Around the Rink: Olympics, Olympics, Olympics

Every once in a while 'Nucks and Pucks will offer links to some of the best hockey stories of the past few days. It's a chance for me to share the great hockey sites, blogs, and writers that entertain and inspire me. Enjoy!

• Luongo's career-defining opportunity: Luongo's assumption of the starting job for Canada is an opportunity for the goalie to silence his critics and carve out a legacy for himself. Of course Canucks fans are hoping he does that this spring as well. [Puck Daddy]
  

• Great ratings for US/Canada game...: MSNBC draws 8.2 million viewers for last Sunday's game, tying the Obama inauguration for most-watched program in the network's history. [Sports Media Watch]

• ... but not so great coverage: However, NBC's hockey coverage is not without many, many, many problems. Puck Daddy is offering readers a change to air their many complaints about the network's Olympic hockey coverage. For the absolute funniest thing I have read in a long time, please check out the very last anecdote - amazing, hilarious stuff about a fan gaining grudging respect over the years from the old Italian guys at his local in Brooklyn for his insistence that the bar put hockey on TV, only to lose it because NBC sticks with curling before switching over to the hockey game. [Puck Daddy]

• Who DIDN'T watch in Canada? Meanwhile, North of the 49th, the US/Canada game drew a 10.6 million viewers. That's roughly 1/3rd of the country, for those of you scoring at home. So if we make the Gold Medal game (knock on wood) does the country unofficially shutdown on Sunday? [Vancouver Sun]

• The best "worst Olympics ever" piece you will read: If you've never read Down Goes Brown before, your funny bone has been missing out on an excellent workout. Here, the site presents the reasons that the 2010 Games have been the worst ever. My favourite: "Over halfway through the Games, the much-hyped Canadian men's hockey team has failed to win even a single medal." [Down Goes Brown]

• The road to the Gold: Finally, over at the other, far more popular and far better hockey blog I sometimes write for, you can find a handy chart outlining how the brackets stack up for the rest of the men's hockey tournament. Depressing reality of the day: if Canada beats Russia tonight, they still have to go through either Sweden or (less likely) Slovakia to get to the Gold Medal game. Well, at least they'll have to earn it, right? [Nucks Misconduct]
  

Thoughts on the US victory over Canada

There are two ways to spin the game last night: Canada couldn't get it done against a less-talented team, made too many mistakes and didn't play hard enough; or, a plucky, aggressive and skilled US team outworked and outhustled the favoured Canadians to score a well-earned upset. So which is it? Well, as with many questions, the answer lies somewhere in between.

Canada, in a sense, lost this game. Martin Brodeur was spotty in goal, leading to calls for Roberto Luongo to assume the starter's job for tomorrow's game against Germany. Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger showed their age, particularly Pronger who was keyed on by the US forecheckers who shrewdly recognized his slowness and propensity for bad turnovers. However, Canada also threw over 40 shots at Ryan Miller, had an aggressive forecheck, and significantly outchanced the US.

Meanwhile, the US team certainly earned the victory. However, without the lights-out goaltending of Miller it might have been a different story. Similarly, the Americans benefited from a lucky deflection (first goal), Brodeur channeling Mark McGwire and failing to clear the zone (second goal) and auditioning for the Summer Olympics with a beautiful headfirst dive to pokecheck the puck away from Pronger, leading to the third US goal. So while the US was incredibly opportunistic, Canada gifted them many of the chances that turned into goals.

Overall, it was a hell of a hockey game with all the intensity of a Stanley Cup Finals match. Canada's road to the Gold Medal game just got a lot harder, as (assuming they handle Germany) that road will lead through Russia and then either Sweden or Slovakia. But this is where the tough get going - Canada is, I believe, the most top-to-bottom talented team in the tournament, and if they play to that level I believe we will see them facing off for Gold on Sunday.

The US, meanwhile, looks pretty good to at least medal, if not make the Gold Medal final. The US has to face the winner of Switzerland/Belarus, before likely facing Finland or the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. If the US medals it would be a very impressive for a new generation of US stars who are young, talented and still not in their prime. With (relative) youngsters like Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Dustin Brown and the defensive tandem of Johnson & Johnson (Erik and Jack) coming into their own, the US has the potential to be a force on the world stage for years to come.

Here are some other random thoughts about last night:

• I thought Brodeur was brutal out there. He seemed to get overly excited about not being restricted in his ability to play the puck (international rules do not limit the goalie's abilityy to play the puck, unlike the NHL) and made some sketchy plays early on. The second goal was the result of Brodeur batting the puck out of midair instead of playing it safe and holding on to it. He also spent a lot of time flopping around on the ice instead of squaring up to the shooter and playing the angles. Brodeur is arguably the best goalie of all-time, but he doesn't look sharp right now, continuing his shoddy play in the run-up to the Games. If he had just played solidly, not even spectacularly, we probably would have seen overtime last night.

• Great to see Ryan Kesler stepping up for Team USA. He was out on the ice in key situations, played on the first powerplay unit and scored one of the most impressive empty net goals I have ever seen. Hopefully the Canucks get him signed long-term this summer, because this guy is a heart-and-soul guy who I wouldn't be shocked to see captain Team USA if NHLers play in 2014.

• Speaking of 2014, I feel that last night's game might go a ways towards convincing the NHL to let its players go to Sochi for the 2014 Winter Games. The upset win is getting (relatively) huge play in the US press, and America makes the Gold Medal game it will be a huge boost to the sport in the US. Hard to imagine the NHL spurning that domestic love when it comes to the next Olympics.
  

