Olympic Hockey Thread

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
3-3 tie final for US-Latvia.

No shock there really. The US is not considered among the top teams this time out and I assume the bulk of their team crossed 6-8 time zones only a day or so ago. I haven't looked at Latvia's roster but I imagine that the bulk of their team arrived from Europe and might have even had time to practice . . .


I would expect the latvians to be game but ultimately suffer clear losses to teams like the Swedes and Russians

[Flubber]

Here are the TSN powerrankings-- AS a Canadian network I am not shocked to see they rank Canada number 1.

1 CANADA
As always, Canada's greatest strength is that depth of talent from which it can choose and the result is a powerhouse team. Even with all that great talent, however, questions will persist about selection of players like Shane Doan and Kris Draper, but as long as the team wins gold, the selections won't be an issue. The biggest area of concern would be the injuries to the defence corps, now that Jovanovski is out and the health of Scott Niedermayer remains questionable.



2 CZECH REPUBLIC
Right on Canada's heels, the Czechs have played so well over the last decade or so in international events. When Dominik Hasek is at the top of his game, it seems as though no one can beat him. Jaromir Jagr leads a solid, sometimes spectacular, lineup, with plenty of goalscorers that make the Czechs serious gold medal contenders.



3 SWEDEN
The Swedes are blessed with exceptional high-end talent, though injuries to Markus Naslund and Peter Forsberg could be damaging, but the improvement of the Sedin twins this season enhances the team's depth up front. Even so, the bottom portion of the roster, both on the forward lines and defence isn't quite up to snuff. The biggest positive difference for the Swedes this time around, though, is goaltender Henrik Lundqvist who, if he can approximate the results he's had in the NHL this season, will be an upgrade at a position that is notoriously a trouble spot.



4 SLOVAKIA
The Slovaks could be a sleeper contender with a lineup that is chock-full of proven scorers and a defence corps that includes Zdeno Chara, Lubomir Visnovsky and Andrej Meszaros. Goaltending handled by Peter Budaj and Jan Lasak does leave the Slovaks vulnerable at the most important position, but if they can keep it together for two weeks, that could be enough for a medal.



5 RUSSIA
As is now commonplace with Russian teams, they won't quite have their best available squad, as politics seem to play a part in who is willing to sign on, and that limits the depth. At the same time, they might boast the two most natural goal-scorers in the world, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Ovechkin. Combined with Pavel Datsyuk's puckhandling wizardry, there will be highlight reel material from the Russians, though probably not enough for them to overcome defensive shortcomings and a questionable situation in goal.



6 FINLAND
Finland often seems to be the team that is greater than the sum of the parts. They don't have enough elite level talent to hang with the best teams, so strong team play -- especially on the defensive end -- will be needed to help out a goaltending situation that has seen both Miikka Kiprusoff and Kari Lehtonen pass on the chance, leaving Antero Niittymaki to handle the job.



7 USA
Unless the Americans can find a way to get Ryan Miller into the goaltending mix, they will be in big trouble in net. None of Rick DiPietro, Robert Esche or John Grahame have been particularly stellar so facing the best shooters in the world could be more than they can handle. That said, the forward units could be pretty decent, particularly if Keith Tkachuk is in shape enough to bang some bodies and score some ugly goals and the Americans might thrive in the position of underdogs.



8 GERMANY
A clear step down from the higher-ranked and NHL-dominated teams, but the Germans are improving. They do have seven current NHLers, along with two former NHLers (Stefan Ustorf and Jan Benda) to make them somewhat competitive. If Olaf Kolzig comes up big in goal, it might be enough to offset the Germans' offensive limitations and garner an upset win.


9 SWITZERLAND
Even further down in the talent pool, the Swiss are in the unfortunate position of only being able to play one of their two best players -- goaltenders Martin Gerber and David Aebischer -- in any given game. Their only NHL skater is defenceman Mark Streit and they'll look to Martin Pluss and Patrick Fischer to provide even a little bit of offence.



10 LATVIA
A lineup led by Avalanche defenceman Karlis Skrastins and longtime NHL goalie Arturs Irbe isn't nearly enough to compete with the best squads in the world, so they'll have to count on production from Janis Sprukts, Girts Ankipans and Alex Semenov, none of whom has the most inspiring resume; even though they were Latvia's best at the Worlds last spring.



