So is anyone going to be watching the game tonight...what game?
CANADA vs RUSSIA of course!!!!!!!!

Any predictions?

Mine is WE WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


PS and as a side note, got to becareful what I say
of course the US is going to get more medals, look at the population difference, 10x Canadas, its always going to be that way, just more choice for atheletes, its just kinda cool the Olympics are happening near me in the lower manland Cheers

So, you're Russian?

No Way ehh

Should be a good game, although I can't say I am confident we are going to win... Hopefully BobbyLu has a great one.

Canada plays Russia tonight? Sweet! They played Germany yesterday so wasn't expecting them to play back to back days.

Definitely will be watching this.

To all the Axiomoes out there: gO CaNadA!

REFLECT!

Er... you did not specify if your are Canadian or Russian?
EDIT: Just realized someone had already made the joke

4:30 PST start time

I think I am bugging out of work early otherwise I'll miss the first

Hopefully tomorrow we will bask and REFLECT! in the light of a Canadian win.

Go Russia go. Oops.

By looking at my picture you guys will get a pretty good idea what team I’ll be rooting for :P … sorry I just don’t like SydneyC.
Right now I’m at work listening to the U.S.A. game online... uhg another nails bitter…Go USA!!

I always wondered why India is ranked so low in the Olympic medal count, it’s below Nigeria. I honestly cannot understand that, statistically it doesn’t make any sense.

We want Canada to win so we can stomp them again in the finals.

US is playing Switzerland now with a score of 1-0 in the third period.

Well.....China should win every event - assuming this is sound logic....

They're working on it.

Except Short Track Speed Skating.

That's better

That's the Koreans

Technically, I don't think the Koreans are "working on" short track. They've got it down.

pleasedon'ttellmeanyresultsi'veonlyseenthe1500sofartherestisonmytivo.

Whooo Hoo
USA wins!!

All I meant was Canada and the US probaly both regard sports and Olympic type events with the same importance. It just makes sence that the countries that hold sports in such regard those with the larger populations will do better in medal standings. Countries like China and especially India dont have the programs that we do. Look at the Austrians and skiiing. Maybe my theory is BS but I think it has some merit.

Of course it's true. If countries care about something, they put money there. We would destroy India in hockey but they would destroy us in cricket.

After a while it all just starts to kind of blend anyway, for example there are always athletes with dual citizenship or just got citizenship who represent a different country than the past (we've had this before with sprinters and a skiier this year, Lennox Lewis is a good example who was Canadian and then went to the UK) and even a lot of the other countries' hockey and curling coaches are Canadian. They even said the Chinese women's curling team is based in Calgary.

Who could possibly care about cricket?
Unless you were talking about Pinocchio?

I'm rooting for the Canadian hockey team, perhaps even if they play the USA in the finals.

In terms of generating joy for my fellow earthlings, I just think a Canadian win would be "happier". I can easily take joy in the triumphs of people I respect.

I think I could watch it if I understood it. I couldn't stand curling until I learned how to play it, now the strategy and drama is very appealling.

Now, I have to get back to practicing my Queen, We will Rock You cheer for tonights game.
Thump thump Smack
Thump thump Smack
Thump thump Smack

That's so Canadian

I'm more a root-for-the- underdog person, Canada is no hockey underdog.

I don't know how to play cricket, I know some games take like five days to play, and that is crazy.

EDIT: T-Minus 100 minutes!!

Neither is Russia.

Neither is the USA

Belarus... Now there's an underdog. Their women's hockey team lost last year to Slovakia 82-0.

They didn't stop the game?! Jeeeeezus...

That's a goal every 44 seconds... So cruel haha

Hey thanks thats a nice thing to say. When it al comes down to it its just a game. It is our national sport and it would be nice if Canada won since we are hosting the games.

I hope Im right when I say this, Id say football or baseball would be the US national sport and if the US played Canada, you would kick our a$$.

