Clicks and Clippings: Getting where they want to be
by hockeymomof2 on Feb 26, 2010 12:28 PM EST
21 comments
With all four of the Carolina Hurricanes' Olympians in action today, Caniacs can be proud of our hometown skaters' displays of talent, poise and character on the International stage. Though most writers believe that Team USA and Team Canada will emerge as the winners from today's semi-finals, it's no sure thing. And Hurricanes Tim Gleason, Eric Staal, Tuomo Ruutu, and Joni Pitkanen have each played key roles in their national teams' success so far.
Schedule for today
First Semi-final, USA vs Finland : 3:00pm, NBC
Second Semi-final, Canada vs Slovakia: 9:30pm, CNBC
After the jump some stories for each of these four nations who are contending for Olympic Medals.
Team USA
Team USA's Ryan Miller via www.montrealgazette.com
Team USA Roster and statistics through quarter-finals
Things to watch: Gutsy high-energy play, speed and physicality, shot-blocking, and Ryan Miller. Most re-caps credited the tough and patient USA defense for winning that game vs Switzerland. Before the tournament, the inexperienced D, with last minute replacements for Paul Martin and Mike Komisarek, was considered the weakest cog in the USA machine.
Today, keep an eye on youngster Patrick Kane, who has been quiet in Vancouver so far, but who has consistently found success when his Blackhawks faced the Flames, with none other than the Finns' Kiprusoff in goal. Will 2008's NHL Rookie of the Year find Kipper as porous with his Team USA teammates setting him up?
Canes fans will recognize the consequences of this game statistic as well: The USA has the youngest roster here (average age 25.6 years) and Finland has the oldest (30.7 years).
Semifinal opponents USA, Finland play much the same way - USATODAY.com As members of U.S. men's hockey team prepare to play Finland in the semifinals today, they'll need to look in the mirror to find their strategy.
Many tweets repeated Coach Ron Wilson's quip postgame Wednesday, comparing USA's blocked shot count in the game as greater than the press corps' typos; but it seems the statement was apparently abridged. Here's exactly whose blocked shots Wilson was counting, from Purdy on Olympic Hockey: Ten things you need to know about the two semifinal games - San Jose Mercury News (great stuff in this piece overall, including a series of quotes from the players about today's matchups)
When describing the gritty play of defenseman Tim Gleason in the semifinal victory over Switzerland, Coach Ron Wilson told writers: "He blocked more shots than you guys make typoes in a day"
Post game, Gleason and Zach Parise talk about patience and the leadership of Captain Jamie Langenbrunner:
Team USA keeps rolling, advances to semifinals - Michael Farber - SI.com Gleason again has some good things to say following the quarterfinal win over the Swiss:
"You can get a little antsy," American defenseman Tim Gleason said. "He's making every save there was. On the bench we're like, 'Geez. Almost. Almost. Almost.'" "I haven't seen it in a long time, even in the NHL," Gleason said of the myriad blocked shots "Guys were laying down left and right. Guys are getting their nose dirty and that's what wins championships and medals."
U.S. 2, Switzerland 0 - U.S. Men Advance in Hockey with Patience, Persistence and Some Luck - NYTimes.com But the stars were the defensive pairings of Ryan Suter and Brian Rafalski, Gleason and Erik Johnson.
An insightful piece on the recent tragedy for Team USA's GM Brian Burke Barely a week after his son Brendan died in a car crash, - Sports Illustrated, 03.01.10: MAN OF HIS WORD.
Team Finland
Team Finland Roster and statistics through quarter-finals
Things to watch
The Finnish powerplay was huge in the first 2 games (6 for 12 or 50%), but disappeared in the game with Sweden and moreso in the quarterfinal game with the Czechs (0 for 4 in the first period alone) . Today, powerplay quarterback Joni Pitkanen returns following his one-game suspension; is that going to make the difference? Once again, youngsters Valtteri Filppula and Tuomo Ruutu play hard on the top line, and Miikka Kiprusoff mans the pipes.
If you missed Pitkanen's hit on Sweden's Patric Hornqvist that earned him the suspension, it's in this video of some of the weeks' big hits NBCOlympics.com has assembled. Also has a clip of that huge rush from Russia's Anton Volchenkov forcing Eric Staal into the boards bringing Hurricanes fans more than a little anxiety Wednesday.
