Canada v. Slovakia Post-Game: Hubris
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 12:14 AM MST
in International hockey
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PrintThe third period began with the Canadians in total control thanks to a three-goal lead and Marian Gaborik in the dressing room. The Slovakians had generated about four scoring chances in the first two periods and needed three goals for the tie. Things looked bleak for the only Red, White and Blue left in the tournament worth cheering for. But by the end, the Canadians deserved to lose.
With ten minutes left in the game, the crowd started up. "We Want U-S-A! We Want U-S-A! We Want U-S-A!" But fans are idiots. They'll do things like assume the game is over with ten minutes left. But coaches!? Coaches!? Coaches shouldn't do those things. But there was Brent Seabrook taking full shifts in the third period. There was Patrice Bergeron taking full even-strength shifts. There was relaxation. There was hubris. The Canadians deserved to lose.
First it was Luongo with the Jeff Deslauriers short-side special. 3-1. Then it was Patrice Bergeron running into the corner, picking off his defender and with no one covering the front of the net. 3-2. The scoring chances flowed. Shot after shot from close quarters. Battle after battle being won by the Slovaks. 1:40 to go. Out come Nash, Toews and Richards. 1:12, the puck enters the zone. 1:08, Duncan Keith dumps the puck behind his own net where it's recovered by Tomas Kopecky. The Slovaks have possession. 1:00, Halak races to the bench. 0:53, Marian Hossa - a beauty player - races back to check Mike Richards before he clears the zone. 0:44, Doughty loses a race and then a battle to Kopecky along the far wall. Toews loses the next one to Demitra behind the goal-line. 0:33, Handzus from behind the net to Kopecky out front for a slapper from 8 feet... whiff.... 0:28, Visnovsky's shot is blocked but he beats Richards to the loose puck and dumps it along the boards. 0:20 Richards loses another race to Visnovsky. 0:12, Hossa shoots. 0:11, tipped by Stumpel. 0:10, Demitra alone in front and time stops. A yawning cage. Demitra unmarked. He shoots, but it's off Luongo's desperately outstretched mitt and into the corner. 0:00. The Canadians have won. The Canadians deserved to lose.
The two adversaries shake hands; Luongo and Demitra, teammates in Vancouver, share a short embrace and short conversation. The crowd bellows, "We Want U-S-A! We Want U-S-A! We Want U-S-A!" still not humbled, still filled with hubris. The Canadians deserved to lose.
For more detail-oriented thoughts, including play-by-play, it's all after the jump.
I didn't note the competition for this one but it was pretty consistently Toews getting Hossa, Crosby getting Gaborik, Getzlaf getting Handzus and Thornton with Radivojevic.. As always, the jersey numbers are used for the play-by-play with the legend coming first.
2 - Duncan Keith
6 - Shea Weber
7 - Brent Seabrook
8 - Drew Doughty
10 - Brenden Morrow
11 - Patrick Marleau
12 - Jarome Iginla
15 - Dany Heatley
16 - Jonathan Toews
18 - Mike Richards
19 - Joe Thornton
20 - Chris Pronger
21 - Eric Staal
22 - Dan Boyle
24 - Corey Perry
27 - Scott Niedermayer
37 - Patrice Bergeron
51 - Ryan Getzlaf
61 - Rick Nash
87 - Sidney Crosby
First Period
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 02-08
10-51-24 and 02-08
10-51-24 and 20-22 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 07-08
61-16-18 and 06-08
21-87-12 and 27-06 NZ FO
10-51-24 and 27-02
10-51-24 and 02-08
15-19-11 and 02-08
61-16-18 and 20-22
21-87-12 and 20-22
21-87-12 and 27-06
10-51-24 and 27-06
15-19-11 and 20-22 NZ FO
61-37-16 and 02-08 DZ FO with 37 taking FO and to bench on clear
61-16-18 and 02-08
18-87-12 and 02-08
21-87-12 and 20-22 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 02-07
15-19-11 and 27-06
15-19-11 and 27-06 DZ FO
87-16-18 and 20-22
87-16-18 and 02-08
21-87-12 and 02-08 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-22
15-51-11 and 20-22
15-51-11 and 20-22 DZ FO Icing
15-19-11 and 27-06 ends in Cdn. GOAL
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
61-37-16 and 27-06 DZ FO with 37 taking FO and to bench on clear
21-87-12 and 02-08 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 02-08 OZ FO Icing
10-51-24 and 20-07 ends in Cdn. GOAL
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 02-08
15-19-11 and 02-08 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 20-22 OZ FO Icing
10-51-24 and 20-22 OZ FO
15-19-11 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 27-06 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 02-08
Second Period
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 27-06
21-87-12 and 27-06 DZ FO Icing
21-87-12 and 02-08
10-51-24 and 02-08 ends in Cdn. penalty in DZ
37-10 and 27-06 DZ FO
16-18 and 02-20 DZ FO
61-11 and 02-20
37-10 and 27-06 penalty ends
21-87-12 and 27-22
15-19-11 and 02-22
61-16-18 and 20-22 ends in Svk. penalty in their DZ
10-51-24 and 27-06 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 27-06 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 06-08 OZ FO
15-19-11 and 20-22 penalty ends
15-19-11 and 20-22
10-51-24 and 02-08
