Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - OLYMPICS SQUAD: USA Women's Hockey DOMINATES – Can Marie-Philip Poulin and Team Canada PULL the UPSET?

Starting point is 00:00:02 The women's gold medal game is set. While the men's qualifiers are coming up, the Olympic hockey games continue. And we'll have it all covered for you next on the Lockdown NHL Olympic Squad Show. You are Talking Puck with the NHL Squad Show. From the Oilers to the stars, Golden Knights, and the Panthers, the Rangers, Avalanche, and yes, even the Maple Leafs. The Locked On Podcast Network brings together all its local experts to provide the scoops, breakdowns, and comprehensive looks at all the NHL, with plenty of trash talk to go with it. Don't miss the hard hits and glove dropping hot takes on the Locked-on NHL Squad Show. It's time to

Starting point is 00:00:46 drop the puck. Welcome, everybody, to today's episode of the Locked-on NHL Olympic Squad Show. So glad you could join us today. And thank you for making the squad show your first listen of the day. Don't forget to subscribe the Lockdown NHL. on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts, so you never miss an episode. And thank you for helping to make Lockdown the number one sports podcast network. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Use your profit boost on an NBA future and get entered for your chance to win a trip to the NBA finals. Play your game with FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA.

Starting point is 00:01:31 I'm Gil Martin from Lockdown Islanders. I'm here with Glenn Dreyfus from Lockdown Crack. Eddie Garcia of Locked-on, L.A. Kings, and Zach Berman of Locked-on Devils. We're going to talk Olympic hockey today. And, guys, let's start with the women. The gold medal game is set and maybe to the surprise of nobody. It's the United States and Canada. I mean, the good news is we're getting, you know, the two best teams going head to head.

Starting point is 00:02:04 but is there something about this that is also a little bit of a drawback for the sport? Yeah, I think there is. There's not much competition. I mean, I watch the USA Sweden game. You're like, okay, two five and no teams. I know the USA has been beyond dominance so far, but you would expect a little bit more of a competitive game. And, you know, it wasn't.

Starting point is 00:02:28 I think it took over 10 minutes before Sweden had a shot on goal. So, yeah, this is. is the matchup we all wanted to see, and I'm sure it'll be a great competitive game. But as far as the overall health of the sport of women's hockey, there isn't a lot there besides Canada and the U.S. We thought, right, they talked about it a lot on the broadcast, how Sweden had beaten the U.S. years ago, and they thought that would be the start of something, the rise of Swedish women's hockey, and it just didn't happen. So I would say overall, not great for the sport of women's hockey, that two teams are so dominant.

Starting point is 00:03:06 Yes and no. I agree with you to an extent. I think it would be nice to see some more parody around women's hockey. But at the same time, you think back to over the years, all the great championship matchups, not just in hockey, but in sports in general. From an entertainment standpoint, from a competition standpoint, you want to see the two best teams duke it out, right? it's like sometimes you just want to play the hits.

Starting point is 00:03:39 Sometimes the matchup that is going to be the most fun on paper is what winds up being the best, the people what they want. Of course it's U.S. Canada. And am I disappointed to an extent? Sure. But when it comes to the Olympics at the end of the day, I want the two best teams, two best nations competing for gold.

Starting point is 00:03:59 I wouldn't have it any other way. This goes back really, Gil. to a larger question of, do you like dynasties or do you like different teams winning every year? Were the Islanders dynasties of the 80s and the Oilers of the 90s or the Canadians of the 70s, was that better for the sport? Or is it better when you don't know who's going to win because there is a lot of parity? But Eddie, I'm not entirely sure this is going to be a competitive gold medal game. I mean, let me throw a name at you, okay?

Starting point is 00:04:36 Barbora Yugichkova. I practiced that. She's a 19-year-old forward. Yeah, I know. How did I get it so badly and I practiced it? Barbora Yugichkova. She's a 19-year-old forward from Team Chekia. She scored a goal against Team USA in the first game they played.

Starting point is 00:05:02 That's also the only goal that anybody has scored against Team USA. They've pitched a shutout for 33 consecutive minutes. They've outscored their opposition in this tournament 31 to 1. It's not bad. Aaron Frankel in goal has been a brick wall, three straight shutouts, including domination of. of Canada in the preliminary round. So I will be gobsmacked if it isn't the U.S. getting the gold medal put around their necks on Thursday.

