Mackinnon beats out Makar for Oscar-worthy performances in front of CANADIAN referees. But I'm sure that stick to the chin hurt a lot; it sure looked brutal
Good hockey today… excepting… The twin Kchickleheads need a punch in the mouth more than any two humans on earth! Well, ok, maybe any two humans on ice, (not ICE). Cheap shots, yapping, flopping to the ice like a sniper got them… Turtlehead and his little brother goaded Slovakia into taking penalties when up by 4… what lack of class.
I touched on it briefly earlier in the week, but at this point, I think what's happened is twofold:
1. Swayman was given the opportunity to be the #2 because of his strong play this season (and perhaps helped by his leading the US to gold at Worlds in 2025).
2. Swayman lost the #2 job after his shaky performance in the qualifying rounds, as Oettinger has backed up Hellebuyck since.
3. This isn't a tournament where the coaches were interested in getting every goalie a start. Like Four Nations (where Swayman never played), Oettinger didn't get a game in the group stage because of point #1, and now it's Hellebuyck who's basically been their playoff starter.
It's unfortunate, because Oettinger acquitted himself well against Sweden last year in the Four Nations (let alone against Hellebuyck last spring), but goalies just don't get much opportunity to "grab the net" in tournaments like these, and sometimes they don't even get any. Unfortunately for Oettinger, it looks like he'll have to wait another four years before getting a chance to grab the net at the Olympics again. Hopefully by then, he'll have a stronger lead-up in the season to gain more trust--and Hellebuyck will also be nearly 37 years old by then, too.
I will never not be pissed off at Team USA for leaving Jason Robertson off the team, even if they go on to win the gold medal. It was an act of total disrespect for his game and his many talents. I hope he rested up well in the Caymans last week so he can go on a tear that destroys USA GM Bill Guerin’s Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs. Make it so, Robo!! 😬
Mackinnon beats out Makar for Oscar-worthy performances in front of CANADIAN referees. But I'm sure that stick to the chin hurt a lot; it sure looked brutal
I have been very impressed with Quinn Hughes.
Phenomenal
He is good
Good hockey today… excepting… The twin Kchickleheads need a punch in the mouth more than any two humans on earth! Well, ok, maybe any two humans on ice, (not ICE). Cheap shots, yapping, flopping to the ice like a sniper got them… Turtlehead and his little brother goaded Slovakia into taking penalties when up by 4… what lack of class.
𝘐𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦
Are we going to talk about the US coaches not putting Otter in ... at all? What's with that?
I touched on it briefly earlier in the week, but at this point, I think what's happened is twofold:
1. Swayman was given the opportunity to be the #2 because of his strong play this season (and perhaps helped by his leading the US to gold at Worlds in 2025).
2. Swayman lost the #2 job after his shaky performance in the qualifying rounds, as Oettinger has backed up Hellebuyck since.
3. This isn't a tournament where the coaches were interested in getting every goalie a start. Like Four Nations (where Swayman never played), Oettinger didn't get a game in the group stage because of point #1, and now it's Hellebuyck who's basically been their playoff starter.
It's unfortunate, because Oettinger acquitted himself well against Sweden last year in the Four Nations (let alone against Hellebuyck last spring), but goalies just don't get much opportunity to "grab the net" in tournaments like these, and sometimes they don't even get any. Unfortunately for Oettinger, it looks like he'll have to wait another four years before getting a chance to grab the net at the Olympics again. Hopefully by then, he'll have a stronger lead-up in the season to gain more trust--and Hellebuyck will also be nearly 37 years old by then, too.
I will never not be pissed off at Team USA for leaving Jason Robertson off the team, even if they go on to win the gold medal. It was an act of total disrespect for his game and his many talents. I hope he rested up well in the Caymans last week so he can go on a tear that destroys USA GM Bill Guerin’s Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs. Make it so, Robo!! 😬