Wednesday, February 24, 2010
LIVE BLOG: States vs. Swiss
6:31 AM | 
Posted by
Nick Mendola
LIVE BLOG: States vs. Swiss
Nick Mendola
nick@wgr550.com
(WGR 550) -- Live thoughts during these shenanigans between the Chocolate Cheese Neutrals and Sam's Army:
5:14 p.m. -- EXHAAAALE. UNITED STATES GOAL, 2-0. Parise again, and he's earned his first two goals of the tourney. Drew Stafford's good friend ices the game with a wrister into the vacated net. "The heart and soul of USA Hockey," says one analyst.
5:11 p.m. -- Hiller pulled with 1:43 to go. Showtime. No one should have any problems with this, but the announcers think it's way too early. When you haven't solved a goalie once in 58-plus minutes, why wait?
5:10 p.m. -- This is scary tight. Don't know what to say besides an exhortation for the States to stick to their game.
5:08 p.m. -- Predictions for rest of night: Finland, Russia, Slovakia.
5:04 p.m. -- They're playing "Living On A Prayer." That's like Popeye spinach for New Jersey native Bobby Ryan.
5:03 p.m. -- Miller doing what he's done best in Buffalo; making hard saves look easy. Great crease movement by No. 39. His performance will deservedly be overshadowed by Hiller and Parise, but don't sleep on Miller's work.
5:00 p.m. -- Unlike Howard & Jeremy, I think the NHL can benefit from this Olympic exposure, and here's a prime example: You're a borderline fan in St. Louis or Los Angeles who's been watching the Blues or Kings this year. All of the sudden, you're watching national TV, which your team is almost never on, and two of the best players on the ice are from your teams (Backes and Brown). Just think of the doubters Miller could win over with a gold, and multiply that times people caring in minor markets. Just one example.
4:57 p.m. -- Shots are 40-14. Score could be 3-0 if not for a meddling game clock and weird penalty call.
4:53 p.m. -- I think Brian Rafalski hit up the "Lost" temple fountain before the Olympics started.
4:50 p.m. -- With Drury and Ryan Callahan penalty killers with the Rangers, John Tortorella should let them kill the full two minutes. Drury just blocked a very painful-looking shot that -- painfully -- looked all-too-familiar.
4:47 p.m. -- Replay proves us wrong on two counts. One, Jeannin's shot hit the post. Two, the Kesler penalty was a little shaky. Either way, the Swiss are on the power play.
In shame, I have to admit that I was consoling myself after the Jeannin goal by reminding myself that he's on my Olympic fantasy team in the Schopp & The Bulldog league. I'd rather be up, 1-0 (I have Parise, too).
4:45 p.m. -- Sandy Jeannin just beat Ryan Miller, but it was ruled it hit the post. Then, the U.S. goes down and score. The States goal is disallowed, and now they will go review the Jeannin almost goal, which looked like it was a good one. At best, it'll be 1-0 States when this review is said and done.
4:44 p.m. -- States doing what they can to totally deflate the Swiss balloon. Bobby Ryan tries a kid's trick and almost makes it 2-nil. Then, a nice replay of the Parise goal. High-def is excellent.
4:41 p.m. -- AND THEY DO! UNITED STATES GOAL by Parise. He called for the puck and followed a point shot past Hiller, who still almost saved it! 1-0, States!
4:40 p.m. -- Brooks Orpik just donated a Swiss player to the USA bench. At the other end, another penalty for the Swiss. States gotta get going (obviously).
4:39 p.m. -- Nothing's changed in between periods. Hiller is still a jerk (or a guy who's really good at hockey and making huge saves).
4:29 p.m. -- Potential heroes based on first two periods: Hiller (obviously) and Roman Wick for the Swiss. Parise and Backes have been the best players on the ice for the States. Tough spot for Ryan Miller, but he's there to be the best, not to have an excuse. This has been a solid game. Good for hockey.
4:26 p.m. -- Temporary technological difficulties. What you missed: The States scored... just not in time. The puck crossed the line and the Yanks celebrated, but replays showed the puck fluttering in the air but not across the line when the clock hit zero. This is how upsets are drawn up, and Swiss people make domestic movies. Time to be concerned.
Also, the commercial where they ask if a guy can win $1 million by wrapping himself in toilet paper and not ripping it is anti-climactic. They show him celebrating. Great job!
