Olympic hockey - Vancouver

[Matra1]

With the best players in the world representing their countries the Olympic hockey tournament is, in effect, a world cup of hockey. Since NHLers started taking part in 1998 the winners of gold have been: the Czech Republic (Nagano); Canada (Salt Lake City 2002); and Sweden (Turin 2006).

Canada and Russia are the two main favourites, however the Russian team seems to have an over-representation of players from their own league (the KHL - Kontinental Hockey League) rather than the NHL. This is no doubt political with the Russians trying to show that their league is a viable alternative to the NHL and not just some league for those rejected by NHL teams. But still, any team with Ovechkin and Malkin is capable of winning it all.

Sweden is generally considered the next favourite. The USA is 4th at 7/1 with most European bookies (ie if they won gold a punter would receive $7 back for every $1 he bet on the USA). Here are the odds for all the teams to win gold in the tournament ('American-style moneyline' odds in brackets):

Canada - 4/7(-175)
Russia - 2/1(+200)
Sweden - 6/1(+600)
USA- 7/1(+700)
Czech Rep - 12/1(+1200)
Finland - 15/1(+1500)
Slovakia - 30/1(+3000)
Switzerland - 85/1 (+8500)
Germany - 350/1(+35000)
Latvia - 750/1(+75000)
Belarus - 750/1(+75000)
Norway - 1250/1(+125000)

TV schedule - Olympic hockey

 

[guest301]

Thanks for the hockey schedule Matra, I was looking for it. The USA/Canada showdown during primetime on Sunday Feb 21st is a game I don't want to miss. I kinda like the fact that the USA is a significant underdog in this tournament, maybe a little Lake Placid miracle is in order although that victory over the Soviets could never be fully duplicated in scope and/or meaning.

 

[jcolec02]

Go Russia!!!!

 

[Realgeorge]

With the best players in the world representing their countries the Olympic hockey tournament is, in effect, a world cup of hockey. Since NHLers started taking part in 1998 the winners of gold have been: the Czech Republic (Nagano); Canada (Salt Lake City 2002); and Sweden (Turin 2006).

Canada and Russia are the two main favourites, however the Russian team seems to have an over-representation of players from their own league (the KHL - Kontinental Hockey League) rather than the NHL. This is no doubt political with the Russians trying to show that their league is a viable alternative to the NHL and not just some league for those rejected by NHL teams. But still, any team with Ovechkin and Malkin is capable of winning it all.

Sweden is generally considered the next favourite. The USA is 4th at 7/1 with most European bookies (ie if they won gold a punter would receive $7 back for every $1 he bet on the USA).

Howdy Matra1! Excellent analysis! Thank You so much

This year's olympic hockey-fest will be one for the ages. The many NHLers headed to Vancouver have been all pumped up for weeks. So much so that NHL play quality has dipped the past few days because many players are thinking ahead to the olympics.

It will be so GRAND to see the great pan-Arian sport on display with virtually a 100% white player pool. All sorts of teams could win it. Czechs, Americans, Canadians, Swedes, Russians, and even Germany have quality teams that could win the tournament. I'll be watching.

Thanks again, Matra1 !!Edited by: Realgeorge

 

[Matra1]

Well, each team has played one game each. The US beat Switzerland by a score of 3-1. The American forwards Patrick Kane, Zach Parise and Paul Stastny didn't show much but remember this was their very first game together - there were no warm-up games.

Russia beat Latvia by a score of 8 to 2 with Ovechkin scoring twice, though one I'd put down to the goalie.

Canada after a slow start defeated Norway - "African Canadian" Jerome Iginla was the hero scoring a hat-trick.

The Swedes had a pretty tough game against Germany, 2-0, but I think that was down to a very good performance by the Germans. It's interesting, the Germans never win anything in hockey as they don't have that much depth or talent, yet going back over 20 years they've ALWAYS been difficult for the big boys to beat. The Germans really maximize what skills they have with a great work ethic and relatively mistake-free game.

Last night I watched the Czechs beat Slovakia in a hard fought game between the two arch rivals. It was good to see so many passionate fans of both those small, relatively poor, countries making the long trip to Vancouver. I've been to both countries and I believe hockey is at least tied with soccer for the most popular sport in each. Virtually everyone follows the NHL - the only North American league they care about.

Also, the Finns pummeled Belarus.

Later on Thursday Canada has a revenge match against Switzerland. At the last Olympics in Torino the Swiss stunned Canada 2-0. The USA plays Norway this afternoon.

