Absolutley awesome game. Hockey at its best. Excited to see how 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal, and 4 bronze medals juice the Stars through the rest of the season.
I'm going to take issue with the roster selection point. What actually happened is that the otherwise clearly superior team got goalied -- something that can always happen in any hockey game. The Team USA won the gold despite the roster, not because of it -- and they won because the players who were their best players played like it at the crucial moments. Maybe they don't have to rely on space alien level goaltending if they pick better players for the rest of their roster in the first place. Sure, that's just rank speculation, but let's be honest about what actually happened -- Hellebucyk's superhuman performance enabled Team USA to steal a game in which they were mostly outplayed in every other respect.
Also, let's hope that we get the Team Canada Thomas Harley for the rest of the season. He was getting close to being himself anyway -- I have to think that his injury earlier in the season had a lot to do with it. And Miro Heiskanen was, well, Miro Heiskanen as well. Let's hope that Mikko Rantanen is okay.
I agree 100%. This win does not vindicate Guerin and USA Hockey management for choosing Miller over Robertson/Caufield. I can accept Trocheck to some extent. But USA does not win gold without Hellebuyck in net.
And lest we forget, they struggled to score in regulation against the two really good teams that they played (Sweden and Canada). They needed a late 6-5 goal in the Sweden game and 3 on 3 overtime in both games.
I'm old enough to have seen the 1980 Miracle on Ice game on tape delay of course, when I was riding submarines, stationed in Hawaii, and the feeling that swelled then is the same now. It is such a delight to see the transformation in USA Hockey to get back to this point. Now they have to continue to improve and getting stronger across the board.
I'm sure this will inspire another generation of players and that makes me happy.
We were outplayed on virtually every level today, but not for Hellebuyck, we are all singing a different tune.
I was harsh to criticize Bill Guerin for his weird team choices. The criticism is still valid despite the result. I still don't think they had the best team possible and that's still on Guerin.
It's great to have the Gold, but without Russia playing, something is missing. All would be right with the world if we beat Russia again. Let's just not wait another 46 years or else this old part will be pushing up daisies.
Absolutley awesome game. Hockey at its best. Excited to see how 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal, and 4 bronze medals juice the Stars through the rest of the season.
I'm going to take issue with the roster selection point. What actually happened is that the otherwise clearly superior team got goalied -- something that can always happen in any hockey game. The Team USA won the gold despite the roster, not because of it -- and they won because the players who were their best players played like it at the crucial moments. Maybe they don't have to rely on space alien level goaltending if they pick better players for the rest of their roster in the first place. Sure, that's just rank speculation, but let's be honest about what actually happened -- Hellebucyk's superhuman performance enabled Team USA to steal a game in which they were mostly outplayed in every other respect.
Also, let's hope that we get the Team Canada Thomas Harley for the rest of the season. He was getting close to being himself anyway -- I have to think that his injury earlier in the season had a lot to do with it. And Miro Heiskanen was, well, Miro Heiskanen as well. Let's hope that Mikko Rantanen is okay.
Yep spot on, US won because of Hellebuyck and some horrific missed opportunities from MacKinnon and Toews
I agree 100%. This win does not vindicate Guerin and USA Hockey management for choosing Miller over Robertson/Caufield. I can accept Trocheck to some extent. But USA does not win gold without Hellebuyck in net.
And lest we forget, they struggled to score in regulation against the two really good teams that they played (Sweden and Canada). They needed a late 6-5 goal in the Sweden game and 3 on 3 overtime in both games.
I wanted more offense on the US team, but Billy Guerin got it right. That penalty kill! Just superior all tournament long.
Also, have to give kudos for using the word "sedulous". Nice.
I'm old enough to have seen the 1980 Miracle on Ice game on tape delay of course, when I was riding submarines, stationed in Hawaii, and the feeling that swelled then is the same now. It is such a delight to see the transformation in USA Hockey to get back to this point. Now they have to continue to improve and getting stronger across the board.
I'm sure this will inspire another generation of players and that makes me happy.
We were outplayed on virtually every level today, but not for Hellebuyck, we are all singing a different tune.
I was harsh to criticize Bill Guerin for his weird team choices. The criticism is still valid despite the result. I still don't think they had the best team possible and that's still on Guerin.
It's great to have the Gold, but without Russia playing, something is missing. All would be right with the world if we beat Russia again. Let's just not wait another 46 years or else this old part will be pushing up daisies.