How totally deflating! I did not see that coming!
There was a nice set-up by Schenn to Ellis for the opening PP goal, and a huge goal by Ashton late in the period to close out the first period up 2-0.
Schenn with a rocket in the second, chases the Russian starter, and gives us a 3-0 lead that we take to the second intermission. Nothing could possibly go wrong... famous last words.
During the first two minutes of the third, I was already considering what I was going to say about the game. I was saying out loud that while it's nice to win, the game had been pretty boring. No flow, no momentum swings, no sustained pressure, and no lead changes. Obviously I spoke too soon. When the Russians scored two goals only 11 seconds apart, I was thinking - OK, now we've got a game. Then, Tarasenko (who not too much earlier looked like they were dragging his dead corpse off of the ice) scores a mirror image goal to Schenn's (same pass across the ice, same one timer, same number, and same celebration), and it's all tied up. At this point I was thinking - suddenly their beating us to all of the loose pucks. The Russians go ahead with 5 minutes left, and then they score their fifth unanswered goal of the period with only a minute and a half left. It's all over but the crying.
They brought this goalie for the sole purpose of beating the Canadians. He started the tournament against Canada, lost, and never played again - until Canada went up by three. He stopped all 20 shots, and won the player of the game. Only played half the game, and won the player of the game. Good call!
I'm a gracious looser. Way to go Russia! Loosing the first two games of the tournament, being down by two late in the quarter final and still coming back to win, being down late in the semis and coming back to win, and being down by three in the third period of the gold medal game. If Canada had done anything like that, I would have said that it was destiny. Congratulations!
It's too bad that the silver medal is never any consolation to a Canadian hockey fan.
Considering how much I just said... I feel speechless.
The End.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year's (continued)
You may recall from my original New Year's post, that I said that the fireworks were short and sweet, and that we must not have had a very large budget for them. As it turns out, the fire department had placed all of the fireworks in the snow (in preparation for shooting them off later) during the afternoon in the daylight. When it came time to shoot them off, there was nobody sober enough to find them all in the dark, or remember where they had put them. As a result, the fireworks that we had at 9pm on New Year's Day (after everyone got closer to sober), were way more impressive than the small sampling that we got the previous night.
This picture clearly doesn't do it justice, but I'll try to walk you through it anyway. When the three of us had gone for our walk in the storm, you could hardly see anything. After a short break, Rory and I went to climb the mountain to the cross. It took us about an hour, since the conditions were so harsh, and every route that we tried required a certain amount of crawling (that's right, crawling). But, during the hike, all of the loose snow had blown away, and we were left with nothing but a howling wind. Not only that, but once we got to the plateau right before the final stretch, we realized that the wind was even worse. I was kneeling on the ground by a rock (for stability), and trying to keep the angle right, unsuccessfully. This was Rory not leaning into the wind, but just struggling to stand against the force of the wind (with a pretty nice background). I was actually giving him quite a bit of credit here, because I spent most of my time at the peak on the ground. It was wicked!
Watch your back Russia... we're coming for you!
Stay tuned.
Watch your back Russia... we're coming for you!
Stay tuned.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Take That, Damn Yankees!
I suppose it would have been nice if the game had been closer, but I don't mind at all. Awesome!
I was a little surprised that they started Visentin, but he kept getting stronger as the game went along, and obviously the coach made the right call.
Canada started the game off strong, and Hamilton was wide open and kept digging to get Canada on the board. Howden had a nice effort driving towards the net and tipping in the pass to make it 2-0 in a totally dominant period.
It only took one bad call for the ref to get into trouble in the second. He blew the call against Canada, and ended up making a make-up call to make it even. The problem with that, is that now when something obvious happens, you have no choice but to give a two man advantage, just because you made a bad call three penalties ago. Johansen scores the PP goal, and now it's three zip, and it doesn't look good for the Americans.
Kassian scores in the third to put the nail in the coffin, and the Americans score on the powerplay to ruin the shutout bid. That's that. The game was fun to watch, the atmosphere was electric (with way more Canadian fans than American - in the US no less), and the outcome couldn't have been better. Bring on the Russians!
