# NHL/Olympic Hockey: February 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 1, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237 "2010-02-01T14:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/141 "2010-02-22T20:23:37Z")
> [@LouiseE](#): > > Yes, it is possible, though Canada would now have to win in a play-off qualification match in addition to quarterfinals and semifinals. They technically can, but Germany and Russia are _two tough_ matchups. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/142 "2010-02-22T20:25:26Z")
> [@ProfessorX](#): > > They technically can, but Germany and Russia are _two tough_ matchups. Russia is. Germany is one of the worst teams in the tournament. The big problem is that in order to win the gold, Canada must win 4 games in 6 nights. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/143 "2010-02-22T23:21:40Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Russia is. Germany is one of the worst teams in the tournament. The big problem is that in order to win the gold, Canada must win 4 games in 6 nights. Actually Russia seems to be having the same problem Canada is: too many chiefs and not enough indians as was said above. There’s a lot of talent on the ice, but talent can get frustrated easily. All of these players are used to scoring. When they get into a slump, they stop playing and start thinking. And slumps are going to happen as most of these guys aren’t playing with their usual linemates. Add in the pressure of being expected to win the gold and it’s choke city. It will only get worse. They _have_ to beat Germany and they _have_ to beat Russia and they _have_ to win the gold. Russia at least has Ovie. All talent aside, the biggest thing he brings to the table in games like this is attitude and energy. He gets excited if anyone scores a goal, and that helps keep things loose. Canada is feeling the pressure. They need to relax. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/144 "2010-02-23T02:49:11Z")
> [@LouiseE](#): > > Looking at the rosters, here are the NHL teams which have sent players to both Team USA and Team Canada. > > Anaheim > Boston > Chicago > Los Angeles > Nashville > New Jersey > Pittsburgh > San Jose > Vancouver > > So it is certainly possible. The Canes have Eric Staal on Team Canada, and Tim Gleason on Team USA. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/145 "2010-02-24T05:16:50Z")
Holy crap, Latvia just tied it up !! ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/146 "2010-02-24T15:19:45Z")
Poor Edgars Masalskis (Latvia’s goaltender). Guy plays an incredible game to get his team to overtime against the Czechs, and then Krejci’s OT winner was a shot he’d probably like to have back. Canada-Russia tonight, 7:30 Eastern, 4:30 Pacific. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/147 "2010-02-24T16:37:18Z")
Ovie v. Crosby. Going to be the best game of the Olympics. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/148 "2010-02-24T19:32:57Z")
I am still just freakin stoked how well things worked out. We won’t have to see Canada, Russia or Sweden unless the silver medal is already in our pockets. The Swiss game should be ours, but Hiller is certainly capable of getting very hot. Finland is certainly no pushover, but I would so much rather see them than the big three. Things just couldn’t be set up better. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/149 "2010-02-24T21:25:58Z")
Well crap. not looking quite like I hoped after 2. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/150 "2010-02-24T21:28:07Z")
Wow. Clearly no goal but oh so close. This is the kind of game the US could very well lose. So many times the team that gets outshot but has the hot goalie winds up getting a lucky bounce late in the game. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/151 "2010-02-24T21:42:50Z")
Yes! ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/152 "2010-02-24T21:44:01Z")
THAT one went in! ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/153 "2010-02-24T21:49:21Z")
Roller coaster exchange for a few minutes. From “Ohh shit!” Ohh really! to “Ohh yes!” to “Well crap”. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/154 "2010-02-24T22:19:19Z")
Whew. That was much less comfortable than I had hoped. And the whistles-stuck-in-pockets-disease definitely came out on our side this time. But a Win is a win and that all I have to say about that. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/155 "2010-02-25T01:14:09Z")
And Nabokov looking real shaky in the first period. They can’t leave him in. Russia has a lot of firepower to bring to play in 40 minutes, but that period was not what I was expecting. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/156 "2010-02-25T01:16:46Z")
Nabokov is hardly Russia’s biggest problem. He should have had the fourth goal, and even then there was terrible defence on that play. For the most part Nabby is being completely hung out to dry by his team. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/157 "2010-02-25T01:23:35Z")
That weak forth goal was a spirit killer though. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/158 "2010-02-25T01:44:12Z")
7 goals? Just freakin pathetic. They look like their defensive strategy was taken from the AI in NHL 93 ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/159 "2010-02-25T02:22:10Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > 7 goals? Just freakin pathetic. They look like their defensive strategy was taken from the AI in NHL 93 Umm… What’s the AI in 93? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237/160 "2010-02-25T02:31:51Z")
9 minutes left. Whew! Stick a fork in Russia; they’re toast. I can sleep tonight. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-olympic-hockey-february-2010/527237.md?page=9)