Starting point is 00:05:46 How important is it for Canada to at least make this competitive? I mean, this is the sport, you know, it's Canada's sport. It's important to them. and the Canadian women were originally the dominant force in Olympic hockey up until fairly recently. There's a lot of pride on the line here. What does it mean to Canada to get a little revenge for that one-sided loss, where they didn't have their captain, by the way, but that one-sided loss in the round-robin round of this tournament?

Starting point is 00:06:25 I mean, it would be huge for them. But to Glenn's point, the USA already beat them handily in this tournament. So he brings up a great point. While it is the two nations that have been the best in women's hockey and the history of the sport, this particular event. And right now, the USA is clearly head and shoulders above any other nation. They were talking about the broadcast that this is, in their opinion, clearly the best U.S. women's hockey team of all time.

Starting point is 00:06:55 So this is their, this is, it's clearly, I mean, when you were talking about this, Glenn, it made me think of the miracle on ice. And what did we think? Some of us that may be old enough to remember that. I was, I was little. But I do remember, I know, Glenn, I didn't say anything. Oh, Gil. I do remember what an underdog, of course, the USA was in that.

Starting point is 00:07:12 And of course, the Russia had beaten them handily in pre-Olympic competition. So it makes me, it's kind of crazy to think these two nations could be a women's miracle on ice. If Canada wins this, because that's how much we're talking about, historically this U.S. women's team is. I can't bring myself to count Canada out. Like, for that reason alone, you don't want to get too high or too low. I think the U.S. wins, but I wouldn't be surprised if Canada puts up a fight and makes some sweat for 60 minutes.

Starting point is 00:07:49 Well, I'll tell you my favorite part of the Canada Switzerland game, which, by the way, depending on what you look at, this was either a lopsided game or a close game. You look at the final score, two to one. That's a nail bider. No way around that. But you look at the shots on goal, Canada 46, Switzerland 8. And so it wasn't quite an even matchup. But my favorite part of the game was before the game.

Starting point is 00:08:22 You remember? Marie Philly, Poulan set out a couple of games injured. So it's a long way, a long distance between the dressing rooms and the ice surface. So because the goalies are wearing all this bulky gear, they get driven on the back of a golf cart

Starting point is 00:08:45 to the ice surface. And that includes Andrea Brandley, the Swiss goalie. But since they were worried about Poulin and not having to make that long walk on the bumpy concrete, they put her right next to the Swiss goalie. How's that for an uncomfortable ride? The two of them sitting together.

Starting point is 00:09:14 And then Poulan goes out and scores the only two goals of the game on Bram. Randley, who just played a spectacular game. But Poulan, you see the difference. What if she wasn't playing in this game? Then there might have been an upset. So yeah, she'll make a difference both emotionally and with her skill in this final. She wasn't in the preliminary round game.

Starting point is 00:09:42 But I don't think that'll be enough. And I would just say, and maybe this is my feelings about the men as well, if it turns out to be U.S. Canada, it is not a seven-game series, right? If it's a seven-game series, I think we know who's going to win that. It's one game. Things can happen. Yes, there's a prohibitive favorite, but when it's a one-and-done situation, that's what makes it intriguing and not necessarily a sure thing.

Starting point is 00:10:10 Isn't that why March Madness is the best? You never know. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Well, I'd also be gobsmacked. I'd be gobsmacked if they don't put the gold medal around T-N, Canada man. No. You go back to Miracle.

Starting point is 00:10:24 They might beat us 99 times, but you never know. But this could be the 100th time, right? This could be the 100th time. And look, we do have the two best teams right now playing in the gold medal game. So looking forward to that. And hopefully we will see some really good high quality hockey and competitive hockey in this gold medal game. and looking forward to seeing how that all plays out.

Starting point is 00:10:54 We've got a lot more to get to on today's squad show. We saw something over the weekend that we don't see very often in Olympic hockey, a fight. We're going to talk a little bit about that plus an injury taking place, all that and more coming up on the squad show. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandul. Ever wanted to experience the NBA finals live and in person? Band duel is giving you the chance to turn that dream into reality with their NBA sweepstakes. Here's how it works. Use your profit boost on any NBA future, and you'll automatically be entered for a shot to win an NBA finals trip for two.

