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Post by Simey on Feb 19, 2010 13:29:42 GMT -5
In that case, I'm not doing that well at all and could easily end up in fourth place before long! Well, if you considered that an average team would win 50% of the time and lose 50% of the time, that in winning they would tend to score 3-5 goals and not get a shut-out, and that in losing they'd typically score 1-2 goals, then per two matches played you'd expect them to score 8 points (7 in the win, 1 in the loss). After four matches then, you're average team would have scored 16 points. Not only are you 1 point ahead of that, but I'd say that you're in a strong position looking forward. Russia's defeat to Slovakia was at least a little surprising - though not a total shock, as Jan pointed out - and so you should still be able to rely on Russia to perform for you. In Switzerland you have one of only two lower-six teams - the other being the aforementioned Slovakia - to achieve anything more than a single point in a match, and it was the mighty Canada that they pressed hard, so they're looking pretty solid at the moment. This is all based on spurious guesswork and complete conjecture regarding how an average team would perform, but still, I reckon your Russo-Swiss team is looking pretty good actually.
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Post by Black Cat on Feb 19, 2010 14:09:22 GMT -5
Belarus vs Sweden later today. Remember Salt Lake City? ;D Hope it will happen again today.
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Post by Simey on Feb 19, 2010 15:41:52 GMT -5
Hope it will happen again today. NOT! ;D That was extraordinary! A bit of info from the YouTube sidebar: The Belarussians already had airplane tickets booked for that evening but had to re-book as they guaranteed themselves two more games.Yes, great stuff, but on this occasion.... Come on you Swedes!
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Post by jan on Feb 20, 2010 5:48:29 GMT -5
Czech Republic - Latvia 5:2. ;D It was kind of "compulsory" victory, a fulfilled expectation. I didn't watch it, but I've heard that the Czech game wasn't extremely good, and the Latvians fought well. Poor Latvians. It must be terrible for them to be in such a horror group. I'll watch this match later today from a reply. So, this gives me 7 more points (5 for the victory and 2 for 5 goals). I had 14 points before, so currently I have 21 points. Two matches remain in the B group: Slovakia - Latvia. Slovaks should win this, and I hope the'll score many times, because their offensive is really very strong. Poor Latvians again. Czech Republic - Russia. This is going to be a very interesting match. Czech didn't have much time to regenerate after the last match. We have to rely on our goalkeeper, and also on Jaromir Jagr - have you seen him playing? Boy, he's still the best, although he's 38 years old! He's not so fast now, but still very strong and his technique is simply fantastic. A puck on his long stick almost 2 metres in front of him, using his second hand to hold back 2 other players, going here and there without anybody being able to stop him. You must watch him! Anyway, this match is going to be a massacre! Although I believe in the Czech team, I have a slightly bad feeling about this. Perhaps, only a few mistakes and only a few goals will deside this match - and it will also decide about the winner of the B group.
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Post by jan on Feb 21, 2010 5:39:11 GMT -5
Slovakia - Latvia 6:0! ;D Poor Latvians, again. So, this gives me other 11 points (5 for the victory, 3 for the shut-out, and 3 for the 6 goals). Together with the previous 21 points, I have 32 points now! Oh, I'm a lucky boy! Czech Republic - Russia, Finland - Sweden and Canada - USA today! This is going to be an interesting day, especially in the B group where the things are still pretty unclear.
