Torino Winter Olympics 2006

[minterke]

I'm hyped up for tomorow we've got 2 great games that I'm gonna watch

Sweden (without Forsberg?) - Finland!! (SUOMII :star: )

and of course Italy-Canada :star:

I'm pretty confident that we'll (Canada) win Gold and my hopes for Silver are none other than Suomi (Finland). This year is gonna be much harder than in 2004 (when Koivu and the Finns defeated USA and met Canada in the finals) simply because of the Russians. IMO they have the best first line in the tournament with Kovalchuk-Ovenchkin-Kovalev.

Let's hope for some good hockey

 

[Roberto]

Forsberg is going to play. He will arrive to the team today and will sit out 2 prelim matches.

I too like Finland and hope they do well but alot rests on Kari Lehtonen's shoulders. Also they don't have as much depth at forward as the other teams do.

Canada is definetley the favourite. They are defending champions and they have the best, most balanced roster. Its going to take a hell of a performance from another country to defeat our boys.

GO CANADA GO! (don't hurt Italy too bad)

 

[minterke]

I would say that Russia is just as much of a favorite as Canada is. Markov, Kovalchuk, Malik, Ovenchkin etc that is quite a team. Don't underestimate the Czechs either with Jagr being the best player in the National Hockey League.

Everyone knows Selanne-Koivu were, are, and always will be unstoppable. The best international partnership in the world.

By the way who do you think will be the top pointer of the tournament? My money is on:

Pointer: Ovenchkin
Scorer: Gagne
Assists: Koivu

 

[Hammoudi]

I hope the Gretky thing won't have an effect. But the media would love to raise it as much as they can.

It's a shame that Kiprusoff won't be able to play for Finland, he would have helped them. But his sub (Lehtannen?) is great, if he is the same one with Atlanta.

Ovychken will be top scorer if he gets good ice time, he is unbelievable.

 

[minterke]

I hope the Gretky thing won't have an effect. But the media would love to raise it as much as they can.

It's a shame that Kiprusoff won't be able to play for Finland, he would have helped them. But his sub (Lehtannen?) is great, if he is the same one with Atlanta.

Ovychken will be top scorer if he gets good ice time, he is unbelievable.

Lehtonen got injured during Atlanta-Habs, I hope he's okay now though. Yeah the Gretzky thing pisses me off and alot of NHL players including Jagr are involved too. So he gambles, big sh*t, it's not like 75% of North America doesn't.

 

[Hammoudi]

Yeah, I caught some highlights of the game, and he was simply awesome.

Although he got injured, he carried on, so I thought the injury wasn't serious.

 

[minterke]

My only wish for Canada would be to replace that diving disgrace of a player McCabe with Dion Phaneuf.

 

[Hammoudi]

LOL, I hate him too. But if there are no Leafs' players, the media in the 'centre of the universe' will go Beserk.

Phaneuf is an excellent defencemen, and will also help for future competitions.

 

[minterke]

LOL, I hate him too. But if there are no Leafs' players, the media in the 'centre of the universe' will go Beserk.

Phaneuf is an excellent defencemen, and will also help for future competitions.

Who is your favorite NHL team, Hamed? (If you don't mind me asking)

Can I guess? I'd say you're an Oilers fan

 

[Hammoudi]

No problem, avec plaisir. They are the Senators :star: :star: :star: I am from Ottawa, but live around TO now, so imagine the torture. Leafs this, leafs that :yuck:

 

[minterke]

Ah, the Senators. We best stick with the Torino topic if we want to continue having a 'formal' conversation

I know what you mean about the Leafs. Ever watch TSN? (Toronto Sports Network) or even a Habs-Leafs game on Hockey Night in Canada.

*Leafs score*

Commentator: "OH MY GOD!!! GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! LEAFS UP 1-0!! SUNDIN IS JUST INCREDIBLE, JOHN!"

*Habs score*

Commentator: "And the Habs tie it up."

 

[Hammoudi]

LOL, let's say I am not as fantaic about the Senators like I am with Inter, so feel free to diss. What is your beef with them?

Man, don't remind me about the TV coverage here. Even a 'neutral' network like CBC is so pro-leaf. Whenever the leafs score, they go on and on about how great whoever scored that goal is, and they give his life's story.

I prefer watching RDS and SRC, I'd watch it more if I can figure out what those Quebecois are saying, man their French is non-understandable!

 

[minterke]

I prefer watching RDS and SRC, I'd watch it more if I can figure out what those Quebecois are saying, man their French is non-understandable!

lol it is if you live in Montréal for 16 years. Hmm my beef with the Sens..it's mainly their supporters and not their players. Every year they apparently have the 'best team' and when the playoffs come, well, I don't really have to say much after that lol. I love RDS mainly because even though it is a Habs tv station they criticize Habs players when their having a bad game and they do give credit to teams like the Leafs when they have a good game.