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Starting point is 00:12:14 Play your game with Fandul, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. we actually saw a fight in Olympic hockey, which goes along with an automatic ejection, by the way. No surprise, perhaps, that it was Tom Wilson, who ended up dropping the gloves. And, you know, he said he has no regrets about doing that, that he was standing up for his teammates. Were you surprised by the fight,

Starting point is 00:12:53 and in such a one-sided game, too. And does it have any place in Olympic hockey? No, I was not surprised by the fight whatsoever. I look, I get that the Olympic rules are different, but the game is changing. We are seeing a shift towards a more physical. We talked about this in the last squad show I was on, a shift towards less finesse-based, more North American, style of hockey. And you know what? Only Tom Wilson would go after a French player up like,

Starting point is 00:13:28 however many goals in a moment in time that was, that was, I guess, relatively meaningless. But I'm not sure who else's minds went to the same place I did, which was, imagine this. One one in the third period, gold medal, Canada, U.S., Tom Wilson, who is a good player. Canada can win gold without Tom Wilson. Let's say he provokes Brady Kachuk and gets him to drop the gloves and both of them get ejected. Tom Wilson effectively kamikazes himself in the U.S. and one of the U.S.'s top players out of the game.

Starting point is 00:14:07 I could see that happening. Could you? In the gold medal game, I think he would you do his advantage. I don't know. It's possible. I will say I know who does regret that fight, Gil, and that's the French player.

Starting point is 00:14:21 He's been banned by his team, his federation for, what was it, a violation of the Olympic spirit? That's a good one, but he definitely has a regret about it. But it's been a very eventful tournament so far for Tom Wilson as in LA Kings fan. I know obviously the incident he had with Kevin Theal that put him out for at least the rest of the regular season. There are certainly some Kings fans who believe that that was dirty and intentional. and all and stuff. As you know, Gil, I'm not going there with that, even though Tom Wilson has his reputation and he earned it. So he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt in a lot of areas, and I get that. But, you know, if you go back to that game, France was a bit chippy. And we'd all know

Starting point is 00:15:07 the gold differential is a thing, and you think those guys understand it too. But when someone's kicking your ass like that, you know, there was that hit on McKinnon. And then Seth Jarvis got that kind of shoulder into the face. So I think that Tom Wilson was kind of doing, Part of the reason why Canada wanted him, right? They wanted him to have that element, if necessary to, especially in the earlier rounds like this, to kind of lay down the law of a little bit if he needed to. So I was not surprised, no, to see Tom Wilson do that. Guys, maybe not in L.A. But right now, they are figuring out where the Tom Wilson statue should be placed on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

Starting point is 00:15:46 because Wilson, it wasn't just a rare fight. He got the Uber rare Olympics. Orde Howe Hatrick. Has that ever happened before? I don't have ever happened before. Yeah. And here's what was interesting to me. Even with Macklin Celebrini getting a penalty shot goal and three points, okay?

Starting point is 00:16:10 All the players on Team Canada, what they wanted to talk about, was Tom Wilson. Let me read you a couple of quotes. Drew Dowdy. When a guy takes a run at one of our big guys, that's what Willie does. It's great to see him step up. Connor McDavid,

Starting point is 00:16:31 that's the type of guy he is, type of teammate he is, nothing but respect for him. Brandon Hagel. That's just what Willie does. He sticks up for teammates. I mean, and I could have gone on. there's more quotes.

Starting point is 00:16:48 They love them. Now, during the regular season, do they call him names? I can't repeat? Of course they do. But when he's on your team, now he's willing. Now he's the favorite guy. And you know what? John Cooper, the coach of the team,

Starting point is 00:17:04 talked about what an outstanding guy Wilson is in the dressing room. So, you know, the old story, a guy you hate to play against, but you'd love to have him on your team. I feel like a lot of these players with the, I don't, I mean, I guess you could say dirty reputations, have that reputation as human beings. Like, Brad Marchand is supposed to be like a one of one good dude off the ice. Like, I'm not surprised that Tom Wilson's the same way, even though if you ask my fellow Ranger and Penguin fans, they prefer to call him by the boogeyman. But I think he's quite a, he's a fun player to watch when you're not.

Starting point is 00:17:45 as a metropolitan division fan dealing with him and his shenanigans. I like that he's on Canada. I think he's a great fit on Team Canada. I understand that you need that blend of skill and grit. And Canada has so much skill, I think they can afford it, maybe more so than the U.S. can.