Edited by: Matra1

 

[guest301]

The men's USA/Norway game starts at 3pm on the USA network.

 

[Matra1]

Canada v Switzerland was fantastic! After 60 minutes it was 2-2 but the Canadians eventually won in a sudden death shoot-out with Crosby scoring the winner - after missing his first penalty shot. Full marks to the Swiss who weren't really given a chance but showed they can play.* This means the USA leads the group with 6 points while Canada has 5. The USA and Canada play Sunday night. NBC has dumped this match-up down to MSNBC as it considers ice dancing a bigger ratings winner.

* The Swiss recently beat Russia at the recent World Junior championship so it looks like Swiss hockey is on the rise.

 

[Matra1]

I thought my previous post would be the last of the night but I got hooked into the Russia v Slovakia game. What a great game! The Slovaks pull off the first upset of the tournament with a penalty shoot-out victory. (Ovechkin took three penalty shots!) The best night of hockey in some time.

 

[Freethinker]

Wow Matra, I was unaware of the Russia / Slovakia game and am now a bit disappointed that I missed it. I am definitely not the biggest hockey follower outside of a few Rangers games and the playoffs but this Olympics I am really into it. The Canada game was such an intense battle of wills. Hats off to the Swiss, especially goalie Jonas Hiller, who had to withstand a constant barrage from the dangerous Canadians making 44 saves in the process. In the end, the Swiss just lacked the offensive firepower.

 

[guest301]

Canada v Switzerland was fantastic! After 60 minutes it was 2-2 but the Canadians eventually won in a sudden death shoot-out with Crosby scoring the winner - after missing his first penalty shot. Full marks to the Swiss who weren't really given a chance but showed they can play.* This means the USA leads the group with 6 points while Canada has 5. The USA and Canada play Sunday night. NBC has dumped this match-up down to MSNBC as it considers ice dancing a bigger ratings winner.

* The Swiss recently beat Russia at the recent World Junior championship so it looks like Swiss hockey is on the rise.

I will definitely be watching that game and probably the only time I will ever tune in MSNBC for more than five minutes at a time.

The pressure is incredible on the Canadian team not only to win gold but play impressively on every outing and if they lose to the "Yanks" this Sunday night all of Canada will come down hard on them.

 

[Don Wassall]

Helluva game between Canada and the U.S. The ice was heavily tilted Canada's way most of the game and the sustained pressure they put on late in the third period was amazing. They outshot the U.S. almost 2 to 1 in the game. Ryan Miller was topnotch. Looks like the big question now for Canadais whether or not to replace Brodeur in goal with Luongo. I've always thought Brodeur isa littlebit over-rated as though he is fundamentally very solid and very durable he has also benefitted quite a bit over the years by the Devils consistently having one of the very best defenses in the league playing in front of him.

It was a good day for increasing interest in hockey in the U.S. as there were echoes of the 1980 victory over the Soviets (another game in which the U.S. was heavily outshot but still prevailed) even though the '80 win was a far greater upset. An American gold or silver medal would also help the NHL, though Gary Bettman seems to be leaning againstthe NHL participating in the '14 Games.

 

[Deadlift]

I didn't know that so many of the studs (NHLers) that were born in the (former) "Czechoslovakia" were from the Slovak side...

No wonder Slovakia is very good. One learns something new every day.

 

[guest301]

That was one heck of a entertaining game to watch. To see a group of young but very talented Americans take it right to the heavily favored Canadians and beat them at the game they invented was priceless for me. Now the two favorites Russia and Canada will likely have to play in the quarterfinals and one of them is guaranteed not to medal, who would have ever guessed that. I am hoping for a USA/Russia matchup for the Gold Medal and all the memories of the "Miracle on Ice" that would naturally spring back into our collective memories.
Since I became aware of the caste system in sports I have pretty much lost my innocence on how I view sporting events and who I root for because of the awareness I now have that I didn't have in my childhood up to my early twenties but the Winter Olympic hockey tournament always helps me to get back that little bit of innocence and cheer on my country with a patriotic fervor the same way I did growing up. It's impossible to do that with our arrogant obnoxious NBA dream team but it's easy to recapture that spirit rooting for a bunch of young talented white men trying to accomplish something little believed they ever could. GO USA!Edited by: guest301

 

[Freethinker]

Well said Don and guest301.Bravo to the US men's team. Here's to their continued success in the tournament.