4:17 p.m. -- Things are getting dicey just because the "one funny bounce rule" is officially in play. The game is beginning to resemble every memorable international upset ever. I'm having an intense deja vu moment, and I can't remember if it's Canada/Swiss from an old Winter Games, or US/Latvia's 3-3 tie in 2006.
4:16 p.m. -- Yikes. The Yanks are blowing chances left and right. Olczyk has been spot-on as an analyst since the aforementioned comment about the first period. Backes is a monster.
4:12 p.m. -- Erik Johnson's remarkable shot block on a Swiss 3-on-1 out of the box leads to Switzerland scrambling back up ice and taking another penalty. Wilson should think about a time-out here.
4:12 p.m. -- Team USA's power play has been garbage. It's up to Ron Wilson and the staff to come up with a solution for the Swiss press. They tried three across the blue line there, but that's almost anti-threatening.
4:09 p.m. -- Second-consecutive goal-saving penalty by the Swiss, and even a hook almost wasn't enough to stop Jamie Langenbrunner from putting it home. Another big opportunity for the States to put one home. This is looking more like a Sabres/Panthers game with every shift.
4:04 p.m. -- Nothing doing. Switzerland finally building up so momentum and starting to look like the team that took Canada to the shoot-out. America has to stay patient on offense. Still scoreless.
4:01 p.m. -- Parise is doing everything but score, and was taken down after nearly connecting for the game's first. Good penalty for the defeated Swiss defender. Here we go, boys!
3:59 p.m. -- Good kill but some scary moments for the States. Blocking shots is huge and proof of dedication, but the US have to be careful with using their sticks to block shots. When those go wrong, they're called deflections.
3:55 p.m. -- Back in business. Stupid interference/elbowing penalty by Ryan Malone. The Swiss were being controlled and hemmed in their own end for the first few minutes of the period until Malone took an over-aggressive two.
3:40 p.m. -- A commenter who can't see the game just asked if the Swiss were "playing their game." The answer is yes, and they can be proud of their effort, but make no mistake about who owned the period. In the first three minutes, Switzerland did some nice things and Miller made a couple of tricky saves, but Hiller and the pipes are what's kept this game closed. Fun fact: Hiller and The Pipes would be a good band name. Someone get on that.
3:37 p.m. -- Twenty absolutely dominant minutes. 0-0. Not great, but not worried. Keep this in mind: It wouldn't get the press, but the Swiss winning here would be a bigger upset than Sunday's win over Canada.
3:36 p.m. -- Parise cranks another one off the post. I think he thinks this is three-bar.
3:34 p.m. -- Ed Olczyk just called this an even game. He's probably forgotten more hockey than I know, but he also could be high. This sucker hasn't been close, but the longer we go scoreless... well, whatever. I'm not going to lie. I'm just not at all worried right now. The Yanks are cruising, just not denting the twine.
3:28 p.m. -- The US is outshooting Switzerland, 14-4, through 14-plus minutes. "My name is Jonas... I'm carrying the Swiss."
3:26 p.m. -- Zach Parise would be the most statistically-dominant player in this tournament if he had any finish. It's been like watching the Sabres in one of those games they out-shoot Montreal, 43-21 and win 2-1.
3:23 p.m. -- Pavelski, Malone and Kessel are all over the Swiss, and Chris Drury keeps the pressure up by winning a face-off back to Jack Johnson who pumps one into Hiller's pads. Switzerland is overwhelmed right now, a combination of playing into a shoot-out with Belarus on Tuesday night and just not being good enough. Miller will take shots with a clear viewing lane from the top of the circles all day.
3:17 p.m. -- There's a penalty coming up to the States, but let's focus on David Backes, who just put his shoulder through a Swiss forward in open ice. For casual Sabres fans, Team USA has to be a coming out party that there are skilled players besides Alexander Ovechkin who do that, with Backes, Bobby Ryan and Dustin Brown playing all sorts of mean.
3:15 p.m. -- Luca Sbisa's hand is bleeding from a blocked shot. Yesterday, Canada's Shea Weber shot a puck through the German netting. Cue Don Cherry talking about banning composite sticks.
3:11 p.m. -- The Swiss aren't changing a thing from group play, where they'd lie in wait for transition opportunities and then swarm the goaltender. The problem with this strategy is the Yanks are willing to put their face in front of every slap shot. 0-0 though three-and-a-half minutes.
3:06 p.m. -- The States are all over the Swiss to start. A friend was helping me put a new light in, so I didn't get to make this prediction somewhere other than my Twitter page, but I don't expect this one to be close. Even if Jonas Hiller stands on his head, which he is to start this thing, I'm predicting 4-1, States. The boys aren't letting me down early.
