This is the match up the fans in Vancouver wanted. And tonight, they will get it!
Canada and Russia will face off in the quarter final of the Olympic hockey tournament with puck drop coming at 7:30 PM.
No words necessary really. The world will be watching tonight as two of the most powerful hockey teams on the planet go head to head. Crosby vs. Ovechkin on the biggest stage imaginable.
I can not believe how excited/nervous/terrified I am heading into this one.
That "we want Russia" chant by the fans in Vancouver has to rank up there with one of my all time favourite sports moments. Just the right amount of swagger going into this epic battle.
GO CANADA GO!
76 comments:
This is how legends are born.
Canada 5-2.
We want Sweden!!!
pg
Hey Canada Fans,
I know everyone has beaten this to death but you can now really see that the game last night vs germany really helped. Figuring out our line combo's on forward and D, as well as giving Luongo a tune-up for the stretch run.
If i heard correctly the mens hockey is in a bracket style tournament so canada/russia would play the winner or sweden/slovakia. Which leave the winner or swiss/usa vs finland/czech rep. Is that correct guys?
go canada go
C-Mac
I think Volchenkov is going to put a few of our boys in the 2nd row.
4-1 Russkies - Luongo won't hold up and too much fire power on the Russian team.
THey should've taken the U.S. more seriously.
Yeah, anon 10:22am, I think Russia will beat us tonight.
So we beat a team that was supposed to be knocked down to relegation status, but they weren't because they're hosting this years World Championships. A team that didn't have the speed or the skill to capitalize on the many chances Canada was handing them. And we're supposed to be excited about facing Russia?
Don't get me wrong, I'll be rooting for the boys all the way, but they really haven't done much to inspire me into believing that they can win this one.
GOCANADAGO!!!
Way to support the team fellas. Get outta here with that negativity.
Cmon man, you gotta just support the team. Just believe...
Go Canada Go,
I'll be watching as Soon as I get home from my Son's playoff game.
Canada Keys to victory:
1) Keep the Crosby line together
2) Try and neutralize Russia's forwards
3) Lay the body when they can
4) Luongo stays his cool self
5) Discipline, stay out of the penalty box
If we do all of these to some degree, we should beat these guys.
GO CANADA GO!!!!!
Any chance Mike Brodeur will play?
Believe in Miracles!!!!!!!
Why the hell would'nt babcock let Nash take that P/S??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Come on people!!!
Team Canada will win tonight. Nabakov is not Miller and the Russian D will not be able to hold back the Canadian forwards.
Canada 5 - Russia 3
Colin
Hey Chirp, what bar did you end up at last night?
The first 5 minutes of each period are very important for Canada. If the guys establish a physical game on Russia without taking silly penalties. Canada has a good chance of beating Russia. Also Canada better not just focus on Semin/Malkin/Ovie line because Federov, Datsyuk, and that prick Radulov are capable of scoring goals. Hopefully that the San Jose line and Boyle give the rest of team Canada a few pointers on how to beat Nabokov.
i agree chirpie. slovakia beat russia canada ya we don't stand a chance right? give me a break lets go canada
you said it yourself Chirp, you're nervous and terrified for the game too...the posters above are just verbalizing it a little less positively.
I really do think Russia is the team to beat, however, I think Nabokov is a liability for them. If Luo holds the fort, and outplays Nabby, we win this game.
-jay
C-Mac that is correct.
Secondly, watching all of the Russia games also, they really seem to have struggled similar to Canada. They did finally find there line combo for Ovechkin last game, which is not good. However, they really don't seem as strong as originally thought. I believe part of this reason is because of there coach actually. He is playing the KHL line so much, both on forward and D, maybe to prove a point to the country of Russia that their league is good?
Will Russia be tough tonight? of course. But you have to think we have the upper hand in goaltending, and both teams really haven't been playing up to their hype.
Go Canada Go!
PS sit Prongers ass down
I think we're ready......
Canada 4 Russia 3 in a nail biter; possibly a shootout.
All patriotism aside, I have to agree that Russia has the advantage going into this one. Our defense is not remotely close to what it needs to be to shut down the Russian offense. Our blue line looked soft against the US and their squad of 2nd and 3rd line NHL players; the Russians are a whole other monster entirely.
I do believe that our team CAN compete and do well at this level, but from the effort I've seen from them so for, I don't think they will.
If I had a choice, I'd much rather prefer a Stanley cup in Ottawa than another gold for Canada... so just don't hurt Volchenkov; hurt Heatley, he likes it.
