National Hockey League 2012-2013 Thread - Page 17

Hating the terrible times for the world juniors. At least Canada got off on the right foot - although I don't really have much faith in Malcolm Subban. I don't blame him for the loss to Finland, but he let in a few cheesy ones today.

In other news, girlfriend got me a new stick for Christmas

I do not for the life of me understand people criticizing Subban for those goals.

1. Guy is uncovered, wide open at the side of the net on the PP and the pass goes to him giving him an empty net. No goalie stops this.
2. Harrington is out of position and Hamilton doesn't realize it and plays too close on the boards, giving the German a free path to the net, he scored uncovered right outside the crease.
3. McNeill executes a perfect tape to tape pass to the WRONG TEAM right at the top of the faceoff circle, giving him a breakaway.

In none of those circumstances do you blame the goalie whatsoever. If he stops those, he bailed out his teammate and saved a goal. It is by no means expected. He stopped every puck he needed to stop and one he didn't in the third on another cross-crease.

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=616&id=191403&sct=uk_t2_a3

Is it bad if I'm almost more excited to watch USA/RUS than Canada's tilt against Slovakia? Not that I don't respect the Slovaks, but I'm really interested to see how USA-Russia turns out.

I don't blame him for the #1 at all, but simply saying "breakway" or "pass to the wrong team" does not mean those chances were well executed. In other words, yeah the guy had a good chance - but it was still a cheesy shot on both accounts. A soft backhand and a snapshot from the hashmarks are not assumed goals; as a goalie I'd feel pretty lame about those ones. Galchenyuk's goal against Germany is what I'd call a forgivable chance from the hashmarks - he had all the time in the world to walk in and pick his spot.

I just don't feel like his play is inspiring confidence - Canada hasn't had a truly dominant goaltender since Price in '07 and I don't think Subban is an exception to that. I don't know if Binnington would be any better, and it was a 9-3 blowout of a bad team, but at an elite world-level competition I don't feel like we should be settling for "making the stops expected of him." Without Price standing on his head and even lesser netminders like Tokarski/Mason et al in years past having some flashes of brilliance we'd be a few gold medals short of what we have.
Edited by jarude - 12/27/12 at 9:43am

Russia up 1-0 against USA at the end of 1

http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=616&id=191403&sct=uk_t2_a3

Hey, look at that...NHL makes another counter offer (making concessions). How long until NHLPA comes back with same offer (no concessions) and then trots out a bunch of players to complain?

Don't even care anymore.

USA - Russia is pretty entertaining so far. Didn't catch Canada vs Slovakia except for the highlights... we really have to turn down the goon factor if we want to have a full squad. I forgot how much I love IIHF; its refreshing to see players play hard for their country as opposed to fussing over money issues.

Checked out the Spengler Cup for the first time in my life, too - Canada thumped HC Davos 5-0. Very very nice to see an NHL-calibre squad play on big ice with IIHF rules... big jokes seeing Thornton suit up for Davos vs Canada. Dubnyk was unreal.

edit: Russia currently going beast mode on USA. Crazy hometown atmosphere there.
Edited by jarude - 12/28/12 at 7:53am

So much IIHF right now! Have watched Russia-Germany and every Spengler Cup game. Some truly horrific goaltending in the latter for sure.. Strangely enough, its not the big news Nhlers like Kane who are the making the big differences. The European game is different for sure.

Team Canada looking good. As great as it is to get some revenge on the Russians, I'm always leery of first-round byes - I almost prefer to have to play the quarterfinal. I'm really surprised Finland wilted the way they did, considering how well they played in the pre-tournament. I felt terrible for Germany - they deserved the win against Slovakia with their netminder playing an absolutely unbelievable game but got shafted in OT. And I'm gladly eating crow re: Subban, he has showed up in style. Hopefully his play stays consistent through the medal rounds.

So great to be watching hockey again could not give any less of a fuck about the current CBA negotiations. Slapfighting between Fehr and Bettman is almost insulting to hear about when we have such great hockey being played right now.

Anyone up? USA 1-0

2-0

3-0 Amazing toe drag shot!