Faxes from Uncle Dale

Category: Everything Else

  • Olympic Second Round Preview And Thread

    Actual knockouts begin today. Spears shall be shaken,  shields will be splintered and all that. Most eyes will be on the Russians to see if they can get their act together a bit.

    2am – Slovenia v. Austria: The Slovenians were a little more stout than we all thought they would be, beating Slovakia and hanging with the Russians for a couple periods before getting clowned by Phil Kessel. Austria is the only team to make Canada look dominant, and also got clubbed by Finland but did beat Norway. Austria has the tourney’s leading scorer in Michael Grabner and a couple other weapons, so you’d think they’d find a way. But Slovenia has apparently used their first ever appearance as inspiration and I get the feeling they’re going to find a way to sneak this.

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  • Atop The Sugar Pile – Olympic Preliminary Round Edition

    Atop The Sugar Pile – Olympic Preliminary Round Edition

    Day off from the tournament today, so it seems like a good time to apply our semi-regular status update.

    The Dizzying Highs

    Phil Kessel – I haven’t watched every Olympic game, so I could be ignoring some others, but what I have seen there doesn’t seem to be a more dynamic offensive player than Kessel at this tournament. I’m one of those who turned around on Kessel. I used to laugh at him like everyone else and thought he was basically playing the game as a billionaire would if he were able to buy himself into a game, completely on his own planet. But last year and especially this one, Kessel has been mindlessly entertaining to watch. Lambert’s right, how is he getting no Hart discussion whatsoever? We’re so busy trying to point out the statistical morass that the Leafs are that I think Kessel gets washed away in the current. He shouldn’t.

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  • Morning Links 2/17/14

    Morning Links 2/17/14

    Let the real fun begin: PD

    Each of whom have only 2 few playoff goals than he does: SI

    Scoring 2x as many goals in one shootout as you have in your playoff career would be: PHT

    Pirri waits for his chance: ESPN Chicago

    Kaner’s really detailed profile page: Sochi

  • Sochi Day 4 Roundup

    Sochi Day 4 Roundup

    More stuff happened this morning, and now everyone is imbued with patriotism.

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  • Sochi Day 3 Roundup

    Sochi Day 3 Roundup

    Another day, another round of games that are over by lunchtime here stateside.

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  • Morning Links 2.14.14

    Morning Links 2.14.14

    Domination: USA Hockey

    Almost Perfect: ESPN

    Rusty Canucks: TSN

    Valiant effort by Kopi’s crew: SI

    Way to keep the fire warm, Wayne: Sportsnet.Ca

  • Sochi Day 2 Wrap Up

    Sochi Day 2 Wrap Up

    So the first full day of games in the round robin portion of the tournament at the Sochi games is in the books. I didn’t watch a second of it, so let’s pretend to care together.

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  • Morning Links: 2/13/14

    Morning Links: 2/13/14

    While you were sleeping: PD

    USA Spoiler alert:  PHT

    Captain Serious vs. his predecessors: CSN (autoplay)

    He’s Marian Hossa…: ESPN Chi

     

     

     

  • Olympics Day 2 Thread

    Four games today, y’know, if you haven’t gone to bed.

  • Olympics Day 1 Wrap And Day 2 Preview

    Olympics Day 1 Wrap And Day 2 Preview

    We’re off and running. Just a few thoughts about the two games today and then we’ll set up what’s to come tomorrow. Well, actually in just about a few hours but you get the idea.

    -I think the reason Sweden is a lot of people’s favorites is because pretty much everyone on their roster would be called one of the smarter players on their NHL team. They’re all intelligent in both ends. Except for the little blip that let the Czechs back in it for a hot minute, the Swedes puck support was really outstanding. Even though they don’t all play together during the year, they seem to just pick up immediately. And this Erik Karlsson-OEL pairing is just too much fun to watch. I thought having to play centerfield for Karlsson would kind of limit Ekman-Larsson’s game, but there was no sign of that today. What a player. And of course, Karlsson is pretty much a video game.

    -Oh sure the Czechs don’t need Ales Hemsky to play much when they have… a big handful of themselves, really. They’re a bigger mess than I thought.

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