Sochi 2014: Men's Team Event- Long Program (Live Blogging)

Hello dear readers and figure skating fans! 

(Source: Cadillac News, Sochi)

I shall be blogging live this afternoon! Armed with a cozy fluffy robe, a cup of spiked coffee (I think it'll a necessity to have some booze especially with these *ahem* scores.) and my laptop- I shall be giving a play-by-play of the Men's Long Program. After a rather disappointing showing from Patrick Chan and a not-surprising meltdown from Jeremy Abbott, what will the Games have in store for us? Apart from Italy and Russia, all the remaining teams will be sending out different members for the free skate- which is obviously the wisest choice, so they don't burn out their star players for the individual event this week (except for Plushenko and Parkinson who are the lone men in their respective teams.)

The short program results:

1.) JPN Yuzuru Hanyu (97.98)

2.) RUS Evgeni Plushenko (91.39)

3.) CAN Patrick Chan (89.71)

4.) CHN Yan Han (85.52)

5.) FRA Florent Amodio (79.93)

...and in the starting order for the free program is... (the current team ranking goes RUS, CAN, USA, JPN, ITA respectively)

1.) ITA Paul Bonifacio Parkinson- 4S(fall), 3A-2T, 3A(Fall), 3Lz (unsteady)-2T, 2A-half loop-2S, 3F (solid), 3L, 2Lz. Not much choreography in this program. Total= 121.23 (TES 66.97 PCS 56.26)

2.) USA Jason Brown- 2A, 3A-3T (solid), 3A, shimmy step stequence (!), 3Lz-half loop-3S (two-foot,fall), 3F-2T, 2A, Tano 3Lz, 3L. Captivating. Total=  153.67 (TES 75.45 PCS 79.22)

3.) CAN Kevin Reynolds- 4S (easy), 4T-3T, 4T, 3A (turnout, hand- overcooked), 2A, 3F-2L, 3Lz, 3S-2T. Good choreography, loved the music, and detailed step sequence. Spins were a little on the slow side. Total= 167.92 (TES 89.00 PCS 78.92) 

4.) RUS Evgeni Plushenko- 4T, 3Lz, 3A (beauty), 3A-2T-2L (wonky landing), 3Lz-3T, 2S, 2L, 2A. Lost stamina halfway through, bizarre music cut, lots of cringe-worthy 'choreography'. This score should be interesting. Total= 168.20 (TES 81.48 PCS 86.72)

5.) JPN Tatsuki Machida- 4T (beauty!), 3T (two foot), 3A-2T, 3A, 3L, 3Lz, 3F-2T-1L, 3S. Not flawless, but my god was he one fierce bird! Beautiful arms, and great choreography. Total= 165.85 (TES 83.13 PCS 82.72)

Final standings: 
RUS
CAN
JPN
USA
ITA

Click HERE for the protocol.

Thoughts?