That should be illegal. I wonder what the Vegas line on that game was...

True.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3577150

Well, it was 31-0 after the first, so they did slow it down a little bit.



FWIW, Canada just beat Slovakia last week 18 - 0 .

That game didn't quite touch the 92-0 all time record though.

How do you give up 82 or 92 goals? Play without a goalie all game? Might as well.

Lots of 3-point goals. Isn't that 3 points when they shoot from behind the big circle?

Well after 2 periods

CANADA 7
RUSSIA 3

Final Score...Oh ya

Its funny. I haven't watched hockey for years, but come the Olympics I still get wound up. Its part of the Canadian psyche.

Or maybe "Snake Charming" as an X-game turned Olympic...

"Outplayed and outshot" is a perfect description of the USA/Switzerland game. It seemed like the entire game was played in the Swiss end of the rink. Shots on Goal: USA-44, Switzerland-19. At the end of 2nd period it was 32 to 8. Hiller did a fantastic job allowing only one goal.

UMM, didn't the Canadian team have to go to a shootout with Switzerland?

And what was he score the first time the US played the Swiss? I think your guys peaked to early

Man, well that was total destruction. I think as well as the Canadians played, the Russians played worse.

The Slovaks beat the Swedes too... Tomorrow night should be good. If this is another Canada/USA final, God help us all.

Wow. Some might say it wasn't a good game as there was no nail biting drama but I never counted the Russian's out until it got near the end. They have come from behind to get us before. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the best passing game I have seen played, well since maybe ever!

It's still a long road but if Canada can come back and it results in meeting the US again for the gold, you are right. Vancouver better call and reserve the military to help out now. Win or lose.

Perhaps. But I think the U.S. team just had the same problem in the second game with the Swiss that the Canadian team had with us AND the Swiss. Shots on goal is a nice stat, but the only stat that counts is shots IN goal.

Look at Jack talkin' hockey trash!

Of course, when your NFL team is the Browns...

Just kidding, Jack. Since the Browns hired Mike Holmgren, they became the 2nd favorite team of all Seattle football fans.

IMO Canada is the team to beat now that they have fixed their goaltending situation. Luongo should have been the goaltender this entire tournament. Canada has been the most explosive team thus far offensively with below average goaltending during the US game (which they dominated by the way).

The US team has played very well, most of their sucess has to do with their great goaltending (especially during the Canada game). Defensively they can break down, offensively very good, not as explosive as the Canadians.



I expect a Can vs USA final with Can winning a close game.

Go Canada!

PS: How about those Russians diving like soccer players during last nights game. ...lol

In the first period, yes. The Russians did look shaky in the first period. It was a much closer game in period 2 and 3.

That said, the Canadians came out gangbusters and played a very consistent game. They look to be ready for the finals.

It was not even an even match until Bryzgalov went in which was after it was 6-1... He should have gone in after it went 3-0 IMO, which was only about halfway through the first. After he went in the Russians outscored Canada 2-1.

what a great game last night....that was probably the most dominant display of hockey by one superpower over another that i have ever seen! All game Canada had 5 guys on the ice that just wanted the puck more than any of the 5 guys for Russia...i mean how good were Richards and Toews last night? I also like Pronger a lot more in his more "limited" roll, he's an alright shutdown guy but they can't ask him to provide offence from the back end - he's just too slow. Drew Doughty is just a wizard with the puck...this team is scary good and the great part about it is that their weaker players are also their oldest ones....they are going to be the team to beat for a lot of years. If I were Marian Hossa I'd be fitting for adult diapers right now!

Who's going to watch the women's tonight? Go Canada Go.

Go Girls! Go! That was a great performance!

Indeed! Shutout for olympic gold!!

One gold medal in hockey down, one more to go...

Congrats to all you Canucks! I would be surprised if you don't get a second gold this weekend. I enjoyed the U.S. victory over Canada the other night, but it was not hard to see that the results would probably be different if they played again.

