Olympic hockey standings before Super Sunday
by Dominik on Feb 20, 2010 11:10 PM EST
in New York Islanders Previews
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Update Feb. 22: For the final preliminary round standings and knock-out bracket, see this post.
Are you ready for this? Even if NBC isn't sure how to leverage it, credit the Olympic hockey organizers for planning one doozy of a Sunday schedule to finish the men's hockey group stage. It's rivalry day, and the stakes are as glorious as you can get for a tournament that eliminates zero teams during group play. I'll put up a thread for each game, and I'll try to catch as much of this day as Sunday commitments allow.
As was intended from the beginning, the most heralded two teams in each group face off against bitter rivals Sunday, with a bye to the next round at stake. The one team that hasn't (yet) played to script is Slovakia, who by virtue of their shootout win over Russia (woo, Playoff Perimeter Pavol!) still have a chance to take second in the group. But even if Russia loses to the Czechs Sunday, leaving Slovakia in second place in that group, the Slovaks cannot get one of the four byes available. That was always a likely scenario thanks to Russia, Slovakia and the Czechs being placed into the proverbial "group of death."
The following table is where things stand before Sunday's final showdown. (As an aside, not finding the single-list table elsewhere, this is totally something my dad would have done on graph paper, which I find just a bit frightening. In the end, we're all like our parents.)
Thanks to the three-point games that can deliver a combination of 0, 1, 2 or 3 points to either team, there is a wonderful array of scenarios that can still happen. Including:
- Canada could grab the first seed, or they could finish as low as sixth and draw the 11 seed in the qualifying round.
- Russia can't win the table, but they can still earn a bye -- or they can finish as low as seventh and draw a decent qualifying round opponent.
- How ready am I for Czech Republic-Russia? Very ready. A totally unexpected surge of misplaced ethnic pride -- and it's not even the knock-out stage yet. Pilsner Urquell and Budvar will be flowing. But the Russians may have gotten their wakeup call. Evgeni Nabokov gets the call in net; I forget, how does he do in high-stakes situations?
- By playing the U.S. and Canada strong and defeating Norway in an OT thriller, Switzerland likely has a qualifying draw they should win.
- The U.S. could do as well as grab the first seed, or as bad as missing out on a bye by landing in fifth or sixth place. They can still have a bye if they lose, but they'd need the Finns and Czechs to win outright.
- Latvia is toast, period. What an awful tournament for them, and (unless Belarus or Germany beats the other by 8 or so goals) they'll draw the toughest qualifying round opponent.
Super Sunday Schedule
- Russia-Czech Republic: 3 p.m. EST | NBC/TSN/V
- USA-Canada: 7:40 EST | MSNBC/CTV/Omni 1/2
- Finland-Sweden: Midnight, EST | MSNBC/CTV
Again, I'll put up a thread for each game, so if you're watching, by all means chat away. By my count there are at least four nationalist partisan interests represented Sunday by recent commenters at this site, so your patriotic songs are welcome.
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Boy that -14 GD for Norway is ugly. But thank god for Latvia, Norway doesn’t have to face the 5th place team.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
Latvia: “Bringing up the rear so you don’t have to.” I wonder how they’d have done with vintage Irbe in net.
I’m reminded of your preview:
Outlook: 4th in group B. Not good. Not good at all.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
I’m actually reminded of a quote of Irbe’s:
Sometimes you throw into the ocean the puppy and tell it to swim and see if it can survive
Well, Latvia didn’t quite survive.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Feb 21, 2010 12:00 AM EST up reply actions
Now all I can do is picture Irbe with that goalie mask on and his gear on in the middle of the ocean thrashing for his life.
"Martin is psychical" - In reference to Matt Martin being called up to the Islanders.
And badly misplaying the puck.
But he’s been a pretty good goalie coach for the Caps (if you go by the results).
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
almost done researching my article on place of hockey in Canadian identity
other countries have national pride on the line. Canada’s soul is resting on this one. One hockey game turned a national election and was seen as the end of an era in Canadian history. And Grapes is a one man Tea Party representing the Rest of Canada—those who are not represented by the Tories, the Grits, or the NDP. And if you haven’t read Grapes’ book, you may wonder how he comes together with the Holocaust.
By playing the U.S. and Canada strong and defeating Norway in an OT thriller, Switzerland likely has a qualifying draw they should win.
I am really happy for Mark- he has been playing great and his team has followed his lead. I guess many can say that his team has “overachieved” and has been playing top teams better than anyone expected them to. :)
I am really looking forward to that USA game this afternoon!
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
Someone needs to sign Roman Wick and give him a shot in the NHL. That guy has played some great hockey. (And I agree with your take on Streit, he’s really been a horse so far.)
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
Wick is property of the Senators (5th rd, 2004), so if he comes over it would be with the Sens or whomever they trade his rights to. I am always wary of teams signing players off of good international tournaments. You always see it in the World Cup, some previously no name guy plays out of his head, gets a huge contract from a big club and never lives up to it. Not saying Wick would be that, but you never know.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Feb 21, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Obviously there is concern there; if he wasn’t already in the NHL, presumably it’s because the scouts don’t think he can make it. But I would distinguish the Olympics from the World Cup. The World Cup is missing a lot of marquis players, and lots of players are much more run down from the season and playoffs. The Olympics has everyone, and most players are healthier. Wick looked good in that game against Team Canada, against all NHL stars. Maybe it was adrenaline, but I’d like to see what he has. OTT has to at least be a little happy about what they saw.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
My analogy was to football’s World Cup. But with the Olympics you always have the one player that does not play in the NHL have a great tournament and immediately rumors begin of him coming to (or back) to the NHL. Four years ago it was Kenny Jonsson and Ville Peltonen. Jonsson stayed in Sweden and Peltonen didn’t exactly live up to the contract he signed with Florida.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Feb 21, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
Well hadn’t Kenny Jonsson already played in the NHL? He had a bit more of a track record. Peltonen at least got a chance to show his skills, and that’s all I’m saying about Wick. He won’t be a dominant NHL player, but I think he can make it if he doesn’t mind having a checking role. Maybe it’s just better to stay home and make some good money and be a star. Tough call. I’m extremely weary of applying soccer lessons to the NHL, but maybe it is applicable.
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
been noticing that Booshirt Banter
has been focusing on Sweden and HL about as much as on the US. Be nice if Sweden and Switzerland faced off and Mark helped his team bring down HL. Also it appears as if Slovakia’s recent success will dim their hopes that Gaborik will get a rest anytime soon.
Forgive me if I missed it above, but what is the significance of the italicized teams in the chart?
Killer_Carlson and Steckel Me Elmo are like brothers to me. And when I say brothers I don't mean like actual brothers. I mean it like how black people use it, which is more meaningful, I think.
I think its the teams that have completed their schedule.
To fight the horde, sing and cry: Valhalla I am coming!
by David Hanssen on Feb 21, 2010 1:05 PM EST up reply actions
Correct
Sorry I didn’t note that.
Lighthouse Hockey: Under contract through 2021, knees and hips be damned.
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