2009-10 NHL Thread

Well, you might land a ticket for say, USA/Norway at a reasonable price (maybe $200 per ticket) but if you look online, a ticket to the USA/Canada game will probably set you back about $1500 each

 

Yeah, the prices are outrageous.

For what it's worth, I'm taking Russia for gold, Canada for silver and Slovakia over USA in a surprise for bronze.

I think the home-ice advantage won't be as big of a factor, because so many teams have NHL guys who are used to playing on the smaller ice surface and also used to the city, the arenas, etc.

 

I don't know. If I could afford it, I'd drop a few grand on a gold medal hockey game if Canada were in it. What's outrageous is paying $200.00 for a Leafs/Thrashers game in November.

 

Gold - Sweden
Silver - Canada
Bronze - USA

 

Gold-Team with hottest goalie

 

Russia is the team to beat in the men's hockey.

The trouble with tournaments like this, one screw-up (hi, Tommy Salo!) can cost you a place on the podium. It's an entirely different kettle of fish in a best of seven.

Look at Brodeur's game against Ottawa a week or so ago. He was a human sieve. If he has a game like that, say, in the quarters and you're done like dinner.

 

Not sold on Russia.

 

An interesting take on the HNIC music combining the passion of Canada along with its most polarizing export - at least to many on this board:

http://www.neilpeart.net/news/index.html

 

Here's the video....

 

My biggest question mark with them is their depth on defence -- considering they still selected Grebeshkov with the season he's having has got to raise more than a couple red flags, beyond that their collective group of forwards is arguably the best in the tournament, certainly more fire power than any other team. I like Nabakov a lot but he has also never been able to win the big one for the Sharks.

I think Canada will find out early on if Brodeur has it or not, and if he doesn't Luongo will step in -- although I admit he brings the same concerns about not having won the big one, but his is more of a team situation. I do like Canada to win -- not just for pure homeristic qualities, although I will not deny those exist on some level -- But it is their depth on defence that will put them over the top, and it's not like they lack offensive fire power either -- they are just a shade behind the Russians -- although the Getzlaf injury is concerning, he can be replaced with say a Ryan Smyth or Shane Doan if he is unable to go.

I think Sweden is your bronze medal favourite over USA -- The American goaltending will carry them of course -- but Slovakia could sneak into the game as well, they are an underrated group.

 

It'll be Carter, Stamkos or St.Louis that replaces Getzlaff. Smyth and Doan have no chance of being called. Doan or Smyth would be role players, Getzlaff is a key offensive component on this team.