Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Battle of the 49th Parallel: Canada-USA Preview and Open Thread

FUCK YEAH HOCKEY GOLD MEDAL GAME BITCHES!!!! Does it get any more exciting than this? I think not. Before we dive in to some hockey, let us review yesterday around the Olympics, shall we:

Curling - GOLD BITCHES!!!
Snowboard parallel GS - GOLD MOTHERFUCKERS!!!
Long track team pursuit - GOLD SUCKAS!!!
Four-man bobsleigh - A delightful bronze.

Congrats to all. Special shout out to Jasey-Jay Anderson who has represented Canada for a very long time around the world, winning World Cups and World Championships along the way but never medaling at 3 previous Olympics. You've always held your head high, and now you've got what you've deserved all along.

OK enough of looking back, we've got a great fucking game to look forward to. 3 PM on CTV. Canada looking for redemption for losing to the USA in the round robin, USA looking for redemption for losing to Canada in the 2002 gold medal game. One McSplooge employer vs. another McSplooge employer. OK that made me sick. Let's try some actual hockey analysis, with a little breakdown of Canada vs. USA like TSN's Panel I'm Totally Sick Of did this morning:

Goalies - LOOOOUUU!!!! has played solid since taking over from Brodeur. Showed some real balls against Slovakia by letting in a crappy goal then coming back to make some huge saves to secure the win. On the other hand, Ryan Miller is the best goalie on the planet right now by far, and went a long way to stealing that game in the round robin.
Significant Edge: USA.

Defence - Canada's young guns of Keith, Doughty and Weber have been a revelation, and Niedermayer is picking it up as the games go on. Subtract one point for Chris Pronger who blows. For the USA, Brian Rafalski may be the best D in the tournament, and actually leads the Americans in points. And the American D has been getting better as a unit as the tournament has gone on.
Edge: Canada, for the depth.

Forwards - Patrick Kane came alive with 2 goals against the Finns. Zach Parise has been one of the best players in the tournament. For Canada, Ryan Getzlaf has had a great tournament, and my whipping boy at the beginning Brendan Morrow has turned out to be a key player. Jonathan Toews has really shown some mettle. On the other hand, the fact that we're talking about Getzlaf and Morrow instead of superstars like Crosby and Nash makes me nervous.
Slight Edge: Canada, again for depth.

Intangibles - Canada playing on home ice in our national game for all the marbles. However, there is a ton of pressure for Canada playing on home ice in our national game for all the marbles. Are the Americans just too young? Can Ron Wilson lead a team to a championship? Canada hasn't played an afternoon game all tournament, while the USA has played most of their games at that time. The Americans have the last line change, which might be huge.
Slight Edge: Canada, for the home crowd.

Female actress on Lost - Evangeline Lily up there vs. Maggie Grace. Call it a push.

Winner: You think I'm jinxing anything by picking a winner? Let's just hope the winner isn't somehow Gary Bettman.

OK grab a brew, or in kevincrumbs' case that swill you Americans call brew, and let's do this thing.

140 comments:

  1. Damn that Stevie Y is good looking. He could totally pull off the knit moose sweater that Messier was wearing earlier. Messier not so much.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Not to nitpick, but it was 4-man bobsled for the bronze.

    I just saw a graphic with Jon Montgomery swiging a beer on the streets of Whistler after his win with the caption "Very good. Proceed to Oprah." Next to it was the pic of our women's team drinking that was used here yesterday with the caption "Very bad. Contemplate the elimination of your sport from the Olympics".

    This is my last day in our native land and I couldn't think of a better send off than this game. Plus the afternoon drinking will help me sleep on the plane tonight.

    And congrats to Saku, pat on the back for Jaro.

    Go Canada Go!

    ReplyDelete
  3. @orangman - that's not nitpicking, that's fucking embarrassing on my part. thx, fixed.

    ReplyDelete
  4. USA! USA! USA!

