OT: An old friend comes back to haunt...

by noava22 on Feb 15, 2006 3:56 PM PST

Arturs Irbe, the WALL, the former star for Los Tiburones, stopped 48 (that's forty eight) shots against the US while playing for Latvia, to maintain a 3-3 tie in the first game of the round robin tournament for the Olympics. Talk about impressive...his US counterpart in net only FACED 28 shots today. Granted, thats probably indicative of the quality of defense for each team...but it looks like the wall still has a little left in the tank...

link here

PS- Former Shark Sandis Ozolinsh also assisted on a goal for Latvia, and current Shark Joe Thornton scored a goal for Team Canada in their 7-2 dismantling of Italy.

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U.S.A.

The U.S. should still get past the round-robin into the quarterfinals. As a Sabres fan, I'm disappointed that Ryan Miller was left off the U.S. team. He's young, but already better than either Grahame or Esche.

Everybody needs a hunting pal - JF

by andeux on Feb 15, 2006 4:05 PM PST 0 recs

It doesn't make any difference-

we all know Canada will win the Gold!

by bigelephant on Feb 15, 2006 4:47 PM PST 0 recs

I'm rooting for team USA

but Arturs Irbe is one of favorite goaltenders and I could help but root for Latvia. i love his spirit and enthusiasm for his country. I love how he repairs his own equiptment and uses the same equiptment that he's had his entire career.

"Every year I'm asked if we're buyers or sellers, and every year we're both. Just once, it would be nice to buy without selling."-Beane

by pbruins92 on Feb 15, 2006 7:07 PM PST 0 recs

Hehehe...

...hehehe. Team USA. Hehehehe. Tieing Latvia. Bill Guerin. Heh.

On a serious note, the Germans played inspired against the Czechs today. The Czechs and Canadians are clearly the two best teams in the "tournament," with the Swedes a distant 3rd if Forsberg does not play, or a very close 3rd if he does play.

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out" - Vaclav Havel

by Czech Micah on Feb 15, 2006 8:21 PM PST 0 recs

Who's the goalie

now that Hasek is hurt?

by IndianaAsfan on Feb 16, 2006 6:32 AM PST up 0 recs

Tomas Vokoun

not a shabby backup...

by noava22 on Feb 16, 2006 9:12 AM PST up 0 recs

Some see this as an impovement.

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out" - Vaclav Havel

by Czech Micah on Feb 16, 2006 11:19 AM PST up 0 recs

so what happened against SUI?

right now your nation's other half is looking at least as dangerous, the Hossa-Gaborik-Demitra line is as good as any in the tournament. And who doesn't expect the Dominator to get hurt during the most crucial games (amazing performance in the 1998 Olympics being the lone exception)

See, I'm a murderer, I kill what I eat. I'm a hunter-gatherer, I kill what I eat. I'm a steelworker, I kill what I eat. I'm a bricklayer, I kill what I eat.

by Cutthemullet on Feb 16, 2006 11:32 AM PST up 0 recs

On Hockey.

Yes the Gaborik-Demitra-Hossa line has looked awesome, and why shouldn't it? You take two of the premier wings in the game and match them up with one of the leagues most underrated players and look what you have.

The Czechs will rebound. A lot of players are new to the team; give them time.

"Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out" - Vaclav Havel

by Czech Micah on Feb 16, 2006 5:54 PM PST up 0 recs