Winter Olympics 2026

ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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Punky said:
Sure miss Mike Emrick, but Edzo is doing a great job as always.
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I like all the current hockey guys for the most part,… but,… Doc and Bob Miller,… they’ll never be replaced. Throw Gary Thorne in there too,…
 
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IrishInOntario

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Really good win by the Americans. The game was never in doubt and they were undoubtedly the far better team!

On to Sunday... I maintain that there are no excuses ti be made for either side. A loss is complete failure and there is no way to spin it. Objectively,

I think USA is going into the game with more confidence and is playing better team hockey. Their D-core continues to produce at a high level (contributed 5 points today) and that takes some serious pressure off their forward group, who doesn't have to do it all themselves. Helle continues to be solid and that's all the Americans need out of him. Give up 3 or fewer goals and it's likely to be enough for them to get it done.

Canada is going into the game with a top line that's been nearly unstoppable, but with injuries to Crosby and Morrissey, it's actually pretty reminiscent of the 4-Nation's Cup when USA had to play the final without McAvoy and Matthew Taktchuk was playing at like 40% health. I'll be curious to see if either Morrisey or Crosby can get back on the ice Sunday, because our second line and second D-pairing look nowhere close to as good without those guys.

Looking forward to whay should be an insane hockey game on Sunday, regardless of the outcome!
 
calvegas04

calvegas04

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Too bad the game will be so early, I know they need to get it in before the closing ceremony.
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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Our front line should be named the DLine,… because all three are massive Douche bags,… I mean this in the best possible hockey terms. You need someone to match rat and Bennett blow for blow,… the Tkachuk brothers will and Eichel is just a douche bag in general, on and off the ice. The interesting thing about the Tkachuk boys is they don’t seem like legit Dbags off the ice, it’s just a start of their game. Anyway, really appreciate that line, exactly what we needed.
 
NorthDakota

NorthDakota

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calvegas04 said:
Too bad the game will be so early, I know they need to get it in before the closing ceremony.
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My friend is close with North Dakota's governor when they were in the state legislature together. On my request, he has asked the governor to not enforce North Dakota law restricting bars from serving alcohol before 8am.

Doubt it'll work but would be fun to have the North Dakota and North Dakota State fans put down our weapons and cheer together
 
NorthDakota

NorthDakota

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ACamp1900 said:
Our front line should be named the DLine,… because all three are massive Douche bags,… I mean this in the best possible hockey terms. You need someone to match rat and Bennett blow for blow,… the Tkachuk brothers will and Eichel is just a douche bag in general, on and off the ice. The interesting thing about the Tkachuk boys is they don’t seem like legit Dbags off the ice, it’s just a start of their game. Anyway, really appreciate that line, exactly what we needed.
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If the game is lopsided (either way) in last minute or so start fighting lol
 
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IrishInOntario

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ACamp1900 said:
Our front line should be named the DLine,… because all three are massive Douche bags,… I mean this in the best possible hockey terms. You need someone to match rat and Bennett blow for blow,… the Tkachuk brothers will and Eichel is just a douche bag in general, on and off the ice. The interesting thing about the Tkachuk boys is they don’t seem like legit Dbags off the ice, it’s just a start of their game. Anyway, really appreciate that line, exactly what we needed.
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Totally agree! Having the Tkatchuks, McAvoy and Eichel on the ice for USA and Wilson, Bennett, Marchand, Doughty and Mackinnon on the ice for Canada, is a recipe for fireworks... That's a whole group of literal professional pricks. There will be zero love lost. Awesome for the fans!
 
Irish8248

Irish8248

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Do not sleep on the number one matchup, which I think is in our favor ironically...

Dylan Larkin v. McDavid

Larkin can skate with CMD and frustrates the hell out of him. Proof in 4 nations tourney. Having that ability takes a huge amount of pressure off the rest of USA.

This is not a slight against CMD, he's clearly in a tier of his own, but something about big games and big matchups, Larkin just powers up a level or two
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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I want Mijo to not only win gold but be the reason why,… I’m over all the smoke he gets and him shutting the haters up would be a huge bonus to team USA taking it.
 
Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle

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Canada is the new Soviet machine. The US dream teams of basketball.

It's going to take a miracle to defeat that ridiculous roster.
 
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IrishInOntario

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Sea Turtle said:
Canada is the new Soviet machine. The US dream teams of basketball.

It's going to take a miracle to defeat that ridiculous roster.
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Crosby likely out... And if he plays, he's playing on one leg. Morrissey is hurt as well and hasn't played since game 1 of the round robin. MacKinnon is battling through an undisclosed injury and hasn't looked himself. The same is true of Marchand.

At 4 Nation's USA was without Jack and Quinn Hughes due to injury and they lost Charlie McAvoy mid tournament. You guys were much more banged up than us heading into the final and you kept that came close, after beating Canada earlier in the tournament. You guys are bringing a healthier, more complete team into this game, and Canada is a slightly altered, injury riddled version of the squad that won 4-Nation's.

I think you guys actually have the edge heading into the game. Canada is still highly capable, but if Inwas an American, I'd like where I'm at right now heading into Sunday.
 
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IrishInOntario

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Irish8248 said:
Do not sleep on the number one matchup, which I think is in our favor ironically...

Dylan Larkin v. McDavid

Larkin can skate with CMD and frustrates the hell out of him. Proof in 4 nations tourney. Having that ability takes a huge amount of pressure off the rest of USA.

This is not a slight against CMD, he's clearly in a tier of his own, but something about big games and big matchups, Larkin just powers up a level or two
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Larkin is a fantastic 2-way player. I genuinely agree that how well his line handles the Mackinnon-McDavid-Celebrini line could be a determining factor in the game. Always liked Larkin as a player and a leader, he reminds me of my second favourite player of all time, another Red Wings legend. Larkin, to me, is a poor man's version of Steve Yzerman. Excellent teo way player and leader.
 
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Sea Turtle

Sea Turtle

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IrishInOntario said:
Crosby likely out... And if he plays, he's playing on one leg. Morrissey is hurt as well and hasn't played since game 1 of the round robin. MacKinnon is battling through an undisclosed injury and hasn't looked himself. The same is true of Marchand.

At 4 Nation's USA was without Jack and Quinn Hughes due to injury and they lost Charlie McAvoy mid tournament. You guys were much more banged up than us heading into the final and you kept that came close, after beating Canada earlier in the tournament. You guys are bringing a healthier, more complete team into this game, and Canada is a slightly altered, injury riddled version of the squad that won 4-Nation's.

I think you guys actually have the edge heading into the game. Canada is still highly capable, but if Inwas an American, I'd like where I'm at right now heading into Sunday.
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Which team do you think is faster?
 
TorontoGold

TorontoGold

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Irish8248 said:
Do not sleep on the number one matchup, which I think is in our favor ironically...

Dylan Larkin v. McDavid

Larkin can skate with CMD and frustrates the hell out of him. Proof in 4 nations tourney. Having that ability takes a huge amount of pressure off the rest of USA.

This is not a slight against CMD, he's clearly in a tier of his own, but something about big games and big matchups, Larkin just powers up a level or two
Click to expand...

Ian Book was closer to Trevor Lawerence in 2018 than McDavid and Larkin.
 
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IrishInOntario

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Sea Turtle said:
Which team do you think is faster?
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I think Canada's top 6 is faster than the American group. McDavid, Mackinnon, Celebrini, Suzuki, etc are elite skaters. Among the best in the NHL (McDavid is the best). That said, the American bottom 6 is faster than the Canadian bottom 6, where guys like Stone, Bennett and Marchand are slower, older players. Edge USA in the bottom half of the lineup.

Defensively, Makar is the best on either squad, followed by Hughes, but beyond that, the obvious skating edge goes to the American group, especially with Morrissey banged up.

So at the top end? Team Canada. Throughout the entirety of the lineup? Team USA.
 
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