[VICE™]

In The Spotlight

D Andrei Markov​

Markov’s proven his worth to his NHL team, and without him on the roster, the Russian defense starts looking pretty thin. He is able to play in all situations, and is able to do incredibly well. He is crucial to Russia’s puck-moving from the backend and should have a huge tournament.

C Evgeni Malkin

LW Alexander Ovechkin​

These two are in the spotlight together. Both are generational talents and have the potential to dominate most teams in the Olympic tournament. If both these guys aren’t working for the Russians, the rest of the team have big shoes to fill.

Full Roster

Goaltenders
Ilya Bryzgalov, Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Evgeni Nabokov, San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Semyon Varlamov, Washington Capitals (NHL)

Defensemen
Sergei Gonchar, Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Denis Grebeshkov, Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Dimitri Kalinin, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Konstantin Korneev, CSKA Moskva (KHL)
Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
Ilya Nikulin, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
Fedor Tyutin, Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Anton Volchenkov, Ottawa Senators (NHL)

Forwards
Maxim Afinogenov, Atlanta Thrashers (NHL)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Sergei Fedorov, Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)
Ilya Kovalchuk, New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Viktor Kozlov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Alexei Morozov, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (NHL)
Alexander Radulov, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Alexander Semin, Washington Capitals (NHL)
Danis Zaripov, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)
Sergei Zinoviev, Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)

 

[Rookie]

25 % of those guys were totally expected to make the team. Russia will have a tough squad for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Let's see if they can match up with the Canadians.

 

[VICE™]

25 % of those guys were totally expected to make the team. Russia will have a tough squad for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Let's see if they can match up with the Canadians.

The Russian's offense is absolutely insane. Canada will likely have the edge in goaltending and defense though.

 

[Rookie]

The Russian's offense is absolutely insane. Canada will likely have the edge in goaltending and defense though.

Very true. I agree. Ovechkin,Malkin,Datysuk. 3 power houses. Yeah Canada has an edge on goal tending but no goalie is perfect. All they have to do is keep shooting the puck to crack through.

A couple more hours till the Canada roster is out..

 

[VICE™]

Very true. I agree. Ovechkin,Malkin,Datysuk. 3 power houses. Yeah Canada has an edge on goal tending but no goalie is perfect. All they have to do is keep shooting the puck to crack through.

A couple more hours till the Canada roster is out..

Kovalchuk, Semin, Afinogenov, Morozov, Zaripov and Radulov aren't slouches either. Any one of them have the skill be a top line forward on a NHL team.

 

[Rookie]

Kovalchuk, Semin, Afinogenov, Morozov, Zaripov and Radulov aren't slouches either. Any one of them have the skill be a top line forward on a NHL team.

Agreed. I was just reffering those 3 because they would be the difference makers and are in the spot light right now. Though the rivalry between Malik and Ovechkin might prove bad.

 

[SabresFan101]

The Russian's offense is absolutely insane. Canada will likely have the edge in goaltending and defense though.

Right on!!!!!!!!

 

[Yeah I'm king Commie!]

Zubov refused to go to Vancouver as a sub.

 

[Bags2]

Very true. I agree. Ovechkin,Malkin,Datysuk. 3 power houses. Yeah Canada has an edge on goal tending but no goalie is perfect. All they have to do is keep shooting the puck to crack through.

A couple more hours till the Canada roster is out..

I'm not sure it's really fair to say Canada has a clear edge on goal tending. Nabokov, Bryzgolov, and Varlamov can go toe to toe with Brodeur, Luongo, and Fluerry. I think you could arguee either side.

But these are two power houses of teams, and I do hope they play each other in the gold medal game

 

[beavboyz]

Well for being such a top team they are not really destroying Latvia. 4-0 right now.

 

[FX™]

Well for being such a top team they are not really destroying Latvia. 4-0 right now.

I guess they heard you, and doubled that tally. Conceded 2 goals, but when you can score 6 more, who cares.

 

[Where's Bure?]

I actually thought Russia looked like they were full of holes. If they play like that against Czech Republic or Slovakia I believe they will lose. I stand by my statement that Gonchar and Markov are just not going to cut it. There were way too many quality scoring chances given up, ones in which Gaborik or Jagr will not miss.

That being said, Russia plays the most entertaining style of Olympic hockey. Seeing Fedorov still manage to be effective was nice, but it made me long for the days of seeing Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny out there making end to end rushes (David Backes goal, anyone?).

 

[Rookie]

Who won? Actually let me rephrase that question,how much did Russia win by?

This game wasn't broadcasted on my cable for some reason..

 

[Nash61]

8-2 Russia....defensively Russia didnt look good

 

[Badat]

Lol Slovakia upset russia 2-1 today

 

[Where's Bure?]

The weirdest part about the loss is that it obviously wasn't a defensive laps, but they actually couldn't score goals...

 

[Nash61]

Ovechkin isnt good on shootouts I dont know why they put him out there 3 times the puck kept rollin off his illegal curve that he has lol.

 

[VICE™]

Ovechkin isnt good on shootouts I dont know why they put him out there 3 times the puck kept rollin off his illegal curve that he has lol.

Definitely a failure in coaching.

 

[Yzerfan]

Lol Slovakia upset russia 2-1 today

Ha, I read this post and had to look up the results because I sure didn't believe it when I read it. Crazy.

 

[FX™]

Haha, I did the same too, shocking.