2010 Olympics - Men's hockey gold medal winner.

[G1GBallday]

I'm obviously hoping Canada wins but I'm a little worried the way all three of our goalies have been playing lately. I also think the pressure of being in Canada will get to some and wouldn't be surprised to see the San Jose line of Thornton, Marleau, and Heatley become invisible as a result. Would also have liked seeing Jordan Staal on the team instead of Bergeron and Steve Stamkos there for his offence but all in all the Canadian team looks very strong.

Looking at the other teams, offensively the Russians are scary good but unless they get good goaltending they will have trouble finishing first. The Sweeds are the defending champs and looking at their roster I find they are the most complete overall. If they get good goaltending it wouldn't surprise me to see them win it all. The Americans are young so pressure might be a factor however they have the best goalie in Ryan Miller so it's possible he could pull a Hasek and win it single handily. The Fins, Czechs, Slovaks should all be decent but will finish out of the medals.

My predictions are:

Gold - Canada
Silver - Sweden
Bronze - Russia

 

[Joe.t]

I would bet on Russia all the way; they are young, good and loose (hmm, the same criteria we use to rate SP"s!). As for Canada, too much pressure playing in front of the home crowd, they're gonna fold and miss the podium. Gold Russia, Silver Sweden, Bronze US

I agree, Ovechkin and Semin will dominate therefor I'm picking Russia for the gold with Canada winning Silver or Bronze, Russia is simply too strong.

rumples - Go see your bookie and make this pick, you will regret it big time if you don't.

 

[Merlot]

I would bet on Russia all the way; they are young, good and loose (hmm, the same criteria we use to rate SP"s!). As for Canada, too much pressure playing in front of the home crowd, they're gonna fold and miss the podium. Gold Russia, Silver Sweden, Bronze US

Hello Raver,

So you are saying a Canadian team that is at least on the same level of skill and talent as the Russians can't do what the Americans did in 1960, and 1980 against the Russians when the Americans only could use college amateurs. Well, I'm even more impressed with the American achievements then. Maybe you should have more faith in your team. Home ice is supposed to be an advantage isn't it.

I don't know anything about these teams, but seeing as G1G was willing to give credit where credit was due this time he seemed to give a pretty fair assessment of what is going on. However, given his habit for hard bias in the usual hockey threads I find it hard to believe he would chose anyone but Canada regardless of any facts. I hope either team U.S.A. or Canada wins. Either would be great.

May the karma of Eruzione and 1980 be with the U.S.A..

bonne chance,

Merlot

 

[Voyager]

I'm picking Russia for the gold

Ok, that does it for me... I'm betting on anyone but Russia! (need to find a bookie to take that kind of bet)

How about it JoeT, you get Russia and I get the rest-of-the-world, and the winner gets shots of Jamesons?

V

 

[Joe.t]

Ok, that does it for me... I'm betting on anyone but Russia! (need to find a bookie to take that kind of bet)

How about it JoeT, you get Russia and I get the rest-of-the-world, and the winner gets shots of Jamesons?

V

Why I will have to take you up on your offer and I like it how you worded the wager(shots), meaning more than one.

 

[Voyager]

How about it JoeT, you get Russia and I get the rest-of-the-world, and the winner gets shots of Jamesons?

Why I will have to take you up on your offer and I like it how you worded the wager(shots), meaning more than one.

Just re-quoting the bet...

 

[lgna69xxx]

Canada will win...

 

[Special K]

Why I will have to take you up on your offer and I like it how you worded the wager(shots), meaning more than one.

Can I get in on this action? I want me some Jamesons!!

As for my pick, I can't see how Team Canada can possibly lose. They're a venerable powerhouse team made up completely of NHL All Stars!

 

[Doc Holliday]

Can I get in on this action? I want me some Jamesons!!

As for my pick, I can't see how Team Canada can possibly lose. They're a venerable powerhouse team made up completely of NHL All Stars!

I agree, but they've lost in the past with powerhouses. My gut-feeling is that it'll depend on how their goaltending performs. All three goalies on their team, especially Brodeur, have been very shaky this season. Brodeur is far from being among the NHL's top goaltenders this season.

A few of my colleagues at work are betting on the Russians to win the gold. It's true that they have great scorers in Ovechkin, Kovalchuk & company. But i question their defencemen & their goalies. I also question the fact some quality NHL veterans were bypassed in favor of many KHL players, which aren't used to playing on a small ice surface in North America.

Sweden could also be a sleeper in this tournament. I also consider the Americans to have a strong team, especially if Ryan Miller performs like he's been performing the past couple of seasons. He's currently, in my opinion, the best goaltender in the NHL.

 

[Joe.t]

You are on, the loser buys the Jamesons until the winner collapses, Team Canada reminds me of the Red Sox(good on paper but choke artists when it counts).

 

[Special K]

Canada 8 Norway 0. Not a bad start. Watching the Russia / Latvia game online at nbcolympics.com now, game isn't on regular tv here in the States.

 

[Special K]

Team Canada reminds me of the Red Sox(good on paper but choke artists when it counts).

Which baseball team owns the record for the biggest choke in professional sports history? Yea, your NYY in the 2004 ALCS!

 

[G1GBallday]

Yesterdays scores:

USA wins over Switzerland 3-1
Canada wins over Norway 8-0
Russia wins over Latvia 8-2

 

[chateaulafite]

I'm there in Vancouver for the Games

I was yeasterday at the game Canada-Norway and Russia-Latvia

Tomorrow I will see Canada-Switzerland and Slovakia-Russia

 

[Doc Holliday]

Looks like you'll be having a great time, CL. If i'd be in Vancouver, i'd likely be at the hockey games & at Curling, where fans appear to be having a wild time every time i'm watching. Canada could easily win two golds in Curling.

Short track speed skating also looks like great fun! Congrats to Marianne St-Gelais for her terrific silver medal win....on her 20th birthday!

Kudos to Lindsay Vonn of the US for her brilliant, gutsy win in the downhill. Anyone see the racer who crashed after a 'ski jump'? I think her name's Ania Paerson (Sweden). Wow!!

Back to hockey....i can't see Russia winning anything more than the bronze. Sure, they have a lot of high powered forwards. But their defence sucks! Other than Gonchar, Markov & Vochenkov, there's nothing else! Just a bunch of KHL players. Teams like Canada shouldn't have trouble neutralizing Russia's forwards, especially considering Jacques Lemaire & Ken Hitchkock are assistant coaches & have been defensive specialists while coaching in the NHL.

Canada hasn't had much success in Olympics hockey over the past few decades. I remember their win at Salt Lake City, but that's pretty much it.

 

[Jman47]

And all of Canada lets out a collective SIGH of relief...as the Swiss showed up to play tonight...

 

[G1GBallday]

And all of Canada lets out a collective SIGH of relief..

+ 33,000,000

 

[Cosmo]

+ 33,000,000

Phweeeeeeeeyou!

Man that was close!Hillier almost robbed Canada!

 

[lgna69xxx]

yea, very fortunate to get out of that game w/o a loss. next up, a very very good and underrated USA team.. should be a great game.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Considering Canada outshot Switzerland 46-23, i'd say that Canada played a very good game & Jonas Hiller was the difference maker. What a performance!