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.
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.
The Canes have Eric Staal on Team Canada, and Tim Gleason on Team USA.
Holy crap, Latvia just tied it up !!
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.
Ovie v. Crosby. Going to be the best game of the Olympics.
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.
Well crap. not looking quite like I hoped after 2.
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.
Yes!
THAT one went in!
Roller coaster exchange for a few minutes. From “Ohh shit!” Ohh really! to “Ohh yes!” to “Well crap”.
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.
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.
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.
That weak forth goal was a spirit killer though.
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?
9 minutes left.
Whew! Stick a fork in Russia; they’re toast.
I can sleep tonight.