This Week's Puck Junk Podcast: The One In Which We Chat NHL All-Star Weekend

On this week's Puck Junk Podcast, Sal and I discuss the upcoming All-Star Game Weekend in St. Louis for the NHL.  We cover the game, the rosters, the skills competition, the women's hockey participation, and other fun stuff we expect to see during this annual spectacle.  I also weigh in on a couple issues that I missed while I was out.

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Show Notes and Links:
Here is what the 2020 NHL All-Star Game jerseys look like (picture).
And here is a visual history of NHL All-Star Game jerseys (pictures).
Did you see Dougie Hamilton’s leg injury? Ouch! (video)  

Follow Sal Barry on Twitter @PuckJunk.

Follow Tim Parish on Twitter @TheRealDFG.
Podcast intro and ending music by Jim “Not the Goalie” Howard.

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Ice Time: Olympic Edition (Finland vs. Russia [Women's])

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Finland vs. Russia, at least on paper, seemed to be a good matchup. Although the Russian team hasn't had a long history of getting much support in their home country, they have always made a strong effort in each of their Olympic appearances. Finland is a sleeper team in this tournament and has made their case already by beating the United States last year in the World Championships. Since the Pens lost in a shootout to the Predators today, this is all I have to go on so here are some random thoughts during the game.

--Russia came out smoking hot, scoring the first goal of the game on a power play. After that, it was all Finland. I mean ALL Finland!!

--Finland dominated the faceoffs in this matchup, winning well over half. That helped them keep the puck in the Russian zone for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods.

--This no touch icing thing is great. It definitely speeds up the game. I know I have already discussed it in previous posts (at least I think I did) but the NHL should adopt this. Although, from a sponsorship standpoint, it cuts down on commercial breaks. Which brings me to the point of the horrible coverage by NBC again. It seems like anything on the non-Network station (ie. MSNBC, CNBC, UNIVERSAL, USA) they throw in a commercial a ridiculous times just for the hell of it. When they come back, the play has already started. FAIL!!

--The Russians are just big, slow, and lumbering. They aren't built for 3 periods of hockey.

--The announcers spend too much time tell stories and trying to distract people from the game. The spent over half the game talking about the men's tournament and how Ovechkin and Crosby are going to be so much "fun" to watch. Hey!! Guys!!! There is a game going on. Pay attention!

--I find it interesting that many of these women attend college here in the US at prominent hockey schools.

--This is definitely a more balanced game, despite the score. Better matched teams and more physical play. However, in the end, Finland outshot Russia 34-14.

--If Finland's goalie keeps playing like she did tonight, they are definitely going to be a contender for a medal.

Finland wins!! 5-1

Ice Time: Olympic Edition (USA vs. China [Women's])

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In today's matchups, the USA women's team takes on China for a chance to move on in the round robin tournament. Hopefully, NBC has the kinks worked out of their broadcasting so that we don't get the lapses in coverage like yesterday. I'm not sure if these teams are an even matchup, though. Who am I kidding? I didn't even know China has a hockey team. Apparently there area total of 166 registered female hockey players in China. This is their 21 best. Some thoughts...

--Most of the game would appear like a practice session for the US women. It seems like they are toying with them the entire time.

--From what I have seen so far, there isn't a team that can compete with either the US or Canada.

--China's goalie is named Shi. I wonder if her first name is Sue because she is being sliced and diced up like a spring roll. I will give her this...she is a wall on her glove side.

--This ice surface is in serious need of a snow plow. Poor preparation.

--Jocelyne Lamoureux's goal in the 2nd was a thing of beauty. A dink and dunk, between the legs pass to herself around the defender and through the five hole. Highlight film!!

--Shots on goal at the end of the 2nd = 43 USA, 4 China. I feel sorry for both goalies. One isn't playing and the other one is the only one playing.

--Speaking of goalies, the USA put in their backup with about 5 minutes left in the third. She gave up the only goal China scored. I was cheering for China at that point. No one wants to see the destruction of a team like that.

USA wins 12-1!!

Ice Time: Olympic Edition (Sweden Vs. Switzerland [Women's])

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The women's olympic hockey tournament was kicked off this afternoon with Sweden facing off with Switzerland. I think everyone remembers Sweden as the team that upset the USA in the last Olympic games for the silver medal. Canada will also be playing against Slovakia, who has yet to appear in a women's Olympic competition. Something tells me that trial run test isn't going to go well but we will see. At any rate, some random thoughts during the game.

--The emotion of the women's teams is interesting. You see the joy and frustrations in their body language way more than in men's hockey. Especially the frustrations when they don't score, get called for offsides, or try to draw penalties.

--Just when I thought to myself "Self...Bill Patrick isn't on TV enough" there he is.

--Cammi Granato is doing an analysts job for the NBC coverage. In the early 90's, she was one of only 4 or 5 female players I actually knew. I know she played hockey way longer, and more successfully, than most men but what is with her nose? It looks like it was broken about 100 times over and reformed baring due east. I wonder who would win in a shootout between her and her husband (she is married to Ray Ferraro). Or her brother for that matter.

--Boy does NBC sure plug their own stuff, ad nauseum. Plus, they keep missing part of the game play because the commercials are overlapping. To top things off, they keep that long pause uncomfortable moment when they cut between studio and either video spot or back to the action. The interview with Sweden's captain during the 2nd intermission was great.

--There are 12 Swiss team members under the age of 20. That means they were born in the 90s.

--Women's hockey has been popular in Canada (of course) and the USA for many years. It was interesting to hear them talk about other countries. Apparently, eventhough men's hockey is strong, women's hockey isn't very big in European countries. I found that interesting considering all the talent in the men's field coming from Europe, especially Finland, Sweden, and Russia.

--Tina Engstrom scored the second goal for Sweden. Her brother Tobias plays for the Thrashers. I believe they are the first brother/sister hockey combo in Olympic history.

--The Swiss goaltender is pretty good but no one can continue to survive when your team doesn't play defense in front of you. Sweden had 4 open shots at the goal on that third tally.

--There is no body checking. Why?

--Switzerland got robbed of a goal late in the 3rd period when the ref waived off an obvious goal saying the whistle had blown.

Sweden wins! 3-0