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT CROSBY TAKES OVER !!!
ANOTHER NIGHT ANOTHER SHARK GOALIE
Give me a break...that new look top line was unreal last night.. Staalsy looked possessed out there. And thank god Nash potted one to let Babcock off the hook for not letting him take that penalty shot (worst. coaching decision. ever.). Even Morrow played well last night, and I have criticized that pick since the team was named. We've outplayed everyone by a mile in every game so far, but haven't gotten the bounces until last night. We've outplayed everyone by a mile in every game so far, but haven't gotten the bounces until last night. We're gonna spank those Russians tonight. The boys are just beginning to roll rite at the rite time.
I guess they are scared to believe Chirp.
Canada 4 - 2.
How? The down low cycle.
GO CANADA GO!!
INurHome
I've been on the blog's sidelines for the past few days (weeks actually). However, I've read all the comments. After we lost to the US, everyone was ready to trash this team and tear Babcock to peices. Now that we beat the mighty Germans, everyone's jazzed up again. It's hilarious. It's like a see-saw ride, or a fantastic roller coaster. But this is every day life in Sensland! (IE: Tuesday night loss = Spezza sucks, Thursday night win = Spezza's the best, etc.)
I've got my Canada flag up in the bay window of my house. I put it up the day the Olympics started. I didn't take it down because we lost to the US. Just like the guys on the ice, we as fans need to sack up. We need to support this team now more than at any other time. No more see-saw rides. This isn't a playground. This is Canadian hockey. Let's get behind this team!
I'm pumped. I can't wait until 7:30. It's going to be a long day of anxiousness and continuously s'ing my pants. I'd better keep my office door closed.
Go Canada Go.
Spendzza
So everyone hear is a Sens fan, would you guys rather Alfie get gold or Canada?
It is not the loss to the US that hurt, it was the beating the Swiss in a shootout and losing the extra point that hurt. There was always a chance that we could lose to the US, but if we would have taken that extra point we would not have had to play in the qualification round. Having said that, I don't mind having a practice against Germany. I think it is better than sitting a waiting to play. I don't think Russia has necessarily inspired anyone either.
Aside from a couple of bad plays by Brodeur and lack of finish around the net, Canada has really been lights out in this tournament and looked dominant at times.
in crosby we trust, i'm sensing a classic
Isn't this like the 50 year anniversary since we last beat a soviet/russian team in the olympics? Hopefully its a magic number! My prediction: if our guys are firing on all cylinders and learn to cover their men, we will win. If not, it will be easy pickings for russia
GO SENS GO!
get outta here scum!! we dont need you here! but canada need you! which clearly yahs dontcare lol
Im cheering Canada all the way, but if i had to be the house on it, Im sorry id have to take russia.
who is the home team tonight? (last change)
Lots of Seidenberg to Ottawa rumours out there - are they real?
screw the Team Canada , I hope Ovechkin and the rest of the Russian completely destroy and humiliate them.
Let's Go Russia
Time to go back with MARTY!!!!! If not we are done most likely. I am routing for our boys so dont get me wrong here. Lou doesnt have ONE big game victory is his career. This isnt the stage to get it either.
Support, no support, this is about reality. Team Canada looked good last night, but that's what they're supposed to look like against the weak German team.
If they show up with anything less than 100% effort and confidence tonight, then they're done, because you know that Russia will be HUNGRY and out for blood!
My heart wants Canada to do this, but my head says that the Russians will be too much. People are underestimating the value of those KHL'ers. Hopefully Babcock et al are not.
Prediction...and I hope I'm wrong...4-2 Russia.
the Russians have not been that good this tourney... plus, we have 4 guys that know Nabokov inside out... you can't win gold without adversity... we've had our adversity... now lets pay those Russians back for Turin and the last two world championships... any Canadian should be backing Canada till the end... and try to be a little positive, it won't kill you! GO CANADA GO!!!!
Tonight you will see Crosby and Ovie's talent level on showcase when they play for something on the line its magic ...!!
GO CANADA GO ...
Oh!
More work for the undertaker,
'Nother little job for the casket maker
In the local cemetary they are
Very very busy with a brand new grave:
No hope for Harvard,
No hope for Harvard!
Armed nuclear combat - toe to toe with the Rooskies !
If Canada wants to win this game it needs to be won with our 3rd and 4th liners tonight. Russia's top 2 lines are dynamite but kind of taper off into the 3rd and 4th lines. Russia's defense is also a little suspect so we need to capitalize on that.
