Could not win a faceoff against CZE or in the first period against FIN
Possibly have a sick Nathaniel
Scraped by the last two games, I mean truly SCRAPED
Were leading the score for 6 of the last 123 minutes played
and the US just gave SLO a quick-hit roasting
allow yourself to join me on a little inhale of the copium:
The team has shown grit and poise under pressure. If anything bad happens in the final, do you think Team Canada blinks? They won after losing Sid to injury, they won after being down with 4 minutes to go in an elim QF, they won after giving up a shorthanded goal to go 0-2 in the second. They’ve proven to themselves that no matter how dire the situation, they will pull it off, they have pulled it off. The mental is unbreakable atm
(Seriously, that third period vs. Czechia was so much worse than any position they’ll be in during the gold medal game. Like, losing to Czechia in the QF, not even getting to battle for a medal? For a Canadian team?? You get through that, you’re not getting rattled at the gold game)
Slovakia has 4 NHL players, Finland has all NHL players except 1. Slovakia has had a stellar run but let’s not compare the SF scores as if they played equivalent teams (update: see also: bronze medal)
Canada operates so well from the underdog position. OBVIOUSLY we were never underdogs but at least now, after the rough QF and SF, the storyline isn’t “Canada’s gold to lose”, it’s more even odds. Also tbh I think general sentiment has swung too far against Canada—we were wayyy stronger against Finland than the scoresheet shows
We have momentum. Our main bad game was QF against Czechia, which I will pin on losing Mother and the resulting confusion in lines and structure, also some questionable reffing (how can you not). It’s the first elim, maybe we relaxed too much in rounds. In the SF we gave two unlucky freebies, but we were dialed by second period and the Finns got what like 7 shots in the whole last two periods? The nerves are settled, the lines are settled, we are on the upswing and will peak in the USA match. I know USA had good games too but did they experience the same FEAR?? Test their GRIT? Naw gurl I ain’t buy
Binny is only gonna get better at the gold match. He is capable of losing a prelim (he didn’t) but Big Game Binnington is not capable of losing a Big Game
McMacMack is looking nuclear— I do worry abt Nate getting sick (update: he looks ok in the presser?? idk) and the over-reliance on one line BUT Connor is fking DIALED and this line won’t stop making shit happen despite ridic ice time. Mack wants it so bad it’s giving 2010 Vancouver Crosby yelling for the puck all game, the narratives write themselves!!
The US does have a disgusting PK and great faceoff percentages, but our PP is as stacked as it could be. With Mother this is literally one of the best PPs ever assembled, and Mack is barely a downgrade if Mother is not sufficiently healthy. Plus, Nathaniel has been winning faceoffs again (thank you)
Quinn “the missing piece at 4Nations” Hughes, I’ll raise you Cale Makar. Close to tops on ice time, got several nasty shots off, central to the PP structure. In even strength, Makar Toews pair looked particularly strong against Finland, so like I said before, everyone is peaking in the final
We have killer roster depth. Don’t forget that this is a grossly stacked roster and don’t sleep on the second to fourth lines — USA is gonna be so laser focused on shutting McMacMack down that a Tom Wilson or Mitch Marner is gonna have an easier time doing some crazy shit for us. We’ve seen it already, the production from up and down the roster
Heart and soul, Sidney Crosby. If he’s on the ice it’s a new brand new hockey team. Do NOT doubt the power of the childhood idol of every other man on that team. Think Canada woho— rounds vs. US without MPP = slaughter. Everyone said gold match would be a wash, then MPP returns and we give them a FIGHT (I know it’s a diff situation bc Canada woho was built around MPP so it’s much more obvious of an absence but still) Seriously, we NEVER count Sidney mfing Crosby out
If Crosby is not on the ice, he will still be there being the Mother and Captain (I vote we dress him as the extra forward with the C, imagine the aura) and we win it for the Mother and the Captain (please)
The US is overdue for a bad game and we are overdue for a good game. Just looking at raw talent, I think it’s an even match, so something something regression to the mean do not question me rn
Thank you for coming to my TED talk I’m gonna go back to pretending I don’t care deeply about the outcome of this game
No one can pop my bubble I will take NO reality checks unless I’m forced to on Sunday
