The Official Olympic Hockey Thread

[profpolisci]

I agree, and I have a big problem with that mentality, because imo, it's not one a professional should have.

If honor doesn't hold for the entire tournament then why bother?
Pitiful performance.

[DelPen]

Give this team an extra day in between games and the result is going to look different. They got absolutely broken by Canada. I don't blame them for not believing in themselves today.

You also get Raask with another day off too. Finland was a better team flat out. Maybe not 5-0 better but USA still less this game unless maybe Martin was healthy too.

[bse]

It's hotel room thrashing time!


More seriously, it was nice way for Selänne, O.Jokinen,Timonen and Salo to go out as this was their last game at Olympic level.

[bhaw]

And now they keep taking stupid penalties. Yeah, let's blame the coach for that.

I'm not going to sit here and say he's the 100% factor behind this, but his tactics that fail him in the NHL playoffs and are apparently the players' fault are also failing in the Olympics. Yeah, players need to perform, but shame on the coach for not putting them in the best position to succeed. It's flat out lazy to not even attempt to match lines. How many times does it need to fail before we can admit that it's **** stupid? First we blame Crosby and Malkin, now we blame Kessel and Kane. Guess what's consistent? But of course, nothing is his fault. What a freaking joke.

How many arenas do we have to see HIS players being undisciplined? Yeah, each individual penalty is the player's fault. 100%. But ignoring patterns is just as ignorant as saying the coach made the player take the penalty.

[superconan]

Might be a lot of players last Olympics if they aren't going in four years.

[Idoit40fans]

And now they keep taking stupid penalties. Yeah, let's blame the coach for that.

I'm not going to sit here and say he's the 100% factor behind this, but his tactics that fail him in the NHL playoffs and are apparently the players' fault are also failing in the Olympics. Yeah, players need to perform, but shame on the coach for not putting them in the best position to succeed. It's flat out lazy to not even attempt to match lines. How many times does it need to fail before we can admit that it's **** stupid? First we blame Crosby and Malkin, now we blame Kessel and Kane. Guess what's consistent? But of course, nothing is his fault. What a freaking joke.

How many arenas do we have to see HIS players being undisciplined? Yeah, each individual penalty is the player's fault. 100%. But ignoring patterns is just as ignorant as saying the coach made the player take the penalty.

Are you saying its all Orpik's fault?

[shmenguin]

Give this team an extra day in between games and the result is going to look different. They got absolutely broken by Canada. I don't blame them for not believing in themselves today.

You also get Raask with another day off too. Finland was a better team flat out. Maybe not 5-0 better but USA still less this game unless maybe Martin was healthy too.

I don't think they necessarily win with a day of rest, but they'd be better equipped. You see let down games happen all the time in pro sports. If you have a team play the day after some big series loss in the NHL playoffs, they're going to be hungover. Even if a bronze trophy is at stake.

[DelPen]

This isn't all on Bylsma. Laviolette is a really good coach and is a bigger personality than Bylsma.

[columbia]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

[bhaw]

I don't see how you can blame Bylsma for players who obviously look like they don't care, and are trying to do everything themselves. Bylsma has been barking at them all game and they aren't doing anything.

Amen. But that doesn't fit the agenda of a large majority of people on here.

But fits perfectly with your two agendas. The depth at which some of you are up his ass is disturbing. Do you not look at patterns? Is everything looked at on a second by second basis? Have not noticed how many excuses you have made for him?

It's not 100% on him and it's not 100% on the players. But how many times does his team have to fail to realized there is a correlation? 5 more years? 10? The players didn't score, but he didn't put them in the best situation to succeed (line matching being the most obvious). That's on the coach. Kane not putting in his chances is Kane's fault.

[murphydump55]

With this meltdown added to DB's resume, you think we keep him around if the penguins don't get to at least the Stanley Cup Finals???? I say probably not

As I said before, there's no way this can't be in the back of Shero's mind. Try to ignore it all you will, it's going to be there.

Bylsma is the greatest coach of little talent. If he was coaching the Swiss or Latvia, he may have had more success. It seems like the more talent you give him, the worse his results. With the AHL guys in the lineups and major injures, his teams play amazing. Once they start getting healthy, everything goes out the window.

Jacques Martin will be ready if it continues.

[shmenguin]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

[bhaw]

And now they keep taking stupid penalties. Yeah, let's blame the coach for that.