People need to take some chill pills. It's awesome to ride the high after winning a game in the Olympics but it was the Germans. Remember we raped Norway 8-0 only to barely squeak by the Swiss and get stopped by a hot goalie.
I'm all for positivity but be realistic too. Games now will be a lot tighter and a lot tougher than games against Norway, Germany, and even Switzerland. From here on out it's 50/50 for Canada against each team.
Russia, as the home team has last change - could be a big deal.
Easy Spendzza.
You're making an point that assumes everyones different opinions on this site are actually one persons opinion. And that opinion is switching back and forth. This comment box does represent one person it is a bunch of different opinions.
I cursed Babcock the most.(i think) and just because I didn't post that I hate him again you are claiming that Canada Fans back to being behind him 100% again.
For the record I still think Babcock sucks terribley and "if" we lose anymore games in this tourney I still believe it will be largely Babcocks fault.
I seems like Stevie and Ten Inchcock went down to Babs after the USA game and told him how it is. He was to finally put Iggy on the top line and leave him there. He was also told to stop changing lines like an idiot.
Babcock finally stopped over coaching this team in last nights game. Except for the Crosby penalty shot. That reeked of overcoaching. I understand the idea of Crosby being # 1. But we were up 4 nothing and Nash hasn't potted one yet. That was so stupid. Not to mention Nash is also amazing at Shoot outs.
Anyways GO CANADA GO! Its gunna be one hell of a game and I think the decks are stacked pretty dam even for this one.
Still Praying we get Burns!!!
PUBES.
Russia should be scared! Canada is gonna walk all over a one-dimensional team like Russia. Sure they got fire-power but we can match that plus we got the rest of the team to make the difference
The negativity regarding Team Canada is friggin' ridiculous. The Russians are good, yeah, and so is Canada. Russia is not as good as everyone makes them out to be. They lost to a weaker team than Canada did to USA. Did everyone not notice how good the young D have been for Canada? It's ridiculous. They are much better than Russia's D. And the goaltending is a wash. Luongo is a good goalie and so is Nabokov but I'd rather him in there than Bryzgalov any day of the week. And Neidermayer looks to have gotten it together, the only glaring weakness on Canada's D is Pronger and he won't play much.
You negative guys can watch whatever they play on TSN or Sportsnet instead of the game on CTV tonight. If you're not supporting a team that hasn't played that badly then you shouldn't be watching the game. Give me a break.
bennyb, your mommy called... apparently she gave your babysitter strict rules about you not using the internet alone
Luongo is a better goalie than Nabacov. In last year's playoffs Nabacov looked shaky. Can he play in the big games?
Agree - if Luongo outplays Nabacov then Canada wins.
Russia is composed of a mixture of NHL (very good) players and KHL players. How good are the KHL players?
It's not going to be an easy game.. but if Canada gets by Russia then it's all the way to the gold.
Russia has two very good lines.
It's all about hard forechecking against those two lines.
Russia is down a forward that hopefully will help Canada.
Babcock has to change his powerplay. Crosby's line has to be out there on 1st powerplay today, not the SJ line. I think the SJ line will struggle against the Russians.. but I could be wrong.
Let's go Canada
Im usually the one looking at the negatives, but this is our game
This is our house and our game. When it comes to hockey nobody has a bigger heart than Canada. We will win gold.
Its going to be a close one regardless, GO Canada GO!!
The only thing I hope the Russians due is have Volchenkov absolutely crush Heatley!! If he can take him out of the league I say back up the money truck and give him what he wants...hehe
As long as we stay out of the penalty box we stand a good chance. I think our goaltending and defence beats theirs. We must win in the corners and not take chances. No pinching in. The Shark line and the Crosby line will each score a goal. We will score one power play goal. Can we keep them to 2 goals.
Let's have 30 million people screaming GO CANADA GO!!!
What has Russia done that has everyone so scared of them? lost to the slovaks in a shootout who barely beat Norway yesterday. Other than Ovechkin putting the fear of God in everybody by destroying Jagr i'd say if people are just looking at it on paper WE STILL OWN! we are the better team, we've come together more as a team, its our house!! CANADA WILL WIN THIS GAME! woooooooooooooooo
Ovechkin will be more than a dominant force tonight. I will be cheering for Canada... but our chances are slim.
Maybe next time don't pick f***ing Bergeron.
Tonight, Getzlaf and Perry go big...
And Crosby, shuts Ovie down just like in that JR tourney a couple years back...
YUUUUUP!
