yup, and this olympics has had all of that. Lots of great stories. Slovenia winning their qualification game, ranking high in their first ever olympics. Cinderella Latvia. Two North American teams still in the hunt.

It's awesome.
- prock

Biggest margin of victory in the tournament is 6 I believe. Lots of 1 and 2 goal games.

The parity (relative to previous years) has been pretty good.

If we had any common sense we'd have done that 7-8 years ago though. Clearly we're a lost cause. Might as well just keep on going.
- daeth

continue to ignore the clown.

Is this thread on the verge of being locked? I hope so.

honestly, let's just start ignoring his stupidity.
- prock

So you're calling Ken Hickcock Stupid, so please explain why if you dare.


Ken Hitchcock, Head Coach, St. Louis Blues, Team Canada Associate Coach

" It’s more comfortable for the Euros because they grew up on it. They understand how to play that game. But I coached in it in ’06 and the game’s changed. Some of the countries play like we do now. I think some of the countries that maybe have limited NHL players play the old way, which is basically five back. But I think a lot of the countries like Finland, the Slovaks, the Russians, they come at you. So I think it’s not going to be a game like we saw in ’06 where there was basically no forechecking throughout the tournament. I think you’re still going to see a lot of forechecking.

I know one thing—when you play on that big ice surface, your sense of timing of when to forecheck and when to pull back gets automatic quite a bit. And that’s probably the adjustment we have to make, knowing when to go and when to pull up. They’ve taken advantage of us being overly aggressive. Our natural instincts are to play on our toes and they have a balance in their game. I think that’s the balance that we have to learn quickly.

The difference between the big-ice game and the small-ice game is the small-ice game is played north and south and the big-ice game is played east and west. It’s always finding the weak side of the ice, the big-ice game. You’ve got to feel really comfortable finding the weak side of the ice. That’s where all the plays get made.

If you try to play north on the big ice, you’re going to run right into numbers all the time. You have to be really comfortable going east-west before you go north. That’s how they play. They play east-west to go north, whereas we play north to go north. So that’s the biggest adjustment. Chipping it on the boards and chasing it down doesn’t’ work in Europe. It doesn’t work on big ice. So we’ll have to make those adjustments right away in practice."

Biggest margin of victory in the tournament is 6 I believe. Lots of 1 and 2 goal games.

The parity (relative to previous years) has been pretty good.
- Morris

yeah, just shows how many of the smaller nations are really picking it up... Makes for a great tournament. And just shows the kind of effect things like pro players at the Olympics is having on hockey worldwide. It's great for the game.

And that's why the NHL will continue to go to the Olympics. Since NHL players have gone to the Olympics, the revenues of the NHL, and popularity of hockey, has skyrocketed.

Any coincidence the biggest growth period in the history of the game is from the eearly to mid 90s on?

continue to ignore the clown.
- prock

Wow, you're calling Nicklas Backstrom a clown, why?


Nicklas Backstrom, Center, Washington Capitals, Team Sweden

"It’s going to be a different game than what we’re used to here. Hopefully we can use it to our advantage. I think you have to skate more, but you have more time to make plays too. We all grew up playing the bigger ice, so hopefully we still know how to play."



run prock run, hide from the facts, don't put up a logical argument, insult me and those NHLers whose opinions support mine.............runnawy troll boy

I honestly dont see what youre talking about. The ice hasn't really had an impact at all.
- sanfordnson

I've disagreed with this, for the past year.

The game is played differently on International sized ice, and therefore allowing teams like Latvia with their back up ECHL goaltender, keep games real close and almost beat a roster laden with NHL Superstars.

Here is a list of those who share this (my) opinion.

Henrik Lundqvist
Mats Zuccarello
Nicklas Backstrom
Jay Bouwmeester
Ken Hitchcock


Here is a list of those who share your opinion, that the ice hasn't really had an impact at all.

hugefemale dog77
prock
senstroll
Cape Breton Bruins
Morris
burn
daeth



END OF THREAD.

Hey hugefemale dog77, prock, senstroll, Cape Breton Bruins, burn and sanfordnson don't you think Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello, Nicklas Backstrom, Jay Bouwmeester, and Ken Hitchcock are a bunch of morons? I sure do.

Hey hugefemale dog77, prock, senstroll, Cape Breton Bruins, burn and sanfordnson don't you think Henrik Lundqvist, Mats Zuccarello, Nicklas Backstrom, Jay Bouwmeester, and Ken Hitchcock are a bunch of morons? I sure do.
- Morris

Go along, to get along.

