HOOOOOOOOOOOCKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY

[The_Dude 1,142]

Luongo was fighting the puck that whole game. He looked very unsure of himself on many shots there were more than a couple times that he went to glove a puck and it bounced from his glove. Why do you think the US were trying to get as many shots at him as possible? Because they and most everybody else saw that Luongo was having a tough day. Some games it happens to goaltenders where nothing goes the usual way. The goal that tied the game if he had caught and held the puck instead of it bouncing from his glove the game would have ended 2-1.

So I agree with Kesler's evaluation of Luongo at that time

As for Ryan Miller making a mistake on the Crosby goal. Did you ever consider giving credit that maybe Crosby made a great shot and put the puck where the opening was.

His assesment of his performance might have been spot on, but there are some things better left alone.

[J&K 0]

That's why the great players are so great. they have that 7th sense of no look passes no look goals

I think he called it a garbage goal

Whatever...it went in. Not a Crosby fan at all, but a Canada fan 100% so I'll take it

[thetreble 19]

His assesment of his performance might have been spot on, but there are some things better left alone.

Agreed. You never point out someone's shakiness at this level...esp. between periods when the game isn't even through. It's just not a nice thing to do. And, to be honest, this was probably the most crazy game of his life thus far. You can't even hear yourself think in there...the pressure must have been enormous for him. I think I'd be a little shaky too.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Agreed. You never point out someone's shakiness at this level...esp. between periods when the game isn't even through. It's just not a nice thing to do. And, to be honest, this was probably the most crazy game of his life thus far. You can't even hear yourself think in there...the pressure must have been enormous for him. I think I'd be a little shaky too.

Just to play devil's advocate here. What if that was a strategy? I know it's not a nice thing to say, but gold medals are on the line here. He is a teamate of Luongo and so i'll assume he knows a bit about what makes him tick. What if he said what he said, knowing full well that he would hear it and would get into his head. Yes, that is a dirty trick, and yes, they are professional athletes, but not at the Olympics they are not. I would have sold my soul for a gold medal back when I was a competitive athlete.

[Allie 5]

Not sure whether Luongo would hear Kesler's statement until after the game. I would be willing to wager though that while standing near Luongo on play stoppages some players would fire the dig of fighting the puck or having an off day. It's part of the game. I've done it myself to get under someone"s skin and throw them off their game. Some pretty mean things are said to opposition during a game, some hit home some don't just as some players hear everything while otheres just let it go over their heads

[derekkj 0]

I just found it hilarious that so many canadian fans after would have fit that stereotypical "ugly american" mold in that coverage. I understand that it's a big deal, made even bigger by beating a rival. But double fisting beer while screaming "YOU SUCK USA" into a news camera is a bit much

What I took away from the tournament was the improved level of play from the U.S.. There are a lot of young players on the team who showed their mettle. They aren't quite at the level of Canada yet, but the gap has been closed considerably. I won't say that there deserved to be a shootout, or another game, because there is no reason for it. You play the game, and in this particular game, Canada played better, plain and simple. I do think that the bar has been set higher for the U.S.. Prior to this, we would have been happy to have won a silver. But we got so close, and saw that we can compete on an equal level.

I was thinking the same thing. Fortunately everyone at the Embassy was very gracious after the game was over but I saw some TV coverage that made me wonder if they weren't secretly Americans dressed as Canadians.

Doesn't help that Derek keeps calling me at work and when I answer the phone all he says is "Can a da, Can a da, Can a da".

Edited March 1, 2010 by derekkj

[Revenesque 2]

This hockey game was not only memorable to me because the Canadians won by the skin of their teeth, but where we watched the game. After an unsuccessful 90 minutes wait to get a table with a TV view at White Spot, hubby and I inhaled our burgers and fries and ran across the street to the Bay downtown, a "Nordstom"-like department store. Then we pulled nearby sitting chairs and couches, and parked ourselves in front of their TVs near the elevators on the third floor Women's apparel. I thank the salespeople for not saying anything about it.

Yup, watched the whole game with some 20 other shoppers like that. It was great!--all the amenities were nearby...washrooms, snacks, food, clothing. It's was a beautiful bonding experience for us all!

Edited March 1, 2010 by Revenesque

[Sprailenes 47]

Haha walking into work this morning and my coworkers say: "If it was baseball you wouldn't have beat us!"

Really? That's going to be your argument?

If it was baseball, Canada wouldn't have cared.

Now I love baseball... but to compare apples and oranges is quite hilarious.

[Carlawarla 1]

You could also remind them that the Toronto Blue Jays won the WS back to back....

[Sprailenes 47]

Nah... I am not going to get petty with them. They can come up with a million excuses, a million reasons, talk about how it didn't equal to what they felt in 1980.... I have heard it all today and it's only 10:00.

I live near Philadelphia, they're worst sports fans in the country. I don't expect anything more from them.

[DARUMA07 25]

Congratulations Canada!! One hellava game!

[The_Dude 1,142]

You could also remind them that the Toronto Blue Jays won the WS back to back....

That is essentially the same line of reasoning in the argument that Nev's co-workers are employing. That's like saying the U.S. is better at hockey because a U.S. based team has won the Stanley cup every year for the last 17 years.

I've gotten some comments at work, quite bizarre. A few people congratulate me on the win. Hello? I'm still american. One guy who clearly has no grasp of hockey commented about the grabbing and hitting. Sorry dude, thats part of the game. I think the people who are bitter about the game and hold some form of resentment really don't have a good comprehension of the game. If they did, they would realize that we got beat by a better team that day, plain and simple.

[Sprailenes 47]

All the people here are flyers fans and think that its awful that Sidney scored instead of Richards.

[The_Dude 1,142]

All the people here are flyers fans and think that its awful that Sidney scored instead of Richards.

Well, Sidney is a twit. LoL. I'm not a Crosby hater, but i'm not one of his gushing fans. I think Philly sports fans are a double edged sword. You've got some of the most loyal, die hard fans..... but a lot of them are a little insane.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Well, Sidney is a twit. LoL. I'm not a Crosby hater, but i'm not one of his gushing fans. I think Philly sports fans are a double edged sword. You've got some of the most loyal, die hard fans..... but a lot of them are a little insane.

I like Crosby, but I DO think the media is going overboard when they start talking about his "legacy" and speak of him in the same breath as Lemieux and Gretzky. There's at least one better player in the NHL right now (I could argue that there are two or three)...it just happens that he's (they're) not Canadian!