• Canada will be in trouble against Russia if they can't sort out their defense. Pronger had some brutal turnovers, Niedermayer was too often slow and out of position, and Boyle had problems with coverage. Don't be surprised to see Mike Babcock relying more and more on some of the young d-men on the team - so far Duncan Keith and Drew Doughty have been more impressive than their older, more decorated and more experienced teammates.
  

Canucks at the Olympics

In case you haven't been watching, a number of Vancouver Canucks have been starring for their national teams at the Olympics. In Canada's opener against Norway, Roberto Luongo was solid in a 15-save shutout win. Today, the Sedins chipped in with a combined three points to help Sweden overcome Belarus 4-2. And, last night, Pavol Demitra scored the shootout winner for Slovakia in their upset win over Russia:



Ryan Kesler (USA), Christian Ehrhoff (Germany) and Sami Salo (Finland) are also starring in the tournament, which has thus far seen some amazing hockey action. Canada vs. USA on Sunday should be a doozy.

Keep it up boys, you're doing your countries and the Canucks organization proud!

I'M BAAAAAACK!!!

Hi folks. I have decided to try to restart my efforts to update 'Nucks and Pucks, which I have neglected due to my writing at Nucks Misconduct. What I hope to do is to post about once a week on 'Nucks and Pucks, probably with a few random thoughts on hockey and the Canucks.

I will still be writing more Canucks-specific material at Nucks Misconduct, so please do check that site out. If you want to look back at what I've written for the site you can check out my profile and the archive of my posts here.

So I look forward to more regular postings here at 'Nucks and Pucks, and hope that you, my loyal readers, will enjoy. My first upcoming piece will be a discussion of international women's hockey, and the controversies that are currently swirling as a result of the absolute domination of the sport by Canada and the US. Look for that in the next couple days.

In the meantime, to announce my return to regular blogging here, I hand the mic over to Terrell Owens, who composed this song upon his arrival to the Dallas Cowboys for the 206 season - and in the process provided one of the more hilariously bad athlete-turned-musician moments of the past decade. But tell me you can't get that chorus out of your head...

"I'M BAAAAAACK!"

Leafs Bashing Week (Day) ends with a great success!

Well, you can make it six straight games that the Canucks have defeated the Maple Leafs. it was a great, great game and a very fun night at the game. The fans of both teams were great, and it was as exciting a game as you can ask for. I did a recap of my experience at the game over at Nucks Misconduct, so please do check that out. As well, enjoy the highlight package:



Go Canucks!

Leafs Bashing Week, 2009-10 - Part II

Well it's been a while since I've posted here, but thanks to a little needling from a 'Nucks and Pucks fan (thanks Becky!) I am keeping the Leafs Bashing Week tradition alive - but the week is condensed into one day, the Game Day.

I am fortunate enough to be attending the game tonight at the ACC in Toronto. I am anticipating a huge crowd of Canucks fans. The last time I saw these teams play was in the 2007-08, when our back-up goalie (Andrew Raycroft) was the starter for the Leafs, there were 2000-3000 Canucks fans at the game. Given the Maple Leafs woeful season, it has been much easier to acquire tickets in Toronto this year - and as a result I am expecting a significant Vancouver representation at the game.

I will go out on a limb and estimate that 1/4 of the crowd will be Canucks supporters - which, if true, should inject some life into the normally quiet ACC.

Anyway, the Leafs have pretty much made Leafs bashing redundant this season. They sit third last in the NHL, and they can't even root for a great draft pick as Brian Burke traded it as part of the Phil Kessel trade. It is quite a disaster for the Leafs and their fans, and really I don't know if I can add anything to the onslaught of criticism that the team has received from the media and from fans.

I hope that the Leafs turn it around soon - it is a much more enjoyable league when there are strong Original 6 teams, including the two Canadian behemoths - Montreal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs. That being said, I am going to enjoy the fact that Vancouver is the top Canadian club right now and has been playing lights out hockey lately.

As a teaser for tonight's game, here is the highlight package from the last time these two teams met, way back in October:



I will post some pictures from the game, so check back here soon. And, as always, if you want to read more of my work look for nucksandpucks posts over at Nucks Misconduct. Or check out this link for a list of my work for the site.

Leafs Bashing Week, circa 2009-10

Hey folks! It's been a while, but remember you can also check out my random Canucks musings over at Nucks Misconduct.

On Saturday the Canucks and Maple Leafs meet for the first time this season, and I couldn't let this important occassion pass by without comment. I wrote a lengthy piece for Nucks Misconduct about my relationship as a Canucks fan to the Maple Leafs. However, I wanted to add a few jokes here to stoke the trash-talking fires. Not that the Leafs need any more jokes, as in this respect their play on the ice is doing the talking for me.

It's gotten so bad here in Leaf Land that the Toronto Star solicited its readers to provide their best TML jokes. Here are a few selections:

Two guys are camping out in the Muskokas, sitting around a fire at night and relaxing. Suddenly one of them sits bolt upright and shouts "DAMMIT! The Leafs lost!" His friend, impressed with his friends psychic ability asked "How do you know?" His friend replied, "It's after 10:00pm."

What's the difference between the Toronto Maple Leafs and a triangle?
A triangle has three points.

Why are the Maple Leafs like a bad bank?
No checking, no savings, and definitely no interest!

Well, I can see that I'm no further use. Toronto fans have clearly taken on the Leafs Bashing role formerly filled by non-Leafs such as myself. Poor Maple Leafs - they beat themselves on the ice, and their fans beat them up off of it.

Let's hope that Vancouver adds to the misery tomorrow night. GO CANUCKS!!!