Ouch. USA women to play for bronze after losing the shootout. I hate shootouts. I saw bits and pieces of the game. Looked like Sweden's goalie and defense in general was stellar.
Holy smokes! 3-2 Sweden wins in SO. Kim Martin stands on her head and stops 37 of 39 shots. http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/news_story/?ID=155264&hubname=
Yes, Kim Martin was up to her normal standard. She is extremly good, and she is just starting College. Lot of Heart in that game from the whole Swedish team. Happy!
This result may have just saved the sport. At least in terms of its Olympic status post-2010. The Swedes did shell a bit, but it was an even game after the first period. One of the commentators on CBC said that the American women were doing a photo shoot during their final practice before the game and, in her opinion, weren't taking things seriously. Let me just say I hope Martin stands on her head Monday too. The women's game needs it.
I think it may still need a little help to survive post-2010. If Sweden can pull the bigger shocker on Monday that may seal it. Even if it's a close game, that helps too. To put it in perspective: - This was the United States' first loss to any nation other than Canada since international play began in 1990. (Canada has not yet lost to anyone other than the US) - For the first time in international competition (World Championships and Olympics), the final will not be USA-Canada Now someone else needs to pull a win out. Finland hung with Canada for the best part of the 1st period today, and then they gave up 2 late goals, and that pretty much did them in. The best thing for the sport, in terms of a post-2010 future would be Finland winning the bronze, and Sweden either winning gold, or losing a close one.
2-0 now.What's the deal with Pat Quinn, he barely played his best player Joe Thornton in the 2nd period.
Wow...I figured we've established ourselves as Nr. 8 in the world by now, but not even I predicted two such exploits.
I think this is good for Olympic Hockey if we were more competitive with more teams. Instead of only of being a 4 team race And The Swiss played with Heart. Well Canada had to lose a game someday in the The premliminary round.
This was Sweden's women's "Miracle on Ice," and like ours in '80, it was in a semifinal. I was completely blown away when I heard that the only teams who had previously beaten Canada and the US in major competitions were each other. Not sure about "saved" the sport, as you write. Was women's hockey in danger of being dropped from the Olympics? The fact that someone other than a North American team is playing for a gold medal may help the sport's popularity in other parts of the world. It was bound to happen at some point.
That's for sure. Can't believe how many power play chances got away...seemed like they were content to piss around with the puck
i really doubt it. sweden, for example, is already a hockey crazed country. now, had latvia or someone else in the tourney done that, eh. i still doubt it. most europeans are pretty open to any sport in general, and for the most part (mediterranian countries excluded) hockey isnt some unknown entity. now, if a country from africa or south america or asia or somewhere where the sport has practially no foothold had done that, then it might have made a bit of a wave. sure the north american women have enjoyed sheer dominance over thier european counterparts, but its not for a lack of popularity or support of the sport in other countries...
team USA is unreal. its unreal how so many players who are past thier prime have been selected to be the core unit. the tactics being employed blow my mind. playing dump and chase against players who are better on thier skates is NOT a good idea. the power play has just looked pathetic at times. the whole "late start" cause of the snowstorm couldve been used as an excuse for the first, and MAYBE the second game, but the players should be adapted by now. besides, as athletes, jet lag should affect them even LESS than everyone else, and there is no excuse for them not to be prepared.
Big Gap in US hockey. They have nobody good between the ages of 25 and 35. Their players are either too old or too young. Probably should have been in transition and picked younger players in 2002 but they were hosting the games and instead chose the same old team to try and win it all. They're paying for it now.
The funny part is players like Roenick whining about not being picked due to his veteran status. But if they went with the formula of choosing aging veterans, why stiff Leetch? I know he went through a couple of injuries in Boston, but god knows he's still capable.