Maybe time to start a thread about this been going on for a while. Been a good olympics so far since I only really care about ice hockey and cross country and Sweden done okay on both. I am a bit disappointed by the level of the ice hockey tournament but the ice seem tricky never seen so many missed passes....
 
USA look really strong both women and men team. That 79-9 shot statistics or what it was sadly make women hockey hard to take serious when there is only Canada and US.
 
Men tean Canada not so much I really hope they loose against Latvia because they are at the level of frustration they think rules don´t apply and they are activally trying to put the latvia goalie out of play with kicks from their skates, goalie charges and what not. Amazing how they get away with such menace assaults that has nothing to do with hockey whereas a Latvia got a ridiculous high sticking charge... But I guess they know how NHL referees generally rule the games and have an advantage there. 

From Huffington Post:
 
LOL!
 
Do Svidaniya in Russian means "See You".
 

Think so. They always have a hard time against Finland so that wasn´t all that surprising. Fascinating how the old timer Selanne could dominate.

Nice with a proper end to the sochi games with Sweden-Canada. Thought US would be able to stack up better then they did but they just couldn´t keep up surprisingly.

oqvist said:

  Nice with a proper end to the sochi games with Sweden-Canada. Thought US would be able to stack up better then they did but they just couldn´t keep up surprisingly.

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Why? There isn't one player on the US that would make the Canadian team (maybe Kane??). Our 8th defenceman (P.K. Subban) is the Norris Trophy winner (for best defence in the NHL) and he's not even playing. But in the past 30 years, US hockey has come a long way, no doubt. BTW congrats on the silver....I keed....I keed.   Should be an entertaining Gold Medal Game.
 
I feel bad for Finland without Rask, he's one of the best goalies and could have made a real difference.
 
In the end though, I'm with Mats Sundin (as he was quoted on Canadian radio today), the Stanley Cup is still such a bigger event....but winning a Gold is still very special. Oh how I would have LOVED watching Mats raise the Cup here in Toronto. 

Lol. Will see how it goes. It's really bad 90 % of the referees is from Canada. That would never work in any other sport.

oqvist said:

Lol. Will see how it goes. It's really bad 90 % of the referees is from Canada. That would never work in any other sport.

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Would you prefer incompetent referring instead who blow their whistles for penalties at the slightest infraction (and don't realize body checking is part of the game)?

The Canadian referees were selected because they are the best in the NHL (and world), that's not their fault. Would you prefer totally incompetent referees (like the British one in the Women's Gold Medal Game)? Hopefully the referees stay out of the final game and let the players play. Should be a good game.

In other news, Finland's Rask will be playing in the bronze medal game against the US. They'll be in tough with him in the net.

Finland has three goalies at the level of rask surprised to see him back wonder if he got the nerves.

As for referees there is competent Russian, finish, Czech, American referees so I don't see that logic.

oqvist said:

Finland has three goalies at the level of rask surprised to see him back wonder if he got the nerves.

As for referees there is competent Russian, finish, Czech, American referees so I don't see that logic.

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There is no way there are three other Finnish goalies as good as Rask. How many of the others have been to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals from Finland? Only one...Tukka Rask (and he's done it twice). He would have most certainly had a better chance stopping that second goal against Sweden, would have made for a very interesting game. Sorry, you may not follow the NHL, but he's in the top 5 here and part of what makes Big Bad Bruins so good. You guys dodged a bullet for sure. Actually with Rask, the Finns are up 2-0 over the US right now in the bronze medal game.
 
And with regards to competent referees from other countries, the IOC picked the best ones....thus the logic.  They are mostly NHL referees and most NHL referees (like the players) are Canadian.

It´s not IOC it´s the canadians that picked the best nhl referees that they are used to . Like most sport associations they are easilly corrupted by money  
 
Sorry I meant that all three goalies in Finland is at the same level. What team you play at NHL don´t say to much in term of goalies at least Hockey world is bigger then NHL.
 