The gals played another strong game last night to get the gold. I just hope that doesn't secure the removal of Lady's Hockey from the Olympics. I understand the "2 Horse Race" perspective but it would be a shame not to witness the other teams grow much more competitive, which they undoubtedly will.

I thoroughly enjoyed the women's final game last night. Outstanding talent all-around, but Canadian team was clearly superior, especially offensively, and without a doubt deserved the gold.

I am looking forward to the USA vs Finland this afternoon and suspect that it will be USA vs Canada for the final; THAT game should be the best hockey match the word has yet to see, and I would be happy all the same if the gold goes to us or to our brothers in the North.

Who thinks the mens team should get the womens goalie for the rest of the tourney? Was she ever incredible last night! Way to go girls!

I've heard the two horse race argument before, but I don't see it being that much different than any other event where the 30th or 20th ranked athlete has virtually no hope of winning either. You have to compete against a superior opponent in order to get better IMHO.

I don't see why it would. Men's hockey took ~40 years before anyone could really challenge our teams in the early days, 1924 to 1960.

Are we still talking about hockey?

I thought we were...

If they can remove Women's Softball from the Olympics because of the disparity between the U.S. and the rest of the world, then they certainly might do the same to Women's Hockey due to the gulf between Canada/USA and the rest of the world.

I hear you snickering about my interest in Softball, Tom. In my defense, allow me to say: Jennie Finch.

Yes! And we will again when discussing the Canada-Finland gold medal final on Sunday!

Well played, JP.

The University of Washington women won the softball National championship last year - it was a pretty big deal.

Eric, that's just mean.

USA! USA! (at least for today)

That is one team vs the world, not the same as the US and Canada women's hockey teams, as they have a greeat rivalry but if we keep winning the Gold medal maybe they will drop it like Softball

Jennie Finch was on Pro's vs Joe's awhile back and she can still pitch and look good doing it.

This discussion of sports dominance makes me think of USA basketball. From 1936-1984, the U.S. was 85-1 in Olympic play, the loss coming in 1972 in that horribly controversial loss to the USSR in which the officials gave the Soviets not one but two replays at the end of the game. But, by 1988, the world's talent had caught up to our collegians, and a bronze medal in Seoul was seen as a national embarrassment.

So Team USA dropped the atom bomb of Jordan, Magic, Bird, et al on Barcelona in 1992. The gap between the USA (NBA players) and the rest of the world was huge. The games were laughable. Coach Chuck Daly didn't have to call a single time-out. "The natural order is restored," the fans thought.

That didn't last long. By 2004, a U.S. team of NBA all-stars lost three games on its way to another bronze medal. The world's talent has largely closed the gap. Maybe the same will happen in women's hockey, eh?

They will eventually just because they do play against each other in various tournaments throughout the years.

Do the Softball teams ever play against each other any other time other than the Olympics? If not it makes it hard for the other countries to gauge their progress and get better.

Well, I glad this thread didnt open up a can of worms
I think the Can/Swe game was a closer game than the Can/US game. Canada was just finding their ways as a team against the Swedes. Even though Canada lost to the US, I think Canada played way better. With the US there was a couple give away goals, the last and first goals, for sure. Its not that the US looked bad, they didnt as a matter of fact they looked good, but Canada just looked alot better. Canada just totally dominated the Russians, they had their moments, but were no match for Canada that night. My prediction is Canadas just getting warmed up and the future is looking gold.

Edited: sorry, my self-deleted comment was because I had the wrong gender!

This is off topic, but this is just an amazing story. Good on her.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/02/26/quebec-cheers-for-skater-joannie-rochette.html

The longer it stays as an olympic sport, the more competitive it will get.

4-0 USA in the first ten minutes

Hey, they stole our playbook!!

6-0 after 1 period, holy smokes

Canada has better smoke these guys tonight, the US is going to be super confident going into that gold medal game.

