Canada vs. US - Semi showdown

[ericdaoust]

You have to give Vlasic credit for the way Doughty is playing. Steady as a rock. Slows down the play. Gives it to Doughty to break out. Has him covered all the time.

The Kings just don't score a lot of goals due to Sutter's system.

And I guess Doughty and the Kings don't feel they have anyone like Vlasic to cover for him, so he doesn't make those plays that he has been making in Sochi.

I get all that and it no doubt hurts his potential. It still boggles my mind that his totals are as low as they have been.

[Axeman33]

Interesting tweet from Elliotte Friedman:

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/stat...70142325833728

Tense game...what we learned: while we worrying about offence, Canada may have put together its best defensive team ever

True enough!

[Rylant]

5 am Mountain Time! The debate becomes whether or not to sleep!

UFC Saturday night followed by the Gold Medal Game at 5:00 am. Definitely no sleep for me...

Rylant

[Atomic Wedgy]

5am definitely no sleep. Unless you wake up early. Im in the same boat but 7am instead.

Every Canadian game has been 6am for me. The final is 0130 Monday morning.... I'll take 730 Sunday anytime over that.

[Atomic Wedgy]

I agree. I can't stand Yzermans arrogance here at the Olympics. I mean is this guy not happy they are winning or what... Loser

I think its the opposite of arrogance. He knows there is still a lot of work to do. No time to relax and enjoy. Its time to prepare for the final. I'm pretty sure you'll see him smiling very big if we win gold.

[blayze]

Yzerman is the polar opposite of arrogance.

If you look in the dictionary under humble you may even find his picture.

[Username]

I get all that and it no doubt hurts his potential. It still boggles my mind that his totals are as low as they have been.

Well, that's all on Sutter.

If they ever fire him, watch out.

Yes, I realize you know that as well. Just making a comment on a message board.

[Username]

And I guess USA could've after all used Ryan, Okposo and Yandle. And why was Wheeler stapled to the bench? He's big and strong, fast, skilled and can score. He's better than pretty much anyone not named Kessel or Kane.

While stonehand Parise was shooting the puck to the Maple Leaf. Why was this guy the captain? He was a total non-factor again like during New Jersey's cup run. He was getting set up by Kane and whoever all game long, yet all he could do was shoot to the logo and high and wide.

USA was built like an NHL team with not enough emphasis on skill. Brown, Callahan and Parise were all useless on big ice, and they were clearly missing a top offensive D-man like Yandle which Canada and Sweden had in Doughty and Karlsson.

[blayze]

And I guess USA could've after all used Ryan, Okposo and Yandle. And why was Wheeler stapled to the bench? He's big and strong, fast, skilled and can score. He's better than pretty much anyone not named Kessel or Kane.

While stonehand Parise was shooting the puck to the Maple Leaf. Why was this guy the captain? He was a total non-factor again like during New Jersey's cup run. He was getting set up by Kane and whoever all game long, yet all he could do was shoot to the logo and high and wide.

USA was built like an NHL team with not enough emphasis on skill. Brown, Callahan and Parise were all useless on big ice, and they were clearly missing a top offensive D-man like Yandle which Canada and Sweden had in Doughty and Karlsson.

That's all really easy to say after the fact... but the US has played a solid tourney and they just got beat narrowly by a better team today.

[holypuck]

I also have to give some love to Kunitz, was really doubting this guy and Babcocks strategy thus far, but it looks like all the line have come together very nicely right when they needed to. Kunitz seemed to be finding soft spots in the defence and had quite a few good scoring chances, that top line was dangerous all game. If they did manage to score it would have been a of highlight reel caliber as you could see some passes were just barely getting tipped or the timing was just a fraction off or quick was making some really solid saves.

In a big game/high pressure scenario you can tell we have the guys that relish that and really are able to elevate their game. Alot of captains and stanley cup winners on TC and it showed today!

[Loch]

Apparently Luongo approved of Price's performance:

Strombone ‏@strombone1 3h
JESUS PRICE!!!!

[ericdaoust]

Apparently Luongo approved of Price's performance:

Maybe he's actually complaining about not being in net himself...

[Loch]

Maybe he's actually complaining about not being in net himself...

Hehe, I decided that was unlikely as he tweeted after the game...