Everything Else

Olympic Second Round Preview And Thread

By Sam Fels 1229 0

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.

Everything Else

Atop The Sugar Pile – Olympic Preliminary Round Edition

By Sam Fels 1545 0

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.

Everything Else

Olympics Day 1 Wrap And Day 2 Preview

By Sam Fels 1222 0

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.