21-87-12 and 27-06 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 20-22
61-16-18 and 27-06 OZ FO
61-16-18 and 02-08
10-51-24 and 02-08
21-87-12 and 20-22
15-19-11 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 02-08 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-22 OZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-22 DZ FO
21-87-12 and 27-06
15-19-11 and 02-08 OZ FO
61-16-18 and 20-22
10-51-24 and 27-06
10-51-24 and 27-06
19-51-24 and 02-08 DZ FO with 51 taking FO ends in Svk. penalty in their DZ
10-51-24 and 27-20 OZ FO ends in Cdn. GOAL
21-87-12 and 02-07 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 02-07
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-08
11-51-24 and 20-08 DZ FO Icing
11-51-24 and 20-08 NZ FO
Third Period
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 02-08
10-51-24 and 20-22
15-19-11 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 02-08 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 20-07 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 02-08 NZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-22
15-19-11 and 20-22
15-19-11 and 27-20
21-87-12 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 02-07 OZ FO
37-51-24 and 20-22 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 20-22 NZ FO
15-19-11 and 02-08
21-87-37 and 02-08 DZ FO
61-16-18 and 27-06 NZ FO
10-51-24 and 27-06
10-51-24 and 20-22 ends in Cdn. delayed penalty in DZ and Svk. GOAL
15-19-11 and 02-08 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 27-06 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 27-06
61-16-18 and 27-06 OZ FO
21-87-12 and 20-22 OZ FO Icing
10-51-24 and 20-22 OZ FO
15-19-11 and 27-06
19-37-11 and 02-08 with 27 taking FO ends in Svk. GOAL
61-16-18 and 06-27 NZ FO
21-87-12 and 20-22 NZ FO
10-51-24 and 20-22
10-51-24 and 20-22 DZ FO Icing
10-51-24 and 02-08
61-37-16 and 27-06 DZ FO with 37 taking FO
61-16-18 and 27-06 DZ FO
15-19-11 and 27-06
21-87-12 and 20-22 NZ FO
61-16-18 and 02-08
End of Game
As I said up above, the Canadian coaches were using the Crosby and Toews groups to take on Slovakia's better players and they let the Ducks and Sharks take Handzus and Radivojevic. This was very consistent until the third period at which point Gaborik left the game. Once that happened the Canadians seemed to get a bit more sloppy and were doing things that they usually reserve for garbage time (third period shifts for Seabrook, full EV shifts for Bergeron). Once they got into the "garbage time" mindset, they seemed to have a tough time getting out of it and the Slovakians really put on the pressure. The shot charts for this one show a tale of two games: the first two periods where Slovakia had almost nothing from in close and the third period where the Canadian goal was under siege.
This was also the first time that the game has been close for quite some time which gives us a chance to look at Canada's bench tactics when they need to close out a tight game. After the third goal, all thirteen forwards took at least one shift, which surprised me. I thought there was going to be a line cut, but it didn't happen. I was also very surprised that Bergeron was used again in the DZ faceoff role after Slovakia's second goal. It's easy to blame just him for both losing the faceoff and colliding with Doughty, but it seems whatever mistakes he made weren't enough for the coaches to drop him completely. From the defenders, only Seabrook sat once the margin was cut to one and the Pronger-Boyle combination got a surprising amount of ice time considering their usage in previous games (especially Pronger). From start to finish this was a four-line, three-pairing game.
On the Slovakian side, I paid close attention to what they did when they had faceoffs in the Canadian zone in the first and second period. I had assumed that they would try to use those opportunities for offence but they almost never did. In the first period there were four faceoffs in Canada's zone that I counted and Gaborik wasn't used for any of them while Hossa was only used on one. Given those two were on separate lines it seems like that's a great opportunity to use them or even to load up a line and try for some offence. It's hard to be too critical since the team did end up coming back, but they sure weren't forcing the issue offensively in the first two periods.
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I agree they let off the gas in the last ten minutes, but deserved to lose? Seems like a wee exaggeration.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Not in the “Slovakia out-chanced us” way. That would not be true. More in the, “it would be their just desserts for looking ahead” way.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 10:08 AM MST up reply actions
I dunno, it seems like an extreme reaction for letting up in the last ten minutes with a three-goal lead.
SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there). Link now 100% less broken.
Those dumb-ass fans who started chanting for the next opponent while this one was down but not out, deserved to lose. Way to de-focus your own team while flagrantly breaking Rule No. 1: Never Piss Off Your Opponent.
