Winter Olympics Ice Hockey and alpine skiing favorites . . .

[jenaniston]

OK . . . google's splash screen with Winter Olympics motif has got me in the spirit . . .
and with our international forum members these questions could incite some
- well - spirited conversation . . .

"Since 1920, the Canadians and the Russians have been
the only two countries to repeat as champions in this Olympic sport."
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/333169-can-team-sweden-repeat-ice-hockey-gold-in-the-2010-winter-olympics

So . . .who's your Ice Hockey favorite ? Can the Swedes repeat gold ?
- or will the Finns finally get the Au with some of their NHL stars ?

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/sunblush/swedes.jpg

2006 Gold Medal Game: Sweden 3 - Finland 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9vSabyqTTc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuAyKKRnuSo&feature=related

http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/2010wintergames/sports/2010wintergames/great+Kurri+tries+lead+Finland+gold/2542945/story.html

USA v. Switzerland
Canada v. Norway . . . start the Group A on Tuesday.

And . . . for individual events . . . with no offense to all the other competitions . . .
especially snowboarding -
but alpine skiing has the long time prestige - who to watch out for on the big downhills ?

[cariboo]

Being Canadian, We will win our eighth on the men's side and the women will beat the Americans for the gold again.

[jenaniston]

Being Canadian, We will win our eighth on the men's side and the women will beat the Americans for the gold again.

Last time Winter Olympics held in North America they were 1-2 . . .

"It might be the biggest hockey tournament ever. Twelve nations are lined up and ready to
go for the gold in Vancouver . . . heavily-hyped Group A."

Canada 2006: Seventh place
Last medal, 2002 - Gold

USA 2006: Eighth place
Last medal, 2002 - Silver

"The pressure that "host" status places on the Canadian hockey team,
however, is incredible. Nothing but a gold will be accepted in the Games . . ."
http://olympics.fanhouse.com/2010/02/15/olympic-hockey-preview-group-a/

Switzerland's goalie is a starter in the NHL for Anaheim . . .
but I think the Swedes and Finns are really packed with many NHL players.

Overall, it makes it more interesting for the North America fans in Canada and USA
with all the international players on NHL teams representing their home nations in Vancouver.

[jenaniston]

OK . . . google's splash screen with Winter Olympics motif has got me in the spirit . . .

- who to watch out for on the big downhills ?

Gold in the men's downhill went to a Swiss,
with Norway a silver and an American got the bronze.

http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-features/news/newsid=419657.html

[mamamia88]

GO USA Patrick Kane is my favorite player

[jenaniston]

GO USA Patrick Kane is my favorite player

Miller got to keep a fallen family member tribute on his goalie helmet . . .
but the corporate slogan . . . "Miller time" was NOT allowed.

USA 3 Switzerland 1


http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/sunblush/usavswiss.jpg

[JDShu]

Wow just found out about Canada's near upset by the the Swiss. Suddenly beating them on on the 21st seems more possible.

[jenaniston]

Wow just found out about Canada's near upset by the the Swiss.
Suddenly beating them on on the 21st seems more possible.

and then waking up in the USA on the 22nd if you missed the evening . . .

USA 5 Canada 3
"Monday is the 30th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. . . .
. . . finishing as the No. 1 seed in the 12-team field, the Americans hold the biggest pen.
Their next opponent, on Wednesday, will be the winner of the Switzerland-Belarus
qualifying match on Tuesday."

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/sports/olympics/23hockey.html

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo161/sunblush/usa5canada3.jpg

also . . .
Sweden 3 Finland 0
Russia 4 Czech 2

Medal round brackets :
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/bracket/ice_hockey;_ylt=Ando.CoKUCeACrvM86lTpdQ5nYcB

[Simian Man]

Awesome day of hockey yesterday. The difference in the USA/Canada game was the goal-tending; Canada had over twice as many shots as the Americans.

I would normally be kind of torn between America and Canada, but after the Canadian team passed on selecting Lightning (my hometown team) stars Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis, I say let them lose :).

Looking at the brackets, I'm thinking it's going to be USA against either Russia or Canada in the finals. Should be awesome.

[Mr. Picklesworth]

Awesome day of hockey yesterday. The difference in the USA/Canada game was the goal-tending; Canada had over twice as many shots as the Americans.

Indeed. And for some reason we're holding back on an awesome goal tender (Luongo) even though Brodeur is clearly having a bad night.

I also blame Chris Pronger, Calgary, those annoying horns, and the procedure for obtaining Canadian citizenship. It should be required — nay, forced — for Canucks centres.

I'm Canadian, so of course part of me definitely wants the Canadian team to win. On the other hand, if they lost miserably, it would be entertaining to watch all those annoying "oh boy, we're patriotic because we think Canada is the best at hockey. Buy our product!" advertisements have to backtrack a little :)

[ve4cib]

Can the Swedes repeat gold ?
- or will the Finns finally get the Au with some of their NHL stars ?

After yesterday's game between the Swedes and the Fins I've got to say that the odds of a Swedish repeat-victory are looking good.

[Simian Man]

Tonight at 7:00 Eastern Time, Canada vs. Russia. Should be an awesome game :). We'll see some of the best players in the NHL competing with Penguins teammates Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin along with Cap's star Alex Ovechkin.