Over 6 at -105, was I dumb to take that or?
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Gerber and Miller are very good goalies, i dont touch this line, USA maybe win 4-1 or smth.Comment -
totally an under i thinkComment -
How much does some of these countries like Swiss and Latvia playing together for the last 6 months help them against a freshly assembled ( and beat up) group of NHL'rs?
I rea yesterday that Latvia has 2 NHL and 2 AHL players coming in... Butthe rest of the guys have been playing together in the Russian Hockey League.
Hmmmm......Comment -
i dont think all the Latvia players played together for any longer then that nhl guys on team USA. they might play in russia but they are mostly from different teams and never played together.
honestly i dont think they have a chance to beat USA. Swiss have only two nhl players on the roster. the rest are no-name players. they will get smoked. i see team USA scoring at least 8 goals. Provided they are a bit beat up and the talent on the offensive end is not what we are used to in years past but still, they are NHL caliber players. i think USA -2.5 or even -3 is a great bet. i will be wagering on that for sure.Comment -
i like the under, only becuase of the goalies and the fact its the first game. i wouldnt wager on the Swiss to win best i could see them getting is a draw (which is +685)Comment -
No,No,No it's true almost all latvian players play in one team ,called "Dinamo Riga". i know it, im from Latvia
they play together about 2 years, and now they are in great condition 
I also think maybe Latvia can make this +4,5 to Russian, i know Russia is very strong team,with Ovi in front,but Latvia just know this team, i think score will be something like 5:1
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i like the underComment -
I like the over.Comment -
over
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The Swiss of past years played tight defensively and I'm pretty sure they will do the same this year as they do not want to go toe to toe with the US as they will get destroyed. I'd take the under if I had to take one.Comment -
Serisously what you say is nonsense! How do you think the Swiss beat Canada 2-0 and the Czech 3-2 at Turin 4 years ago in the Olympics??? Yeah with their goalie and their defense, which are quite good. Saying the Swiss are going to get smoked and USA will score at least 8 goals says you don't know a lot about international hockey. I guarantee you those no-names players, as you say, CAN play defense. If they couldn't play defense, there would be no point in going to the Olympics.
What's more, USA had only 1 training day today to get ready for this match. Switzerland got together 1 week ago in Winnipeg to prepare together, except for Streit and Hiller.
If you look at the potential of these 2 teams, I agree USA is clearly on another level. BUT I really think Switzerland will give USA a tough battle for this 1st game, and I think USA won't be quite ready for this in the 1st game.
So I'm not saying Switzerland will win this game, I just think it will be a closer game than some people might expect.Comment -
This is gonna be one of the tightest games ever played!Comment -
USA has it for sureComment -
USA USA USA all the way! RED WHITE & BLUE! Does New Zealand have a hockey team?Comment -
interesting gameComment -
Under 6? No, definitely overs on this match. I'd say this game is good for 8, looking for a comfortable USA win regardless of who is in net. 6-2 likely.Comment -
not sure but going with everyone else i take the under lolsbrComment -
Its an easy over.. The U.S. win by at least 5.Comment -
wow. i am really getting bashed here by the Swiss and Latvians. LOL
its true, i dont know very much about international hockey. just from the games that i have seen, it is usually played very loosely. If you are expert on Swiss games and they play tight defense, i can beleive it. just doesnt seem like olympic hockey will be played so tightly.
i see olympic games as something comparable to all star games. usually not much defense is played and even though goalies and D-men are world class, many goals are scored because of the offensive talent and loose D play. i don't think there will be alot of shot blocking or tight checking. nobody wants to get injured in international competition. it is more for fun then furthering your career
i apologize to Emeka about Latvia comments. i did not know that it was mostly Dinamo Riga players. I thought they were a collection of nhl and khl players just like team Russia. While Russia is very talented and i will be pulling for my countrymen, there is a good possiblity that they could indeed lose to Latvia or have a very close game because i dont think Russian players take olympic hockey as seriously as other nations. Plenty of times there have been huge letdowns when they lost to much weaker teams or just didn't show up to play looking all hungover from the night before. there is just no way i would bet on russians. i will stick to USA, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
that said, other countries have become much better at hockey in the last 10 years. it is not longer just Russia, Canada, USA and northern EuropeComment -
absolutely zero consensus on any play here but I think most of the americans are being overly bias which is of course quite expected. The Swiss showed that they can play at the highest level with their victory over Canada last Olympics. That's not saying they have a chance of winning this or anything but it does say that the unexpected or unlikely does happen. I think they will come in playing an extremely tight and defensive minded game. They will clog the middle and won't have more than two players inside the US zone except when they gain complete control and have no risk. Obviously they're going to lose in a regular style hockey game and they will play like the Devils used too back in the early 2000s.