Notice how the "Crosby line" is better since Staal and Iginla are clicking.. but not with Crosby... he's kinda the odd one out. lol
PS.. Nash should of had that Penalty shot. It's not team Crosby it's team Canada.
Second PS... Pierre M. is such a Crosby lover. On the second Iginla goal.. Crosby didn't even touch the puck.. but all Pierre could say was how "amazing" Crosby drove to the net...
hahahahahahha... Take off your reebok/NHL/TSN Crosby goggles.. and wake up people. He isn't Team Canada. He was -2 or -3 in the USA game (our only actual challenge so far) and I'm pretty frea*ing sure he's doing nothing to night.
BOOK IT!!!
As much as I want Canada to win, my heart tells me otherwise. It should have been Gretzsky putting team Canada together. Yzerman is clueless, pronger is too slow on olympic ice, corey perry?? (nice penalty to take against the US and great job husting back on that empty netter by Kesler) niedermayer is an aging dinosaur. Mike Fisher would have at least played with heart and he has speed, it would have been great publicity for the game as well because Carrie would have been at every game. Paul Kariya still has speed and can thread the needle for the snipers and a great BC boy. That would really ignite the crowd. I guess Yzerman named Babcock for coach Canada because he's the coach of the wings, go figure. The coach should have been someone like Cory Clouston as he turned the abysmal Sens team around and manage to keep the team above .500 with all the injuries. Babcock on the other hand with all the injuries struggles to string 2 in a row. That's why ladies and gents Team Canada will not win Gold this year. With that said GO CANADA!
I would be sooooo happy if Volchenkov or Ovechkin lay out Heatley.
cycle,cycle,cycle. as good as the russian forwards are they can't score from their own end(i hope) if canada can forecheck well and dominate the boards like they have been then no problems tonight. oh and they have no coach. 2 man advantage for the czechs and they send out markov an offensive d instead of volchy best shot blocker in the league.
This game is going to be a classic... Canada will take it I think in a nail biter... I like individuals on the Russian team way more than Canadas but I can't cheer against my country...
Go Canada Go!!!
I am so dissapointed to be back in Ottawa on a side note... Vancouver was insane before and after the Canada - US game... and the US fans that I met were actually pretty knowledgable and friendly... And the Russian fans were pretty passionate as well...
Canada 5 - Russia 2
Go Canada
Whats with all the "in crosby we trust" and " crosby will take over the game tonight"?
I didn't like him before the olympics and I like him less now. He has been a floater for every game he has been in.
I will give him credit for the goals he has scored but that doesn't make up for his lack of hustle and play away from the puck.
As much as I dislike him as a player, I have seen him hustle and battle for the puck in the nhl and he is not doing that in the olympics. His lack of intesnity is suprising, I guess the big stage is getting to him.
Crosby isn't the phenom that all the analysts tout him to be, far from it actually. His performance at the olympics clearly shows that he isn't a superstar among superstars. He is a talented player but not any better than the majority of players on team canada.
Aside from that, the keys to winning against the russians are to implement the same strategy that the sens utilized against washington. Canada needs to have an aggressive forcheck that disrupts the outlet passes and cause the russian defence to make mistakes. The russian forwards will become frustrated with the fact that they are not able to spend a lot of time in the offensive zone.
Canada needs to be more physical than they have been, there hasn't really been any big hits yet (maybe a few so far). The russian players thrive on time and space so it is of utmost importance that Canada takes that away from them.
Canada needs to win the battles along the boards. Russia has too many good snipers, if they win the puck battles than the snipers will just have to find good positions for their shots.
Finally, take advantage of the laziness of the Russians. Russia has unreal offensive power, if Canada can weather the storm for a while there are calm spots. Anyone who watched Russia versus Latvia saw that the Russians are hot and cold. They are either very agressive and put up a lot of pressure or they are falling asleep on the ice. The russians will likely have less mental lapses than they did against latvia, but it is important that Canada capitalize on them; if lativa can score on the Russians, than so can Canada.
I'd say Canada has a 60/40 edge or more tonight. Perhaps reduced to 55/45 because we played the day before as well. Although we were pretty much able to relax vs. Germany and realistically there should be enough adrenaline to fuel us through this one.
Everyone needs to remember the Russians only have 11 forwards tonight. Their 3rd line center got hurt, and now their third line center is Fedorov. Canada should absolutely rape the bottom six forward match-ups. We should be equal to the task in the top six. We're stronger on D for sure especially because they underplay Volchenkov because the Russian coach has no idea what he's doing. Not to mention on top of all of this Nabokov has not played very well. Canada should be just fine if they play their best game and really should win.