Pardon (or enjoy) the Google translations on these:
From Finland: Tuomo Ruutu: All the time it seemed that we are on top of a roller - Sports - Ilta-Sanomat
It seems also a little in advance as it was estimated that Finland is not a game ultimately doomed to failure goalkeeper in this tournament? - We can only say the "are you kidding me. Phew what dude", Ruutu says the norm, namely, zero-day game fought Miikka Kiprusoff.
Swedish hockey blogger Martin Palm talks about Team Finland: Machines Chugs On | YLE News
The Finnish machine would be more or less useless unless there was electricity available. But when one plugs into the widget of a man named Miikka Kiprusoff it suddenly becomes one in a slow but safe speed producing THINGUMABOB.
Last one: Vancouver: The Big One: The New Yorker Observations by one erudite Canadian writer explaining to readers of The New Yorker magazine why hockey matters so much. He includes this quote from a colleague:
I found a new favorite player—Teemu Selänne, the Flying Finn. Fast and slick and clean. I love those Finns, maybe because saying their names is so much fun; also because, well, they’re from Finland, mysterious, exotic, remote, tiny, wacky Finland. Have you heard one Finn talking to another Finn? It’s kind of like Hungarian recorded at 33-1/3 but played at 45.
Team Canada
Team Canada's Eric Staal and Sidney Crosby via www.montrealgazette.com
Team Canada Roster and statistics through quarter-finals
Things to watch: Will the Canadians again play with the intensity of "Gorillas coming out of a cage" that they brought to their blockbuster of a win over Russia?
The Hockey News: John Grigg's Blog: Babcock shakes Canadian tree and roles fall out Face it: Is it surprising Corey Perry or Jonathan Toews or Eric Staal or Joe Thornton has trouble playing with any sense of urgency when Rick Nash or Crosby or Jarome Iginla or Dany Heatley is up next?
Eric Duhatschek, CTV.ca: Canada can't afford to overlook Slovakia Forward Eric Staal said Canada needs to put pressure on the Slovak defence and create turnovers if they are to reach Sunday's final. "We need to focus on our game and be initiating. We want to be on the attack and be worried about our game rather than worried about theirs," Staal said. "If we are on the forecheck and attack we are going to get our opportunities to score and limit them."
Canada knows it can't overlook Slovakia - NHL.com - All-Access Vancouver "We're not trying to taste anything too far ahead of our schedule, but we have a good feeling in our room right now as we did right at the beginning of the tournament," forward Eric Staal said. "Not everybody believed us, but we always had confidence in our room. "We are thinking about the Slovaks. They are the one team that's in our way from where we want to be."
Team Slovakia
via www.reuters.com
Team Slovakia Roster and statistics through quarter-finals
Players to watch: Zdeno Chara, Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Miroslav Satan, and none other than Canadiens' goalie, Jaroslav Halak. (Just imagine the dilemma in goalie-crazed Montreal today with that last one?) With nothing to lose, can this unexpected entry to the Olympic Final Four continue to re-write Slovak Hockey History?
Slovakia team enjoying the moment - washingtonpost.com Underdog Slovaks basking in Olympic history, confident against Canada
No pressure on dangerous Slovakia in semi-final Team Canada had barely come off the ice after Wednesday night's triumphant win over Russia when the questions started coming fast and furious about Sweden.
Slovakia tries to beat Canada at its own game | NBC Olympics Who would have thought this a few days ago, the Canadians' biggest worry going into Friday night's semifinal game against Slovakia might be the same as it was when the Olympics began: overconfidence.
On the untimely demise of Team Russia
Team Roster and statistics through quarter-finals
The disappointment over Wednesday's blow-out vs Canada is huge and the blame-game didn't wait long:
Alex Ovechkin and Russia collapse mightily in Vancouver - ESPN's Pierre LeBrun: It wasn't supposed to turn out this way for Russia. But Alex Ovechkin & Co. now have to wait four more years to get over this latest Olympic disappointment.
