IlliniKrush

QUOTE(greasywheels121 @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 03:05 PM) Haha, I really don't think you'll have anything to worry about. We barely survived against you guys here. We're not a road team, never have been under Davis. I don't know if a "Rudy" type story is going to salvage this. Yeah i just think there will have to be some sort of reaction/respose to this Davis press conference. They can either lay down and die or they'll somehow come out and play with fire (maybe the pressure's off). Then on the other side you have us, who will either come out fired up and sick of struggling at home, or we'll be what we've been the past 2 home games and act like we'll win by just throwing our jerseys on. That's why i'm thinking blowout or total struggle, i'd be shocked if we won by whatever the spread is, like a 10 pt victory or something.

At this point i see sunday's game against us as being a blowout or an absolute struggle (even a loss), i just don't know which extreme it will be.

I'm still a bit miffed as to why Davis is even sticking around right now...Jay Bilas was saying the same thing last night

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 16, 2006 -> 12:21 PM) They were rocking and Nabokov played tremendous. I was only able to watch a little over a period before going to school, but It was the first of Olympic hockey I've watched this year and I was quickly reminded of how much better the play is ni the olympics. I absolutely love the bigger rinks cause it allows for more spacing and just a more fluid game. The fact that the top teams are essentially all-star teams has more to do with it than the big rink. It helps, but it's not the biggest factor as far as the game being better goes.

If OSU gets sanctions, i could see Matta going there. He's a sleeper right now.

Well Russia didn't fold it up, that's for sure. They came out today and played a great game in all areas and torched Sweden 5-0. Their defense was very physical, Nabokov was brilliant, and they buried their chances. I guess yesterday's loss to Slovakia was enough of a wake up call for them. They were really good today.

Switzerland, behind a huge effort from goalie David Aebischer, upset Czech Republic this morning 3-2. Hasek didn't play, Vokoun started in net. Sweden/Russia just started.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 10:20 PM) Illinois looked brutal. There's no excuse for letting a Vedran-less NU team stay within 20. What's worse is that they got good games from McBride, Randle, and Carter and still failed to impress. That doesn't happen too often. I'm beginning to think that they aren't going to last long in the tourney. I'm starting to think the same thing. This team's all over the map. A lot depends on the matchups, whether those teams can get Augie and Brian in foul trouble, and overall how Dee shoots. I could see this team losing 2nd round or sneaking into the elite 8 if they play their absolute best. But a 2nd round exit is much more likely in my mind. I don't like the fact that they think they can just turn it on against a team like NW when they feel like it. That's not a good characteristic to have.

We're gonna get raped at MSU...

QUOTE(fathom @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 09:37 PM) It also happens because they're a below average passing team. Dee has an awfully hard time getting into the lane and dishing to a big. I thought they should have went with a 3 guard attack more often, as the ball was around the perimeter the whole time. Jamar rode the bench for a long time tonight.

QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 09:32 PM) Yeah, I wasn't too impressed. This team relies way too much on the 3. It's a good thing Vukusic didn't play tonight. That happens against a zone though.

QUOTE(Chisoxfn @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 09:28 PM) But its gonna take 6 weeks for the resignation to be mailed to the AD. :headshake I don't believe so. Press conference is going on right now. He's saying "I have a problem with alcohol"

With 15 minutes in the first half, i was prepping myself to come home and post a "does anyone on this team really give a s*** anymore?" post...because it didn't look like anyone did. They don't have their entire offense, NW i mean, and they stay in the game with us. At home. That's terrible. Whatever, at least they lit it up for a bit in the 2nd half and pulled away, but i'm not too happy with that win. 1 GAME HOME WINNING STREAK!@#$@#!

Tied Latvia. What a f***ing joke. Dominated the 1st and 3rd, but they played a s***ty 2nd period and it cost em. Now we could easily be staring at a 4 seed in Group B...means we could easily open against Canada. We're going to need at least 4 pts out of the Sweden, Slovakia, and Russia games. I don't want to hear any excuses either, jet lag, none of it. Canada, Sweden, and Finland all rolled against s***ty teams. You coasted through the 2nd period when you thought you had the game under control and got burnt by it. Great start. No one else will lose a point to Latvia.

US gets a 4 minute high sticking call...a minute in latvia takes a penalty, phew. Edit: Now 7 minutes left.

QUOTE(SnB @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 03:49 PM) Olympic hockey is always somethin I've loved to watch and it's what the winter olympics are about for me. But for some reason, that interest just doesn't carry over into the NHL. Watch the NHL playoffs and the interest will carry over.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 03:44 PM) How long are the periods? 20 minutes, the time counts up instead of down.

Leopold just tied it 2 minutes in.

Also, Slovakia over Russia 5-3. Gaborik with two nice goals to win it, both in the last 5 minutes of the game. Edit: Does Russia just collapse after this? It's not a good loss. Slovakia isn't bad, but not a good loss if you consider yourself a medal contender and still have to play USA and Sweden in pool play. Shots: Slovakia 36, Russia 23.

3-2 Latvia after 2.

QUOTE(WHarris1 @ Feb 15, 2006 -> 03:26 PM) Tonight Illinois needs to get the f*** back on track And that means smoking them, not just a W.

WAKE UP Man for man you have more talent that every Latvian player, start playing like you want this. Also that 2nd goal was weak as hell, Grahame. I know Dipietro's a head case, but he's the only goalie we have that can play at a gold-medal level. Better come out in this third period and win this game. Right now they are just playing lazy and taking too many unnecessary chances.

Slovakia's only goal was bulls***, guy out of the box gets away with a checking from behind penalty, results in a 3 on 2 goal. It was a bad no call. Good period though, ton of scoring chances for us. I have the 2nd tv going for slovakia/russia, should be a good finish.

Russia up 2-1 going into the 2nd period over Slovakia USA about to take on Latvia at 2pm

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