    But most of all, a good game with a puck deflected into the face of Chris Pronger to make all hockey fans share the joy. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Our Father, who art in Vancouver, Hockey be thy name. Thy will be done, the Gold will be won, on ice as well as in the stands.

    Give us this day our hockey sticks, and forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those that cross-check against us.

    Lead us not into elimination, but deliver us our victory

    ReplyDelete
  6. @LN11 - I'm sure you'll remember, but be sure to down your Crown Royals (with Manischewitz chasers) until you can't tell the difference between "cursed be Miller" and "blessed be Stevie Y".

    ReplyDelete
  7. @Orange (or are you changing your name to Yuna like the rest of the country?)
    I'll keep your resume on hand if anybody is looking for a nanny: Loves kids, Loves sports, Loves alcohol... but not necessarily in that order. Look forward to your speed skating updates from Korea.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kim-orangeman-YunaFebruary 28, 2010 12:15 pm

    moeman: Do you by chance own a windowless van and have an endless supply of candy? Perhaps a lost puppy you need help finding?

    Ironic WV: grown. As in: "moeman, wait till they're grown".

    ReplyDelete
  9. @KoYuna, heh, just posting a sweet family pic.

    ReplyDelete
  10. @Le12
    I wish I was drunk. Kids need to be thrown across the room in drunken oblivion right about now... Hey Yuna, are you free before heading out to the airport?

    ReplyDelete
  11. No matter what happens today, I am very proud to be Canadian after all the gold our athletes have reeled in.

    That being said, LET'S KICK SOME YANKEE ASS!!!!

    The Leafs suck.
    The Bruins blow.

    ReplyDelete
  12. can i get some guidance as to when i should start drinking? id like to be pleasantly buzzed by game time, yet being able to survive through til 5:30 or whenever. pacing is going to b key i think.

    ReplyDelete
  13. @29
    You were supposed to start drinking right after the megilah reading this morning. Don't tell me you left without having a shot or 12?

    ReplyDelete
  14. One more afternoon of being polite and not running my mouth about the US and then things can return to normal around here. So, do you prefer Carey Price or Jaro?

    HF29, you know better than to insult American beer or did you have one too manu Dogfish Heads again?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Off to Hurley's to watch the game.
    Go you fucking Canadian pants!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sleeman Red opened.

    Champagne on ice.

    Go you fucking Canadians Go!

    ReplyDelete
  17. @kc - just playing to stereotypes today. now go grab your gun and vote against health care reform.

    ReplyDelete
  18. 29, kevincrumbs has a point. The man could be drowning in Dogfish, Sierra Nevada, Rogue or Anchor right now. Won't help him and his emo-kid Merkan goalie today, though.

    For the last time in a while:

    GO YOU FUCKING CANADIANS GO!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. oh god I love Anchor Steam. I'd have one now if it wasn't unpatriotic to do so.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Carry our flag proudly Joannie.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Despite the best efforts of my law school curriculum to interfere with hockey watching, I have managed to structure my weekend around this. St. Louis is replete with meth and saggy Midwestern titties, so I will do my best to send you gents a consolation package containing both after the inevitable U.S. triumph ;)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Raquel! Nice of you to pop in on this day of American humiliation.

    /knocks wood furiously
    //apologizes like a good Canadian

    ReplyDelete
  23. HF29:

    Never let nationalism get in the way of a good drinking binge.

    *Pops the first of many anchor steams to be consumed tonight.

    Go Canada Go

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh so a Ruins fan is wishing us luck huh? Please fuck off, and realize that all Boston teams well have been exposed for being notorious cheaters.

    ReplyDelete
  25. @anon - Raquel is cool, believe me. the furthest thing from masshole you can imagine. note the winky smiley face t the end there

    not that i dont disagree with you that Boston teams cheat, mind you...