Teams in this tournament are pretty well matched. I don't really see much between russia and canada. they are both giants in the hockey world who for the most part are not playing that well. russia lost to slovakia, slovakia lost to the czechs, the czech nearly lost to latvia. this is a tournament where the least schizophrenic team wins. the team that is consistent and plays well as a unit. i don't really think the russians are an amazing team but more of a ridiculous team of the most talented individuals in the sport. i honestly think from what i have watched that the americans and swedes are the best teams in the tournament. i see this game as a total toss up, depending on who finishes the most and which goalie plays the best. the more difficult game to win I think would be against the swedes who play a quiet team game and who give up very little defensively. the americans have played their system perfectly and i personally like their chances to make the final. russia and canada are both too up and down and unreliable, clenching the stick and sweating from the pressure put on them from their expectant countries. i think the team who makes fewer mistakes will win tonight becasue these teams just have so much to lose. what makes the americans dangerous is that they have low expectations from their fan base.
STILL PRAYING FOR CANADIAN GOLD!!!
but a little scared
LETS GIT'ER DONE BOYS
Synthetek: Alfie won last time, it's our turn now.
As for CAN-RUS, they have better forwards, but ours rock too. They have pretty good D, I'd say ours is better. We need to pull together into an actual system though, because all-individual efforts won't beat a cohesive team - that's why the Swiss did so well, the strong team system. Oddly enough, it's a pretty strong factor in the Sens season so far too...
ALFIE will win GOLD and the CUP in the same year!
Anon 1:39...while you do make some valid points as far as some of the personnel your post is off quite a bit. I would definitely not suggest that Yzerman is clueless. All his decisions if Canada loses would be questioned and it wouldn't matter if it was Yzerman or Gretzky making the decisions, if they lose the GM will have to answer to it. Pronger is not playing on "olympic ice." He isn't playing well but in the smaller North American rink and his Olympic experience one would think in a short tournament like this he would be able to bring more to the table. "Paul Kariya?" Are ya serious? There are so many more guys to bring ahead of Paul Kariya...Mike Fisher a good addition because his girlfriend would create publicity for the game? What??? I woudl love to see Fisher on the team for what he would bring on the ice but even as much as I think Carrie Underwood is hot when Team Canada is playing at the Olympics I could care less who they are with and I am sure the large majority would agree.
This should live up to what's expected !
Fast and exciting up and down hockey like in 1972 !
Luongo must be calm and focused, and he will stop the Russians scoring of Ovie and Malkin !
Canada 6 Russia 4
Robert Cyr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXO3gKfOUN8
Disagree on the Clouston for Team Canada comment. Maybe if Team Canada had fired two coaches in a short span and the players needed a short leash that might have worked...people seem to forget the past when they praise Cory, but he was basically in a no lose situation. The players had skunked Hartsburg and Paddock and Murray and they knew the jig was up. It's not Clouston inasmuch as the players not wanting to deal with personnel change at the core level.
Anyway, it's going to fun tonight. Cheering for Canada but I see a Russia 5-3 win, sadly. Don't want to be a Debbie Downer but pessimism is more natural to me than unbridled optimism, and it'll give us something to complain about if Canada loses...
GO CANADA!!!!!
Tysen, Crosby has been by far the best player for Canada at these Olympics. His energy is contagious.
Yeeeeaaaahhhhhhhh. Nothing else
volchenkov shows he is indeed a russian on that dirty play. Hopefully someone took his # after that one.
Where are sll you russian-loving alexander the invisible fans now eh?
YEEEEEEEEEEEAH!
Anon 9:20 and you show you're a cowardly pussy posting something like that as an Anon.
I'm sure A-Train thought he touched the puck before he made the hit. It wasn't a particularly hard shove either it was just a dangerous position for Staal to be in. I didn't like the hit either but Anton is not the type of guy to throw dirty hits. I'm sure he didn't do it on purpose.
Most of you probably think this will be a hard fought battle but I think Canada is too deep and will blow out Russia with a score of 7-3, shutting down the Ovechkin line completely.
Hey Chirp...I was at the Germany game and you are bang on...the atmosphere was electric! The streets of Vancouver have been buzzing ever since and I imagine are going off right now (was at the aerials event earlier tonight so not sure yet what the atmosphere is like).
These games are amazing and I am so glad I made up my mind 6 years ago to come out when it was announced!!
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