Official NHL/hockey thread

[DexDexter]

And Finland somehow managed to loose 3-1 lead with five last minutes to Russia.

I kinda hoped that the new generation of finnish players wouldn't know how to collapse in the last minutes but this something we the Finns are world champions.... embarrasing.

True, the good thing is nobody cares about it these days, the matches were on a pay channel and I don't think that many people watched them. Hockey is/ will be on a downward spiral in Finland especially after next year when YLE loses the World Championship TV-rights. Then it's just ads and ads and pay-per-view. I remember watching Stanley Cup Finals in the middle of the night in about 1997 and it was live and free. Those days are long gone and your average Finnish Joe hasn't seen an NHL match in years....

[DonJippo]

The Russians won, all power to em, but they sure don't seem to have a lot of class...

Having had the pleasure to do business with them I can only agree with you...but then again I've done business also with your neigbours and they don't fall far behind the ruskies ...

[A.F.F.]

True, the good thing is nobody cares about it these days, the matches were on a pay channel and I don't think that many people watched them. Hockey is/ will be on a downward spiral in Finland especially after next year when YLE loses the World Championship TV-rights. Then it's just ads and ads and pay-per-view. I remember watching Stanley Cup Finals in the middle of the night in about 1997 and it was live and free. Those days are long gone and your average Finnish Joe hasn't seen an NHL match in years....

Word

I do have a channelpackage with ESPN and MAX3 so I get to watch some hockey at least. Doesn't Nelonen Sport show some NHL matches ?

[Mark in Oshawa]

Having had the pleasure to do business with them I can only agree with you...but then again I've done business also with your neigbours and they don't fall far behind the ruskies ...

I suppose every team has its bad examples, and there was some classy American teams like last year's winners in Saskatoon, or the idiots that trashed their rooms in Nagano in the 98 Olympics.

AS for the Russians, well, this years Junior team proved once and for all that you can win, but if you cant have class doing it, then you just look like a boob.....

[DexDexter]

Well the Russians must have something in their bag of tricks, because they pulled the same stunt on the Finns and Swedes. Coming from behind. They got that idea in their head they were never out of a game, and the Canadians obliged by playing not to lose in the third. They stopped skating, stopped working, stopped hitting and got rattled by the 2 quick goals the Russians got.

All power to em, but after hearing how their delay out of Buffalo was delayed because they were all disorderly and rowdy leaving on a Delta Flight (the pilot tossed them off); I gain some satisfaction knowing Team Canada would never allow our guys to go anywhere acting a) like that and b) would sanction and punish anyone who did embarass the country.

The Russians won, all power to em, but they sure don't seem to have a lot of class...

I think the whole thing is mainly just hot air, different cultures, different cultural norms and young people enjoying their victory a bit too much.

[cali]

I think the whole thing is mainly just hot air, different cultures, different cultural norms and young people enjoying their victory a bit too much.

Quite agree as russians like to party (read: heavy drinking) wayyyy more than any other nation in the planet. It was no news to me

[Mark in Oshawa]

Quite agree as russians like to party (read: heavy drinking) wayyyy more than any other nation in the planet. It was no news to me

That it is no news to you doesn't change the fact no other nation in this tourney would attempt to put 20 young guys on a foreign airline in a foreign country (all under the legal drinking age by the way) not only hammered but accosting everyone and just being loons.

We Canadians like to party and celebrate, as anyone saw us at the Olympics in 2010 knows, but man...how sad is this happening and most people who know the Russians just go "yup...typical...lol"...I mean if you are Putin, don't you sorta think...my god, we do look like idiots out there when our guys do this stuff!"

[cali]

TI mean if you are Putin, don't you sorta think...my god, we do look like idiots out there when our guys do this stuff!"

Nope, he's problably prouder than ever. Otherwise I agree what you said, but this is something that has not surprised me at all since Russia is only 230 km away from where I live. Drinking heavily is a very big part of their culture. Hope I did not offend our russian friends here in rallyforum

[schmenke]

I wonder if the Flames would fare any better...

[billiaml]

I wonder if the Flames would fare any better...

LMAO! That sign could be adapted to so many teams in so many sports -- especially in my neck of the woods.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I wonder if the Flames would fare any better...

Likely not....it makes it hell to be a fan of both right now..

That said, the Leafs have put together a very solid road trip and haven't lost a game in the last 5...so it does make one ponder what the hell have they figured out. Beating LA and SJ at home isn't Maple Leaf like behaviour....

[billiaml]

Funny how teams will do that. You have to scratch your head & think, "Where have you guys been all year?" Of course, with the teams I follow, this usually happens after the team is out of playoff contention -- and they realize that, if they don't perform, they may get cut from the team.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Billiami, The Leafs will no doubt find the loss column more often than not the minute it is clear they could make a run at the last playoff spot. It is what they seem to know well of late. Doing just well enough to not finish last....

[schmenke]

...Just enough to keep you Leafs fans tantalized

[urabus-denoS2000]

Selanne scored 2 goals , not bad for an almost 41-year-old

[PSfan]

Selanne scored 2 goals , not bad for an almost 41-year-old

With the Oilers defense, and the way the Khabibulin been playing, He should have gotten 5...

[Mark in Oshawa]

...Just enough to keep you Leafs fans tantalized

Wake me when they make the playoffs....

Assistant GM Dave Nonis was quoted in the paper as asking us to be "patient". Patience is putting up with that idiot Ballard running the team into the ground. Patience is one idiot after another with the exception of Cliff Fletcher running the leafs with no clue of a proper rebuild. Oh I have been patient, but what Dave Nonis and that idiot Burke better get is they are the one's who showed up saying how easy this would be....not me.

The biggest fallacy of all is the media's insistence and some people in management is that Toronto fans wouldn't sit through a total rebuild from the word go. Sure we would...we are so used to sucking, it would be nice to do it knowing good draft picks would come from it....

[schmenke]

A couple of big goose-eggs last night

What happened in MSG? Four goals for Gaborik in a 7- 0 Leafs-crushing!

Then in the 'Dome, another tough night for Kipper in a 6 - 0 loss to the Wild! His Finnish counterpart chalked up the shut-out, although I can't say that Backstrom was really tested .

In other news, Cammalleri injured... out for at least 1 month

[A.F.F.]

Kipper is in very deep water now????

The only goalie (Finn) who has been consistent is Rinne. Everybody else has had some strange games ??

[Mark in Oshawa]

Schmenke, the Leaf's losing at MSG is followed by them winning at home against the Ducks, and then losing a tough but good game in Carolina. That is the Leaf's, you don't know who will show up, and you can be rest assured Phil Kessel wont...