From elation to disbelief, all in a matter of about a half an hour.
When Zach Parise scored the tying goal with 24 seconds left in the third period for the United States, the air was sucked right out of Canada Hockey Place as team Canada went into the locker room at the end of regulation. The United States were still celebrating as they went in with a wave of momentum on their side heading into OT. Canada would have to kick it into another gear to sustain the U.S.
One thing they had going for them, 4 on 4. The United States was no match against Canada 4 on 4. In fact, play a full 60 minutes 4 on 4 and Canada wins hands down. Too much space for the superstars on team Canada to utilize their skill and create scoring chances. And sure enough 2 of those superstars would create the situation for the game winner. After a simple dump to the corner, Jarome Iginla and Sidney Crosby worked a simple cycle play along the boards. Defenseman Brian Raflaski let Crosby get ahead of him and left him in alone on Miller. As Miller went to poke check the puck away from Crosby, Crosby looked up, saw Miller reach out, and pushed the puck in the exposed 5 hole of Miller. Its one of those bang bang situations for a goalie that once you decide to go for a poke check, you leave the 5 hole (the area between the goalie pads) totally exposed. The helpless Miller fell to the ice in disbelief as Crosby and team Canada celebrated to his left along the boards.
If that same situation had happened 5 on 5, that goal never happens. Once the puck is dumped in, a defenseman and the center would flow towards the boards in pursuit of the puck and the second defenseman would stay back. In that situation both defenseman went along the boards to pursue the puck and the centerman stayed high to defend the point. Its just a situation that is not practiced a lot by NHL players because they rarely play 4 on 4.
But to get to that point in the game, Zach Parise had to get us their. And who would anyone else think it would be besides him? With the goalie pulled under a minute to go, Patrick Kane cycled the puck around the net, turned, and shot towards Luongo. Both Parise and Langenbrunner were left alone in front of Luongo behind the defense as everyone on Canada was watching Patrick Kane. Parise would put home the rebound on Kane's shot to tie the game. Another huge defensive let down that we saw too much of in this game from both teams. On Canada's first goal, Eric Johnson tried to pass the puck up the middle to his defense partner rather than clearing high up the boards. The puck was turned over, and Jonathon Toews buried home a rebound for the first goal for Canada.
The great thing about this game and these Olympics is the exposure hockey is getting. Normal people who normally do not watch hockey were glued to their TV sets over the past 2 weeks, and are still talking about the game today. The U.S. Canada preliminary round game was the highest rated show on MSNBC besides Election Night coverage (not a shocker by any means). The NHL needs to take advantage of this for the rest of the regular season and the playoffs this year in their marketing. Let the casual sports fans know that this is what happens year round for all 30 teams for 82 games followed by the Stanley Cup playoffs. Their case isn't helped by the fact that Versus is not carried on DirecTV in an ongoing dispute over a contract.
Another thing up in the air is the 2014 games in Sochi. The NHL collective bargaining agreement will expire prior to those games, so the NHL right now will not commit to sending their players to them. It would be a monumental mistake should the best hockey players in the world NOT be playing in those games. Every player that was their this week said they would not give up a chance to play in these games for anything. Lets keep it that way.
Comments on the Olympics
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Monday, March 1, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Go for the Gold: USA vs. Canada Men's Hockey Preview
They said it was a fluke. They said it wont happen again next time around. They said, "we'll have our shot at redemption." They chanted, "We Want USA!"
Be careful what you wish for.
A week ago removed from the preliminary round battle, Canada will have their re-match against the U.S. tomorrow in Vancouver. This time it's for gold. And this time, Martin Brodeur will not be in net. In that game, Broduer didn't know what to do with himself without the trapezoid. He played the puck so much it led to two goals. Two goals for the U.S. Brodeur dug his team a hole early that his team could not dig him out of. Brodeur tried to do way too much and it backfired on him. I am surprised about how bad Brodeur played. In the preliminary round I criticized the decision by coach Mike Babcock to even give Luongo a game. That's why I am here and he is there. Luongo looks so much more relaxed in the crease and controlling of rebounds and is the clear better of the two right now.
But on the other side of the ice stands U.S. goaltender Ryan Miller, who has stood on his head all tournament and has carried his team all the way to an improbable shot at gold tomorrow. Something I thought, and I'm sure a lot of other U.S. hockey fans thought, was not possible. It was bad enough they were matched in the same pool as Canada. But after that win a week ago, and the play of Miller, it jump started the whole team. They were playing much more aggressive, and much like a team that has been here before, instead of the team who's average age is 26.
