OGDB 4: Sprichst du hockey?

After Sunday’s disappointing loss to the Americans and a pending date with the Russians tomorrow, it’s really hard to feel the same angst when Canada faces the Germans tonight.

The first line of Marco Sturm, Marcel Goc and Johan Hecht doesn’t create the same trepidation as Oveckin, Malkin and Semin. Are we still going to watch? Of course, because our country needs a good German ass-kicking to get us ready for tomorrow’s epic tilt v. the Russians.

It’s laughable to think the Germans will beat us at our game. It won’t happen. Germany isn’t a hockey powerhouse, but they make some great commercials.

I know when I’ve had a few too many I swear I’ve seen the same squirrel.

Wayne sent me a similar photo when he was gallivanting around Europe this Christmas. Now I know how he did it.

And this is the most important message for all of you who will be out at the Pint or another establishment tonight. We all know that nothing gets girls more in the mood than a Stanley Cup run or when Canada wins a game at the Olympics. Enjoy it, but be smart tonight.

I’m sorry I just can’t get worked up about tonight’s game. Germany doesn’t have depth, they have no top-end scoring and Thomas Greiss won’t be able to win the game by himself. I can overlook the Germans because I’m not playing, but don’t expect Sidney Crosby and the boys to do the same thing.

Canada can use tonight’s game to hopefully find some chemistry on their top lines. Rick Nash has zero goals in nine Olympic hockey games, so you know he’ll be trying to avoid a double-digit drought.

In case you missed it here’s what the lines will look like tonight.

Nash — Getzlaf — Perry
Stall — Crosby — Iginla
Marleau — Thornton — Heatley
Morrow — Toews — Richards

The defence pairings weren’t clear according to the reporters at practice yesterday, but it looks like Drew Doughty and Duncan Keith have emerged as the top pairing. The Human Rake has looked slow in this tournament, and the Germans aren’t a fast enough team to see if he is improving, but he does need to be smarter with the puck tonight.

Roberto Luongo will start the rest of the way for Canada and we’ll see if he can take advantage of his home rink and bring Canada the Gold medal.

I don’t see Patrice Bergeron playing much tonight. He is 9 of 16, good for 56% in the dot, but that is fourth on the team. Joe Thornton is 14 of 25 for 64%, Toews is the same 14 of 25 while Crosby is 22 of 31 for 62%. There is no need to play Bergeron very much tonight or the rest of the way.

Through three games, Canada has the most SOG with 134. Russia 113, Slovakia 105 and Finland 100 are the others with more than 100 shots. Germany has 85 in their three games. Canada is averaging 44.6 shots a game while Germany has taken 28.3.

Canada is 4 for 16 on the PP for 25%, while Germany is 1 for 8 at 12.5%. Canada’s PK has been solid at 88.8%. They’ve only allowed one goal in nine chances, while Germany as the worst PK in the tourney at 60%. They’ve allowed six goals in 15 chances.

Canada wins 5-1 tonight.