If there's any french-Québecois word you don't understand, just PM me and I'll be delighted to explain. Here's a good one. In English we like to say "OWNED! or PWNED!" when something sick/insane happens. In Montreal they say "CASSÉ!"

 

[Tommi]

Everybody loves Ray...Finland? :hug:

Is it only because of Koivu or why so much love? Not complaining, just curious.

I too like Finland and hope they do well but alot rests on Kari Lehtonen's shoulders.

Too bad Lehtonen wont be coming. He and Kiprusoff refused to come, because their teams wanted them to rest/heal their minor injuries. We´ve already known that for at least few weeks. Our goalies are now Niittymäki [Philadelphia], and two average goalies [Norrena and Bäckström] from Europe.

Not feeling so confident about our chances now...

It's a shame that Kiprusoff won't be able to play for Finland, he would have helped them.

He will surely be missed.

As Roberto already said, we dont have as much depth as other teams [Russia, Canada, USA, Czechs, Sweden, maybe even Slovakia] has. So, Kiprusoff would´ve been very needed and he could´ve lead us to the medals.

Today Finland playes against Switzerland and i´m expecting it to be close match. Close match only because Switzer´s have a good goalie, Martin Gerber [Carolina].

And who will win the gold medal? Canada might as they have soo many awesome players in their team, but i think Czechs or Russia will be the winner. I assume that Canada´s biggest worry is that they aren´t so used to play in big rinks. We will see how much that matters in the end...

 

[Ari]

Who cares about freaking ice-fencing. It's curling tonight. FIN-GER!!!!

 

[Pi]

Who cares about freaking ice-fencing. It's curling tonight. FIN-GER!!!!

Today I watched curling for the first time. That's a "strange" sport

 

[minterke]

Everybody loves Ray...Finland? :hug:

Is it only because of Koivu or why so much love? Not complaining, just curious.
Too bad Lehtonen wont be coming. He and Kiprusoff refused to come, because their teams wanted them to rest/heal their minor injuries. We´ve already known that for at least few weeks. Our goalies are now Niittymäki [Philadelphia], and two average goalies [Norrena and Bäckström] from Europe.

Not feeling so confident about our chances now...
He will surely be missed.

As Roberto already said, we dont have as much depth as other teams [Russia, Canada, USA, Czechs, Sweden, maybe even Slovakia] has. So, Kiprusoff would´ve been very needed and he could´ve lead us to the medals.

Today Finland playes against Switzerland and i´m expecting it to be close match. Close match only because Switzer´s have a good goalie, Martin Gerber [Carolina].

And who will win the gold medal? Canada might as they have soo many awesome players in their team, but i think Czechs or Russia will be the winner. I assume that Canada´s biggest worry is that they aren´t so used to play in big rinks. We will see how much that matters in the end...

Tommi and the Finns, I will be the first to congradulate Finland on a great 5-0 win vs. Switzerland, great game for Jokinen, Captain K and Selanne. Once again Finland this year will be the underdogs and Russia is overhyped again. Canada = Gold, Finns = Silver and Russians = Bronze are my predictions. Who's Kiprusoff? Nittymaki had a great game 24 saves and a shutout.

SUOMI :star:

As for Canada, you can't complain with a 7-2 win even though I expected more

Gagne :star:

 

[Hammoudi]

Great win indeed, not bad for a first game.

Tommi, I think Finland is loved in Canada because of the great Finnish players canadian teams had.

From Jari Kurri in Edmonton, Selanne in Winnipeg, Koivu in Montreal and Kiprussof in Calgary, all those players are and were great. Specially Kurri and Koivu, those two are absolute legends.

So I think alot of Canadians would love to see Finland do well.

And Mike, I unfortunately don't get RDS here anymore! I really miss TV5 and RDS here, since those Torontonians don't know good taste

 

[Roberto]

I'm very proud of Italy for not getting completely killed. Although it was 7-2 the italians were playing very well until the classy canadian team poured it on. I expect big things from Canada as usual. Bertuzzi was wonderful today and Steve Moore is a total prick for announcing his civil suit after Canada's first game.

Hamed you hit it on the hand, I cheer for Finland because I love Koivu and I have a great respect for many other players on there team. It was a solid victory today and lets hope nittymaki can hold strong.

Slovakia and Russia was an awesome game. As i suspected the Russians just don't have enough squad depth at forward and lack defensive strength. Also Nabokov should star over Bryzgelov.

Big blow to the Czech's Dominek Hasek is out for the remained of the olympics. However the replacement another fantastic Goalie Tomas Vokoun.

 

[M.Adnan]

its gonna be a sad olympics in a sad city