Team Russia

meow · Post by **meow** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 10:09 pm

mikey287 wrote:While we're talking about Varly and I see meow in the distance...meow, any other goalies come to mind that have a better blocker than glove hand like Varly does (in my opinion)? I can't really think of any others...

Lundqvist quickly comes to mind. Bryzgalov. Maybe Labarbara.

mikey287 · Post by **mikey287** » Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:43 pm

Well, now I know you're talking jive...LaBarbera doesn't have "better" anything...his blocker is worse than his glove and his glove is worse than his blocker...

Bryzgalov, yeah, there's a good case for that...good call there. I don't love Hank's glove, especially early in his career, as it was more of a second blocker...but it has improved, to his credit, I think...

meow · Post by **meow** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:11 am

Lundqvist's glove has improved. At least he can close it now. Bryzgalov's blocker is excellent. Very quick and great with rebounds off it.

Now, Labarbara. If I was in the most unfortunate sitituation of having my life rest in his ability to stop a puck, I'd be praying they went high stick and making sure my will was in order.

mikey287 · Post by **mikey287** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:22 am

meow · Post by **meow** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:27 am

Oh, and Danny Blackburn

luv66 · Post by **luv66** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:40 am

Announcers keep screwing up the players' names due to the switched up numbers on their jerseys.

meow · Post by **meow** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:19 am

mikey287 wrote:Well, now I know you're talking jive...LaBarbera doesn't have "better" anything...his blocker is worse than his glove and his glove is worse than his blocker...

Bryzgalov, yeah, there's a good case for that...good call there. I don't love Hank's glove, especially early in his career, as it was more of a second blocker...but it has improved, to his credit, I think...

I debated putting Bob on my initial list. I think he might have a better blocker than a catcher.

mikey287 · Post by **mikey287** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:04 am

Ooh, that's a pretty good call too...

The Dan Blackburn comment is worth 4.5 Subbans out of 5 on the classless scale...

meow · Post by **meow** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 9:49 am

:pop:

MRandall25 · Post by **MRandall25** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:15 am

What did Radulov do? Russia is thinking of scratching him next game.

Post by **pittsports87** » Sat Feb 15, 2014 11:16 am

MRandall25 wrote:What did Radulov do? Russia is thinking of scratching him next game.

2 bad penalties that led to both of USA's goals.

slipshod · Post by **slipshod** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:15 pm

Does anyone else think there was something odd about the Russians using Malkin once in the shootout then using Kovalchuk almost exclusively?

I am probably reading too much into it but Kovalchuk came running back to Mother Russia and Malkin ran away to the US.

MRandall25 · Post by **MRandall25** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 4:25 pm

It's not any different than putting Oshie out there 6 or 7 times.

Kovalchuk was the hot hand. You're reading way too far into it.

MalkinIsMyHomeboy · Post by **MalkinIsMyHomeboy** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:19 pm

What's Kovalchuk's career SO%?

It was probably a combination of that and the fact that he scored the first time while Geno didn't.

MRandall25 · Post by **MRandall25** » Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:39 pm

I don't think any of their numbers matter. Kovalchuk scored. Malkin didn't. Attributing anything else to the decision to ride Kovalchuk is reading too far into the situation.

Again, it's exactly like what the US did with TJ Oshie.

meow · Post by **meow** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:01 am

The Russians are a hot mess right now. Their issues can be fixed, but I doubt they will put in the sweat effort to get it done.

Post by **Gaucho** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:51 am

I believe the wrong guys are setting the tone for them. They need Datsyuk and maybe Geno to lead them, not Radulov and Ovechkin. And I do think they could use Gonchar, both for his leadership and PP skills.

I'm waiting for someone to suggest the Pens sign Radulov, because playing with Sid will surely straighten him out.

Post by **columbia** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 10:58 am

Straighten out Crosby or Radulov?

Crankshaft · Post by **Crankshaft** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:00 am

I dont think there would ever be a single person, who knows Radulov's history, would suggest they trade for him to play with Sid.

Post by **Gaucho** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:03 am

Crankshaft wrote:I dont think there would ever be a single person, who knows Radulov's history, would suggest they trade for him to play with Sid.

Key being "who knows Radulov's history".

Then again, some people who know Stewart's history still want to trade for him.

MRandall25 · Post by **MRandall25** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:06 am

meow wrote:The Russians are a hot mess right now. Their issues can be fixed, but I doubt they will put in the sweat effort to get it done.

Too many "me" players, not enough "team" players.

Which is pretty much what everyone expects of them.

pcm · Post by **pcm** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:19 am

Not sure why everyone is so down on the Russians. They haven't been scored on in 2 games. And the Americans only scored on them on the PP... supposedly the "hottest" team in the tournament barely eeked out a win against them.

Their biggest challenge is in getting offensive help from the blueline... and the pressure of home ice. But offense is scarce for everyone in this tournament...

MRandall25 wrote:Which is pretty much what everyone expects of them.

I guess it's just confirmation bias.

Post by **Gaucho** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:23 am

pcm wrote:Not sure why everyone is so down on the Russians. They haven't been scored on in 2 games. And the Americans only scored on them on the PP... supposedly the "hottest" team in the tournament barely eeked out a win against them.

Their biggest challenge is in getting offensive help from the blueline... and the pressure of home ice. But offense is scarce for everyone in this tournament...

Good point.

meow · Post by **meow** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:49 am

pcm wrote:Their biggest challenge is in getting offensive help from the blueline... and the pressure of home ice. But offense is scarce for everyone in this tournament...

This is pretty much what I was talking about. Their forwards at 8 miles (I guess 13 kilometers since they are in Russia) away from their defensemen during a break out. And with the way teams are clogging the neutral zone and the middle of the ice...good luck with that. I'm not blaming their D for being invisible as much as their forwards being careless about working as a team.

Post by **tifosi77** » Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:46 pm

The Russians are who we thought they were. Leaderless, devoid of any real emotion or competitive fire. The tools are there, they just do not collectively appear to want to use them.

Despite the derpy penalty against Team America, Radulov appears to be the only one playing with more than an ounce of givesash|t.

pcm wrote:Not sure why everyone is so down on the Russians. They haven't been scored on in 2 games.

They also went 100+ minutes in those two games without scoring a goal themselves. Against not-elite teams.

Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia

Re: Team Russia