Hockey Day At HQ

Look, I'm not going to lie. Things are rolling along at more than a healthy clip. You could say they're frantic. Manic even. 30 000+ people in the downtown core last night. What felt like the busiest night of the Olympics to date. The herd home was shoulder to shoulder and started right from our section at the Oly Garage after the Lat/Slv rout and continued all the way home.

So before we weigh in on what's going down today. Let's look at yesterday's events. From here on, I admit, the recaps are going to be more direct. Let's roll:

As you already know, the Skip and First Mate landed and were within the borders of the lower mainland. Muskoka and her dude, Geoff also rolled in from Whis. A huge morning breaky followed by a stroll to the Inukshuk, with plenty of pictures in tow.

Game time was soon. Skip, Mate, Muskoka, myself weaved in and out of crazy walk up to the place. Made'r to our section, just a few over from the game the other night. And proceeded to watch the slaughter. In short, Slovakia made even shorter work of the Latvians than Russia did the few nights before.

Me: They're less fancy than the Russians.

The Skip: They're efficient. They don't have time to be fancy.

And the model of efficiency they were. The Latvians could barely muster a shot, and poor Edgars got just shelled. Even the normally rowdy Latvian crowd was noticeably quiet, or perhaps just drowned out by the amped up Slovaks. Well, how could the Slovaks not be ruckus? After the shoot out showdown the other night, (don't worry, report is coming) they made up 29 000 of the 30 000 cats on the streets last night.

****MANIWAKI MEDIA ACCREDITATION**** Although the game turned out to be a complete rout, some intermission items of note.

This new section happened to be right in media row, as the Sportsnet Hockey Central panel emerged in between periods. Pretty ok to see Bob Mackenzie and the crew do their thing live. Made you feel like you're watching a pretty big tourney.

Keeping in line with the Tretiak interview the other night, the in house sit down tonight was with Scotty Bowman. What was even cooler was that we realized it was taking place a mere five rows up from us. So we watched that live as well. Bowman was gracious enough to sign a few autographs afterwards, and the Skip got his stub signed.

Where's Muk Muk? Certainly nowhere to be found, as the scoreboard shell game apparently changes each game. Our digital delight for the day? Where's Miga? Didn't even begin to measure up.

So here we sit right now. Russians 3 Czech Republic 1. in the third. As there is much to weigh in on and assess, let's put a few things under the Maniwaki Super Sunday lens.

I am officially deeming this day as Upset Sunday. Expect to see a lot of long faces later on. The Skip disagrees. But I'm calling for for a very unwelcome Miracle On Ice 2. Why?

1. We're Playing Too Tight. We're too nervous, afraid to lose. The hands are not soft. There is a lot of thinking going on. Too much. Babcock is juggling lines by the second. Chemistry is being crushed before it's allowed to develop. Sure Sid managed to grind it out and come through in the shootout the other night, but really, we got lucky.

2. The Yanks Are Legit. They dispatched the Swiss easier than we did. They handled Norway easily. They're young. They're fast. They don't give a shit. Everyone can score. And everyone will. Expect Parise, Kesler and Drury to have huge games tonight.

3. And They've Got Great Goaltending. Today's the day Brodeur melts down. Bob won't fare much better. Miller will roll up his Uncle Sam sleeves and handily out duel both our number ones.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there will be no joy on Granville tonight, as Canada ,Mighty Canada will have struck out. Don't sweat it too much though...it's not elimination yet and there's plenty of tourney left.