    @subdoxastic Canadian beers only for me today. Sleemans and U Miel, to give both Quebec and ROC a chance

    GO YOU FUCKING CANADIAN BEER PANTS GO

    ReplyDelete
  26. random note as we wait. im chcking out all the FHF tags for fun. why do we have a Garth Murray tag?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Mr. Hockey will not accept a loss. What a look on his face.

    ReplyDelete
  28. From Habs hand wringing to Olympic hand wringing....does it ever end?

    ReplyDelete
  29. thank god Cuthbert not Miller.

    one last pre-game GO YOU FUCKING CANADA GO

    ReplyDelete
  30. I've got a hockey boner!

    I find it interesting that at the very start of all Team Canada hockey games my sister suddenly remembers something she needs to run out and do for 3 hours while I look after the little one. Oh well, at least she'll be educated.

    GO CANADA GO YOU SONSOFBITCHES!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm also really enjoying all the random tags. They've not been good for my Photonics studying, though.

    GO CANADA!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Is it just me, or is Luongo playing the puck WAY too much?

    wv: dextre - not sure LUUUUUUUUUU has enough dextre-ity to be Marty Brodeur.

    ReplyDelete
  33. That McGill tie is very sharp. Maybe we ought to send JM one.

    ReplyDelete
  34. jebus that was closer than it looked at first

    ReplyDelete
  35. I hate to say this, but Canada is having a hard time keeping up with the US speed. I don't like this.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Rickards Dark is surprisingly good (a hint of sirop d'érable).

    Go you fucking Canadians!

    ReplyDelete
  37. @ezzel - im happy you said it, because i was afraid to. but it's totally true. US flying around us imho

    ReplyDelete
  38. OH YEAH! TOEWS!!!!!!!

    *Finally takes a deep breath*

    ReplyDelete
  39. Got in just in time to see Toews score!!!

    Go Canada Go!!!

    ReplyDelete
  40. seriously they're twice as fast as us

    ReplyDelete
  41. Impressed by: our D, Toews, Richards, the American speed and tenacity, Kane.

    Not impressed by Crosby, Thornton, Heatley, Marleau.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Crosby and Nash on the ice, Young in the stands.

    ReplyDelete
  43. good kill. turn it into some momentum boys

    ReplyDelete
  44. PERRY! OH MAN! GO CANADA!

    wv: tieviums - now we just have to hope that the US doesn't tieviums this game up.

    ReplyDelete
  45. "good kill. turn it into some momentum boys"

    @29 - ask and you shall receive...

    ReplyDelete
  46. good kill. turn it into some momentum boys

    ReplyDelete
  47. Bergeron shouldn't play another shift.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Big game Roberto.

    ReplyDelete
  49. Never realized Langenbrunner was such a dirty little fucker.

    ReplyDelete
  50. @moe - i think i saw him when he was losing a bunch of faceoffs

    ReplyDelete
  51. we should use intermission to get some faceoff lessons

    ReplyDelete
  52. NBC guys saying the USA goal was offside.

    ReplyDelete
  53. There's something bizarre about Luongo's style. Am I the only one who feels this way?

    ReplyDelete
  54. @habsss - just rewound the pvr and it sure looked like it. fuck.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Eklund is such a tool:

    Eklund: "well, you should have. lol RT @WestBrantKid: @Eklund I didn't expect the Americans to play so dirty."

    ReplyDelete
  56. wv: faire

    Did Crosbee just faire win un faceoff? Pour vrai?

    ReplyDelete
  57. the goal was onside. his foot was still on the line as the puck hit the line

    ReplyDelete
  58. Pretty lazy clearing attempt by Miller there...

    ReplyDelete
  59. Heatley and Thornton = Chickenshit.

    ReplyDelete
  60. The US is playing great D - five blue sweaters in front of the net all the time.

    ReplyDelete
  61. are we in some sort of defensive shell already?

    ReplyDelete
  62. Shoulda picked up a defibrilator along with the wings at Loblaws.