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Post by Simey on Feb 21, 2010 10:41:17 GMT -5
Well, well, well - how things have shifted! People with their 'A Teams' in Group A have been relying more on their 'B Teams' for points in the last few days, and it's causing some interesting manoeuvres. Jan has provided terrific reports on The Czech Republic's and Slovakia's matches above, so I need say no more other than to bemoan the fact that it's been my little Latvia on the wrong end of the scorelines! So, as stated, The Czech Republic makes Jan 7 points leaving Latvia to snatch just 1 point for me; and Slovakia powers their way to another 11 points for Jan, leaving me with nothing for Latvia's efforts. If an enormous 11 points sounds familiar, it's the amount that Canada made for BC in their opening match against Norway - that 9th-ranked Slovakia are performing similar feats, as well as beating Russia, should sound a warning to anyone coming up against them. Thankfully for me, my 'A Team' has been busy treating someone else in much the same manner as Slovakia treated Latvia. Finland grab me 10 points (yaaay! ) as they hammer Germany 5-0, ETB's 'B Team' once again giving him nothing. In fact, it was just starting to look as though ETB would be totally reliant on the USA for all his points when Germany actually gained him 2 points in their 5-3 loss to Belarus, a very good match that was 3-3 going into the last few minutes and full of drama as the Germans desperately pushed against what became a 4-3 scoreline to make it into overtime. That they couldn't quite do it, and gave up another goal whilst focusing on attack, means that BC's Belarus gets him another 7 points, a very useful back-up to Canada's efforts, and not all the team in red and green achieved. A day earlier, the Belarussians had taken on the Swedes - a rather more intimidating prospect in hockey than the Germans - and held their own very well. Sweden were solid, and got the job done, but were a little unspectacular for a team expected to get a medal. The final score was 4-2, but it was another match that was only put away for sure at the very end. Belarus's impressive fighting spirit allows BC another 1 point, whilst Sweden's win gives AS a useful 7 points. Meanwhile, Sweden's western neighbours were involved in a very close match with Switzerland, and even losing 4-5 in overtime, Norway grab AS a very solid 5 points. Even whilst awaiting the next unpredictable move of his simmering Red Machine, Doomy still sees the points roll in, Switzerland getting him 7 points with their victory. Righty, I suppose we'll be wanting some Current Standings, won't we: Jan: 32 points Black Cat: 27 points Doomy: 24 points Aguila Saber: 22 points Simey: 19 points EvilTB: 17 pointsWow! I'm impressed by how close most of us are, though it has to be said that Jan's CzechoSlovak über-team are rather outstripping the rest of us right now. At the other end of the spectrum, it's my Latvia and ETB's Germany that are unfortunately doing the most to drag our teams' points down. In defence of Latvia though, I think they really deserve bonus points for turning up once they'd been drawn in such a group: Russia, The Czech Republic and Slovakia - yikes. Looking forward, I think the most crucial match today might be Canada Vs. USA - a regulation time win for the USA would see points-needing ETB leap much closer to BC, and I'm guessing that for the duration of this tournament, having a similar number of points to BC will be no bad thing - Canada may have stuttered a little already, and may do so again, but to bet against them in the long run would be a brave move.
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Post by jan on Feb 21, 2010 12:26:18 GMT -5
Wonderful report, Sir! ;D
Erm, have we decided how to count in the "qualification play-off games" (those between the groups and the quarterfinal)?
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Post by Aguila Saber on Feb 21, 2010 12:43:46 GMT -5
Good commentary.
I believe much will be decided if anyone gets two teams in the second half, or even heaven forbids - 0 teams.
Still, the latter part was cup-based so that may not be a large advantage... But every extra match played is likely to give 1-2 points even when losing.
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Post by Black Cat on Feb 21, 2010 17:31:25 GMT -5
Still, the latter part was cup-based so that may not be a large advantage... But every extra match played is likely to give 1-2 points even when losing. Yeah, my own idea was to count points for teams losing their qualification game but not for the winning teams that are going to play in the quarter-final.
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Post by Doomy on Feb 21, 2010 18:32:29 GMT -5
Thanks for another entertaining update, Simey.
Switzerland are doing quite well for me considering their status as one of the diddy teams in the tournament.
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Post by eviltb on Feb 22, 2010 3:37:16 GMT -5
Whoo USA beat Canada! Whoo!!
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Post by jan on Feb 22, 2010 4:57:28 GMT -5
Damn. Czech Republic lost with Russia 2:4. Damn. It brings me only 1 more point (for the 2 goals), so I have 33 points in total now.
Other development was rather surprising for me. Canada lost with the USA, and Finland with Sweden (0:3 - quite big difference).
Never mind. The show must go on. In the pre-play-off part, Czech Republic meets Latvia and Slovakia meets Norway. Both my teams should make it in the play-off.
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Post by Doomy on Feb 22, 2010 6:38:14 GMT -5
Jan's loss is my gain. Literally, as our teams were playing each other.
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Post by Black Cat on Feb 22, 2010 13:07:28 GMT -5
Urgh... Canada played well but the American goaltender stopped everything while Martin Brodeur was looking like a chicken with no head on the ice, jumping everywhere where he didn't have to. It was mostly his fault for Canada's lost.
I got what? 2 points for the lost because of the 3 goals scored? That's one better than Jan! ;D
Next game against Germany...
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Post by Aguila Saber on Feb 22, 2010 14:05:38 GMT -5
Yay! Sweden beats Finland with 3-0. Another shut-off and three goals scored.
Still, the Swedish team now got a very tough way towards the finals, although at least they have a day off and do not have to play the extra match.
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