Sad.

My older brother and his friends think global warming is a myth. I wasn't so sure about that, but they can buy me booze, so...

this is a very, very disturbing thread

I've disagreed with for the past year.

The game is played differently on International sized ice, and therefore allowing teams like Latvia with their back up ECHL goaltender, keep games real close and almost beat a roster laden with NHL Superstars.

Here is a list of those who share this (my) opinion.

Henrik Lundqvist
Mats Zuccarello
Nicklas Backstrom
Jay Bouwmeester
Ken Hitchcock


Here is a list of those who share your opinion, that the ice hasn't really had an impact at all.

hugefemale dog77
prock
senstroll
Cape Breton Bruins
Morris
burn
daeth



END OF THREAD.
- Doppleganger

I only ever spoke to the Latvia game. I dont think the size of the rink had anything to do with the game score.

I only ever spoke to the Latvia game. I dont think the size of the rink had anything to do with the game score.
- senstroll

You don't seem to get the rules of this game.

I've disagreed with for the past year.

The game is played differently on International sized ice, and therefore allowing teams like Latvia with their back up ECHL goaltender, keep games real close and almost beat a roster laden with NHL Superstars.

Here is a list of those who share this (my) opinion.

Henrik Lundqvist
Mats Zuccarello
Nicklas Backstrom
Jay Bouwmeester
Ken Hitchcock


Here is a list of those who share your opinion, that the ice hasn't really had an impact at all.

hugefemale dog77
prock
senstroll
Cape Breton Bruins
Morris
burn
daeth



END OF THREAD.
- Doppleganger

Umm when did I say such a thing?



And you said that the ice size didn't effect the USA Russia game.


You really are a moron aren't you.

this is a very, very disturbing thread
- Crimsoninja

I'm enjoying it.

I only ever spoke to the Latvia game. I dont think the size of the rink had anything to do with the game score.
- senstroll

So why was a roster full of NHL superstars only one goal better than a team of KHLers using their back up goaltender.

If not how the game is played differently on International sized ice, then you must know another reason why it was a one goal difference.


Did you read the column by Cam Cole (below)

I'm enjoying it.
- Nucker101

As am I.

When a troll is proven to be wrong, and they're only disagreeing because they're trolls, they run away from the thread, and try to bring everyone along with them, to hide the truth.

I'm enjoying it.
- Nucker101

I'm enjoying it, because you guys are enjoying it and I'm apparently the most impressionable human on earth.

Yawner and stretcher for Canada against Norway. A 6-0 win is not bad lol. Finland just took out Russia. They dominated Latvia the entire game long and ran into an unconscious goalie and some fortuitous iron.

I honestly dont see what youre talking about. The ice hasn't really had an impact at all.
- sanfordnson

by Cam Cole
Feb 17, 2014

The big ice surface, it appears, remains as big a mystery to the denizens of the North American bandboxes as ever. The Canadians, who went unbeaten in the preliminary round, had the puck for much of the night, but had little success penetrating the barbed-wire perimeter of Finnish skates and sticks massed between the faceoff dots.

“It’s incredibly hard. It’s been hard this whole tournament. Pucks are bouncing, the ice is not great. There’s so much ice out there it’s hard to get in the middle,” said Colorado forward Matt Duchene.

“It’s the nature of this game, this international game. This is why the NHL should never go to a big ice, it’ll take the scoring out of the game. You’re able to play way more defensive on the big ice. It makes for less offence. You’ve seen no offence almost the whole tournament. It’s either been a blowout or a real close game.”

There have been 18 games played so far, and four of them have ended 1-0.

So why was a roster full of NHL superstars only one goal better than a team of KHLers using their back up goaltender.

If not how the game is played differently on International sized ice, then you must know another reason why it was a one goal difference.


Did you read the column by Cam Cole (below)
- Doppleganger

in 2002 on small ice Canada scored 3.83 goals a game.So far they are scoring 3.25 in sochi on the big ice. 2 more games to go, it will probably be close to the same.


the column also notes poopty ice.

in that one game it was a goalie to kept the score at 2-1 ..really 3-1 if they didnt cheat and hold the puck in the crease.

you are trying to make the ice size difference out to be a mountain when its a speed bump. and digging up all these MSM quotes who just regurgitate the same stuff every day so they dont have to really look into stats is weak

February 17, 2014
PIERRE LEBRUN via ESPN


SOCHI, Russia -- It wasn't quite Wayne Gretzky in Salt Lake City ranting about the world wanting Canada to lose, but Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock was at his crankiest Sunday night in a postgame news conference. He reminded people how hard this Olympic tournament is to win, especially on this side of the ocean, where it's a different game on the big ice.

