The Official Olympic Hockey Thread

[Tico Rick]

USA GMRS talks about how his Dad was able to visit the USSR and Russian hockey in today's PG

But there was Fred Shero, traveling to the Soviet Union for extended stays, one time for a three-week symposium. The man was captivated. How were they doing it? He won the Stanley Cup in 1974, so he could have easily been convinced he had it all figured out, yet he couldn’t stay away from the Soviet Union. Then he won the Cup again in 1975.
“Back then, no one exchanged ideas,” Ray says. “For him back in ’74 to go over to learn from the Russians, to share information, I think that was great. There was a mystique around them, you know? You’d only see them when playing in the Olympics, and they win all these gold medals. The Red Army was fascinating and intriguing stuff back then.”
The Soviets at that time just played differently than North Americans. They were graceful, possessing the puck for long periods of time, much more fluid than the dump-the-puck-and-chase style of the NHL.
“Russia has made us better, has made Canada better, has made hockey better in general,” Ray says.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/olym ... z2tObhJ4Wt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So true what USAGMRS says. Those early Challenge Cup games were like putting a tarantula in a jar with a scorpion and wondering what would happen when you pit two totally different animals against each other. North Americans had a hard time adjusting to the Russians' cycling at first, but now that is common in the NHL. And of course the Russians have become much more physical, and also so more emotion on the ice, which you never saw in the old Soviet days.

[penny lane]

twitter has some great photos of bars open watching the game~ st louis, columbus... any in pgh?



from buffalo

[Shakes]

Malkin back to the 2nd pp

[GSdrums87]

That Russian Powerplay is terrifying.

[skullman80]

Kessler hurt from blocking that shot.

[Staggy]

Hopefully Kesler just has a horrible bruise. What a hero

[skullman80]

Dammit.

[shafnutz05]

Orpik is terrible

[Rocco]

Orpik on the ice for a goal against? I'm shocked.

[mac5155]

Wtf was orpik doing?

[DelPen]

Wtf was orpik doing?

Getting to his game

[Shakes]

Yep, way too much room between Orpik and Carlson. Sweet shot though

[columbia]

You can't give them a scoring opportunity like that.

[GSdrums87]

Lol Putin

[pressure=9Pa]

...
I can feel the internet waiting for Orpik to lose his **** on the big ice against this skill. Pretty solid so far.

[Shakes]

...
I can feel the internet waiting for Orpik to lose his **** on the big ice against this skill. Pretty solid so far.

[Staggy]

I'm happier about Kesler being back than I am upset about that goal. We'll get it back

[Rocco]

Well, Carlson played that even worse than Orpik played it, so there's that.

[mac5155]

The Russians seem to be handling the larger ice a lot better than the US

[Shakes]

Well, Carlson played that even worse than Orpik played it, so there's that.

And Edzo blamed Carlson totally for the goal, so there's that too

[Rocco]

The Russians seem to be handling the larger ice a lot better than the US

You're surprised that Bylsma would have issues adjusting to something?

[Tico Rick]

Well, Carlson played that even worse than Orpik played it, so there's that.

Yeah, it looked like Carlson was the one out of position there. Way to much open ice in the middle.

[Dickie Dunn]

Kane has really sucked today.

[penny lane]

The Russians seem to be handling the larger ice a lot better than the US

You're surprised that Bylsma would have issues adjusting to something?

[pronovost19]

Well, Carlson played that even worse than Orpik played it, so there's that.

And Edzo blamed Carlson totally for the goal, so there's that too

In the NHL Carlson can get away with anticipating strong dump, but not on wide ice surface.