We watched the US team be announced at the end of the Winter Classic game and I was like "they're all from the United States!" DUH!!! I'm so used to being swamped by Canadians that it seemed weird to me to have all US players on a team, LOL! I think Canada will do very well, don't you?
I'm still trying to get past "I was like,,,,,Duh!' Is that really you, KarenK?
Canada expects to walk into the Gold medal game but I wouldn't count out Russia or Sweden, and any team under Brian Burke has to be taken seriously.
Right now, I'm more concerned about the Canucks. We have either 7 or 8 players on various national teams including Luongo and both Sedins, plus we have a 6 game road trip before the Olympics, and 8 road games after. I just hope we have enough left to make a run for the playoffs.
I was channeling my inner Valley girl, LOL! I do say "like" alot and I was just typing the way I talk. And yes, DUH, sometimes I can be so dense!!! I think my brain has gotten mushy from vacation!
Sorry, I was channelling my inner 'uptight grammarian'. I love that you type what you think, and I can always 'hear' you in your posts. You deserve a mushy brain on vacation!
Team Canada is loaded & the Gold should be thiers to lose. I'll be rooting for Team USA but would be happy with ANY medal for them. Unless they play Canada for the Gold, I'll be rooting for Canada to get the gold. Was thrilled to see my man Crosby be named an alternate captain too.
KK, I had to laugh at the Bruins fans loudly booing when they announced Kessel & Komisarek as members of Team USA! Old habits die hard, eh? I'm still hoping against hope that Sammie will cheer for Crosby, but my brain tells me thats a lost cause!
Oh & congrats to the B's on that thrilling ending to the Winter Classic.
Thanks, Joel, the game was a lot of fun (especially watching from my nice warm family room, LOL!). I felt badly for the kids representing the players who were booed. Hopefully the kids understood that THEY weren't being booed.
I'm happy about Team Canada although a bit worried about both Pronger and Niedermeyer. Pronger was playing great for Philly early on, then he started being the voice of the Flyers to the media and since then, his game has gotten worse. There have been rumours that he wanted the captaincy but there is no reason Philly would take it from Richards.
Niedermayer is also a worry because his game hasn't been good this year.
Philly has Richards and Pronger on Team Canada, Tollefsen on Norway, Bartulis on Latvia, Timonen on Finland. Carter and Carle are also potential replacements if there are any injuries.
I'll have to find a way to cheer for Crosby even though he's a Pen. Fleury isn't as big a problem for me as Cindy Crysbaby.
Meggie, you guys will be missing both Sedins, Bobby Lou, Ehrhoff (he's been awesome, eh?) but not Samuelsson! LOL @ his reaction to not being picked! And I just heard that Bieksa is out for 2-3 months with another cut! Does he have thin skin or what?
Why do Boston fans hate Komisarek? Is it because he was a Hab?
Edit: Patrice Bergeron took a slap shot to the wrist/hand area in the game vs. NYR and won't return. If it's serious that means Jeff Carter might be playing for Canada since he was the last cut.
Edit2: And as for the original question, I don't think there are any clear cut winners. Any goalie can get super hot and be amazing in a short tourney. Miller has been spectacular for the Sabres all year and Canada, Sweden, Finland all have amazing goalies. The Russians have the firepower while Canadians are well balanced if not as showy. Finland and Sweden are always tough and it will be very hard to cheer against Timonen but I must :)
-- Edited by Sammie on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 02:14:41 AM
-- Edited by Sammie on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 02:19:16 AM
Meggie, you guys will be missing both Sedins, Bobby Lou, Ehrhoff (he's been awesome, eh?) but not Samuelsson! LOL @ his reaction to not being picked! And I just heard that Bieksa is out for 2-3 months with another cut! Does he have thin skin or what?
We'll also be missing Sami Salo to Finland and Ryan Kessler to the US. Erhoff has been a great surprise! You have to feel bad for Bieksa after he missed 47 games last year with a cut. I guess the good news is that he recovered at all and was able to resume playing. Hopefully they will find a way to protect the lower legs from those razor sharps skates.