If this is a Canada/USA final, this town is going to go into meltdown.

I still remember in 2002 driving down main streets in the back of a pickup truck with 14 other people, with beers in hand and topless women everywhere, and cops just watching it all. This will be about ten times that.

Tom, they're Canadians.

Of course they're still talking about hockey!

"I find your lack of faith (in team USA) disturbing" especially considering USA is currently 6-0 against Fins in the 1st period.

LOL @Mark!

Star Wars?

"That's a bingo !"

I must say I was a tad surprised at Finland's performance being able to get through to the semis. Before the tourney I questioned whether they would even make the quarters but they were in the weakest of the groupings. I was very surprised to see them make it past the Czechs. When your best player is a Toronto Maple Leaf castoff you are in for a rough ride in a tournament like that. Likely only to get worse for the Fins too - their most skilled players are getting up there in age and may not be around for the next Olympics. The US on the other hand will challenge for gold the next couple of Olympics with this young team.

Let's just hope Canada holds up their end of the bargain and we get the North American final everyone has been hoping for!

He's referring to the Bronze medal game

Someone needs to tell the Ruskies the cold war ended years ago. On top of the crap that Pravda is spewing, they also blame Canada for their failure to win the men's figure skating championship(won by US). Political posturing for the next Olympics in Moscow or simply sore losers?

Don't blame Canada, blame ChokeVechkin.

Wow. That's just sort of insane.

Darn you got it edited before I could post my comment so in fairness I won’t.

^I started reading more about the background of this Pravda and it seems more of a tabloid nowadays

This reminds me of the SNL skit from a while back... Jeaallousssssss?

Although, no matter what people want to say, at least in Vancouver, the media really do care what other people think. BIG TIME. Any time there is a "Vancouver best place to live" or any of these other magazine stories, they eat it up, make it the top story on the news... etc.

"My prediction is Canadas just getting warmed up and the future is looking gold."

You underestimate the power of the dark side.

Canada almost blew it, what a crazy finish.

Sunday is gonna be interesting. I'm not making any predictions.

Ya OMG, if the game would went for another minute, I think Slovakia would have scored, crazy finish alright. The game on sunday is the one everybody wanted, should be a nail biter. I think 90% of canadians will be watching, cant wait.

Go Canada

DAMN RIGHT DARCMAN! GO CANADA!

Lets try that again GO CANADA!

I think I'll drink some Molson tomorrow for the game...

















NOT!!!!!!!!

Good old Budweiser in a can. From Walmart. GO USA!!!

I'll have to miss the live game. My volleyball league team plays on Sundays.

How does Harriet Wheeler feel about that?

lol, so redneck

Even American beer up here is juiced up. I am not sure about Bud actually, but I know MGD is stronger up here than the water they sell down there, and it's still pretty weak.

Don't forget the shotgun on your lap.

I'm just coming from the grocery store. I only realized that I ended up with an all-Unibroue setup, but that was not the initial intention, just the result of 3 separate choices:

1. 1x750ml Maudite (to kick start the game and... maybe a bit before)
2. 6x341ml Raftan for during the game
3. 1x750ml Trois Pistoles for the win!

Brin'em ON!

I have had Maudite many of times, quite an excellent beer. Unibroue makes some very nice beers.

With all this talk of beer going around, some of you may be passed out before the end of the game.

I haven't tried Raftan. Don't think I've even seen it in the store.

Actually, it's Raftman... It's a pretty good, light-brown beer that has only subtly the slight sour taste typical of Unibroue. I would describe it as a "NewCastle gone to Belgium".

Tied after regulation. Overtime. What a terrific game. Kudos to both teams.

I almost cried when the US tied it up, good game though.
Well whatever happens, both teams have played awesome.

Yup, after two periods I told everyone I was watching with it was going to be a wild final period. US is not going down without a fight.

I'll say. Canada however...

Yaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, that was amazing!!

