2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

[osualum86]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Two As far as I'm concerned both teams can be proud on how they played today.

I'll bet the US team would have been prouder of themselves if they would have actually remembered that a regulation hockey game is 60 minutes long, not 56. Think it's time for the US to go in a different direction with the coaching staff. Going into the "prevent defense" yesterday (along with the other questionable decisions by Katey Stone that have already been mentioned here) was what lost it, not a couple calls by the referees.

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Gosh, then what are the Boston Bruins going to do? Give Coach Claude Julien a contract extension because the Bruins scored two in the last two minutes of a seventh game against the Leafs, or fire him because they gave up two in the last two minutes of the Stanley Cup final against the Blackhawks two weeks later?

 

[Hux]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

I'll bet the US team would have been prouder of themselves if they would have actually remembered that a regulation hockey game is 60 minutes long, not 56. Think it's time for the US to go in a different direction with the coaching staff. Going into the "prevent defense" yesterday (along with the other questionable decisions by Katey Stone that have already been mentioned here) was what lost it, not a couple calls by the referees.

Typical of many coaches, whether in the NHL (or NFL for that matter), juniors, college etc. Get a lead and go into prevent mode. Obviously the biggest problem with that philosophy is that it flies in the face of the "a best defense is a good offense" and literally puts the team back on its heels. Prevent over the last two, two and half minutes is fine. Anything longer and a siege mentality sets in on the team in the lead, while the opposition is at "blood in the water" attack mode and usually only having to play from the neutral zone in.

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

I do wonder why Chu, who had like 4 shifts all game, would be put out there.

Perhaps because she was on the team primarily as a penalty killer? Perhaps because she had been the forward during the successful kill of the 5-on-3 earlier in the game?

 

[Hux]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

I do wonder why Chu, who had like 4 shifts all game, would be put out there.

Perhaps because she was on the team primarily as a penalty killer? Perhaps because she had been the forward during the successful kill of the 5-on-3 earlier in the game?

That, and leadership, leadership, leadership, plus a healthy dose of Olympic experience on and off the ice.

 

[Ya4sure2]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

And to paraphrase Cassie Campbell late in the game..."and right, these two teams aren't great for the game of women's hockey?"

Blackbeard - what was the context of CC's statement? That these two teams (and their level of play) indeed ARE NOT great for the game ?? If so, do you agree ??

 

[brookyone]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Blackbeard - what was the context of CC's statement? That these two teams (and their level of play) indeed ARE NOT great for the game ?? If so, do you agree ??

I believe CC was asking the question to make the point that the two combatants are in fact great for the sport. Kind of refuting those who imply their excellence / dominance is detrimental to the game. That was my interpretation anyway.

 

[brookyone]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

http://dfm.twincities.com/article/o...-hockey-gold/e02c708ed74a7aec5aab5528522bbef6

Headline in my print version: Gold Then Gone.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Get a lead and go into prevent mode. Obviously the biggest problem with that philosophy is that it flies in the face of the "a best defense is a good offense" and literally puts the team back on its heels. a siege mentality sets in on the team in the lead, while the opposition is at "blood in the water" attack mode and usually only having to play from the neutral zone in.

Was thinking the exact same thing...keep going for the jugular. It's pretty hard for the other team to score if the puck is in their end. And I mentioned the following before the game yesterday...

"I can't help thinking that the fear of losing, as opposed to the carrot at the end of the stick of winning, might be a/the big determining factor in this game and how recent results against each other (the negative ones) might creep into their minds and affect their play as much as they mentally try to suppress such influences."

I couldn't help think about this again when Canada scored with three and a half minutes left when the game certainly appeared to be in the bag for the US...especially since Canada hadn't scored until then! Because with that little amount of time left the perception of the change in momentum is amplified enormously for both teams as opposed to if it would have happened fifteen minutes earlier. If one was ever able to know such things I would find it difficult to believe that some of this didn't start making its way into some of the US players' minds..."Here we go again"...after all they are human regardless of how tough they may be. And self doubt is only a short step away from panic, (mental, emotional and/or physical), and if that point is reached even by only some then the best laid plans go out the window.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Blackbeard - what was the context of CC's statement? That these two teams (and their level of play) indeed ARE NOT great for the game ?? If so, do you agree ??

Brookyone is correct. There was a question mark at the end of my paraphrased quote, meaning that she was asking the question and being sarcastic. In other words she was saying that those who think that the superiority of these two teams is bad for the sport are crazy. And I agree with her, to answer your question.

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Gosh, then what are the Boston Bruins going to do? Give Coach Claude Julien a contract extension because the Bruins scored two in the last two minutes of a seventh game against the Leafs, or fire him because they gave up two in the last two minutes of the Stanley Cup final against the Blackhawks two weeks later?

Further to the Claude Julian/Katey Stone comparison, perhaps some of us in the Boston area are biased towards Stone's "Team First" approach because the Bruins have employed it successfully: they have tried to win using exceptionally talented players like Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin amd Jaromir Jagr, only to find that they succeed better with the players who fit together into the best team rather than a collection of the best individual players (see also the experience of Team Canada versus the Soviet Union). And so they win without the Kessels and Seguins and Jagrs.