After the win over Canada, the U.S. had a first round bye and faced the Swiss in a re-match of the preliminary round in which the U.S. won a tight 3-1 game. The Swiss, known for some big Olympic upsets, hung around with the U.S. all game, but once again it was the Ryan Miller show and he would not be beaten. Zach Parise (Hey Mike Milbury, what do you think of Zach Parise now?) scored both U.S. goals (one an empty netter) and lifted the U.S. to the semifinals against Finland, who won Silver in 2006 in Turin as they were defeated by Sweden. Led by goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, the Fins were no pushover. Or so it seemed. Kiprusoff was awful in net for the Fins and let in 4 first period goals before removing himself from the game. He was not comfortable, playing very deep in his crease and not moving well at all. Before the first period was over, the U.S. put in 5. They would cruise to a 6-1 win and a shot at gold tomorrow.
By losing to the U.S. Sunday, it meant Canada would not have a bye and would play Germany in the first Qualifying round. No sweat for Canada as they won 8-2. But a sweat was coming, and it would be from the Russians who they would play in the Quarterfinals. Led by Alexander Ovechkin and goalie Evgeni Nabokov, the Russians were a huge favorite to medal in these Olympics. A showdown I thought would be for gold, would send one of the favorites home without a shot at a medal. Much like Kiprusoff for the Fins, Nabokov was equally as bad in that game giving up 6 goals not even half way through. Canada would win 7-3 and face Slovakia led by Zedeno Chara and Ziggy Palffy in the Semis. Canada had a 3-0 lead in the third but gave up 2 goals in the final ten minutes. Slovakia had a chance to tie the game with under a minute left but missed a bad angle shot on the right side of the net and Canada held on for their shot at the re-match.
Last Sunday, Canada put 45 shots on Ryan Miller and the U.S. They dominated play and controlled the puck for a majority of the game. The U.S. can not allow this to happen again tomorrow. You can only rely on a goaltender for so long it is only a matter of time before those shots start going in if he is under that amount of barrage. The U.S. has to get their forecheck going early and try and sustain it throughout the game. Keep the play in the Canadian zone. Make them play defense. With all those stars on their team like Crosby, Getzlaf, Staal, Heatly and so on, get them frustrated early. Make them play in their own zone and limit the opportunities for Canada. Do that, and I think the U.S. will have their first gold since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980.
Your thoughts on the game in Comments. LETS GO USA!
Be careful what you wish for.
A week ago removed from the preliminary round battle, Canada will have their re-match against the U.S. tomorrow in Vancouver. This time it's for gold. And this time, Martin Brodeur will not be in net. In that game, Broduer didn't know what to do with himself without the trapezoid. He played the puck so much it led to two goals. Two goals for the U.S. Brodeur dug his team a hole early that his team could not dig him out of. Brodeur tried to do way too much and it backfired on him. I am surprised about how bad Brodeur played. In the preliminary round I criticized the decision by coach Mike Babcock to even give Luongo a game. That's why I am here and he is there. Luongo looks so much more relaxed in the crease and controlling of rebounds and is the clear better of the two right now.
But on the other side of the ice stands U.S. goaltender Ryan Miller, who has stood on his head all tournament and has carried his team all the way to an improbable shot at gold tomorrow. Something I thought, and I'm sure a lot of other U.S. hockey fans thought, was not possible. It was bad enough they were matched in the same pool as Canada. But after that win a week ago, and the play of Miller, it jump started the whole team. They were playing much more aggressive, and much like a team that has been here before, instead of the team who's average age is 26.
After the win over Canada, the U.S. had a first round bye and faced the Swiss in a re-match of the preliminary round in which the U.S. won a tight 3-1 game. The Swiss, known for some big Olympic upsets, hung around with the U.S. all game, but once again it was the Ryan Miller show and he would not be beaten. Zach Parise (Hey Mike Milbury, what do you think of Zach Parise now?) scored both U.S. goals (one an empty netter) and lifted the U.S. to the semifinals against Finland, who won Silver in 2006 in Turin as they were defeated by Sweden. Led by goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, the Fins were no pushover. Or so it seemed. Kiprusoff was awful in net for the Fins and let in 4 first period goals before removing himself from the game. He was not comfortable, playing very deep in his crease and not moving well at all. Before the first period was over, the U.S. put in 5. They would cruise to a 6-1 win and a shot at gold tomorrow.
By losing to the U.S. Sunday, it meant Canada would not have a bye and would play Germany in the first Qualifying round. No sweat for Canada as they won 8-2. But a sweat was coming, and it would be from the Russians who they would play in the Quarterfinals. Led by Alexander Ovechkin and goalie Evgeni Nabokov, the Russians were a huge favorite to medal in these Olympics. A showdown I thought would be for gold, would send one of the favorites home without a shot at a medal. Much like Kiprusoff for the Fins, Nabokov was equally as bad in that game giving up 6 goals not even half way through. Canada would win 7-3 and face Slovakia led by Zedeno Chara and Ziggy Palffy in the Semis. Canada had a 3-0 lead in the third but gave up 2 goals in the final ten minutes. Slovakia had a chance to tie the game with under a minute left but missed a bad angle shot on the right side of the net and Canada held on for their shot at the re-match.
