Game Thread: Finland vs. Russia

[dare2be]

They have to get out ASAP... They probably know they're marked men now

I was just about to say that...they weren't avoiding the media, they were high-tailing it out of there to avoid Putin's men.

 

[pixburgher66]

Big time. Everyone got chippy, and the star players started looking to create YouTube clips instead of making short, intelligent passes. With their speed, they should have had it, but Finland's players were always making safe decisions with the puck.

OV went out of his way to make some big hits with under 10 in the third too. The weren't ones that got him out of position defensively, but it had him way behind the play while his teammates rushed into the offensive zone.

 

[mattola]

Seems like most people agree with my sentiment: this one (although not solely) is on the coaches heads. I saw the tweet about Malkin having to tell them to pull the goalie, and good lord if that's true.... Beyond that however, was just the simple misuse of their offensive talent. OV and Geno weren't used correctly, and I think Kovalchuk had an awesome tournament in spite of misuse. Tough for me to get over them giving Radulov prime minutes the day after he took two hideous penalties that lead to a loss vs. the US. I must say I was very impressed by their D during this tourney, I expected them to be bounced, but not because they couldn't score. Also think Bob should've been starting this game. As 43 would say, one of the best first save goalies, and he showed that with 2 spectacular saves late in the third.

Is Radulov like some supreme being in Russia? Is his family Quadbillionaires or something? Why does this flake get so much from giving so little. I cant believe they started Varlamov

Big time. Everyone got chippy, and the star players started looking to create YouTube clips instead of making short, intelligent passes. With their speed, they should have had it, but Finland's players were always making safe decisions with the puck.

thats pretty much how I predicted it would go. I feel bad for OV and am Happy for Kovalchuk (selfish prick)

ugh I just couldnt imagine Canada getting bounced in 2010 and how that would have gutted the feeling.

 

[quoipourquoi]

Tough for me to get over them giving Radulov prime minutes the day after he took two hideous penalties that lead to a loss vs. the US.

I thought Radulov responded well to those minutes.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Ovechkin played 30 tonight. They were wearing him out just trying to get within one.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Now the rumors are that Putin is ending the games early. Lights out, go home.

he's giving the chechens free tickets to the remaining hockeys games as I type this

 

[pixburgher66]

If the US and CAN take care of business, the semis would be gold medal rematches from the past 2 Olympics. US/CAN in 2010 and FIN/SWE in 2006.

 

[pixburgher66]

I thought Radulov responded well to those minutes.

And I wouldn't be surprised if Ovechkin played 30 tonight. They were wearing him out just trying to get within one.

Yeah in the third they rolled that OV-Geno line hard. I do agree, that the last game Radulov was a difference maker. This game, eh. Not terrible. It's funny however that they underutilized (in my opinion) OV-Geno, and when it came down to crunch time they just threw them out there over and over again, hoping something would happen.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

And I wouldn't be surprised if Ovechkin played 30 tonight. They were wearing him out just trying to get within one.

18:30 TOI



/this is the biggest issue me thinks ... guys who are used to playing above 20 close to 25 mins arent getting their big minutes they are used to and cant get in a groove ... and those short shifts that all coaches are stressing on the big ice dont help either

 

[Cobiemonster]

Congrats to Finland!

 

[dare2be]

OVenison

Oh, come on people, that was brilliant

 

[dash]

Finland is on a nice little roll of late, freshly minted World Junior title and now into the semi-finals of the Olympics after knocking off the host country.

 

[pixburgher66]

Is Radulov like some supreme being in Russia? Is his family Quadbillionaires or something? Why does this flake get so much from giving so little. I cant believe they started Varlamov



thats pretty much how I predicted it would go. I feel bad for OV and am Happy for Kovalchuk (selfish prick)

ugh I just couldnt imagine Canada getting bounced in 2010 and how that would have gutted the feeling.

I mean, Radulov is definitely the second biggest star in the KHL, behind Kovy. The two KHL stars had 6 goals, and the 3 NHL stars had 4. I'd put a lot of blame on those players for that, but it wasn't for lack of trying. The first two games was about the NHL guys, and the last few about the KHL.

 

[pixburgher66]

18:30 TOI



/this is the biggest issue me thinks ... guys who are used to playing above 20 close to 25 mins arent getting their big minutes they are used to and cant get in a groove ... and those short shifts that all coaches are stressing on the big ice dont help either

Personally, I think that's Canada's biggest issue with the forwards. But then, who do you give big minutes to with so many stars to choose from?

 

[RegentDenali]

Now the rumors are that Putin is ending the games early. Lights out, go home.

If that 15 year old Russian figure skater chokes today, that's it. Putin hits the button and Sochi turns into a glass parking lot.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Personally, I think that's Canada's biggest issue with the forwards. But then, who do you give big minutes to with so many stars to choose from?

thats where i was going with that ... only 1 cdn forward averaged above 0:45 second shift v Finland

as far as canada goes, I think they should have identified who they wanted as a 1, 2, 3, and 4 line and told everyone this is the role they would be playing, these are the minutes you will be playing ... accept it or leave it ... I think everyone would have bought in to that ... instead it seems damn near everyone is playing 13 to 17 minutes

I think it was dellow (maybe someone else) on twitter that said they were gonna look at the %of point production team canada players have in the regular season in the time/seconds of shifts played above 0:45

 

[TiLoBrown]

Varlamov starting was indeed odd

 

[forty_three]

Is Radulov like some supreme being in Russia? Is his family Quadbillionaires or something? Why does this flake get so much from giving so little. I cant believe they started Varlamov

He can't be that rich, he can't even afford a helmet that fits.

IT'S SQUEEZING MY HEAD

I thought he played well, and Kovalchuk looked good as well.

 

[pixburgher66]

thats where i was going with that ... only 1 cdn forward averaged above 0:45 second shift v Finland

as far as canada goes, I think they should have identified who they wanted as a 1, 2, 3, and 4 line and told everyone this is the role they would be playing, these are the minutes you will be playing ... accept it or leave it ... I think everyone would have bought in to that ... instead it seems damn near everyone is playing 13 to 17 minutes

I think it was dellow (maybe someone else) on twitter that said they were gonna look at the %of point production team canada players have in the regular season in the time/seconds of shifts played above 0:45

For the first time in forever, I'm questioning Babcock. It's weird.

 

[mattola]

Now the rumors are that Putin is ending the games early. Lights out, go home.

Putin is going to destroy Sochi with his barehands. He wont need machines or weapons.

 

[Cobiemonster]