So, with one week left in the Greatest Hockey Tournament ever, the preliminary round is pretty much over, and now the real showdowns start. But before I get to all that, Super Sunday happened and boy was it a dandy..if you didn't watch it..well then your a chump and I'm not even gonna talk about the game...read it yourself on a new paper site.
Here's my take on today's game...I under estimated the knowledge of Brian Burke. This guy does know what he is doing. He gets big strong players and he gets skilled players all on the ice together. Its unbelievable the chemistry he has created within the group of American players. Players have checked their egos at the door and are playing hard all the time. Kudos has to go to the USA coaches, and team for putting together their heads and making it work.
With that being said, the only reason...and I mean only reason Team USA won today...RYAN MILLER...this dude is a beast for the Buffalo Sabres and he's a beast for Team USA. The way he's been playing the last couple of years, I have to say he's like Marty Brodeur for the Devils, the heart and soul of the team. Canada's shots to the bottom of the net were met by his Reebok pads...he was just a beast in the net...I remember when I was a beast in goal wearing Cooper pads...ahhhh memories...
Team Canada needs to get their acts together, their first round opponent is Germany, and then its against the Russians (based on Canada beating the Germans). The hope here is that this extra game allows the Canadian players to gel together. What do I think they should do....Split up the first line (waiting for the oooooos and ahhhhhhs). Here is what I think should be seen on the top line...Crosby Getzlaf and Staal and then a line with Nash Iggy and Toews, and then the Sharks line and then Richards, Bergeron and Perry...I think that will get Getzlaf going and it will allow Toews to get going as well. Canada has a depth of Centremen, we need to ensure they are willing to play the wings too!!! Oh and huge props goes to the young guns on Canada's defence. Doughty, Keith, Weber all played huge minutes today for Canada!!!
Little hockey tidbit for you, today's Super Sunday matches, were all the Gold Medal games from the last three Olympics...Nagano, Japan (1998) Czechs vs. Russia (Czech's win on a hot goalie named Hasek), Salt Lake City, USA (2002) Canada vs. USA (Canada beats the Americans ending a 50 year Gold Medal drought), and in Turin, Italy (2006) Sweden vs. Finland (Mats Sundin is the Captain of the Swedes and wins the Gold Medal). So far at these Vancouver 2010 games, the LOSING team from the matches have won (Swedes and Fins are at midnight on the east coast so we'll find out tomorrow if that holds true or not).
Also on a side not for you all, in 2002 Canada finished the preliminary round 1-1-1 (very similar to how we finished now), and Sweden was 3-0-0 (like the USA). Canada won the gold medal, Sweden loses to the Belarussians in the Quarterfinal...It now becomes a one game tournament...anything is possible...one thing that has to be an obvious...Roberto Luongo is net for Canada here on out.
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GO CANADA GO!!!
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