Nice bronze game. Feel a bit sorry for Kane just can´t score.

oqvist said:

  It´s not IOC it´s the canadians that picked the best nhl referees that they are used to . Like most sport associations they are easilly corrupted by money  
 
Sorry I meant that all three goalies in Finland is at the same level. What team you play at NHL don´t say to much in term of goalies at least Hockey world is bigger then NHL.
 
Nice bronze game. Feel a bit sorry for Kane just can´t score.

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LoL, you realize that the NHL has no say over the referees...if we did, we wouldn't be playing on the international ice (which sucks IMO). And there's barely competent referees and world class...that's why they went with what they went with.
 
And Rask is in the top 5 goalies in the world....the other 2 Finn goalies are not in the top 25. And the best of the hockey world is pretty much just the NHL (referees included)...where do the Sedins, Zetterberg, Lundqvuist, and in the past, Forsberg, Sundin, and Lindstrom all play/played?  We've had a few great Swedes play for us (Leafs) over my lifetime...the top 2 most definitely Mats Sundin (one of the best captains/leaders we've had) and Borje Salming.
 
Wow...5-0 game. 

Canada has to much to say. It´s quite obvious how things work... Not to say the negotiations to get NHL to release players. But they can´t really make the rest of the world build small Ice rinks. Why we would do that I have absolutely no idea. I fully understand why canadiens would like to play their hockey everywhere though  I think it´s great to have both small and big ice. Requires different play styles. 
 
Really great bronze game the parts I did see. I watched the slalom but the 2nd run was such a parody. 18 out of 30 got down on the weirdest course ever.
 
Most of the best players do play in KHL and NHL yes due to the money. But as for goalies it´s a bit different since most teams want one first goalie that they can hauss up. I don´t think it´s to easy to rate goalies for that reason. I have seen the other goalies in Finland perform at the very same level you can´t just rate goalies weither they play in NHL or not.

oqvist said:

Canada has to much to say. It´s quite obvious how things work... Not to say the negotiations to get NHL to release players. But they can´t really make the rest of the world build small Ice rinks. Why we would do that I have absolutely no idea. I fully understand why canadiens would like to play their hockey everywhere though  I think it´s great to have both small and big ice. Requires different play styles. 

Really great bronze game the parts I did see. I watched the slalom but the 2nd run was such a parody. 18 out of 30 got down on the weirdest course ever.

Most of the best players do play in KHL and NHL yes due to the money. But as for goalies it´s a bit different since most teams want one first goalie that they can hauss up. I don´t think it´s to easy to rate goalies for that reason. I have seen the other goalies in Finland perform at the very same level you can´t just rate goalies weither they play in NHL or not.

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You do realize that the NHL is headquarted in NYC and there are only 7 (out if 30) teams in the NHL from Canada right?

With regards to goalies in other leagues, how can one consider them in the same light when they don't have the likes of Sidney Crosby, Steve Stamkos or the Sedins to play against every night? The Commissioner of the NHL is American as is the head of the player's union.

Amazing how the Finns just dismantled the US today.

macedonianhero said:

You do realize that the NHL is headquarted in NYC and there are only 7 (out if 30) teams in the NHL from Canada right?

With regards to goalies in other leagues, how can one consider them in the same light when they don't have the likes of Sidney Crosby, Steve Stamkos or the Sedins to play against every night?

The Commissioner of the NHL is American as is the head of the player's union.

Amazing how the Finns just dismantled the US today.

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I know all about that yes.
 
There is great players in KHL as well particularly. And you can judge by how they perform in the tournaments also. If you turn it around if you have such great defense as in NHL how can you rate the goalies in NHL

I 'd take an NHL goalie any day of the week; it's not about the number of shots, but the quality of scoring opportunities. If there are better ones in another league, they wouldn't be playing there.

I remember Jonas Gufstavson (the Monster) being touted as the best goalie outside of the nhl, what a bust he was.

Scouting today, nobody is under the radar.