Being the first game for the US they won't feel comfortable opening up and their gameplan will be to play with no mistakes and to take no unnecessary chances. With Miller in net they will feel comfortable playing tight and not letting the Swiss get any odd man rushes. The US will be confident that by playing smart, intelligent hockey that they will win so why take unnecesary risks/chances?
Neither team will take many penalties and there will be alot of dump and chase, dump and chase, dump and chase.
7 goals is alot of goals in an opening game where a knowingly defensive Swiss team is playing an American team who haven't played with each other before. I can't see how you can go wrong with the Under in this one.Comment -
I completely disagree with just about everything you said. How is it no longer Russia, Canada, US and N. Eur. Where do you think Latvia is? Czechoslovakia used to be outside N Eur. but now the Czech Republic is a 2nd tier team. Are you telling me Kazakstan is going to win the Olympics in 2014??? The only team outside of your geographic analysis is Switzerland and they could prob be considered somewhat N. Eur too.... lol..
Next off, you're trying to say the Ruskies aren't worth betting on???? Shit man, they have such a sweet roster that them winning the Olymics isn't out of the question.
Finally, about not playing D at the Olympics??? Christ man, have you watched Olympic hockey before. These guys will dive head first to block the puck in the meaningful games. Bet your overs and lose the majority of your bets. This game won't be hitting 6.Comment -
There is some serious value in this thread. Seems like you guys have alot more on the teams that plays compared to myself!
As concluded the general thought is the under, but my bookie has it pretty juiced, so I was thinking USA -2.5 (-120), is three goals or more on Hiller too much to ask for?Comment -
I think under here as well, good luck thoughComment -
I agree the under may be the best play as I don't see more than 6 goals scored in this game, however I think I'll also play the Swiss +2,5 to root for my team as I think it will be a tight 1st game in these Olympics.
And Skaramouch, I hope you'll get to watch some of these games to realize how much it means to all thoses players! But thanks, you made me laugh when you said they're going to the Olympics for fun, like they're going to Vancouver on vacation =) !!!
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i think it will be tight game so +2,5 Swiss for me...Comment -
GO USA cant waitComment -
ha going with the under. I know very little about hockey period, nevermind international hockey. But hey, it will keep me box score watching at work this afternoon!Comment -
I agree the under may be the best play as I don't see more than 6 goals scored in this game, however I think I'll also play the Swiss +2,5 to root for my team as I think it will be a tight 1st game in these Olympics.
And Skaramouch, I hope you'll get to watch some of these games to realize how much it means to all thoses players! But thanks, you made me laugh when you said they're going to the Olympics for fun, like they're going to Vancouver on vacation =) !!!
i dont know about other teams but i am pretty sure the russian team views olympic trips as a vacation. there is no other way to explain their sometimes terrible play when they look half awake against teams like belarus or germany.Comment -
Very hard to figure these games. The international rules are different. On the one hand, icing is called immediately, so there will actually be more playing time. The checking may not be as tight as the NHL offers. However the new rules will take some time getting used to for NHL players. I'll wait for a game or two.Comment -
The Swiss know they can't keep up with the younger, quicker American team, so they are going to slow this game down, and probably implement a neutral zone trap. I imagine the Swiss will pick their spots and be opportunistic at best in the offensive zone, but focus more on keeping the Americans at bay. Games like this yell UNDER.
What time does this game start?Comment -
oooops Boom! 3-0Comment