Starting point is 00:18:07 Zach, I don't know if you agree, but I think the 32-year-old Tom Wilson has refined his game and picking his spots, much better than the reckless 25-year-old Tom Wilson did. Do you remember when the Wilson extension came out? I feel like a lot of us, like, what are they doing? This seems like a terrible move. In hindsight, and credit to Washington,

Starting point is 00:18:31 because I think the capitals have one of these stealthier, good front offices in the NHL. It was a fantastic move, and his game is aging like a fine wine. He's going to be the next half into the capitals. I would take him on my team tomorrow, even with what happened. I think most NHL teams would as far as that goes.

Starting point is 00:18:52 And he's a bit of a unicorn. I mean, there aren't that many guys out there that can do the things he does skill-wise and also do the other things that sometimes are necessary in a hockey game as well. He's a unique player. He really is. Eddie, I'm going to start with you with this, but obviously Kevin Fiala out, as you said, for the rest of the regular season after suffering an injury in the Olympics.

Starting point is 00:19:16 Does this make any of you guys think twice about NHL participation in the Olympics when you add the risk of injury and the compressed schedule together? Eddie, let's start with you. I had two very unpopular opinions on Locked on LA Kings. Number one, I didn't think that the Tom Wilson incident was intentional or necessarily that he would try to do something like that intentionally, despite his reputation. And number two, I still think it's important to have NHL players, participating in the Olympics. There's no stage like it. I've had so many people reach out to me via text or chats asking me about Olympic hockey who are not necessarily hockey fans. The players want it. They collectively bargained it to get a chance to do it. I think it's great. I love it

Starting point is 00:20:05 even despite the worst case scenario for my team and a player on my team. So I'm all in favor of it. And even with the effect on stopping the season and the compressed schedule, I think it's worth it. I do. And I understand the argument against, especially if you're a, you know, Kings fan saying now we've lost an important player, we may not make the playoffs. I get it,

Starting point is 00:20:25 but I still think it's important. I didn't think the Wilson hit was dirty. I just think it was the wrong guy at the scene of the crime. And, I mean, it was really scary to see a dude like Fiala face down, stretchered off. Anybody ever seen a guy face down, stretchered off before?

Starting point is 00:20:44 I have not seen that before. No, never. Yeah. but unfortunately and like this might fall on deaf ears depending on who's listening but it's the nature of the sport it's a contact sport is a physical game this is just some of the risk that you take and for a guy like kevin fiala who's game that i love and i hate to see the king's losing such a big piece for the remainder of their season like it's a tough situation to be like, look, I get it, but it's part of the game.

Starting point is 00:21:20 It could have been any of our guys, right? Yep. Hey, can I shout out something that was even weirder than a Gordy Howe hat trick in the Olympics? Team Sweden pulling their goalie in the last minute when they're leading by two goals. How about the scene afterwards where the other team celebrating their loss and, Sweden looks like they just lost the game. They're just kind of skating out with their goalie because they allow that late goal. The context is that because of the goal differential,

Starting point is 00:21:57 Sweden went from first in the division to third, and now they have to play essentially a play-in game instead of getting an extra day off. Well, you'll never guess who gave that go up. And that was Jacob Markstrom giving up a, that was a chocolate chip muffin with extra icing. Come on, man. Did I mention he's getting paid two years, six million, and he's not able to be moved off for this year? No, I don't think he did.

Starting point is 00:22:25 Not that you're bitter. My one other thing with Sweden, it is now the second consecutive game that Jester Bratt has been benched by the Swedes. Surprising? I mean, he has been having a rough year, and I would be the first to say that I was in the building in Capital One Arena,

Starting point is 00:22:47 on the 15th of November, when I watched Alex O'Vetchkin line him up in the corner, and Brat was down for a solid minute and a half. And this was the day after Jack cut his hand in the steakhouse. So ever, I was with a bunch of Devils fans, the upper bowl. And we were like, oh, my God, he's not going to. And then Brat popped up like a cat with nine lives. He was fine. Or was he?

Starting point is 00:23:07 Because since then he has not been the same player. And he was benched after not going after a puck on a Finland short-handed goal. He played nine minutes that game. Since then, he's been benched the last two. Now, I know there's been some sort of what on earth is the Swedish head coach doing between playing marks. I mean, Esper Wollstead's their best goalie. Play your best guy. Why was Philip Forsberg bench?

Starting point is 00:23:34 We all know Philip Forsberg. Awesome. Like, it just seems like there is, and this is not a referendum on Jesper Bratt's game or not, even though I don't think he's been his best this year. Feels like a lot of odd decisions. But then again, it would be very on brand for both the Swedes and the U.S. for Jacob Markstrom to suddenly refine his form and shut the Americans out. We shall see how that all plays out.