I promise, tomorrow will have nothing to do with hockey.
Stay tuned.
I was a little surprised that they started Visentin, but he kept getting stronger as the game went along, and obviously the coach made the right call.
Canada started the game off strong, and Hamilton was wide open and kept digging to get Canada on the board. Howden had a nice effort driving towards the net and tipping in the pass to make it 2-0 in a totally dominant period.
It only took one bad call for the ref to get into trouble in the second. He blew the call against Canada, and ended up making a make-up call to make it even. The problem with that, is that now when something obvious happens, you have no choice but to give a two man advantage, just because you made a bad call three penalties ago. Johansen scores the PP goal, and now it's three zip, and it doesn't look good for the Americans.
Kassian scores in the third to put the nail in the coffin, and the Americans score on the powerplay to ruin the shutout bid. That's that. The game was fun to watch, the atmosphere was electric (with way more Canadian fans than American - in the US no less), and the outcome couldn't have been better. Bring on the Russians!
I promise, tomorrow will have nothing to do with hockey.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Bring It On Americans
I was finally relieved to see that Visentin got the start today. That, of course, only lasted for a few seconds, until he let in that completely stinky goal, tipped in by our own defenseman.
This shot is actually back from the tournament opener against Russia, but even as I'm writing this, I'm looking down and seeing that I'm still wearing exactly the same outfit (right down to the pajamas). The only difference, is that I'm wearing a black team Canada T-shirt under the jersey, since the jersey alone didn't fare that well against the Swedes.
After the early deficit, Johansen continued his domination, as he tied it up in the first. Cizikas went top shelf to give us the lead in the second, and Leblanc put it away with a nice shot in the third. Kassian's empty-netter was pointless, but counts anyway. I would have been just as happy if he had carried it down into the corner and eaten up more clock, but that's just me.
We had tons of shots, with very few second chances, we went back to trying the stupid back door play on the PP (which still didn't work), and Visentin looked even more shaky than Roy. At this point, I don't think that I'll be shocked for either one of the goalies getting the start tomorrow. I might even lean towards Roy (I know, make up my mind). I wouldn't even bother with a prediction for tomorrow, other than that it will be another classic match-up, full of high intensity, and probably several lead changes.
Go Canada Go!
After the early deficit, Johansen continued his domination, as he tied it up in the first. Cizikas went top shelf to give us the lead in the second, and Leblanc put it away with a nice shot in the third. Kassian's empty-netter was pointless, but counts anyway. I would have been just as happy if he had carried it down into the corner and eaten up more clock, but that's just me.
We had tons of shots, with very few second chances, we went back to trying the stupid back door play on the PP (which still didn't work), and Visentin looked even more shaky than Roy. At this point, I don't think that I'll be shocked for either one of the goalies getting the start tomorrow. I might even lean towards Roy (I know, make up my mind). I wouldn't even bother with a prediction for tomorrow, other than that it will be another classic match-up, full of high intensity, and probably several lead changes.
Go Canada Go!
Morning Weather Mayhem
I was going to get this off a little earlier, so that there would be the opportunity to check it out well before the game, but we were shaken awake with an incredible wind. Fran and I got up, only to realize that we couldn't even see out of the window. The little lid to the attic was actually lifting up and banging down with a loud thud. We have a door with a little 3x3 porch, then a second door at the bottom of the stairs (both of these with deadbolts), then there's a stairway (14 steps), a right angle, and then another door into the house. You could very easily feel the wind blasting past that third door into the house! Rory got up complaining about his bed shaking so much that he couldn't sleep. Obviously we had no choice but to gear up, and go outside to get the full effect of the power of the wind. Awesome! Then Rory and I climbed the mountain to the cross, because we knew that even on seemingly calm days the wind is outrageous up there. I'll continue the story, and show you a picture or two later.
