Every time I hear something about a new points system, I’m reminded of a past life at a hockey forum where every time a points system got even alluded to, the same 23 people would show up like they needed to be noticed at the opening of a door and they’d breathlessly debate their desired point system as if the 419th time it was discussed, they were providing new information that they hadn’t previously discussed 418 times before.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there needs to be stronger incentives to winning in regulation and avoiding games ending in a shootout [since we’re never getting rid of the shootout], but I think simply lobbing out 3-2-1-0 ignores the basic question what are we really trying to accomplish? that needs to have an answer before you go deciding how/if you want to change the points system.
[My personal suggestion: 3-1-0. Win in regulation, you get 3 points. Get to OT, both teams get 1 point and you’re playing for a tally in the first tiebreaker; it gets to a shootout, … well, it’s a glorified exhibition so you get nothing and you’re doing it for shits and giggles.]
We want teams to try to win in regulation, so there is no overtime. Cuz, people have lives the next day.
We don’t want teams to try to tie so both teams get points. That leads to collusion, which is bad in sports, at least IMO.
Yeah, no one will bother playing that OT, and no one will bother watching that OT. Thus it would not be played. But yes, I prefer teams winning in regulation, and this soccer-style solution of the 80’s (thanks, EFL (at the time)!) has worked well for that sport.
Just saw a picture showing Tkachuk’s father and Lemieux’s father fighting 20 sec into a USA vs Canada match from 1976, I think it said, along with the one the other night. Is that Hockey’s version of the Hadfield’s and McCoy’s?
Brendan had 307 games of a pretty nondescript NHL career and he’ll likely finish his playing career over in Europe. Not really “Hatfield vs. McCoy” potential there, but he did get 5 games from the Do"PS" for biting Brady in November 2021. [Meaning, Claude/Brendan were the first father/son duo to ever be suspended by the league for biting.]
Now we just need to get Brendan back to the NHL, then figure out whether it was the Hatfields or the McCoy’s who were biters.
I think Trump’s attendance at the game would also be a big boost for the Canadian team. Hate can be a strong motivator. Am disappointed that Trump’s desire to annex Canada against its will is motivating for the American players. This is no joke
Trump posted on Truth Social he would be watching the game. Added White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “And we look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state, Canada.”
After the game, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded with a post of his own on X.
“You can’t take our country — and you can’t take our game.”
I get McDavid being MVP of the title game last night, GWG and all, but Binnington was the MVP the way he locked it down after it got to 2-1, and neither of those goals were on him.
For tourney MVP? MacKinnon was not it. Even in a losing effort, it was Brady Tkachuk. His impact on the ice was clear; his impact when he was out after the 1st period of the Sweden game was unmistakable. I wouldn’t even call MacKinnon the best player for Canada. That might be McDavid even without the championship winner.
I was unable to watch the game but everyone tells me that Binnington won last night’s game for Canada. It should have been a US victory with anyone else in goal.
Best American player in this tournament was Werenski. Binnington had a great game last night but Mackinnon was probably the best player for Canada, but not by much. I think both Mcdavid and Mackinnon were pretty tame in this tournament. Many lessons were learned for Team Canada going into the Olympics.
Will be interesting to see if Crosby is Captain for the 2026 Olympics. Sid is no longer a Kid but he inspires his teammates, especially the younger ones for whom he was an idol.
Will be interesting indeed. Also I wonder if Marchand will make the team. I know the players like him in the locker room but I just don’t think his game is good enough for best on best. I hope to see a french Canadian on the team but it doesn’t look promising.
That was one of the best hockey matches I have ever watched despite the US loss. Must have been sweet for Canadians to gloat over the WH Press Secretary and Trump comments:
“I think he’s watching for the United States to win tonight,” Leavitt said.
“I know he talked to the USA hockey team this morning,” she continued, saying the players were “jubilant” over the call.
“We look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state - Canada,” she said.
Her remark came hours after Trump shared his excitement for the game on [Truth Social.]
“I’ll be calling our GREAT American Hockey Team this morning to spur them on towards victory tonight against Canada, which with FAR LOWER TAXES AND MUCH STRONGER SECURITY, will someday, maybe soon, become our cherished, and very important, Fifty First State,” Trump wrote.
Pretty puzzling that Wayne Gretzky was chosen as honorary captain when Raymond Bourque could have been chosen. Bourque is a legend in Boston and Gretzky is a Trump guy.