11 ITALY
Counting on home-ice advantage, the hosts have several players that played junior in Canada -- including Mario Chitaroni, Tony Iob, John Parco and Jason Cirone -- and former NHL journeyman Jason Muzzatti should get a chance in goal. It's obviously a giant step up in competition for most of these players, but the emotion could inspire them to at least be competitive in a few games.



12 KAZAKHSTAN
A rag-tag national team led by Toronto's Nikolai Antropov, with help from Dmitriy Upper, Dimitriy Dudarev and Andrei Ogrodnikov, Kazakhstan managed just five goals in six games during the World Championships, so they'll be overmatched in most games. Vitaly Kolesnik, who got a cup of coffee with the Colorado Avalanche this season, will see plenty of rubber in goal.

[Solver]

I would expect the latvians to be game but ultimately suffer clear losses to teams like the Swedes and Russians

The Swedes yes, but not Russians. We actually usually perform extremely well vs. Russians and have beaten them the last few times we played. Besides, it's like the biggest matter of principle and prestige. As long as Latvia beats Russia, all the fans are happy even if they lose against everyone else .

I'd predict the Latvians will manage to beat both Russia and Kazakhstan, but will be battered quite a bit by Sweden.

[Serb]

Dreams, dreams, dreams...

[Solver]

Pffft. You'll see that I'm right about the Latvia vs. Russia part.

[Asher]

Russia looks pretty weak this year.

In 2010 it'll be quite deadly with the Kovalchuk - Malckin - Ovechkin line...

[Serb]

I hate to upset you guys, but this time we will (guess what?) win the tournament.

[Serb]

No burial this time. We will just win.

[Pekka]

Slovakia set before us in rankings? That's gotta be a joke right there. You can argue all you want, we're better on paper and certainly on team level. We have WAY better defence, way better goaltending (even now) and similar offensive power.

[Asher]

TSN's power rankings in the NHL suck, so I bet their Olympics ones do too.

[Pekka]

It all comes down to QFs.. I see we have a great shot for semifinals (as does every true contender).

The way I see it unfolding is:

Group A:
Canada with clear record
Finland after we beat the Czech Republic
Czechs
whoever.

Group B:
Sweden
Russia
Slovakia
USA

So if I understand it correctly, that A1 will play B4, A2 plays B3 etc... We'd face B3. Slovakia or the US. I'd say we have a stronger team against either one. We just need to avoid Sweden and Russia, who have better teams.

So I see us going to semifinals in this scenario, facing the winner of .. B1-A4 or A1-B4? No I think it's B2-A3.. Czechs vs Russia. Russia will drop out and it will be second time we face Czech Republic. This I see as Jagr taking it home with 2 PP goals from the point and wrist shots so.. unfortunately it'll be bronze game and .. some other team there.

Maybe I got the game mode wrong though.

It all depends if we get second or third in group A, Even though Czechs are very strong, I can see us taking it. I give us 40% chances, and we'll take it . I see us chasing them, but then J Ruutu starts a big hassle, it'll be a group fight, and lots of penalties, after that we take the game .
YES!

MEDALS HERE WE COME!

If we finish 3rd, we'll face.. Russia... which I see difficult for us to play. Our styles don't match up well.. too much individual skill on their team, they're too dangerous in full strength and especially on PP at that point of the tourney. Too much skill to handle with few players.. Ovechkin, Kovalev, Afinogenov will be the starts of that game. Selänne tries hard but gets pissed off and cries in the locker room, last shot.. gone.

[Serb]

Imagine (crazy version)


Solver: You may say I'm a dreamer, I'm a dreamer...
Pekka: But you're not the only one...
Asher: I hope one day you'll join us...
Serb: But this time gold will be ours!

[Asher]

I'm hoping for a Canada-Finland final.

[Pekka]

haha

But you noticed I predicted if we face Russia in QFs, we will lose and Russia would advance. In that light, you should hope I'm right!

[Pekka]

Asher, yes me too! Rematch from WC.. I'd RATHER have someone else, winning wise... but challenge wise and for the legimitacy of it, it must be Canada. You will FALL!

We don't make it there though.. not with this team. This team can play some hockey, but it's not the best possible, our defense is considerably weaker without Pitkänen and Kipper.. With that, we could make overwhelming games into very tight ones, close calls... turn them over. Now? I have to keep the hope alive but I'm just here to watch some great hockey and not get disappointed too much. You see, I have already laid out the excuses