Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 6: After a ho-hum result between Canada and Belarus and a furious finish between the U.S. and Russia, ice hockey fans are finally going to get what they wanted: a U.S.-Canada final on Sunday for the gold medal. Not much else to say, other than the next 48 hours can't pass fast enough.
February 22nd, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
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February 21st, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 5: While Wayne Gretzky might say that everyone in the hockey world hates Canada, one might conclude today that somebody up there must like them. What other conclusion can one come to after the way things have shaken out over the last two full days of competition -- a series of almosts and unbelievables that have paved a garden path to the gold medal game for Team Canada on Sunday.
First, after sleepwalking through the round robin portion of the tourney, Canada gets matched up with Finland instead of Russia in yesterday's quarterfinal. Then, the hockey gods, for some reason we have yet to fathom, decided to punish the insolent Swedes (have those two words ever been strung together in a sentence before today?) with a 4-3 loss to Belarus! Belarus? For more on the totalitarian roots of the Bealrussian ice hockey program, click here.
And with the strange format the IOC has designed for the medal round, Canada now gets to play a physically and emotionally depleted Belarus, while the U.S. and Russia get to tangle in the other semifinal. So, for all their carping and whining, Team Canada might as well have drawn a military escort to the final. Which is where the insecure and silly Canadian hockey fan believes they deserve to be anyway. If this luck holds, the U.S. will drop the other semifinal to Russia, guaranteeing Canada a partisan and friendly crowd for Sunday's final. And quite frankly, I'm not going to bet against that outcome.
Now that I'm off my rant, none of this should take away from what was an exciting and tense day of hockey -- and perhaps the best day the sport has seen in the Olympics ever. One could almost sense during the Sweden-Belarus game that something was afoot, and the fact that the Swedes couldn't put the pesky Belarussians away early only helped that feeling build. Belarussian goalie Andrei Mezin did his best Jim Craig impersonation, especially in the first period where he essentially put his team in the position to win. With time running down in the third period, and the announce team of Gary Thorne and John Davidson confidently predicting an overtime period, you could almost hear the hockey gods begin to chortle.
So, by the time Vladimir Kopat wound up for a slapper from beyond the blue line, you could almost taste the fact that the Swedes were done. If only Swedish goalie Tommy Salo had ducked instead of trying to play the rising shot, we might have had an overtime where the Swedes could have regrouped and finally beaten down the fatigued Belarussians. Instead, we got the single greatest upset in Olympic Hockey history -- and that includes the 'Miracle On Ice' in 1980.
In the day's second game, we got a preview of why the U.S. will probably lose on Friday night -- and his name is Nikolai Khabibulin. The "Bulin Wall" as he's known in the NHL, stiffed the unfortunate Czechs at every turn yesterday, as an early goal from Maxim Afinogenov stood up as the difference. Khabibulin was simply outstanding yesterday, as he has been throughout the torunament with the exception of the opener against Belarus (Belarus?).
The next game gave us the U.S. and Germany, and the Americans seemed to not want to fall into the same trap the Swedes did. After a lackluster first period where the Americans could barely capitalize on a two-man advantage, the U.S. exploded for four goals in the second to put away the Germans 5-0. The game's highlight had to be Hull's second period goal, as he backhanded a Mike Modano reobound through his legs along the goal line to beat Germany's Marc Seliger.
Finally, Canada played some incredible defense to beat the Finns, 2-1. While the Canadians basically controlled the tempo most of the game, some credit has to go to Finn goalie Jani Hurme, a backup for the Ottawa Senators, for keeping Finland within striking distance.
But where Canada did its best work was in the defensive zone. Every time the Finns managed to penetrate the Canadian blue line, Canada seemed to come up with a poke check, a hit, or a blocked shot to turn the flow of play in the other direction. The Finns got so frustrated, that we even saw some unexpected brutality -- especially in the case where Finn superstar Teemu Selanne went to town on Chris Pronger's face. In the end though, Canada was just too big and too strong for Finland to handle.
Which leads us to Friday night, and NBC's inexplicable decision to continue to exile hockey to it's cable properties. Last Saturday night's U.S.-Russia game was the highest rated ice hockey game since Lake Placid, yet a rematch of the U.S. and Russia on the 22nd Anniversary of the 'Miracle On Ice' (to the day) won't see the light of day in prime time. What a wasted opportunity.
