Sunday, February 26, 2006
Gold Medal Game Musings
They are having the best season of their NHL careers, and today, Daniel and Henrik Sedin added to that. Team Sweden beat Team Finland 3-2 to win Olympic gold in Torino.
Henrik and Daniel each continued their strong two-way play and chipped in with four points each during the tourney. In a tournament featuring the best players in the world, they didn't look out of place and were every bit as confident as they have been over the first 3/4 of the season.
There shouldn't be any more questions. The twins have arrived.
*****
There was some debate prior to the Olympics about professional hockey players taking part in the Olympics. There were questions about whether a player's allegiance should be with his country or the team that pays his bills. Some don't think you can show allegiance to both.
For those who don't think the pros care about the Olympic games, all you need to do is look at the Finns' crushed and disappointed faces after the game. It was probably the first time I've seen Jarkko Ruutu without that silly smirk of his.
Part of what makes them professionals is how they compete and play the game at a high level every time they step on the ice. You can bet your loonie they care.
*****
Which makes me wonder how Bengt Gustafsson thought he could convince his players to throw a game. Which they didn't do, right?
*****
Ummm... during the medal ceremony, did anyone notice Sami Salo holding his right shoulder like it was about to fall off? Yikes.
*****
I feel bad for Markus Naslund. For selfish reasons, I was hoping he wouldn't participate in the Olympics and instead, rest his sore groin and prepare for the Canucks' playoff push. Naslund, of course, withdrew from the Olympics, and now, Sweden has won the gold medal.
Naslund hasn't had much success wearing the tre korner and winning an Olympic gold medal would have gone a long way in turning his luck around.
It reminds me of 2001 when the Canucks made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, but Nazzy couldn't play because he broke his leg late in the season.
For the Canucks' sake, whatever he's done to piss off the hockey gods, I hope he's squared up.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: Olympics, hockey, Sweden, Finland, Canucks, Sedin, Sami+Salo, Jarkko+Ruutu, Markus+Naslund
Henrik and Daniel each continued their strong two-way play and chipped in with four points each during the tourney. In a tournament featuring the best players in the world, they didn't look out of place and were every bit as confident as they have been over the first 3/4 of the season.
There shouldn't be any more questions. The twins have arrived.
*****
There was some debate prior to the Olympics about professional hockey players taking part in the Olympics. There were questions about whether a player's allegiance should be with his country or the team that pays his bills. Some don't think you can show allegiance to both.
For those who don't think the pros care about the Olympic games, all you need to do is look at the Finns' crushed and disappointed faces after the game. It was probably the first time I've seen Jarkko Ruutu without that silly smirk of his.
Part of what makes them professionals is how they compete and play the game at a high level every time they step on the ice. You can bet your loonie they care.
*****
Which makes me wonder how Bengt Gustafsson thought he could convince his players to throw a game. Which they didn't do, right?
*****
Ummm... during the medal ceremony, did anyone notice Sami Salo holding his right shoulder like it was about to fall off? Yikes.
*****
I feel bad for Markus Naslund. For selfish reasons, I was hoping he wouldn't participate in the Olympics and instead, rest his sore groin and prepare for the Canucks' playoff push. Naslund, of course, withdrew from the Olympics, and now, Sweden has won the gold medal.
Naslund hasn't had much success wearing the tre korner and winning an Olympic gold medal would have gone a long way in turning his luck around.
It reminds me of 2001 when the Canucks made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, but Nazzy couldn't play because he broke his leg late in the season.
For the Canucks' sake, whatever he's done to piss off the hockey gods, I hope he's squared up.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: Olympics, hockey, Sweden, Finland, Canucks, Sedin, Sami+Salo, Jarkko+Ruutu, Markus+Naslund
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home