Neo

Early in the tournament I said the USA was slightly better than Canada, despite its loss. I changed my mind. The Canadian team finished the tournament like it had to. Any of five could’ve won. The best team did.

...and, the Russians immediately take their own offensive zone penalty when a forward uses his stick to knock a Canadian defenseman’s stick into the air .... back to even strength until ... Russia takes another penalty and goes man down for the last minute. 3, 2, 1 .... CANADA GOLD!

Canada - Russia, 3 to 3 with 8 minutes to go. Canada just tied the score with powerplay goal after the kind of penalty that’d drive you nuts if your team got called. A forward, on a face off, getting his hands and stick up and driving into the Canadian center at the puck drop. “No” as the arm comes up. With that, a lead going into the final minutes is gone. Great PP goal by Barrett Hayton (Captain; Arizona Coyotes) and an earlier one from our own Cozens. Hayton was born in Peterborough and played midget hockey at the Pete’s arena. I stopped and walked through the arena, once, with my family on a summer holiday. No one was playing. Part of the romance of hockey is standing in a building and looking at the ice where ... AND Canada takes. 4-3 lead with three minutes to go .... and immediately commits a penalty!

Not sure if anyone mentioned this, or not ... but what poetic retribution for Houston, 27 years and a day ... in a Wild Card game ... Edit to add ... Just saw @Taro T‘s post of 22 minutes ago! GMTA.

LOL, I made a similar joke at home. I called the game “JJ Watt: A Profile in Courage, and like, everything else”, with occasional updates on an NFL playoff game. I wonder if ESPN was seeing some real time criticism. The JJ fest seemed to slow down in Q4.

Yeah, I don’t “want the touchdown”, but I’m confused by the decision making process. He “gave himself up” in a signal to his team (outstretched arms). You give yourself up to the referee in quite another way (you take a knee). I’ve seen a thousand penalties or results that stand because the player did something wrong. What if he “gave himself up”, the players slowed to trots, and then he ran 108 yards for a td? I’d love to see the ref responding to a screaming McD ... “HE GAVE HIMSELF UP!” Mike Gillislee “gave himself up” on a kickoff return against the Jets a few years back. I’d have liked “common sense” to prevail on Ford’s block behind the play on what may have been the play of the game. Do we want refs thinking about what players meant to do, or what players did? Odd one.

I had that same thought.

I like Deshaun Watson.

My head hurts ...

I don’t know that rule. Apparently the right call, but I don’t get it.

JJ WATT won the toss!

JJ WATT!!!!!

If his knee’s come up before he’s touched, he’s not down. First down.

LOL, good teams don’t do a lot of things we’ve seen today!

OK .... WTF was the THAT?

Definitely punt, btw ... but Houston gave the same result to us with that fourth down brain fart ...

JJ Watt.

Like, you can’t write a worse play / result.

LOL at ESPN .. “JJ’s teammates responded ...”.

I hear he was injured, or something ...

I’m not sure all of America is as in on the JJ Watt show as ESPN / Houston probably are.

I was thinking challenge it. Worst thing, you lose a TO. You're kicking next play, anyway ....

I love this kid .... well, I love all of ‘em.

Well, USA Finland was a chess match. Props to Finland. That’s probably how they wanted to play. I had the game on an iPad at work, but wasn’t glued to the screen. I watched Sweden Russia today. Lots of powerplays and some weakish goaltending. Back and forth and very exciting. Russia looks better than it has in years, and advances. They started a goalie, though, who looks a little ... shaky. Sweden is 52-0 the last thirteen years in Group Play. That’s unreal. One Gold Medal. Hmmmm .... So, I am full on “love ‘em all”, but GO CANADA!

Dale Hawerchuk tribute ... One of my all time favorites. Go, Dale ... lotsa love here. Followed the Turgeon tribute ... always seemed like a great guy. Telling a freshly drafted Biron that Buffalo’s a great place to be is top shelf.