 

[Matra1]

It was a good day for increasing interest in hockey in the U.S. as there were echoes of the 1980 victory over the Soviets

Too bad NBC decided not to show it on the main network - or even CNBC. By relegating the game to MSNBC a lot of people couldn't watch it. NBC preferred to show ice dancing as it's more appealing to female viewers. Imagine how much more interest in hockey there'd have been if so many millions had seen the US beating Canada in prime time on OTA TV.

Looks like the big question now for Canada is whether or not to replace Brodeur in goal with Luongo.

It's official, Luongo gets the start against Germany on Tuesday night.

Brodeur had a nightmare, not so much saving the puck, but handling it outside the crease. On two occasions he gave away the puck leading to US goals.Edited by: Matra1

 

[guest301]

They certainly will have to carry any Gold medal game on NBC and hopefully the semi-finals as well.

 

[Matra1]

Sunday night's game was the most watched television sports event in Canadian history with 10.6 million out of just over 32 million people watching it and over 20 million tuning in at some point.

It was almost the most watched event in MSNBC history. While 8.23 million watched Obama's election night victory on MSNBC the USA v Canada game got 8.22 million. (WAY more than Olbermann could ever dream of!)

Pittsburgh is the #1 Olympic hockey market in the US. There and in Buffalo (and possibly a few other places) MSNBC actually beat NBC, an over the air network everyone gets while MSNBC is in around half of American homes, with few of those getting it in HD.

Today (Tuesday) there are four back to back games - all knock-out games from here on in.

Here's today's TV schedule for the US and Canada (EST):

Belarus vs. Switzerland, 3:00 PM, USA Network/Sportsnet (Winner plays USA at 3pm Wednesday)

Germany vs. Canada, 7:30 PM, CNBC/CTV

Latvia vs. Czech Republic, 10:00 PM, CNBC/TSN

Norway vs. Slovakia, Midnight, CNBC/CTVEdited by: Matra1

 

[Matra1]

After 2 periods the score is USA 0 Switzerland 0. But 0.1 seconds (a tenth of a second!) before the buzzer the Americans (actually the Swiss goalie) put the puck in the Swiss net, but the official review somehow ruled it didn't cross the line in time. If the US get knocked out today that'll be a talking point. So far the US has dominated but just can't score against the plucky Swiss.

 

[guest301]

The USA won 2-0(empty net goal in closing seconds) to win a nailbiter over a tough Switzerland team. The USA advances to the medal round(semifinals) against the winner of Czech/Finland. I think Finland would be the tougher matchup.

 

[Don Wassall]

Canada vs. Russia is on at 7:00 Eastern time tonight. I think it's on CNBC.

 

[Matra1]

So will Ovechkin check Crosby like he did Jagr on Sunday?

I wanted to provide a YouTube link of the Ovechkin hit that turned the game against the Czechs but I got the following message:

"This video contains content from International Olympic Committee, who has blocked it on copyright grounds".

Lame.

 

[foobar75]

Wow, Canada destroys Russia! I think the US loss really awakened this team, they've won the last 2 games now 15-5.

I'm now rooting for a US-Canada gold medal game, which would be epic and probably break all sorts of TV ratings records, at least in Canada, and maybe in the US, too!

 

[guest301]

Wow, Canada destroys Russia! I think the US loss really awakened this team, they've won the last 2 games now 15-5.

I'm now rooting for a US-Canada gold medal game, which would be epic and probably break all sorts of TV ratings records, at least in Canada, and maybe in the US, too!

Hockey needs a ratings and interest boost in this country and so a "epic" USA/Canada rematch for the gold medal would be great for the NHL.

 

[Don Wassall]

Wow, Canada destroys Russia! I think the US loss really awakened this team, they've won the last 2 games now 15-5.

I'm now rooting for a US-Canada gold medal game, which would be epic and probably break all sorts of TV ratings records, at least in Canada, and maybe in the US, too!

Hockey needs a ratings and interest boost in this country and so a "epic" USA/Canada rematch for the gold medal would be great for the NHL.

A rematch would be the best thing that can happen for U.S. interest in the NHL, though it wouldn't surprise me if it's a one-sided game in favor of the Canadians the second time around. Hopefully it'll be a thriller if it comes about.

 

[guest301]

Don, I think your fears on a one-sided game is very valid. Canada is going to be a very angry team if they get another chance at the Americans.