International Hockey

Postby **Tomas** » Thu May 14, 2015 11:01 pm

Well, it's official - Jagr isn't human. Jagr is god. Or Highlander.. GWG today, 6+3 for the tourney. 43 years old.
Have you been watching the tournament closely, Tomas? Anyone stand out for you?

Man, I wish the Pens could sign Sobotka for 3rd-line center (for no real reason why). Big, big fan of him.

I watched less than I would have liked - the tournament coincided with the end of the semester - which meant grading 2 sets of 130 exams + course projects + dealing with a lot of stupid stuff. Only today I actually realized that NBCSN broadcast ALL games on the internet, so I got to see 2 periods of CZE-FIN QF game (together with the morning USA-SUI match).

I am quite surprised how little interest the tourney draws on both Pens boards, even though the games do not collide with the Stanley Cup, USA is so successful, and team Canada is better than any of the teams left in the SC playoffs (which is not surprising given that they are like $30 million(?) over the salary cap

)

Naturally, this youngster stands out...

https://twitter.com/Krcmic/status/59896 ... 60/photo/1

Postby **Tomas** » Fri May 15, 2015 7:09 pm

Two additions for the SF games tomorrow:

Ovechkin will join Team Russia for their game against the USA.
Plekanec will join Team Czech Republic for their game against Canada.

Postby **Avyran** » Fri May 15, 2015 7:30 pm

Man, if Russia loses to the US... that'd be so glorious. They're so, so much better than the US.

Pretty sure the Canada/Russia match is inevitable, though. Hope I'm wrong.

Postby **Tomas** » Sat May 16, 2015 2:39 pm

Pretty good USA-Russia game. 0:0 after 2 periods, but USA was the better team the last 10 minutes. Ovechkin rather invisible (not a big surprise given that he had to travel over 6 time zones), Malkin rather nervous and complaining constantly.

Live broadcast at http://stream.nbcsports.com/liveextra/ . The 3rd period will start ~1:52 PM CT.

Postby **Tomas** » Sat May 16, 2015 3:06 pm

Well, that sucked. 12:30 to go, Russia (Mozyakin) strikes first...

Postby **Tomas** » Sat May 16, 2015 3:11 pm

Ovechkin does not need much to be dangerous. 2:0, 9:00 to go.

Postby **Tomas** » Sat May 16, 2015 5:32 pm

This dude scored 8 of the 18 goals of his team today. No word on whether Team Russia will call him up for the finals game tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN2FMGRTvoc

All jokes aside, I want to be in such a shape when/if I get to be his age...

Postby **Tico Rick** » Sat May 16, 2015 8:57 pm

Eight goals has to be a record for most goals by a world leader in one game.

Postby **meow** » Sun May 17, 2015 2:52 pm

Bob's glove hand is embarrassing.

Postby **Tico Rick** » Sun May 17, 2015 2:59 pm

I'm surprised there's no GDT for this game. Is everyone out mowing their lawns or something?

Postby **Avyran** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:06 pm

*Shrug* I just don't really care much about it, and would guess a fair amount of people feel the same as I do. It's fun to watch, but meh.

Not too many people creating threads for the stuff outside of me & a few others either, unfortunately.

Edit: Combine that with pretty awful coverage by NBC in the US...

Postby **Tico Rick** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:11 pm

I suppose so. Still, it's great hockey and it's a lot of fun seeing Sid's and Geno's lines matched up against each other.

Postby **meow** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:11 pm

It boggles my mind that D still let OV cut to the middle when he comes down his off side. Just lay down and keep him wide. You cannot expect your goalie to make a save when he is darting across the slot.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:11 pm

It's not a best-on-best tournament, so it holds slightly less appeal even for me...though I've caught it when it's convenient for me...

Postby **Avyran** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:13 pm

It is nice to see Crosby playing in a more-tightly-called & more open game... though from what I've seen, it seems like this particular game looks a lot like an NHL game (since most come from there).

Would not have guessed Eaken would be a scorer in this game, though.

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:20 pm

Breakneck pace to the 1st period...and a fair amount of chances generated off of turnovers...period took about a half hour...

Postby **Tomas** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:25 pm

It's not a best-on-best tournament, so it holds slightly less appeal even for me...though I've caught it when it's convenient for me...

I am always slightly surprised by this argument, because based on the "quality of the product" offered, the Team Canada (and very likely the Team Russia) is better than any NHL team subject to a tight salary cap. The "best-on-best" argument definitely does not hold in the SC playoffs, where it is simply "the best what you can squeeze against $X mil cap."

I understand that the first round games are sometimes boring (Slovenia, Austria, Denmark, Norway), but the tournament from QF-stage on has been definitely far more entertaining (for me) than the SC playoffs.

Postby **Avyran** » Sun May 17, 2015 3:34 pm

It's not a best-on-best tournament, so it holds slightly less appeal even for me...though I've caught it when it's convenient for me...
I am always slightly surprised by this argument, because based on the "quality of the product" offered, the Team Canada (and very likely the Team Russia) is better than any NHL team subject to a tight salary cap. The "best-on-best" argument definitely does not hold in the SC playoffs, where it is simply "the best what you can squeeze against $X mil cap."

I understand that the first round games are sometimes boring (Slovenia, Austria, Denmark, Norway), but the tournament from QF-stage on has been definitely far more entertaining (for me) than the SC playoffs.

Last thing I'll say on this ('cause my opinion's come out before), but my apathy / disinterest has come from a few big reasons.

1) I had no idea who was playing or when they were playing before this weekend. I still don't know who is on every team. Yeah, I know that it is easily findable online, though it's more difficult than I'd hope (the IIHF website is not good). However...
2) My interest for hockey in general has been hamstrung a bit by the NHL product (knowing that others like the product, no worries). With other products to watch that are much more entertaining for me (the last couple rounds of Champions League, the relegation battle in the EPL), I just don't feel like trying to watch more hockey.
3) As I noted earlier, the US coverage for this tournament has been absolutely awful. The NHL Network is **** & has put all of its focus on the playoffs (with reason), and since NBC Network's the only major channel covering hockey anymore, and they're focusing on the playoffs in the evening & soccer in the morning/early afternoon for the most part...