The purpose of fielding a team in the Olympics or the NHL, after all, is to see how much the team can accomplish, rather than devolving into *****ing contests about how much ice time that high-flying Tyler Seguin should be getting versus that master-of-many-fine-points-that-don't-show-up-on-the-score-sheet Chris Kelly.

 

[Hux]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Was thinking the exact same thing...keep going for the jugular. It's pretty hard for the other team to score if the puck is in their end. And I mentioned the following before the game yesterday...

"I can't help thinking that the fear of losing, as opposed to the carrot at the end of the stick of winning, might be a/the big determining factor in this game and how recent results against each other (the negative ones) might creep into their minds and affect their play as much as they mentally try to suppress such influences."

I couldn't help think about this again when Canada scored with three and a half minutes left when the game certainly appeared to be in the bag for the US...especially since Canada hadn't scored until then! Because with that little amount of time left the perception of the change in momentum is amplified enormously for both teams as opposed to if it would have happened fifteen minutes earlier. If one was ever able to know such things I would find it difficult to believe that some of this didn't start making its way into some of the US players' minds..."Here we go again"...after all they are human regardless of how tough they may be. And self doubt is only a short step away from panic, (mental, emotional and/or physical), and if that point is reached even by only some then the best laid plans go out the window.

And the opposite for the Canadians. Momentum, momentum, momentum. Full steam ahead, **** the torpedoes, we can do this. Total adrenaline shot to the heart.

 

[Ya4sure2]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Brookyone is correct. There was a question mark at the end of my paraphrased quote, meaning that she was asking the question and being sarcastic. In other words she was saying that those who think that the superiority of these two teams is bad for the sport are crazy. And I agree with her, to answer your question.

Agree. Having those two teams continually raise the bar forces the other countries to continue to strive to achieve that level.

 

[UCONN FAN]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Further to the Claude Julian/Katey Stone comparison, perhaps some of us in the Boston area are biased towards Stone's "Team First" approach because the Bruins have employed it successfully: they have tried to win using exceptionally talented players like Phil Kessel and Tyler Seguin amd Jaromir Jagr, only to find that they succeed better with the players who fit together into the best team rather than a collection of the best individual players (see also the experience of Team Canada versus the Soviet Union). And so they win without the Kessels and Seguins and Jagrs.

The purpose of fielding a team in the Olympics or the NHL, after all, is to see how much the team can accomplish, rather than devolving into *****ing contests about how much ice time that high-flying Tyler Seguin should be getting versus that master-of-many-fine-points-that-don't-show-up-on-the-score-sheet Chris Kelly.

Bruins won WITH Seguin!

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Bruins won WITH Seguin!

......as a healthy scratch or playing on the third line, if I recall. He had a terrific game against the Lightning, 2 goals and 2 assists in one period, but otherwise Ryder got the minutes

 

[UCONN FAN]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

......as a healthy scratch or playing on the third line, if I recall. He had a terrific game against the Lightning, 2 goals and 2 assists in one period, but otherwise Ryder got the minutes

LOL yes in his rookie season....In Boston we like defensive players with "NO" offensive skills but we vilify offensive players who have defensive deficiencies. Bruin fans drink the Kool Aid.

 

[RStarr]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

And the opposite for the Canadians. Momentum, momentum, momentum. Full steam ahead, **** the torpedoes, we can do this. Total adrenaline shot to the heart.

Shot through the heart and USA's to blame! Darling, they give love a BAD name!

 

[Timothy A]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

You'd have a legitimate point if it was a legitimate slash. It was not. Not even close. Ranks as one of the worst calls I've seen in a hockey game at any level.

Exactly. You might call that on a mite to teach Billy to leave the goalie alone. I can kinda forgive the Knight call as it could have looked like a penalty from her spot on the ice, but the slash was totally bs. The Knight "penalty" may have been correctly judged if there were 2 refs on the ice. I actually give Knight a ton of credit for not just blatantly taking a penalty there. She did all she could not to take one and she got one anyway. She full well knew she couldn't take one there with a penalty shot staring her team in the face.

Once the canucks pulled the sieve for the extra attacker, the US d zone play wasn't very good. We won 2 faceoffs that got the puck to the backwall, but a canuck got to both of those first.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

You'd have a legitimate point if it was a legitimate slash. It was not. Not even close. Ranks as one of the worst calls I've seen in a hockey game at any level.

Canada might have won anyway, given their "superior talent" and supreme confidence, having won on the big stage so many times, but the bogus slashing call is an indelible asterisk on this year's gold.

I don't recall saying that I thought it was an egregious infraction. In fact I thought it was a weak call. I was giving my take from the ref's point of view after having laid the ground rules with Duggan in the second period. And to repeat myself, that was a pretty convenient cover for the ref to use to "even up" the penalties seeing as she had just issued one to Canada... convenient because she could justify it by referring back to the Duggan warning.

So the only question then becomes a matter of degree...could you define it as a slash or not? We also have the advantage of multiple views where the ref does not. So, as a player, the intelligent thing to do is not to do it so that it's not an issue.

Easy to say but in the heat of battle...

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: 2014 Sochi Olympic Games Women's Ice Hockey Tournament

Once the canucks pulled the sieve for the extra attacker,

This must be the lack of respect for the opponents displayed by UW fans that the Brookster was referring to.