Vyacheslav Bykov: "Yeah, let's bring gibbets and kill Team Russia on the Red Square" - Team Russia coach, Vyacheslav Bykov: Today we faced a very strong team. We couldn't get out of their pressure since the very beginning.
Ovechkin after loss: "We Tried, and Did Everything We Could" - Japers' Rink Alex Ovechkin told the Russian press following the defeat by the Canadians "We did everything we could."
Russian president cancels Vancouver visit Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has cancelled his visit to Vancouver to attend the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics on Sunday evening, CBC News has learned.
And just what Ryan Getzlaf said to Evgeni Malkin on the ice:
Looking to 2014 in Sochi
Canes all for chance at gold - Olympics - NewsObserver.com The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi, Russia, and Brandon Sutter of the Carolina Hurricanes would like to be a part of the Games.
Rogge pledges support for NHL players in Sochi IOC president Jacques Rogge pledged his support for having NHL players continue in the Olympics, saying there is plenty of time for all three parties to come to a successful resolution.
Looking to next week in Raleigh:
Rats expect Peters to be in Carolina before week ends - Hockey Spoken Here - timesunion.com - Albany NY Rats coach Jeff Daniels said following practice this morning that Justin Peters likely will be called back to the Carolina Hurricanes some time during Albany’s three-game weekend.
And with Dr Suess's birthday coming up on March 2nd, Cam Ward pulls out some recipes for some Green Eggs and Ham. via the Canes Twitpic this morning.
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Good stuff, HM! REALLY good stuff.
Yeah, I’m one who is voting for a great game. I can’t pull AGAINST my country. I can’t pull AGAINST my Finn. I know it’s not the same but I’m getting a little taste of what Henry and Linda must have been going through with their sons opposing each other in the ECF last year.
And argh, if I could’ve waited you out another five minutes… I just posted a Google translate about Joni in the old thread. Give me a minute and I’ll copy/paste it here as well.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
hmmm, if you didn’t mention otherwise I would have bet all of my money that you are the sole vote for team Finland to win.
Have you seen my playoff tickets?
by hotchipsnsalsa on Feb 26, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
More fun with Google translate. Expect some piikittelyä on both sides today.
Finnish interview with Joni. Per a friend who speaks the language… He expects the USA game to be very high tempo and says that USA is very dangerous and skilled. He has also talked with Tim Gleason and there was some trash talk between the two of them.
Returning Pitkänen to assembly-kit U.S. Games
Defenseman Joni Pitkänen return to Finland, but plays for the composition of the Olympic hockey semi-final match against the United States.
The game ban will take the place of the liberated Pitkänen with Toni Lydman.
Lasse Kukkonen to start the game the seventh-American defender. Kukkonen played against Sweden with Lydman kit as a pair.
In principle, the lions kit couples the USA match is Kimmo Timonen, Sami Salo, Pitkänen-Lydman and Janne Niskala-Sami Lepistö.
- Won the game after not easy to drop one composition, but counting on counting on that Joni will attack power and superior performance in a game, explained head coach Jukka Jalonen.
- It is also one big thing that Joni knows the North American puck well. He is a big sized player and able to take against the tackles and is easy to get over the pressure from opponents, Jalonen said.
Pitkänen himself says he is ready to fight.
- It’s never nice to not be banned, it would be a finer playing. In any case, now ice skating seems quite good and I’m ready to jump rings, Jalonen said after Thursday’s practice.
Pitkänen expect a thrilling semi-finals.
- They have a pretty young team. There is a rapid and dangerous players in the face, he knows.
- Pitkänen very familiar to the man U.S. team is defender Tim Gleason, who receives remuneration Pitkänen, like the NHL club from the Carolina Hurricanes.
- A couple of times I have met him here. Such basic things it talked, the little piikittelyä on both sides, Pitkänen said.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Just got me thinking?
What other NHL teams have as many players left in contention for a medal?
When the NHL resumes are we going to hear:
‘our guys didnt get to rest during the break thats why we resumed sucking’
OR
‘our guys didnt get stale sitting around for the break, thats why we resumed the winning streak’
Jame Mirtle just did the math.