For fans, you already know this, for casual observers, I'll give you a little rundown of the implications of Friday's loss. Had we won, we (and the Americans) would have had today off, watched two other teams play each other today for the right to play us tomorrow, and then been fully rested for our game tomorrow against a worn out team. Then, we would have had the opportunity to play against the US for the gold on Wednesday. After our loss, now we have to play the Swiss in an elimination match, while the US has the day off, then (if we win), we have to go right back at it and play the well rested US in the semi-finals tomorrow, for a chance at gold on Wednesday (most likely a rematch with the Swedes). Not impossible, but obviously a lot tougher road to go down than had we won on Friday. On the upside, it gives Brayden Schenn another game's worth of opportunity to reach the all-time points lead for one tournament.
Stay tuned.
For fans, you already know this, for casual observers, I'll give you a little rundown of the implications of Friday's loss. Had we won, we (and the Americans) would have had today off, watched two other teams play each other today for the right to play us tomorrow, and then been fully rested for our game tomorrow against a worn out team. Then, we would have had the opportunity to play against the US for the gold on Wednesday. After our loss, now we have to play the Swiss in an elimination match, while the US has the day off, then (if we win), we have to go right back at it and play the well rested US in the semi-finals tomorrow, for a chance at gold on Wednesday (most likely a rematch with the Swedes). Not impossible, but obviously a lot tougher road to go down than had we won on Friday. On the upside, it gives Brayden Schenn another game's worth of opportunity to reach the all-time points lead for one tournament.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Sweden 6, Canada 5
Great game, terrible result!
Once again, without revealing the ending just yet, I was shocked to see that Roy was our starting goalie. Sure, you're thinking that hind sight is 20-20, but I said that last time already. I'm not sure what the coach is seeing during games or practices that I'm not seeing, but there is no way that with his weak performance so far, that he would have been my starter again. That being said, after our early goal (that certainly had some luck, but involved some great effort), there was nothing that Roy could have done about their first two goals. And then, let's face it, our next two goals were alot more luck than skill again. So, after the first period we have a 3-2 lead, but they had two good goals, while we had one go in off of their defenceman's skate, we had a long wrister (that should have been stopped), and the lucky bounce off of the glass with half a second left.
To start off the second, they score two weak goals. I couldn't believe that Roy wasn't pulled after the 3-3 goal, and then when he let in the fourth, I guess we might as well leave him in now. If we weren't going to pull him on time to preserve the lead, we might as well not pull him once we're already behind. Sweden was putting up way more of a fight than I was expecting. The score was staying close, and we were out hitting them, but they were creating more chances, and out-shooting us by a long margin. Now, we did score a very nice short-handed goal to tie it back up, and then Schenn scored a huge goal to give us another lead. I guess I'm going to have to eat my words about him disappearing in the big games. That's the biggest game that we've had so far, and he set up the tying goal, and score the go-ahead goal in the third. Only scoring in OT would have been bigger than what he already did.
Sweden scored a pretty tough goal to tie it up, OT settled nothing, and what can you say about important games being decided by a shoot-out. Six lead changes, huge hits up and down the ice, terribly exciting game. Another New Year's Eve classic! It was a shocking loss to me, but at least it didn't come during an elimination game, and we're not out of it yet.
I'll touch on tomorrow's Swiss game, and the implications of yesterday's loss, tomorrow morning.
Stay tuned.
Once again, without revealing the ending just yet, I was shocked to see that Roy was our starting goalie. Sure, you're thinking that hind sight is 20-20, but I said that last time already. I'm not sure what the coach is seeing during games or practices that I'm not seeing, but there is no way that with his weak performance so far, that he would have been my starter again. That being said, after our early goal (that certainly had some luck, but involved some great effort), there was nothing that Roy could have done about their first two goals. And then, let's face it, our next two goals were alot more luck than skill again. So, after the first period we have a 3-2 lead, but they had two good goals, while we had one go in off of their defenceman's skate, we had a long wrister (that should have been stopped), and the lucky bounce off of the glass with half a second left.