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February 19th, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 4: President's Day was filled with a full slate of games, starting with the U.S. demolition of Belarus, followed by Finland's upset of Russia. But the day's big news was Team Canada General Manager Wayne Gretzky's outburst after Canada's 3-3 tie with the Czech Republic. Here's just a sampling of stuff of what the Great One told the Associated Press:
"The whole world wants Canada to lose, except for Canada and Canada fans."
On American television coverage:
"Right now it's almost comical to listen to things that are being said. It almost sickens my stomach to turn the TV on because I'm such a proud Canadian ... It makes me ill to hear some of the things that are being said about us."
"Am I hot? Yeah. I'm tired of people taking shots at Canadian hockey."
More on American television coverage:
He called the criticism "American propaganda," saying, "they're loving us not doing well," and suggested that part of Canada's problem might be that "I don't think we dislike those other countries as much as they hate us. They don't like us, they want to see us fail, they love beating us. They may tell you something different, but when you're on the ice, that's what they say."
Apparently, Gretzky's comments were triggered by an on-ice incident between Canada's Theo Fleury and Roman Hamrlik of the Czech Republic, where Hamrlik was constantly cross-checking Fleury without getting penalized. During the regular NHL season, these two guys go at each other from opposite sides of one of the fiercest rivalries in the NHL (Rangers-Islanders) -- which might expalin why Hamrlik took a shot at Fleury. But Gretzky didn't see it that way:
"If a Canadian had done that, it would be a big story," Gretzky said. "But a Czech player did it, and it's OK. ... He should be suspended for the remainder of the tournament."
He followed that up with a warning that any player who took a shot at a player from Team Canada would be subject to retribution once the NHL season resumed. Now, there are more than a few ways we can interpret these comments. If we take them at face value alone, they reveal just how much pressure Team Canada is under to win the gold.
As for his comments about American television, you have to wonder what broacasts Gretzky has been watching. The CNBC coverage is literally crawling with Canadians -- including Bill Clement of ESPN, John Davidson, the Rangers broadcaster from New York's MSG cable operation (who Gretzky knows pretty well after his two seasons as a Ranger), and ESPN's Darren Pang. From what I've seen so far (about 80 percent of all the hockey coverage), they've been calling it pretty straight -- which to a partisan of Canadian hockey might well seem like American propaganda.
But folks, Wayne Gretzky is not that provincial. He doesn't hate America, or American television, and he's certainly not this insecure about Canada and its place in the world. But he does know how to play on the insecurities that many millions of Canadians share, and he's working in tandem with Canada coach Pat Quinn to light a fire under a team that's seemed lost since they arrived in Salt Lake City.
As our history teachers tell us, the past is prologue, and there is plenty of precedent to what Gretzky is doing. Back in the 1972 Summit Series, Canada got spanked 5-3 by Russia in Game 4, which was played in Vancouver. After the game, the fans booed Team Canada off the ice, but they were interrupted when a CBC interview with Phil Esposito was played over the arena's PA system. Here's what happened:
"Esposito, who was still out of breath from the game and perspiring heavily, told the fans they were being unfair. He said the players were just as frustrated as the fans, but they were working as hard as they could. He added that Team Canada needed everyone's support if it was to come back and win the series."
And, in the four remaining games in Moscow, Team Canada did just that. To this day, many of Esposito's teammates credit his speech as the turning point in the series -- and the event that helped spark them to victory. Some say it even helped pull the nation together behind the team.
When Wayne Gretzky heard that speech, he was living with his family in Brantford, Ontario. Hockey was his life, and Gretzky was actually starting to draw attention nationally for his level of play, even at such a young age. My guess is that Gretzky saw what Esposito's speech did, and felt it was time to deliver a similar sermon for his team. Sure, he gave one suffused with a peculiar brand of Canadian jingoism, but one that he knew would have a real effect on his players, and perhaps on those Canadians working the booth for CNBC in America.
As for the rest of the tournament, expect desperation to creep into everyone's style of play as we advance to single elimination in the medal round. Sweden plays Belarus; Team USA plays Germany; Canada plays Finland; and Russia takes on the Czechs. Team Canada got a real break yesterday when Finland upset Russia -- essentially giving Canada little incentive to beat the Czechs yesterday as it would have paired them with Russia. In any case, it looks like Canada and the U.S. are headed for a collission in the semi-finals, with Sweden taking on the winner of the battle between Russia and the Czechs.
UPDATE: German Coach, Not Injury, Benches Kolzig: Ever since Caps goalie Olie Kolzig left for Salt Lake City, we've heard conflicting reports on why he would, or wouldn't be playing. Yesterday on CNBC's Olympic coverage, we found out why he's in street clothes: according to Gary Thorne, the German coach simply didn't want him there, and thought the presence of NHL players was simply a distraction he didn't need.