Ya wow this really brings Crosby up to super golden boy statis.

Awesome game. Good for you guys.... There was a part of me hoping Canada would win....

Your Adam's apple?

Canada, wonderful, enough said!

Kudos to Team USA who managed to win a silver with a very young team. The next few years are only to get better...
Not Canada-good, but better...

Oh! Almost forgot... The Trois Pistoles is quite good!

We'll get you in roller hockey, the only hockey that matters.

You know its funny, americans seem to be alot more patriotic. When you drive down to Washington state, youll see alot of american flags on homes. In Canada you dont see that much, but you know at this moment Im really proud to be Canadian.

The secret is still being proud even when you're the loser. Ha ha.

Great game, both teams showed a lot of heart, the Americans to tie it and the Canadians to regroup.

I wouldn't say Canadians are any less patriotic than our neighbours, btw, we just show it in different ways.

You know, in such a close game as this you almost wish that they could declare a tie/double gold. Alas, there a couple of countries out there including Ru-cough-ssia, that would probably 'arrange' a tie game. Not that they didn't do that in the past or anything....

traitor

You're one to talk. You gave up your humanity... twice!

Hockey is important to Canadians. Them losing the Gold would be like the USA losing the Superbowl to Russia.

Or loosing Olympic's basketball?

Or like the Russians not winning any of the figure skating gold medals. Oops!

Or CV losing his virginity?

Maybe they need to go back to the 'old' judging ::snicker::

Oh, the one where they pay off the judges?

To be fair, the Russians I've seen have been very, very good. Haven't seen the women's yet (it's all on the TiVo), but the Chinese pair and Lysacek (sp?) were better.

Just thought I would let everyone know what's going on at my house this evening. Right now my sister and Teri are wrapping each other up in a garbage bag and duct tape to make a dress.

People call me a loser all the time, no seriously I am proud to be Canadian, were just a little more laid back up here.
I am proud to be Canadian, we have medical, ha ha.

CANADA #1

You have to validate that, Cam. A couple of pics will do....

I have some 'kitchen catcher' sized ones, if they want to go a little more risk-aye!!

You say garbage bag and dress as singulars, so does that mean that one dress is housing both of their bodies? When do I get to be duct-taped to a woman?

I'll do my best to provide you guys was some pictures. I know they took a couple, but then my camera ran out of juice.

It's funny that you mention "kitchen catchers" because Teri used one for each boob , and that's no lie.

OK!! now you're just taunting us, Cam.

That was a good game - much better than the Super Bowl.

If they would have had the polar bear swim, Michael Phelps would have cleaned up.

Holy crap, I think I almost died today.

I had my old man over in the theatre (yes, theatRE) and I told him with about eight minutes left in the game that if it got to the point where Miller was on the bench and it was six on five I thought I was going to have a heart attack. When they scored I was actually pretty annoyed because we hit two posts in the beginning of the period and I thought we deserved to win. Looking back however both teams played just an awesome game, the people paying thousands for seats got their money's worth. Being in Vancouver of course I wanted this just as badly for Luongo as for the whole team as he has been criticized as someone who can't win when it counts (although he has played on some crappy teams for years).

Overall this has been such a great day for us Canadians, not only did we win this gold obviously but that also clinched the record for most golds ever in a winter Olympics. I am sad this is all done, it has been just an incredible two weeks and I don't know how I am going to come home from work and not have a bunch of bobsled or speed skating or skiing to catch up on. My wife has been volunteering at the media centre, she is there right now and she says downtown is just insanity. She also got a free ticket to the closing ceremonies (jealous ).

Overall a very proud day for me and my countrymates.

That will be in the next winter Olympics.

...if the polar bears didn't eat him...

Could never figure out why theatre and centre are different.

It's ye olde English way to spell it

Same with colour, or honour... There's a U in there.

Right, forgot that.