I'm not going to sit here and say he's the 100% factor behind this, but his tactics that fail him in the NHL playoffs and are apparently the players' fault are also failing in the Olympics. Yeah, players need to perform, but shame on the coach for not putting them in the best position to succeed. It's flat out lazy to not even attempt to match lines. How many times does it need to fail before we can admit that it's **** stupid? First we blame Crosby and Malkin, now we blame Kessel and Kane. Guess what's consistent? But of course, nothing is his fault. What a freaking joke.

How many arenas do we have to see HIS players being undisciplined? Yeah, each individual penalty is the player's fault. 100%. But ignoring patterns is just as ignorant as saying the coach made the player take the penalty.

Are you saying its all Orpik's fault?

Not at all. It's actually all on Engelland.

[murphydump55]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

It was probably the best Crosby's line has looked the whole tournament.

[DelPen]

As much as I am upset and disappointed in the USA loss I'm still kind of happy to see Finland get a medal. Maatta looked great all tournament and was out in lots if key situations.

I just hate Sweden though, I would have felt better if they didn't medal at all.

[DelPen]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

It was probably the best Crosby's line has looked the whole tournament.

Quick kept that game 1-0 yesterday. He couldn't play out of his mind back to back though.

[bhaw]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

No offense to Sid but who has he scored on in Sochi?

[Chirpin' Grinder]

I don't see how you can blame Bylsma for players who obviously look like they don't care, and are trying to do everything themselves. Bylsma has been barking at them all game and they aren't doing anything.

Everyone deserves blame. Its not all Bylsma's fault. But when you're team fails to even score one goal in the Semi's and the Bronze Medal game, then some blame has to fall on him. He also guaranteed victory today. Which makes him look like a fool.

This. Bylsma's victory guarantee was amateurish and disrespectful of a proud Finnish side. He got what he deserved today. Unfortunately for Pens fans, what is past is prologue.

[Idoit40fans]

I think Crosby's line was at its best when he was at his least. He was carried yesterday. #Crosbyhate

[columbia]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

Crosby's line likely would have scored, if DBA matched the lines in way some believe he should have.

Cant win with some people.

[bse]

"Running into a hot goalie" argument is out the window, right now.

DB can't run into a "hot goalie" in ECF, in semifinals and in the bronze game (with numerous other examples, to date)

Perhaps his system gives birth to such goalies

[pcm]

Maatta will likely lead all Pens in Sochi in scoring through the tournament. Amazing. Congrats to Olli and Jussi.

[bhaw]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

Crosby's line likely would have scored, if DBA matched the lines in way some believe he should have.

Cant win with some people.

That's a pretty convenient argument that I'm sure MRandall and Orlando will take to their graves. Crosby's like likely would have scored? I guess I can say that we likely would have outscored them if we matched lines and that works?

What's true is what's in front of us. USA scored 0 goals in 2 games. I'm fine saying that not much would have helped vs Canada, I guess. They are a better team. Finland wasn't better personnel wise. Team wise, leaps and bounds better. That's on coach and players.

[shmenguin]

They shut down Crosby's line and held Canada to one goal yesterday.
it was a pretty effective strategy.

This is box score analysis. Crosby's line was dominant

Crosby's line likely would have scored, if DBA matched the lines in way some believe he should have.

Cant win with some people.

Within reason, U.S couldn't have done much worse against sid's line yesterday. They were unlucky not to score. So if they put kessel against Sid or whatever you're saying, I don't see the difference.

I'm not really sure what you're saying, though. Seems like you just want to be contrary at the moment.

[MRandall25]

I don't see how you can blame Bylsma for players who obviously look like they don't care, and are trying to do everything themselves. Bylsma has been barking at them all game and they aren't doing anything.

Amen. But that doesn't fit the agenda of a large majority of people on here.

But fits perfectly with your two agendas. The depth at which some of you are up his ass is disturbing.

Glad we can discuss this without personal attacks.

Oh, wait.

On the flip side, the depth in which some people are down his throat over every little thing his teams do incorrectly is disturbing

It's not ignorance, as I know exactly why people hate Bylsma. I'm just providing a different viewpoint. If you don't like it, I'm not forcing you to read it.

But holy ****, you would think Bylsma is the one out there playing these games, with what people blame him for.