What will the match-up be?
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What will the match-up be?
Well, after that fantastic performance by our World Juniors, I guess the next question is: Who are we going to beat in the gold medal game at the Olympics?
Highly doubt it'll be the Americans again, their roster is pretty sad. I think it might actually be the Swedes this year, now that they have no more Salo to make them look stupid. They've got some big guns up front with Alfredsson, Naslund, Sundin, Forsberg, Modin, Zetterberg and the Sedin's, and a couple on the blue line too with Ohlund, Norstrom, and Lidstrom. Not to mention that Lundqvist kid is pretty damn good in net. Not that it'll matter much when they come up against Joe Sakic and the Maple Leaf!!
Highly doubt it'll be the Americans again, their roster is pretty sad. I think it might actually be the Swedes this year, now that they have no more Salo to make them look stupid. They've got some big guns up front with Alfredsson, Naslund, Sundin, Forsberg, Modin, Zetterberg and the Sedin's, and a couple on the blue line too with Ohlund, Norstrom, and Lidstrom. Not to mention that Lundqvist kid is pretty damn good in net. Not that it'll matter much when they come up against Joe Sakic and the Maple Leaf!!
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Wow, lot's of votes for Russia so far. I don't get it. Ovechkin, Malkin and Kovalchuk are good but the rest are a bunch of passengers and chronic underacheivers, not to mention the god-awful tandem in the net. I got money that says the Russians don't even make the medal round.
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The Finns are screwed in goal, in that Kipprussoff has daclined to play, leaving them with Markannen maybe? The Russians are equally screwed in that Khabibulin should be back from his groin injury in time for the Olympics. The Czechs are also relying on a 40 year old goalie with a history of groin pulls (granted he has good numbers, but playing in front of what is likely the best defence in the league helps). The Slovaks do have a great offense this year, but with Chara the only defenceman I can think of, and a goalie... well, I assume they do have a goalie... that is likely not up to the task, I give them no shot. The Swede defence is thin at best, and their goaltending is worse (assuming that they face 40 shots a game). Sure, like the Czechs, the Swedes will score goals, just not as many as they allow. The only other team that has a legitimate chance (meaning, not Germany, Latvia, Kazakstan, Italy, or Switzerland) is the US, who despite having an impressive offensive lineup, do have a solid hardnosed defence (so long as Chelios doesn't get diagnosed with Alzhiemer's before the tournament). It's likely between the US and the Swedes as to who comes out of B pool. I pick the Swedes in the round robin, and the US in the medal round, Canada just proved that solid team defence beats a good offence soundly. Granted, it wouldn't hurt any teams chances to scoop up a Sutter to coach.
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I dunno. The Finns definitely are up shit creek without a Kipprussoff, but they've got big heart. But as far as the Swedes go, I still think their defence is probably the next best to Canada's. Ohlund and Norstrom are 2 of the top defensemen in the league and are tough customers to play against. Lidstrom, well, he's overrated but he's still pretty good. The rest are big strong stay-at-home D-men.
I have to totally disagree with the US though. Their goalie situation is one of the worst of all the contenders. Di Pietro is their best goalie and he couldn't stop a beach ball from centre ice. Eshe and Grahamme are their other two options?? They might as well just put a cardboard cutout of a goalie in there, that'd be luckier for them. Their defence is equally pathetic other than Miller. The only other big man they have is Hatcher and he sucks. He's just a big, dumb, slow-ass butcher that can't play on big ice against skilled forwards. Unless he can viciously slash and cross-check he's totally ineffective. Chelios is too old and the rest are too soft. Up front what have they got? A big load of nothing. A bunch of guys like Guerin, Weight and Tkachuk that used to be able to score but are pretty much washed up now. Conroy and Gionta are having good years but neither of them are serious offensive threats. Modano is an unknown, he could have a really good tournament, but he could also be a total non-factor.
And I have to totally agree with zombie about the Russians. Add to that their D is soft and a couple of has-beens in net = not a snowball's chance in hell.
Great to be a Team Canada fan when we can match anyone up front and simply outclass everyone else on the blue line and in net.
I have to totally disagree with the US though. Their goalie situation is one of the worst of all the contenders. Di Pietro is their best goalie and he couldn't stop a beach ball from centre ice. Eshe and Grahamme are their other two options?? They might as well just put a cardboard cutout of a goalie in there, that'd be luckier for them. Their defence is equally pathetic other than Miller. The only other big man they have is Hatcher and he sucks. He's just a big, dumb, slow-ass butcher that can't play on big ice against skilled forwards. Unless he can viciously slash and cross-check he's totally ineffective. Chelios is too old and the rest are too soft. Up front what have they got? A big load of nothing. A bunch of guys like Guerin, Weight and Tkachuk that used to be able to score but are pretty much washed up now. Conroy and Gionta are having good years but neither of them are serious offensive threats. Modano is an unknown, he could have a really good tournament, but he could also be a total non-factor.
And I have to totally agree with zombie about the Russians. Add to that their D is soft and a couple of has-beens in net = not a snowball's chance in hell.
Great to be a Team Canada fan when we can match anyone up front and simply outclass everyone else on the blue line and in net.
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