Now that hockey is getting it's once-every-thirty-years national exposure...
1. For those of you who complain or (like me) simply don't watch the NFL, NBA and NHL all-star games because they're nothing like the real sport, this is for you. All-stars on the ice, playing in as pressure-packed an environment you'll ever see. Vicious hitting, teams playing to win at all costs. The opposite of your typical all-star game.
2. It is difficult to describe how devastated the entire nation of Canada was by the loss Sunday night. Canada has one thing they're the best at...hockey. And for Uncle Sam to come into their house and beat their latest 'greatest team on ice'...just more than many Canadiens can take.
3. It was weird watching Sunday night. USA has the same lettering on their uniforms as the Rangers, and the same colors. They also have Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan of the Rangers, the forwards on their top penalty killing unit. Canada was red, the Devils color, and Martin Brodeur was in net. Canada dominated the game, but the US got better (and cuter) goaltending...just like a Ranger/Devil game. One goal lead with the US barely hanging on...just like a Ranger/Devil game...
4. Poor Don Cherry, Mr. Canada. His eyes must have been bleeding Sunday night.
5. Canada has a difficult road to Gold, but they do still have the best team and, most importantly, home ice advantage. If any team can go through what will most likely be Russia, Sweden and the US, they can do it. IF they get better goaltending than they got Sunday night.
6. Speaking of which, those of us whose rooting interest lies east of the Hudson expected a performance like that from Brodeur. His legacy as the greatest of all-time is complete. But he is far from the best goalie right now, and definitely not the best goalie in Canada either.
7. This could be the last time the NHLers play in the Olympics. Four years from now the Olympics will be in Russia, throwing logistical issues into the mix of already shutting down the NHL season for two and a half weeks. There will be a strong push, however, from the Europeans (and especially the Russians) to send NHL players. Alex Ovechkin has already said he's playing in four years, regardless whether the NHL breaks or not.
8. People are complaining about NBC not showing the game, relegating it to MSNBC. The other side of the coin is that Olympic hockey is getting more exposure than ever before. Games used to be tape-delayed...even the famous 1980 game against Russia was not show live. Now each and every game is on live.
9. And speaking of 1980...this is nothing like 1980. This USA team is full of many of the best players in the NHL, and probably has the best goalie in the world right now. Imagine if you will a dominant football team from Europe that tours the US in the Fall and beats the Saints, Vikings and Colts in consecutive weeks. And wins each game by at least two touchdowns. Then we send a college team, with Kellen Moore at QB, Mark Ingram at RB, Danario Alexander and Golden Tate at WR, etc....and they go out and beat that team that easily handled the best of the NFL.
10. Funny how Mike Babcock is coaching the best team in the tournament, but his goaltending is a huge question mark right now. He must feel like he's still in Detroit.
11. The pre-cursor to this is the World Junior Championships, held during the holidays, that were ironically held in Canada (Saskatoon) this year. This is for players 20 and under. For Canadians this is their version of March Madness, the whole country is riveted to it. Canada has been dominating in recent years (winning the last five years), but this year they were surprised...at home...by the US, 6-5 in overtime. The US was captained by Derek Stepan, a Rangers prospect, and one of their other stars was the Rangers's most recent first round draft pick, Chris Kreider, currently playing for Boston College.
12. My rooting interest...number one, that no Rangers get hurt. Number two, USA. Mostly rooting for Sweden and Slovakia to get an early exit, so Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik get some much needed rest.
Sandra
1. For those of you who complain or (like me) simply don't watch the NFL, NBA and NHL all-star games because they're nothing like the real sport, this is for you. All-stars on the ice, playing in as pressure-packed an environment you'll ever see. Vicious hitting, teams playing to win at all costs. The opposite of your typical all-star game.
2. It is difficult to describe how devastated the entire nation of Canada was by the loss Sunday night. Canada has one thing they're the best at...hockey. And for Uncle Sam to come into their house and beat their latest 'greatest team on ice'...just more than many Canadiens can take.
3. It was weird watching Sunday night. USA has the same lettering on their uniforms as the Rangers, and the same colors. They also have Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan of the Rangers, the forwards on their top penalty killing unit. Canada was red, the Devils color, and Martin Brodeur was in net. Canada dominated the game, but the US got better (and cuter) goaltending...just like a Ranger/Devil game. One goal lead with the US barely hanging on...just like a Ranger/Devil game...
4. Poor Don Cherry, Mr. Canada. His eyes must have been bleeding Sunday night.
5. Canada has a difficult road to Gold, but they do still have the best team and, most importantly, home ice advantage. If any team can go through what will most likely be Russia, Sweden and the US, they can do it. IF they get better goaltending than they got Sunday night.
6. Speaking of which, those of us whose rooting interest lies east of the Hudson expected a performance like that from Brodeur. His legacy as the greatest of all-time is complete. But he is far from the best goalie right now, and definitely not the best goalie in Canada either.
7. This could be the last time the NHLers play in the Olympics. Four years from now the Olympics will be in Russia, throwing logistical issues into the mix of already shutting down the NHL season for two and a half weeks. There will be a strong push, however, from the Europeans (and especially the Russians) to send NHL players. Alex Ovechkin has already said he's playing in four years, regardless whether the NHL breaks or not.
8. People are complaining about NBC not showing the game, relegating it to MSNBC. The other side of the coin is that Olympic hockey is getting more exposure than ever before. Games used to be tape-delayed...even the famous 1980 game against Russia was not show live. Now each and every game is on live.
9. And speaking of 1980...this is nothing like 1980. This USA team is full of many of the best players in the NHL, and probably has the best goalie in the world right now. Imagine if you will a dominant football team from Europe that tours the US in the Fall and beats the Saints, Vikings and Colts in consecutive weeks. And wins each game by at least two touchdowns. Then we send a college team, with Kellen Moore at QB, Mark Ingram at RB, Danario Alexander and Golden Tate at WR, etc....and they go out and beat that team that easily handled the best of the NFL.
10. Funny how Mike Babcock is coaching the best team in the tournament, but his goaltending is a huge question mark right now. He must feel like he's still in Detroit.
11. The pre-cursor to this is the World Junior Championships, held during the holidays, that were ironically held in Canada (Saskatoon) this year. This is for players 20 and under. For Canadians this is their version of March Madness, the whole country is riveted to it. Canada has been dominating in recent years (winning the last five years), but this year they were surprised...at home...by the US, 6-5 in overtime. The US was captained by Derek Stepan, a Rangers prospect, and one of their other stars was the Rangers's most recent first round draft pick, Chris Kreider, currently playing for Boston College.
12. My rooting interest...number one, that no Rangers get hurt. Number two, USA. Mostly rooting for Sweden and Slovakia to get an early exit, so Henrik Lundqvist and Marian Gaborik get some much needed rest.
Sandra
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