Starting point is 00:24:05 Now, the men's qualifiers are starting tomorrow. We'll talk about that coming up next on the squad show. All right. Well, it's time for the men's qualifiers. fires and that starts tomorrow. You've got Germany and France, Switzerland and Italy, Czechia and Denmark, Sweden and Latvia, all coming up tomorrow. Which game stands out most in your minds, guys?

Starting point is 00:24:45 I think maybe Czechia, Denmark might be the most competitive game, but to me, I'm obviously, as an American, I'm watching that Sweden-Latvia game. we're all assuming Sweden's going to advance and have that big showdown with the USA. Latvia, you know, pesky team. We'll see there's, you know, it's unlikely that, you know, there might be one upset here. But I don't think Sweden would do themselves any favors looking ahead. They've had an interesting tournament so far, for sure. You know, certainly losing the game against Finland was a big blow.

Starting point is 00:25:22 And then the way things ended in the win that we talked about as well. well. So they've had a bit of an interesting tournament. Hopefully for their sake, they aren't looking ahead, though, to a U.S. Sweden matchup. They need to take care of business against Lafia first. But I suppose that's the game. I will be watching just to see how Sweden looks for an eventual matchup with the U.S. Glenn, how about you? Well, I'd like to shout out two of the teams that I don't expect to win,

Starting point is 00:25:51 but are probably happy to be there. Latvia beat Germany on Saturday, four to three. It was Latvia's first Olympic men's hockey victory since 2014. Now, the Latvians then had to play Denmark. Denmark beat them. And it was Denmark's first ever Olympic hockey hockey. hockey victory when NHL players were in the competition. So whatever happens, these two teams are going home happy.

Starting point is 00:26:34 I'm convinced, but I'm also convinced that they're going home. The game that intrigues me the most is very obviously Czechia, Denmark. I can't see the Swedes dropping this to the Latvians. I think Latvia just doesn't have the top end skill to match what Sweden can bring even if Sweden isn't necessarily playing at their highest level or what we know they're capable of. I'm interested in how Germany looks because France is a bit of a tune-up game for them. And Slovakia, to me, is the dangerous darling of this tournament. So do they potentially find themselves looking ahead perhaps a little too much?

Starting point is 00:27:22 well of course france will be without pierre crinan who has been at home au revoir oh gosh yeah he is uh absent as of now uh thanks to what happened earlier in the tournament so is there any one team that you if you were either the united states or Canada that you would want to avoid in the next round. I'm trying to think of the best goalie that would still be available to face. Because like we said, one and done, if some goalie has an amazing night, you never know unlikely. But I'm trying to think who's the best goalie out there that could still be around.

Starting point is 00:28:17 If Sweden doesn't figure things out, I don't, I mean, I don't want to see Walsh dead. That's the guy I'm like a little bit freaked out about. But it doesn't seem like they're smartening up and deciding to run with their best guy. So if you want us, if you want me to say who's the most dangerous goalie that either of these two, it would be Lucas Dostol in Czechia. I was thinking that too. Although he hasn't been, he hasn't been great, but I see him a lot here in Southern California. He's a really good young goaltender for sure.

Starting point is 00:28:51 Elvis is definitely capable of stealing a game as well. the best roster top to bottom outside of U.S. and Canada, I believe, is Team Finland. And maybe the worst thing that could have happened to the rest of the field was Team Finland laying an egg in their first game and getting upset by Slovakia. Because since then, they've looked really good. and if you look at the names on that roster, they can play with anybody. And so like I think Zach mentioned, one game, you know,

Starting point is 00:29:34 Sebi finals and finals, I think they're going to be a tough out. It's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. We have some exciting hockey coming up. Well, if you never miss an episode of your favorite at NHL teams locked on podcast. Well, the Everydayer Club is built for you. Get your favorite team's episodes ad free plus members only Discord access and more.

Starting point is 00:30:02 So head to the link in the show notes for more information. I want to thank everybody for joining us today, Glenn Dreyfus of Locked on Cracken, Eddie Garcia of Locked on L.A. King's Zach Berman of Locked on Devils. I'm Gil Martin of Locked-on Islanders. Have a great day, everyone. Enjoy the rest of the Olympics. And join us for our next Locked-on NHL Olympics squad show. Have a great day, everybody.

Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - OLYMPICS SQUAD: USA Women's Hockey DOMINATES – Can Marie-Philip Poulin and Team Canada PULL the UPSET?

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