Anaheim has seven players and Chicago has six.
http://mirtle.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-olympics-players-in-hunt-for.html
GM of CanesCountry.com
Anyone catch Milburys lovely comment about the " Eurotrash" that Russia put on the ice the other night… CLASSIC
I love my Finns, but I’ll have to root against them just this once. Although, it’s not like I’d be unhappy if they beat the Americans. That’s the great part about this matchup: I’ll be happy no matter who wins :)
Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.
by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Feb 26, 2010 3:06 PM EST reply actions
the pic of cam ward reading the dr. seuss book reminds me of having to go read to all of the kindergartners at one of our local elementary schools two years ago. one of the books i had to read was “green eggs and ham”. talk about pressure! that’s such a hard book to read and every kid in there knew it by heart. i was sweating bullets.
Funny. As a mother of 3, I feel like I could recite many a Suess by heart. I do not like them Sam-I-am. It’s great how much they are loved by all, still.
U S A ! U S A ! U S A ! U S A !
by hockeymomof2 on Feb 27, 2010 12:17 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve got three kids myself. But it’s different with them, than with a classroom of kids. it’s so easy to get tongue tied with those books.
by CoastalCane on Feb 27, 2010 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
Seidenberg on being traded (or supposedly being traded)
Seidenberg’s situation is a somewhat classic example of what happens with a talented NHL player and his agent get too aggressive in salary discussions. Seidenberg would have been far better off had he signed with Carolina than to be the subject of trades and one year contracts. No question that in hindsight the Hurricanes would have been far better off if Aaron Ward had stayed in Boston where he was happy and comfortable. Hindsight being what it is, it was a lose-lose situation for both the Hurricanes and Seidenberg.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/26/1502864/horton-misses-another-practice.html
• Dennis Seidenberg was back at practice after reporting back Thursday. Seidenberg’s German team went 0-4 at the Games and was knocked out by Canada on Tuesday. As far as the Panthers go, Seidenberg says he knows he probably won’t be around much longer — although he would like to be. He says the Panthers have not spoken to him about whether he wants to return after this season. Seidenberg is an unrestricted free agent July 1. He wanted a two-year deal to stay with Carolina last summer but didn’t get it.
I would have liked to have kept him and it sure seemed to me he personally preferred to stay here. Heck, he hung around Camp Brind’Amour this summer as long as they’d let him. The other day when the Panthers came into town he hung around the Canes practice for a long time and just about every player skated over and had some fond words with him, lots of laughs and smiles. He seemed to fit well here. Agree that probably the biggest issue was bad advice from his agent as to his value in a year where mid-level players seemed to be getting the squeeze.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
Oh noes!
Somebody hacked into Gary Bettman’s email!
Oh noes!
Somebody hacked into Bob Gainey’s Facebook profile!
Tap of the glove to my friends at LGC for finding those.
Sees the world through ruuu-colored glasses...
Sisu
OT -- Trade Deadline Article
Generally, I think Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun is, well, a clown more than a hockey commentator. He surprised me with a detailed and knowledgeable article outlining the needs of each team. Either he intentionally plays the role of a knave when he had significant hockey knowledge, or somebody ghost-wrote the article. It is well worth reading.
I remain curious whether Jim Rutherford can figure out how to get an under achieving, but talented, power forward out of the situation in Florida or Phoenix. Kreps and Mueller are thought to be available. Pittsburgh has managed to develop quite a number of large power forwards in their system. Boston, too, has a number of talented young power forwards in their system.
http://www.ottawasun.com/sports/hockey/2010/02/27/13055696.html
Here’s what he says about the LA Kings, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and Ottawa:
LOS ANGELES: The Kings would like to add scoring. After falling short in the Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes, they may be closing in on a deal for Whitney.
OTTAWA: The Senators are looking for a defenceman to play a No. 6 or 7 role. Ward is on the radar screen. So is Kubina. GM Bryan Murray doesn’t want to subtract from his active roster.
PHOENIX: The Coyotes don’t have a lot of money to spend, but they’d like to rent a defenceman. They’d be willing to move C Peter Mueller if they were able to get an established veteran in return.
PITTSBURGH: The Penguins would love to get Whitney, but are in a tough spot cap-wise. D Sergei Gonchar could be a UFA, but he won’t be going anywhere. They could add a depth defenceman.
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