Word: torino
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Canada and the United States, gold and silver medalists in Salt Lake City four years ago, both went out in the quarterfinals at Torino. As defending champion, Canada played the 20th Olympic Winter Games tournament as though doubled over by the weight of those expectations back home, displaying grim expressions, old legs and an impotent offense. By contrast, Russia embraced a youth-infused, why-not-us swagger, allowing its forwards to freelance and its goaltender to compensate as needed. Fittingly, sensational newcomer Alexander Ovechkin scored the winner as Russia eliminated Canada 2-0 on Wednesday; Sidney Crosby, his competition...
...Finishing third in the round-robin stage brought the consequence of facing Russia in the crossover quarterfinal. At the Torino Esposizioni--a barn-like arena typical of the Olympics that may have reminded many of the players of their junior hockey heritage--Canada couldn't convert eight power play opportunities. Three of five power play goals in the tournament were scored in the opener against Italy. "They have good coaching, but the offensive power, maybe they left it at home," said NHL veteran defenseman Darius Kasparaitis...
...seed Team U.S.A. in the semifinal was described widely as a Lake Placid moment for women?s hockey. The Swedes caught the Americans on a bad day, maybe looking ahead to the Canada game. The result effectively rendered the gold-medal match as predictable as finding pizza in Torino. Tickets for the gold medal game were going for all of 3 Euros on Monday...
...stars as Sidney Crosby and Jason Spezza. The fiercest competition is likely to come from the Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland. Team USA and Switzerland are both regarded as dark horses, while Russia--a longtime nemesis that hadn't been expected to be a threat--has been playing in Torino as if it has nothing to lose. The Russian team is young, assembled by former NHL star Pavel Bure and led by rising players, including NHL rookie-of-the-year candidate Alexander Ovechkin. That can't be reassuring for the Canadians. In Olympic history, Canada's record against Russia...
...matter how well Canada does as a whole, it's the performance of the men's hockey team that matters most. That helps explain the passionate sideshows that have flared at Torino. There was, of course, the Gretzky gambling controversy. Then news broke over new legal action against Team Canada star Todd Bertuzzi in connection with an on-ice NHL attack against Steve Moore in 2004. But rather than become distractions, Canada's hockey players say that if anything, the controversies have further unified Team Canada. "Growing up in Edmonton, watching [Gretzky] play with the Oilers, I remember how much...