    We look fucking tired. What's up with that??? IT'S THE GOLD MEDAL GAME, BITCHES. 11:03 left. FIND SOME ENERGY, DAMMIT!!

    I can barely watch.

    ReplyDelete
  63. what the hell was that Getzlaf?

    SKATE FUCKERS

    ReplyDelete
  64. Nash needs to play every 2nd shift

    ReplyDelete
  65. I'm missing most of the hockey action, my eyes are glued to the clock.

    ReplyDelete
  66. you have got to be kidding me. CRAP

    ReplyDelete
  67. Longest 20 minutes ever... for that.

    Please no shootout... my heart can take no more.

    ReplyDelete
  68. Unfuckinbelievable.

    That's all.

    ReplyDelete
  69. Go you fucking Canadians Go!

    ReplyDelete
  70. I knew all those missed scoring chances were going to bite them in the ass. Not to mention the missed too many men. Just sayin'.

    I don't have a good feeling about this at all. Crosby's line is pretty much useless, the Shark line is non-existant, Neidermyer and Pronger are like lost senior citizens out there. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Watching with an insane psychiatrist. I need meds.

    ReplyDelete
  72. I thought Pronger and Niedermeyer played well.

    No matter what happens Canada played one really good game in this tournament.

    ReplyDelete
  73. I seriously can't watch this. I need to take a nap and make a conscious effort to not find out who won when I wake up.

    ReplyDelete
  74. "Don`t stop believing..." playing in the arena.

    I may pass out during the OT.

    ReplyDelete
  75. My boy Sid. *blows kisses*

    Suck it Ovie.

    ReplyDelete
  76. GOLD BITCHES! GOLD BITCHES! GOLD BITCHES! GOLD BITCHES! GOLD BITCHES!

    I can't breath! I can't...breath!

    I won't be able to sleep on the plane tonight. Or for the next few days for that matter.

    GOLD BITCHES!

    Next, sledge hockey. WE WANT THE SET!

    GOLD BITCHES!

    ReplyDelete
  77. GO CANADIAN HEALTHCARE GO!! YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!

    ReplyDelete
  78. I love our game!

    I love this country!!

    I love Pants!!!

    ReplyDelete
  79. Am I the only one who's really annoyed at that Aldo ad?

    ReplyDelete
  80. All in all a FANtastic Olympic Games, congrats to the medal winners, congrats to all participants and congrats to Vancouver for doing Canada proud. These are glorious moments to remember.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Wow. What an Olympics. I want it to last more than 17 days!

    ReplyDelete
  82. One thing we learned (again) is you need mobile strong defencemen. Doughty, Weber, Keith, Niedermeier were just awesome. Pronger even was very good today.

    But fuck the Olympics. Habs - Bruins in 2 days.

    (Hard to get excited about that I know)

    ReplyDelete
  83. I take back what I said about Niedermeier earlier. I was basing that on a few plays in the 2nd and 3rd. He did play well, especially in OT.

    On a side note, I realize family is important but what a pain in the ass these people are.

    ReplyDelete
  84. CANADA, FUCK YEAH!

    And the broken torch doth rise.

    ReplyDelete
  85. only Cheryl can make that stupid sweater look good

    ReplyDelete
  86. D-Squared should be banned from dressing anyone.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Gotta give the organizers credit. Made fun of themselves by lifting the forth penis and they listened to their critics. Lots of French and a pretty standard bilingual anthem. Pretty cool....except for those farkakteh sweaters. Maybe that's what the lady who was knitting at the curling match was finishing yesterday (204 down, 1 to go). Now if I could just get 'I believe' out of my head.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Evil Merickan and Flyer fan here. Congrats Canada for a great Olymps and two well deserved hockey golds. You couldn't have done it without our Pronger! Yeah, I'm just wishing that were true :)

    ReplyDelete
  89. So like is the Russian mafian going to have a spot in this Sochi ceremony? Oh snap.