Congrats to Canada for a great gold medal win and a terrific job hosting the Games.

What a game! You couldn't have made it more dramatic if it was written out for a movie script. It was anybody win. Gratz to the US for never saying die. They showed true spirit.

This gold also nailed down a world's record for most golds in a Winter Olympics, adding even more to the storybook ending. Congratulations to all our athletes!!! I don't think I have ever watch so much sports in such a short time before.

Ditto. Although... is Canada still kinda hung-up on '80s music? Between that, those awful sweaters and the plaid stuff... yikes.

Spiffy needs to give 'em a makeover.

Roots Canada used to have the contract for Olympic apparel, however they lost it , this is the result. Roots made nice stuff. I actually thought the closing ceremonies was pretty good.

Nickelback is 90s music. And kind of the knee jerk reaction...

"Name a Canadian band, quick!"
'Nickelback!'
"Excellent... get them for the closing ceremonies"
'Dammit, I should have said Barenaked Ladies!'

Having said that, I didn't watch the closing ceremonies, if you're refering to something I missed.

Bren R.

I wish they would have had some oldies playing like Rush and Bryan Adams.

I would have had Rush, Tragically Hip, Loreena McKennitt amongst others. Bruce Coburn would probably have worked in well with the theme of the ceremonies too. There were rumours that Rush was a possibility but I pretty much dismissed it as such since they've never really done anything like that before. Would have been pretty cool to have a 20 minute instrumental going while all the athletes filtered into BC Place though.

Could have been Celine Dion.

I think my first thought would have been Rush, followed closely by Moxy Frouvus. But I suspect Frouvus would have been a little much for the closing ceremonies.

Didn't Bryan Adams perform in the opening ceremonies?

No way. We gave her away to you guys in the US and distinctly specified "No Returnsies!!"

I heard that The Who was available???

Where was Shania Twain?

Where was Rush?!

I heard they flew away from there.




By night, of course.

They are seeking the sacred river Alph.

Speaking of music and musicians at the Olympics, KD Lang's version of Hallelujah hit #2 on itunes downloads after she sang it at the opening ceremonies. This has to be one of my all time favourites by a female vocalist.

Nobody comes close to her version, imo, not even Leonard himself.

Rush refused to lip-sync or pretend to play along to recorded music

Plus then the closing ceremonies would probably have been about 6 hours long. What with the 3 hour concert in the middle. Which would have been awesome.

I'm sure a lot of the bigger acts wanted money that VANOC wasn't about to dish out. I know Celine is trying to get pregnant or something and turned down the invitation to perform at the opening ceremonies.

Hedley was actually my brother in-laws locker mate when they were in high school about a decade ago. I don't think an act as "small" as him gets a nod to something like that without bigger acts turning it down however.

Ya I would have gone to the Rush, Bryan Adams, Shania, Tragically Hip, Bare Naked Ladies, April Wine, BTO, Colin James, Loreena McKennitt, Bruce Coburn, Kim Mitchel, Tom Cochrane, Sarah McLachlan, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Led Zeplin, ACDC, olympic concert too, but I guess it wasnt meant to be.

And then they rolled out Shatner.

Is there anybody less relevant than that guy? I only listened for like two seconds, but WTF? Cap'n Kirk was a re-run in the 80's - what the hell is he doing up there now? Maybe the Sham-Wow guy was booked?

Reminds me of how the Ruskies refused help when their boomer sank. I'm sure some of our Hollywood folks would have been glad to help.

Captain Quirk? He just keeps showing up. Didn't he just get cast in yet another series?

Yeah, we were SO wanting one of the American Idol runner-ups or one of the many "talented" BET rappers .

What's wrong with the Sham Wow guy? SLAP CHOP!!

Yes. Believe it or not, he'll be playing the father in a pilot for a TV series based on a 29 year-old's Twitter account, with which he shares real quotes of his 73 year-old father's wisdom.

That is just wrong.

In so many ways.