I haven’t been this pissed off at fans since the dumb-ass Oiler fans who used to serenade Eddie Belfour all the freaking time. The Eagle clearly relished it and used it as motivation to beat us about 50 times in a row. PEOPLE! IT’S NOT WORKING!! I never could get my head around what those dummies thought they were accomplishing by chanting the name of an opponent. How about “Here we go Oilers here we go”??
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
by Bruce McCurdy on Feb 27, 2010 3:58 PM MST up reply actions
Perhaps I’m not expressing myself properly. What I’m saying is that it would have been karmically just for them to lose after the whole stadium started looking ahead to the next game. The Canadians controlled most of the play and had the most scoring chances so I’m not saying that they deserved to lose based on those factors. More narrative than science in the top half.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 4:35 PM MST up reply actions
It’s fitting that Canadian fans as a whole continue to complain about the officiating. The games are being played in Vancouver, after all.
Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.
Normally I don’t let bad officiating bother me, it happens it’s part of the game. I’ve also experienced it more times than I can bother to count; but when you start getting away with things like Cross Checking a man in the face (an automatic 5 minute major under international rules for hitting to the head – I’ve seen people get that penalty for less too) right in front of a ref, it’s approaching horrendous.
The refs were letting things go on both sides. Canada had zero penalties after the first period and IMO Brendan Morrow got away with one (tackle and slam into boards) with about 2:30 left in the game. I’d say the Slovaks have at least as much reason to quibble with the calls.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 1:25 PM MST up reply actions
Good stuff Scott. Well, they and everyone else got lulled to sleep on that one. I watched the game on PVR and for fifty two minutes they were in complete control and then a softie and by the that time they had lost their edge and that was that.
I’d say its a lesson except I doubt the same scenario ensues on Sunday. Maybe a good thing to tell them that they aren’t the end all and be all but I would presume they don’t need that lesson at this point.
I think the reffing has been fine. Its NHL refs, right? Canadians and Americans? The women had an international or two as well I think. Really though I think it has been fine in every game i have seen. Complaining about refs is something all hockey fans do, in international tournaments, the NHL, junior, beer leagues. Its completely pointless. Unless its blatantly onesided or a bonehead call costs a team an evenly played game then complaining about the refs is just excuse making imo.
Should be fun on SUnday. Sad they’re almost over.
Thanks Pat. And yeah, the Olympics are so much fun. Not just the hockey of course, but the hockey is great. It sure would be something if the NHL flattened themselves down to, say, 10 teams and then had a rotating schedule. One month in Canada, one in the Northern States, another in Western Europe, over to Eastern Europe, down to the Southern States. Do each zone twice and play a 90-game schedule with the top two “regular season” teams playing for the Cup in a best of 11 (each of their home cities gets a turn with the regular season winner deciding on the locale for the 11th and final game, if necessary). Might not do wonders financially but the quality of the hockey would have a nice bump. I’d like it anyway.
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 10:15 AM MST up reply actions
0:12, Hossa shoots. 0:11, tipped by Stumpel. 0:10, Demitra alone in front and time stops. A yawning cage. Demitra unmarked. He shoots, but it’s off Luongo’s desperately outstretched mitt and into the corner. 0:00. The Canadians have won.
You forgot one: 0:05, Nash makes a lame-ass clearing pass right on the tape of the point man to set up one last Slovakian shot.
I was absolutely shocked by the complete lack of composure (a.k.a. “panic”) on display by $127 MM “worth” of top-level hockey players.
This was the first game I thought Doughty looked out of his comfort zone, running around in his own zone and leaving the front of the net open. The Slovaks had 2-against-1 directly in front of the Canadian goal in the dying seconds and he was the guy nowhere to be seen. Same thing happened on the 3-2 goal, where Doughty strayed into the corner, got creamed by Bergeron (!), and Keith was left to handle the 2-on-1 down low while Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau picked their noses and tried to get a good view of Luongo making the save. Unfortunately, he then had to make a second save while his forwards continued to stand around watching. Those @#$%^s should have been nailed to the bench from then on, cuz their commitment and awareness of defensive play was exposed.
But really, that goes for the whole team. I don’t know how often Canadian players got sucked into double-teaming one Slovakian guy while leaving another completely unattended, but it happened a whole bunch of times in the last ten minutes.
Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries
"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
Doughty was terrible this game, Keith not much better.
I didn’t have any quibble with the officiating, Canada spent more time in the offensive zone and came away with more PPs. Just right. This wasn’t the game against the US where the refs were looking for any marginal thing to call against Canada.
I thought the Crosby line was terrific, they couldn’t finish worth a damn but they faced quality all night in Gaborik – occasianally I saw them against Palffy, who did he play with? And they were terrific defensively and generated well enough in the offensive zone, context considered probably the best line.
Palffy and Gaborik were generally together iirc, so I’m not surprised you saw Crosby against both!
by Scott Reynolds on Feb 27, 2010 6:06 PM MST up reply actions
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