didnt want to on chance see the scores. fuck

i was tivo'ing those games to watch tonight.

fuck fuck fuck

Canada started good and then just got horrible.

Sorry about that, but for what it's worth both the US/Finland and Canada/Russia games were excellent to watch - both close and nail-biters ... err, assuming you don't know the outcomes.

Damn. No one expected both of these two teams out of medal contention, especially Canada. But that's why we play the game :)