To start off the second, they score two weak goals. I couldn't believe that Roy wasn't pulled after the 3-3 goal, and then when he let in the fourth, I guess we might as well leave him in now. If we weren't going to pull him on time to preserve the lead, we might as well not pull him once we're already behind. Sweden was putting up way more of a fight than I was expecting. The score was staying close, and we were out hitting them, but they were creating more chances, and out-shooting us by a long margin. Now, we did score a very nice short-handed goal to tie it back up, and then Schenn scored a huge goal to give us another lead. I guess I'm going to have to eat my words about him disappearing in the big games. That's the biggest game that we've had so far, and he set up the tying goal, and score the go-ahead goal in the third. Only scoring in OT would have been bigger than what he already did.
Sweden scored a pretty tough goal to tie it up, OT settled nothing, and what can you say about important games being decided by a shoot-out. Six lead changes, huge hits up and down the ice, terribly exciting game. Another New Year's Eve classic! It was a shocking loss to me, but at least it didn't come during an elimination game, and we're not out of it yet.
I'll touch on tomorrow's Swiss game, and the implications of yesterday's loss, tomorrow morning.
Stay tuned.
Happy New Year!
Strangely, I'll be saving hockey talk for another blog later in the day.
Instead, I'll mention a little about New Year's in the arctic. Last year (in Repulse Bay), they staked out the design of 2010 on the ice, and used about 300 snowmobiles to drive around the course creating the numbers of the year in headlights. It actually looked pretty cool. I was thinking that maybe they were just using Inuk time, because the whole thing only got started around 12:30. I realize through this year's celebration, that they actually bring in the new year at the community centre, and then do some of the other stuff afterwards.
The ocean is actually starting to freeze right now, but clearly way too late (with way too much open water) to do anything out on the ocean last night. The only thing that actually took place at midnight... gunshots! There must have been at least a thousands gunshots going off at midnight. Some of them were very close, and some of them were obviously high calibre. You could feel the sound shock, even in the house. Needless to say, the dogs didn't enjoy that very much at all. Shortly after the gunshots started to die down, the fireworks got started. They took place at the dock, which is straight away from our living room window, so we had a front row seat. They were actually quite nice, but a little short (I'm assuming that we didn't have an extremely large budget for that). We were under the impression that the fireworks were the end, so we went to bed. Ten minutes later, the parade began. Two laps of the town, led by the fire truck (all sirens going off, all horns honking on the vehicles following it, and obviously everyone hammered).
At least you can always count on the mornings being peaceful (no matter which hamlet you're in), because nobody gets up at a reasonable hour. It's by far the best time to go for a walk, go to the ocean shore, or just check out things around town. At 8 in the morning, it would be easy enough to imagine that nobody lives here.
Anyway, hockey later (maybe twice).
Stay tuned.
Instead, I'll mention a little about New Year's in the arctic. Last year (in Repulse Bay), they staked out the design of 2010 on the ice, and used about 300 snowmobiles to drive around the course creating the numbers of the year in headlights. It actually looked pretty cool. I was thinking that maybe they were just using Inuk time, because the whole thing only got started around 12:30. I realize through this year's celebration, that they actually bring in the new year at the community centre, and then do some of the other stuff afterwards.
The ocean is actually starting to freeze right now, but clearly way too late (with way too much open water) to do anything out on the ocean last night. The only thing that actually took place at midnight... gunshots! There must have been at least a thousands gunshots going off at midnight. Some of them were very close, and some of them were obviously high calibre. You could feel the sound shock, even in the house. Needless to say, the dogs didn't enjoy that very much at all. Shortly after the gunshots started to die down, the fireworks got started. They took place at the dock, which is straight away from our living room window, so we had a front row seat. They were actually quite nice, but a little short (I'm assuming that we didn't have an extremely large budget for that). We were under the impression that the fireworks were the end, so we went to bed. Ten minutes later, the parade began. Two laps of the town, led by the fire truck (all sirens going off, all horns honking on the vehicles following it, and obviously everyone hammered).
At least you can always count on the mornings being peaceful (no matter which hamlet you're in), because nobody gets up at a reasonable hour. It's by far the best time to go for a walk, go to the ocean shore, or just check out things around town. At 8 in the morning, it would be easy enough to imagine that nobody lives here.
Anyway, hockey later (maybe twice).
Stay tuned.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)