What am I to do? I hate most of what the Olympics are about...except, they provide the best tournament of world talent in ice hockey that can be found. And, none of it is on TV here. I've been abel to get re-caps of games off the internet and a game or two from torrent files that are out there. But, nothing compares to the live action you can see of a game.
On top of that...the tournament is turning out to be a doozy!
First was this...
Jordan Leopold saved the United States from a potentially embarrassing loss in men's hockey action at the Torino Olympics on Wednesday.
The Calgary Flames defenceman beat former NHL goaltender Arturs Irbe early in the third period with a hard shot just inside the Latvian blue-line as the teams skated to a 3-3 tie at the Palasport Olimpico.
Not a big deal...only a tie, afterall. Then this...
In what is beginning to shape up as an unpredictable Olympic men's hockey tournament, Russia blanked Sweden 5-0 Thursday.
The Russians, who looked ragged in their opening 5-3 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday, used their speed to surprise the Swedes.
Then this...
David Aebischer isn't the only Colorado Avalanche goaltender starring at the Torino Winter Games.
Peter Budaj stopped 28 shots for his second win of the Olympic men's hockey tournament and Peter Bondra scored the decisive goal in a 2-1 Slovakia decision over the United States on Saturday.
and this...
Sweden's men's hockey team defeated the United States 2-1 in Group B action at the Torino Olympic Winter Games on Sunday.
Daniel Alfredsson had one goal and one assist as Team Sweden (3-1) clinched a berth in the quarter-finals.
and this...
In a game that was supposed to be a warm-up for tougher opponents, Switzerland shocked the Canadian men's hockey team 2-0 at the Torino Olympics Saturday morning.
After stunning the Czech Republic Thursday with a 3-2 win, using speed and great goaltending, the Swiss displayed the same formula to upset Canada at Torino Esposizioni.
and finally...THIS!
Antero Niittymaki handed Canada its second consecutive shutout loss at the Torino Olympics, stopping 24 shots in a 2-0 Finland decision in men's hockey on Sunday.
The Philadelphia Flyers goaltender, who was particularly sharp in the second period, has stretched Canada's goalless streak to 120 minutes, 34 seconds, dating back to Shane Doan's third-period goal in Thursday's 5-1 win over Germany.
I don't know where to start. Ice hockey is truly a global sport. There used to be a time when only the Soviets and Canadians were any good...then that shifted to the Canadians the the USA...now, its anyone's game on any give night. And I am missing it all! The standings are whacked...Canada with only 4 points and the USA with only 3 points and both teams with TWO losses. It's adding up to be a great tournament with underdogs around every corner.
I'm sticking with my pre-Olympic prediction of the Czech Republic with the gold medal this year...followed by Canada and Sweden. Sorry, the USA is just too young and inexperienced for my liking.
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