February 26, 2006

Sweden captures Olympic hockey gold: Finland had been unbeaten in seven Olympic games in Turin, playing near-perfect hockey, but again couldn't beat the team it wants to beat most.

posted by wingnut4life to other at 09:35 AM - 23 comments

After watching the game, myself I'm a bit befuddled by the referees. Mind you, congrats to the Swedes, but in Finland, the people are miffed by some not-called calls, and some called things that just weren't a penalty.

posted by mrhockey at 10:11 AM on February 26, 2006

Over and over in the 2nd period.

posted by sirvomitousIV at 10:12 AM on February 26, 2006

How Swede it is! Now you know that I have to gloat about this game. Every Swedish goal was scored by a Detroit Red Wing: Henrik Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall, and the Olympic gold medal goal scored by none other than Nicklas Lidstrom! As a matter of fact, the Swedes had an entire Red Wing line (the other two were Tomas Holmstrom and Mikael Samuelsson). All in all I think that the gold medal and bronze medal games (played yesterday with the Czechs winning the bronze) were great games played with a lot of passion and heart, which Canada and the U.S. lacked. I think the only sad part of the gold medal game was seeing the look of despair on Finland's Teemu Selanne's face as time expired. He's dreamt of beating the Swedes since he was a little boy on a backyard pond.

posted by wingnut4life at 10:15 AM on February 26, 2006

They couldn't keep Sweden out of their zone. So depressing.

posted by ursus_comiter at 10:20 AM on February 26, 2006

wingnut I agree the Gold Medal Game was outstanding but we must have been watching a different Bronze Medal Game. The CZE vs. RUS was one of the most uninspiring, crap games I've ever seen played in an Olympic Venue.. and I go way back. Your enthusiasm for that game is a mystery to me. The Gold Medal FIN vs. SWE was everything you said and in complete contrast to the game Saturday. Inspired play, passion and will to win by both sides. Congrats to SWE and the FIN Team has no reason to hang their heads. Outstanding Gold Medal Game and excellent hockey. Go ahead and gloat about the Gold Medal Game, just please, don't include the crap we saw in the Bronze.

posted by skydivedad at 10:35 AM on February 26, 2006

skydivedad, what gives? This was a pretty good game with some game misconducts, majors, double-minors, injured NHLers, and a partridge in a pear tree........ Russia definately played their heart out, they just couldn't get anything past Vokoun. It wasn't for a lack of trying. In the waning minutes, Pavel Datsyuk thought he put Russia on the board, but it was disallowed on a high stick call. Datsyuk blew up, and brushed the ref and got a misconduct call. Very unlike him. He played his heart out throughout the whole tournament. Hats off to both teams!

posted by wingnut4life at 10:38 AM on February 26, 2006

wingnut The Russians players lost their team play concept that had produced well for them in this tourney in the Bronze Game. They seldom produced a 2-3 man rush the entire game and couldn't (wouldn't) pass the puck up the middle or in the offensive zone. We're gonna have to disagree on this game. Datsuk and alot of the Red Wings players in this tourney played brilliant hockey (Zetterberg especially). The RUS vs. CZE game left me .... well enough said..... Can't wait for the NHL to get cranked up, Wings play Tuesday I believe....

posted by skydivedad at 10:56 AM on February 26, 2006

skydivedad Ok, we'll agree to disagree. Wings play tuesday at 10:30 e.t. at San Jose. By the way, do I sound too much like a Red Wing homer?

posted by wingnut4life at 11:01 AM on February 26, 2006

And what is wrong with that? A Homer for the RedWings exists in every town, village, grocery store, tavern, barber, etc. from one end of the earth to the other. Nothing wrong with that, unless you're a misconceived fan of another team.

posted by mrhockey at 11:10 AM on February 26, 2006

Another Red Wing homer here! What a game. During the second intermission, I had a vision of a Nick Lidstrom laser shot scoring the go ahead goal. You can thank me any time now.

posted by adampsyche at 11:12 AM on February 26, 2006

Last I checked, game misconducts and injured players do not a "good game" make -- a competitive, back and forth game does. RUS CZE was the most boring medal game that I've seen at the Olympics in years. Hell, even the semis were very disappointing. So I'm very happy that the gold game was everything it should have been. Good game. That's about all I was hoping for and that's what I got.

posted by mkn at 11:14 AM on February 26, 2006

Ok, Ok. I'll admit it. Maybe it was a boring game, but I miss the old NHL. Seeing all of those hits and misconducts brought back visions of seeing Roy's bloody face after "The Brawl." Ah, the good ol' days....

posted by wingnut4life at 11:33 AM on February 26, 2006

Congrats to redsnare for winning the SportsFilter Olympic Hockey Pick'em. Great job redsnare........

posted by skydivedad at 01:11 PM on February 26, 2006

Yes, redsnare, congratulations, from the bottom of the ladder to the top. Good smartness.

posted by chicobangs at 01:51 PM on February 26, 2006

Congrats to redsnare for winning the SportsFilter Olympic Hockey Pick'em. Great job redsnare........ All I know is I leave for Florida 4.5 points out and around 5th place and I come back and I'm in fourth to last.... Damn you Americans and Canadians.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:59 PM on February 26, 2006

Chico=Costanza.. How sweet is that?

posted by skydivedad at 02:20 PM on February 26, 2006

I wouldn't exactly call it "sweet."

posted by chicobangs at 02:29 PM on February 26, 2006

I'm happy for Mats, because god knows he's not likely to win the Stanley Cup anytime soon.

posted by fabulon7 at 03:10 PM on February 26, 2006

I'm happy for Mats, because god knows he's not likely to win the Stanley Cup anytime soon. As a Leaf fan, I feel like I should say something in defence of my team after a disparaging remark like that... ...but you are probably right. I'm just surprised that he wasn't on the 1994 Olympic gold medal winning Swedish team. He'd already established himself as a star player in the previous NHL season (114 points in 80 games).

posted by grum@work at 03:19 PM on February 26, 2006

Kind of weird to be all like "Yeah, PJ Axellson, Yeah!," but I did that. Like, in my house and all. P.S. - Try saying "Hej Snoppen" to a cute Swedish girl. It's a test.

posted by Samsonov14 at 03:24 PM on February 26, 2006

The "J" is pronounced like the the "j" in Jagr.

posted by Samsonov14 at 03:25 PM on February 26, 2006

I'm happy for Mats, because god knows he's not likely to win the Stanley Cup anytime soon. I'm just hoping that the Swedish Red Wings scoring all three goals is a glorious omen.

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 06:01 PM on February 26, 2006

I'm just surprised that he wasn't on the 1994 Olympic gold medal winning Swedish team. He'd already established himself as a star player in the previous NHL season (114 points in 80 games). Well, that's exactly why. He was an NHL player and NHL players did not participate in 94. Forsberg was still a junior then. I will gladly take the bronze in the OlymPicks (I get it in a tie breaker, right? Right?!) That's a better result than I've managed in three spofi nhl pools so far. By a lot. Ugh.

posted by mkn at 06:28 PM on February 26, 2006

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