Nick Mendola
nick@wgr550.com
(WGR 550) -- Live thoughts during these shenanigans between the Chocolate Cheese Neutrals and Sam's Army:
5:14 p.m. -- EXHAAAALE. UNITED STATES GOAL, 2-0. Parise again, and he's earned his first two goals of the tourney. Drew Stafford's good friend ices the game with a wrister into the vacated net. "The heart and soul of USA Hockey," says one analyst.
5:11 p.m. -- Hiller pulled with 1:43 to go. Showtime. No one should have any problems with this, but the announcers think it's way too early. When you haven't solved a goalie once in 58-plus minutes, why wait?
5:10 p.m. -- This is scary tight. Don't know what to say besides an exhortation for the States to stick to their game.
5:08 p.m. -- Predictions for rest of night: Finland, Russia, Slovakia.
5:04 p.m. -- They're playing "Living On A Prayer." That's like Popeye spinach for New Jersey native Bobby Ryan.
5:03 p.m. -- Miller doing what he's done best in Buffalo; making hard saves look easy. Great crease movement by No. 39. His performance will deservedly be overshadowed by Hiller and Parise, but don't sleep on Miller's work.
5:00 p.m. -- Unlike Howard & Jeremy, I think the NHL can benefit from this Olympic exposure, and here's a prime example: You're a borderline fan in St. Louis or Los Angeles who's been watching the Blues or Kings this year. All of the sudden, you're watching national TV, which your team is almost never on, and two of the best players on the ice are from your teams (Backes and Brown). Just think of the doubters Miller could win over with a gold, and multiply that times people caring in minor markets. Just one example.
4:57 p.m. -- Shots are 40-14. Score could be 3-0 if not for a meddling game clock and weird penalty call.
4:53 p.m. -- I think Brian Rafalski hit up the "Lost" temple fountain before the Olympics started.
4:50 p.m. -- With Drury and Ryan Callahan penalty killers with the Rangers, John Tortorella should let them kill the full two minutes. Drury just blocked a very painful-looking shot that -- painfully -- looked all-too-familiar.
4:47 p.m. -- Replay proves us wrong on two counts. One, Jeannin's shot hit the post. Two, the Kesler penalty was a little shaky. Either way, the Swiss are on the power play.
In shame, I have to admit that I was consoling myself after the Jeannin goal by reminding myself that he's on my Olympic fantasy team in the Schopp & The Bulldog league. I'd rather be up, 1-0 (I have Parise, too).
4:45 p.m. -- Sandy Jeannin just beat Ryan Miller, but it was ruled it hit the post. Then, the U.S. goes down and score. The States goal is disallowed, and now they will go review the Jeannin almost goal, which looked like it was a good one. At best, it'll be 1-0 States when this review is said and done.
4:44 p.m. -- States doing what they can to totally deflate the Swiss balloon. Bobby Ryan tries a kid's trick and almost makes it 2-nil. Then, a nice replay of the Parise goal. High-def is excellent.
4:41 p.m. -- AND THEY DO! UNITED STATES GOAL by Parise. He called for the puck and followed a point shot past Hiller, who still almost saved it! 1-0, States!
4:40 p.m. -- Brooks Orpik just donated a Swiss player to the USA bench. At the other end, another penalty for the Swiss. States gotta get going (obviously).
4:39 p.m. -- Nothing's changed in between periods. Hiller is still a jerk (or a guy who's really good at hockey and making huge saves).
4:29 p.m. -- Potential heroes based on first two periods: Hiller (obviously) and Roman Wick for the Swiss. Parise and Backes have been the best players on the ice for the States. Tough spot for Ryan Miller, but he's there to be the best, not to have an excuse. This has been a solid game. Good for hockey.
4:26 p.m. -- Temporary technological difficulties. What you missed: The States scored... just not in time. The puck crossed the line and the Yanks celebrated, but replays showed the puck fluttering in the air but not across the line when the clock hit zero. This is how upsets are drawn up, and Swiss people make domestic movies. Time to be concerned.
Also, the commercial where they ask if a guy can win $1 million by wrapping himself in toilet paper and not ripping it is anti-climactic. They show him celebrating. Great job!
4:17 p.m. -- Things are getting dicey just because the "one funny bounce rule" is officially in play. The game is beginning to resemble every memorable international upset ever. I'm having an intense deja vu moment, and I can't remember if it's Canada/Swiss from an old Winter Games, or US/Latvia's 3-3 tie in 2006.