Last Sunday, Canada put 45 shots on Ryan Miller and the U.S. They dominated play and controlled the puck for a majority of the game. The U.S. can not allow this to happen again tomorrow. You can only rely on a goaltender for so long it is only a matter of time before those shots start going in if he is under that amount of barrage. The U.S. has to get their forecheck going early and try and sustain it throughout the game. Keep the play in the Canadian zone. Make them play defense. With all those stars on their team like Crosby, Getzlaf, Staal, Heatly and so on, get them frustrated early. Make them play in their own zone and limit the opportunities for Canada. Do that, and I think the U.S. will have their first gold since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980.
Your thoughts on the game in Comments. LETS GO USA!
Monday, February 22, 2010
30th Anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice"
30 years ago today, 23 unknown college kids defeated what was arguably the greatest hockey team that ever lived in one of the greatest sports moments in United States history. Everyone who was alive that day remembers where they were and how they heard the news. It was one of those "where were you?" moments we compare to national tragedies like 9/11 and the JFK assassination. But unlike those moments, this moment was one to celebrate.
I was not alive that day, but the feeling I get when seeing highlights makes me feel like I was there. The story has been told over and over in books and in movies, but it can not duplicate the raw emotion someone feels when it takes place. It was a storybook moment that will never be forgotten.
Yesterday on NBC, Al Micheals went back to Lake Place along with team Team USA captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, and leading scorer and current Team USA Women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson, to relive the spectacle and describe it in their own words. They went through game by game recapping all that took place and told some inside stories that most people knew and some stories that we haven't heard before.
Everyone knows the story of how the team had one enemy, their coach, and how he put them through a vigorous 6 months program before the 1980 Olympics. Herb Brooks put the team together by himself and was determined to put together a group that would beat the Soviets in Lake Placid. Three days before the Olympics started, Team USA faced the Soviets in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden and were annihilated 10-3. Eruzione and Mark Johnson said yesterday they were mesmerized by the Soviets and how they skated and scored goals. The team then faced Sweden in the first game of the preliminary round and forced a 2-2 tie with under a minute to go in the third period. They would then beat the Czechs 7-3 followed by wins over Norway, Romania, and Germany to set up the semi-final showdown with the Soviets.
Herb Brooks was known to give his fair share of speeches. In fact, the team had a name for them and called them "Brooksisms." They included some wacky sayings, but none will top this one he gave to his team in the locker room prior to the semi-final game against the Soviets:
The rest as they say, is history. Team USA defeated the Soviets 4-3 and then defeated Finland to win Gold. In the games since, the IOC has used professional athletes in the games. That doesn't make the games any less meaningful or less exciting. As we have seen in Vancouver this year, the enthusiasm and the following is still there, even if the games are not even on network television.
For anyone who does not know the story of that memorable February 30 years ago, I highly recommend the movie "Miracle" starring Kurt Russel as coach Brooks as you saw above. It is a clearly accurate portrayal of the entire story surrounding that team. Even if you know nothing about hockey, I guarantee you will enjoy it.
Comments...
I was not alive that day, but the feeling I get when seeing highlights makes me feel like I was there. The story has been told over and over in books and in movies, but it can not duplicate the raw emotion someone feels when it takes place. It was a storybook moment that will never be forgotten.
Yesterday on NBC, Al Micheals went back to Lake Place along with team Team USA captain Mike Eruzione, goaltender Jim Craig, and leading scorer and current Team USA Women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson, to relive the spectacle and describe it in their own words. They went through game by game recapping all that took place and told some inside stories that most people knew and some stories that we haven't heard before.
Everyone knows the story of how the team had one enemy, their coach, and how he put them through a vigorous 6 months program before the 1980 Olympics. Herb Brooks put the team together by himself and was determined to put together a group that would beat the Soviets in Lake Placid. Three days before the Olympics started, Team USA faced the Soviets in an exhibition at Madison Square Garden and were annihilated 10-3. Eruzione and Mark Johnson said yesterday they were mesmerized by the Soviets and how they skated and scored goals. The team then faced Sweden in the first game of the preliminary round and forced a 2-2 tie with under a minute to go in the third period. They would then beat the Czechs 7-3 followed by wins over Norway, Romania, and Germany to set up the semi-final showdown with the Soviets.
Herb Brooks was known to give his fair share of speeches. In fact, the team had a name for them and called them "Brooksisms." They included some wacky sayings, but none will top this one he gave to his team in the locker room prior to the semi-final game against the Soviets:
The rest as they say, is history. Team USA defeated the Soviets 4-3 and then defeated Finland to win Gold. In the games since, the IOC has used professional athletes in the games. That doesn't make the games any less meaningful or less exciting. As we have seen in Vancouver this year, the enthusiasm and the following is still there, even if the games are not even on network television.
For anyone who does not know the story of that memorable February 30 years ago, I highly recommend the movie "Miracle" starring Kurt Russel as coach Brooks as you saw above. It is a clearly accurate portrayal of the entire story surrounding that team. Even if you know nothing about hockey, I guarantee you will enjoy it.
Comments...
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