    ReplyDelete
  90. David Wilkie's GhostFebruary 28, 2010 10:02 pm

    It's going to be hard to get excited for Columbus or Nashville on a tuesday night after this.

    Which is probably just as well because I don't think my heart can take much more of this. I live in the States and our neighbours came over to watch the game, so I was the only Canadian in a room full of Yanks. I felt duty bound to be polite and explain icing and offsides while quietly having an aneurysm in the third period.

    ReplyDelete
  91. @William Shatner
    Please stop

    @David Wilkie
    I had to watch with the insane psychiatrist. Locked himself in his room after the second. I win.

    I. Love. Catherine O'Hara!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  92. Is that Michael Bubblé as a mountie? I'm cringing. Bring back Shatner... Ok, make them all go away. It's like a bad CBC special.

    ReplyDelete
  93. This is like an AA meeting.

    "Hi I'm (name), and I'm a Canadian"

    Bubbles needs to bring this act to Vegas.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Is Shatner there as an homage to that great West Coast symbol, the whale?

    ReplyDelete
  95. Giant penises to open the olympics and giant beavers to close them. And the entire world is watching their athletes dressed as moose. Oh Canada. Ya shoulda quit at 14 gold. Now I need to purge.

    ReplyDelete
  96. WE JUST CONFUSED THE WORLD! GO CANADA! WOOOOO!

    ReplyDelete
  97. Help. Dying. I hate Avril Lavigne. At least we know now it's not lip-synch. Good god...even Nickelback was better than that.

    ReplyDelete
  98. @Number31 - NOTHING is worse than Nickelback.

    @Everyone - Congrats on our Gold! Well done! We all had a hand in this. Not quite sure how, but we did.

    ReplyDelete
  99. @Sonia - I think Hedley is worse actually.

    Well, yea, one thing I can say, we're not holding a stuck up classical ceremony...

    ReplyDelete
  100. This ceremony can die now please.

    wv. Retch. How appropriate!

    ReplyDelete
  101. David Wilkie's GhostFebruary 28, 2010 10:58 pm

    Mrs. Wilkie's Ghost wants me to ask if anyone knows where she can get one of those giant inflatable beavers (I don't want to ask what she intends to do with it).

    Also when Avril Lavigne came on she said she wanted Shatner back.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Nickelback???

    Nickelback were playing?

    Jesus!

    ReplyDelete
  103. Um. Ok. It's over. I'm at a loss for words right now.

    ReplyDelete
  104. David Wilkie's GhostFebruary 28, 2010 11:17 pm

    So when does April Wine start their set?

    ReplyDelete
  105. So we finally get noticed by the best looking guy in school and then pick our teeth with a fork in class. We were that close, Canada. Coolest country on earth. Great city, great looking people, great athletes.... but then ya had to go and put Michael Bubble in a Mountie suit and send blow up beavers flying across the auditorium. I think I just saw the school hunk ask out Italy.

    ReplyDelete
  106. Watched the game in an absolutely packed sports bar with some friends and some friends-of-friends I'd never met. Bar was so overwhlemed that they ran out of pint glasses (WTF?) and Bloody Mary mix.

    Obviously, the result didn't go the way I wanted it to but it was really great to see so many non-hockey fans show up in force to watch this game. A lot of talk of "hey, hockey's actually pretty cool", etc, that'll hopefully translate into a bit more interest and knowledge for the sport. I didn't even mind the random shrieking that seemingly occurred whenever an American would simply shoot the puck.

    Congrats, Canada. I can't wait for Tuesday.

    ReplyDelete

think before you post. or don't. we don't give a fuck.

comments MUST include either profane language, links to pornography, or a reference to the Leafs or Bruins sucking.

If you want to create a clickable link, use this tag, replacing the square brackets with < and >:

[a href="http://www.URLtolinkto.com"]Text to display[/a]

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.