"You know, it's interesting," Babcock began, after yours truly simply asked the coach where he felt his team's game was after wrapping up the preliminary round. "Every time I've come to Europe and coached a team, whether it be in '97, the world junior, or '04, the world championship, or this time, is no one ever seems to be happy with us. And I think we're competing like crazy, so I'm way happier than people that are sitting 200 feet away.

"It's a hard game. The European game is interesting; it's all about defense, the end zone is smaller ... they get out on your D so quick, the dynamic D we have don't get to shoot any pucks; they play man on man and they're on you like glue, and it's hard, and you have to be committed to doing it. And the other things that happens for the NHL player, and probably for you in the media, is the respect you have for the opposition -- you say, well he doesn't play in the NHL. They're playing for their country, and they play hard. And they make it hard on you. So we've just got to keep getting better."

And Babcock is right with every single thing he said.






Chris Kuc, Tribune Olympic Bureau

8:22 p.m. CST, February 11, 2014

SOCHI, Russia — Patrick Kane's decision to play in Switzerland during the NHL lockout could pay some major dividends for the United States during the Winter Olympics.

The Blackhawks winger gained valuable insight into skating on larger ice surfaces, the kind that will be used in Sochi. At 100 feet wide — 15 feet more than the standard NHL rink — there is room to roam during the 12-team tournament that begins Wednesday.

"There's more time and space (and) that's obviously a clear advantage," Kane said. "A disadvantage is you can't really run around too much. You find yourself almost losing energy a lot quicker because of the bigger ice and going up and down. You almost have to conserve your energy a little … for the time you feel you really need it."

Added Hawks and Team Slovakia winger Marian Hossa: "It's more skating so you have to play smart, otherwise if you try to just chase the puck you're going to get tired pretty quick."

"Sometimes on the NHL ice surface you're used to being able to get on guys quick and take their time and space away," Hawks and Team Canada defenseman Duncan Keith said. "Here, there is so much ice surface. It just feels like you almost have to in certain situations back off and just let them kind of make a mistake with the puck rather than to pressure them to take it off."

Sweden's Niklas Hjalmarsson — Keith's teammate on the Hawks — is familiar with European rinks and said there are more opportunities to make plays from the back end.

"As a defenseman, you have so much more time with the puck," Hjalmarsson said. "So much more space out there. If you're a smart player, you can really take advantage of the ice. You can't just throw away the pucks like you do sometimes on a smaller ice surface. There's always a play to make somewhere. You can make way more plays on the big ice."

in 2002 on small ice Canada scored 3.83 goals a game.So far they are scoring 3.25 in sochi on the big ice. 2 more games to go, it will probably be close to the same.


the column also notes poopty ice.

in that one game it was a goalie to kept the score at 2-1 ..really 3-1 if they didnt cheat and hold the puck in the crease.

you are trying to make the ice size difference out to be a mountain when its a speed bump. and digging up all these MSM quotes who just regurgitate the same stuff every day so they dont have to really look into stats is weak
- senstroll

The game is played differently on the International sized ice, The Team Canada coach concurs with that opinion, as do a whole bunch of NHLers.


Are you saying Mike Babcock is wrong?

Is he coaching the exact same game plan as he does in the NHL?

What would the score of the Latvia game have been the same, if played on NHL sized ice???

The game is played differently on the International sized ice, The Team Canada coach concurs with that opinion, as do a whole bunch of NHLers.


Are you saying Mike Babcock is wrong?
- Doppleganger

I am saying teams have adapted and adjusted so its not much of an advantage for the KHL players. its different yes the measurements are different no doubt

this clown is still going?

how has he not seen that he's the butt of everyone's jokes and isn't taken seriously in the least bit?
amazing

I bet this dude is severely fuked up in real life


of the 108 players still going, 96 of them play in the nhl....

this clown is still going?
how has he not seen that he's the butt of everyone's jokes and isn't taken seriously in the least bit?
amazing

I bet this dude is severely fuked up in real life
- hugefemale dog77

unabomber type stuff.