4:16 p.m. -- Yikes. The Yanks are blowing chances left and right. Olczyk has been spot-on as an analyst since the aforementioned comment about the first period. Backes is a monster.
4:12 p.m. -- Erik Johnson's remarkable shot block on a Swiss 3-on-1 out of the box leads to Switzerland scrambling back up ice and taking another penalty. Wilson should think about a time-out here.
4:12 p.m. -- Team USA's power play has been garbage. It's up to Ron Wilson and the staff to come up with a solution for the Swiss press. They tried three across the blue line there, but that's almost anti-threatening.
4:09 p.m. -- Second-consecutive goal-saving penalty by the Swiss, and even a hook almost wasn't enough to stop Jamie Langenbrunner from putting it home. Another big opportunity for the States to put one home. This is looking more like a Sabres/Panthers game with every shift.
4:04 p.m. -- Nothing doing. Switzerland finally building up so momentum and starting to look like the team that took Canada to the shoot-out. America has to stay patient on offense. Still scoreless.
4:01 p.m. -- Parise is doing everything but score, and was taken down after nearly connecting for the game's first. Good penalty for the defeated Swiss defender. Here we go, boys!
3:59 p.m. -- Good kill but some scary moments for the States. Blocking shots is huge and proof of dedication, but the US have to be careful with using their sticks to block shots. When those go wrong, they're called deflections.
3:55 p.m. -- Back in business. Stupid interference/elbowing penalty by Ryan Malone. The Swiss were being controlled and hemmed in their own end for the first few minutes of the period until Malone took an over-aggressive two.
3:40 p.m. -- A commenter who can't see the game just asked if the Swiss were "playing their game." The answer is yes, and they can be proud of their effort, but make no mistake about who owned the period. In the first three minutes, Switzerland did some nice things and Miller made a couple of tricky saves, but Hiller and the pipes are what's kept this game closed. Fun fact: Hiller and The Pipes would be a good band name. Someone get on that.
3:37 p.m. -- Twenty absolutely dominant minutes. 0-0. Not great, but not worried. Keep this in mind: It wouldn't get the press, but the Swiss winning here would be a bigger upset than Sunday's win over Canada.
3:36 p.m. -- Parise cranks another one off the post. I think he thinks this is three-bar.
3:34 p.m. -- Ed Olczyk just called this an even game. He's probably forgotten more hockey than I know, but he also could be high. This sucker hasn't been close, but the longer we go scoreless... well, whatever. I'm not going to lie. I'm just not at all worried right now. The Yanks are cruising, just not denting the twine.
3:28 p.m. -- The US is outshooting Switzerland, 14-4, through 14-plus minutes. "My name is Jonas... I'm carrying the Swiss."
3:26 p.m. -- Zach Parise would be the most statistically-dominant player in this tournament if he had any finish. It's been like watching the Sabres in one of those games they out-shoot Montreal, 43-21 and win 2-1.
3:23 p.m. -- Pavelski, Malone and Kessel are all over the Swiss, and Chris Drury keeps the pressure up by winning a face-off back to Jack Johnson who pumps one into Hiller's pads. Switzerland is overwhelmed right now, a combination of playing into a shoot-out with Belarus on Tuesday night and just not being good enough. Miller will take shots with a clear viewing lane from the top of the circles all day.
3:17 p.m. -- There's a penalty coming up to the States, but let's focus on David Backes, who just put his shoulder through a Swiss forward in open ice. For casual Sabres fans, Team USA has to be a coming out party that there are skilled players besides Alexander Ovechkin who do that, with Backes, Bobby Ryan and Dustin Brown playing all sorts of mean.
3:15 p.m. -- Luca Sbisa's hand is bleeding from a blocked shot. Yesterday, Canada's Shea Weber shot a puck through the German netting. Cue Don Cherry talking about banning composite sticks.
3:11 p.m. -- The Swiss aren't changing a thing from group play, where they'd lie in wait for transition opportunities and then swarm the goaltender. The problem with this strategy is the Yanks are willing to put their face in front of every slap shot. 0-0 though three-and-a-half minutes.
3:06 p.m. -- The States are all over the Swiss to start. A friend was helping me put a new light in, so I didn't get to make this prediction somewhere other than my Twitter page, but I don't expect this one to be close. Even if Jonas Hiller stands on his head, which he is to start this thing, I'm predicting 4-1, States. The boys aren't letting me down early.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment