So, Yeah, Canada is Still Good at Hockey
February 25, 2010 - 11:55 am by TheRiot
Did everyone see that Wednesday night? Seriously, did you see how Canada completely dismantled a very talented group of Russian hockey players?
At some point during Canada’s 7-3 win, did you ever think what the score would have been against Team USA if the Canadians played with the same mix of elite skill and soulful jam?
That result is, of course, unknowable. But it’s not difficult to imagine the Americans being routed by the Team Canada that allowed Alex Ovechkin just three shots.
So as we all rejoice at our beloved American hockey team — that 90 percent of people don’t care about other than once every for years — being the top seed heading into its semifinal matchup with Finland, don’t get too excited.
Not only does a pesky Finnish team with a standout goaltender await, in all likelihood Canada will be waiting in the gold medal game.
And it won’t be the same crew of Canadians with which American goaltender Ryan Miller had his way the other day. Not at all. It’s going to be a team with more skill than the Americans can muster and a newfound identity.
Plus a raucous home crowd and a stout goaltender in Roberto Luongo.
Make no mistake, Canada is still the gold medal favorite.
One Response to “So, Yeah, Canada is Still Good at Hockey”
While I wholeheartedly agree that Canada is a stellar team; maybe on paper the best in the tournament, they haven’t completely reinvented themselves. The Russians, I suspect, probably didn’t bring 100% at the outset, as evidenced by their half-assed, classless exit from the pond yesterday, and as we’ve been reminded constantly, Canada now has something to prove to the world and its own fans. Perhaps a gold medal favorite, but in no way running away with it. The U.S., regardless of fan apathy, also have a passion for triumph and a need for redemption; hopefully it is the best Olympic rematch in History on Sunday, but in no way can anyone call this one way or the other.
By Ballgamer on Feb 25, 2010