I feel sorry for Olie, who went to Salt Lake City prepared to play, but I can understand the position of the German coach -- especially in light of the ham fisted manner in which the NHL has handled their participation in these games.
ANOTHER UPDATE: My bad, if Russia and the U.S. win, they'll meet in the semifinals on Friday night on the 22nd anniversary of the "Miracle On Ice." Sweden will play the Canada-Finalnd winner.
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February 18th, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 3: Before the day began, I decided to limit my hockey viewing to one game, and figuring Canada-Germany would be a wipeout, chose to watch Sweden take on the Czech Republic. The result was another tightly played and exciting game, as Sweden won 2-1, figuring out a way to solve Dominic Hasek. While the Czechs were able to put a damper on the high-powered Swedish offense by playing responsible defense in their own end, the strategy seemed to keep their own offense in check as well. All Sweden has to do now is defeat Germany, and they can sew up Group C, and draw Belarus in the first game of the medal round.
Meanwhile in Provo, Canada continued to struggle, and needed to hold off a late rush by the Germans to win, 3-2. Now tied with the Czech Republic for second in the group, Canada needs to win to clinch second place, and a likely medal round matchup with Finland. In the case of a Czech win or tie, Canada will get the more powerful Russians.
Here in the U.S., it is tough to imagine what sort of pressue the Canadians are under to win it all. Back in 1992, when the U.S. got tired of seeing teams of college all-stars fall to international squads in the Olympics, the NBA's best were dispatched to save America's honor. Canada would like to see something similar happen here, but unfortunately, the gap between Canada and the rest of the world was officially closed with the Summit Series of 1972, as the Soviet Central Red Army team exposed some real vulnerabilities in the North American game despite losing the tournament.
Led by Borjes Salming, Europeans first came to the NHL in real numbers in the 1970's, followed by an American burst in the mid-1980's. Then the Berlin Wall fell, and the floodgates opened for the former Soviet Union and its satellites. As a result, the NHL really became the first North American sport to become truly international -- and the level of play has improved as a result.
So, while the majority of players (nearly 60 percent) in the NHL are Canadians, the talent gap is not so large anymore. And when you're forced to choose a roster of your top players, other countries don't have to go as deep to field a competitive team. Hence, Canada's quandry. Now, it isn't as if there isn't any way for them to still win -- once we get to single elimination anything can happen. But Canadians need to realize that despite their own prejudices, that ice hockey isn't just their game anymore -- it's a gift they've given to the world. And the world will always be eager to show them what it can do.
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February 17th, 2002
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round
Olympic Hockey Diary, Final Round Day 2:Finland got back on track yesterday, laying a whammy on Belarus 8-1, but the big news of the day was the see-saw battle between the U.S. and Russia that ended in a 2-2 tie.
The U.S.-Russia game was the sort of battle the NHL was hoping for when they decided to first go to the Olympics in 1998. Most of the play was pretty crisp -- with the Russians looking a little sharper for most of the game. Despite this, the Russians couldn't score at even strength -- a real credit to the work Mike Richter did in goal. Without the job Richter did at even strength, the U.S. simply wouldn't have been in this game, and his performance reminded me of the work he did in the 1996 World Cup when he was named the tournament MVP. In a short series like this, a hot goalie can be all the difference, and Richter certainly looked the part last night.
In terms of seeding, the U.S. and Russia are now tied atop their group with three points each. Each has one seeding round game remaining, but the Russians should have more trouble with Finland than the U.S. will with qualifier Belarus. On top of that, the U.S. still has a +6 goal differential to Russia's +2, giving it the advantage in a tiebreaker.
Over in Group C, tonight's marquee matchup has to Sweden-Czech Republic. I give the advantage to the Swedes, but of course Czech goalie Dominic Hasek can steal any game. The late game sees Canada trying to get back on track against Germany. There's absolute panic in the Canadian camp, as the blow back from Friday's loss to Sweden was felt all the way from Newfoundland to Victoria Island.
Mario Lemieux, who has been injured much of the NHL season, might not play as an old hip injury has flared up. Expect all of the lines to be mixed up as a result, and expect to see Martin Brodeur take Curtis Joseph's place as starting goalie -- something which might last the balance of the tournament if Brodeur plays well against Germany tonight. Germany will be ripe for a beating, especially now that it's certain Caps goalie Olie Kolzig won't be ready due to a knee injury.
