The Official Olympic Hockey Thread

[pressure=9Pa]

The wide ice makes getting out of the defensive zone so much easier IMO, particularly on the PK. I don't think I'd like it in the NHL, but it would make the game safer.

[pens2005]

I think I'd enjoy it...but it'll never happen anyway so it doesn't matter.

[TheHammer24]

My bets are looking good!

Sweden won their group, which I had at -200.

I bet on USA and Canada to win the gold at 6:1 and 2:1 respectively. Those odds are up to 11:4 and 17:10.

[meow]

Bigger rink means fewer seats. The NHL loves dat money.

[pcm]

I like that there's no fighting.

I also like the scoring format, that rewards teams for winning in regulation.

[DelPen]

We are seeing all star defensive efforts. Bad team will hemorage goals on big ice with crappy goalies.

[MRandall25]

Bigger rink means fewer seats. The NHL loves dat money.

QFT

[Tico Rick]

Bigger rink means fewer seats. The NHL loves dat money.

And retro-fitting existing arenas with larger ice surfaces would cost big bucks.

[columbia]

I wouldn't mind a true 24 team international super league. I have to drive two hours to watch crappy ECHL hockey, which I don't, so it really wouldn't affect my viewing habits, outside of the TZ aspects.

Or the NHL could just ditch 6 teams and improve their product, as a result.

[Tico Rick]

I like that there's no fighting.

I also like the scoring format, that rewards teams for winning in regulation.

Agree on both counts. It's absurd that the NHL has not gone to the 3 pts. for a win system.

[meow]

crappy ECHL hockey.

Hey now

[Staggy]

Did they release what time the US's quarterfinal is at yet?

[count2infinity]

alright...so now that we have the bracket set:



what do you THINK is going to happen and what do you HOPE is going to happen?

What do I think? Canada - Finland in the gold match with Canada winning, USA and Sweden in the bronze match, USA winning
What do I hope? USA - Finland in the gold with USA winning, Canada and Sweden in the bronze, Sweden winning

I hate you sometimes, randall.

[MRandall25]

Your hope scenario isn't possible, since Russia would likely play Finland in the quarters. If Finland wins that, Russia is completely eliminated and has no shot at bronze.

Maybe you should have thought things through, c2i

[Gaucho]

What do I think? Canada - Finland in the gold match with Canada winning, USA and Sweden in the bronze match, USA winning

[shmenguin]

Finland had no business taking that game to OT. I don't know why they'd be considered a contender.

[count2infinity]

Finland had no business taking that game to OT. I don't know why they'd be considered a contender.

Russia played pretty bad today and seem deflated after the US loss, I think Finland has a good shot against them. Sweden, imo, hasn't really been tested vs a really good team yet nor really played all that well as of yet this tournament and Finland can beat them. That's just my thought process.

[shmenguin]

Yeah, I guess they're in the weaker side of the bracket. That's the best compliment I can find.

[superconan]

Not sure if it can get better then Canada - USA / Sweden - Finland.

[superconan]

In fact, I spoke privately with one of his teammates here who told me that he doesn’t think he can keep up with Crosby.

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[pcm]

Russia is following Canada's script from Vancouver. I pick them to beat Norway / Finland / Sweden...

And lose to the US for gold, in an epic rematch that will earn the highest international TV ratings for a sporting event ever.

Canada - Sweden for the bronze.

[Dan H]

what do you THINK is going to happen and what do you HOPE is going to happen?

I was hoping for another USA-Canada gold medal game, but that won't happen now. So now, I'm hoping for the USA to win gold and for there to be good, entertaining, sportsmanlike hockey played in all games. And maybe for all the Penguins playing on other teams to look good as the US team eliminates them.

What do I think will happen? I'd have to lay heavy odds in favor of Russia advancing past Norway, and I'd slightly favor them at home against Finland. Sweden should be heavily favored in the other quarterfinal on that side, and slightly favored in a semifinal against either Finland or Russia. Canada and the US should both be something like 3:1 favorites over the second-tier (yet still dangerous) Swiss, Czech, and Slovak teams. If both Canada and USA advance, I'd think oddsmakers would slightly favor Canada, but I don't think it's mere patriotism that makes me see that game as pretty even. Any final with Canada or USA on one side and Sweden, Russia, or Finland on the other should be a fairly even contest. Of course, games aren't played on paper and brackets seldom work out entirely the way anyone predicts.

[Durbano]

It's a treat to see NHL talent on the wider rinks. The lone negative I've seen is that the better teams at times have turned shifts into little more than a mini-game of keepaway. But the positives are significant and add up to a cleaner, more entertaining game that rewards skill and good decision-making.

What I think: Canada over Sweden for gold, Finland over USA for bronze.

What I hope: USA over Russia for gold, Canada over Austria for bronze.

[count2infinity]

Austria?

[Durbano]

Austria?

Pierre would have a field day.