Your Predictions for Olympic Hockey

[tyler]

[Nick]

Well, odds are that Canada doesn't win. However, Canada has the best chance out of any team of winning gold (IMO - and the odds makers seems to agree).

IMO the best 3 teams are (in order) Canada, Sweden, USA

I think the medals will end up:

Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: USA (defeats Sweden in 3rd place game)
MVP: Sidney Crosby (although I have a whisper in my ear that it will be one of our wingers, no idea which one).

[Tony]

OT: Whoever is the one who creates the penis in mouth signatures. Sheps is deserving a edit. Thnx.

LOL

If I get a minute, I will

[Tony]

Obviously I want my country to get gold, but I want Russia to take home absolutely nothing more. I hate that shit-hole country.

[kimmer]

Last two Olympic gold in mens hockey were both in nhl sized rinks (van and salt lake)
I have an eerie feeling we wont win in intl ice (again)

G/Sweden
S/Russia
B/Canada

[Shoalzie]

Gold: Sweden
Silver: Canada
Bronze: USA (over Switzerland)
Tournament MVP: Erik Karlsson

(Sorry Russia)

[Robin Hood]

For you Matt. Going to go on a rant here:

Everyone knows the reasons Canada is going to win. Too much talent.

But there are many things that the Canadian team will have to overcome to win:

1. Bigger rink. This will work against many of our players. Eg Getzlaf, Carter, Kunitz and Perry. But it will also help others. Eg Subban (if he plays), Keith, Doughty, Tavares

2. Players out of position. Sooo many of our forwards are playing out of position it's not even funny. Either on their off-wing or Centres playing wing. The one place where we are set is D. That d core's stability can help us win

3. Mixing and matching. I think we may get into a game of shuffling lines too much. We took a lot of NHL pairs to avoid this. But if Crosby and Kunitz don't click, Kunitz will be moved down too quickly. Same with sharp and Toews. Don't think Perry and Getzlaf will be

4. Our Centres are the best in the tournament, our wingers are not. The United States has Patrick Kane, Kessel, Jvr, Parise, Wheeler. In fact, the US does not have ONE player out of position based on where they play normally. They are literally built to fit together like matching puzzle pieces. The Russians have Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Semin on the wing. With the extra space on the wing, these guys will all have more space to release that one shot scoring. Also, Malkin and Datsyuk are in the "best in world" conversation just as
much as Crosby and Toews. Sweden is actually scary because of their D. Karlsson and Ekman-Larsson are as good as any D we have. But I actually think they're beatable by any of the other 3 power houses.

5. Goaltending. Price needs to play like he does when he is on. Otherwise we probably have the 4th or 5th best tandem in the tournament. Lundqvist, Quick/Miller, Rask are all better than our tandem. When there are so many one shot scorers on other teams, this can be a real issue. Our D can make up for this shortcoming though. As can Price if we plays.

All in all, it won't be easy. We're the favourites on paper because of the names we have but I'm not sure if that will translate in practice. I hope it does.

Oh and if Canada wins, my pick for MVP is Tavares.

[hong57]

Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: USA
Tournament MVP: Tavares

[hong57]

so far -
Tavares - 3
Karlsson - 2
Crosby - 1
Ovy - 1

I win

[Bruyns]

For you Matt. Going to go on a rant here:

Everyone knows the reasons Canada is going to win. Too much talent.

But there are many things that the Canadian team will have to overcome to win:

1. Bigger rink. This will work against many of our players. Eg Getzlaf, Carter, Kunitz and Perry. But it will also help others. Eg Subban (if he plays), Keith, Doughty, Tavares

2. Players out of position. Sooo many of our forwards are playing out of position it's not even funny. Either on their off-wing or Centres playing wing. The one place where we are set is D. That d core's stability can help us win

3. Mixing and matching. I think we may get into a game of shuffling lines too much. We took a lot of NHL pairs to avoid this. But if Crosby and Kunitz don't click, Kunitz will be moved down too quickly. Same with sharp and Toews. Don't think Perry and Getzlaf will be

4. Our Centres are the best in the tournament, our wingers are not. The United States has Patrick Kane, Kessel, Jvr, Parise, Wheeler. In fact, the US does not have ONE player out of position based on where they play normally. They are literally built to fit together like matching puzzle pieces. The Russians have Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Semin on the wing. With the extra space on the wing, these guys will all have more space to release that one shot scoring. Also, Malkin and Datsyuk are in the "best in world" conversation just as
much as Crosby and Toews. Sweden is actually scary because of their D. Karlsson and Ekman-Larsson are as good as any D we have. But I actually think they're beatable by any of the other 3 power houses.

5. Goaltending. Price needs to play like he does when he is on. Otherwise we probably have the 4th or 5th best tandem in the tournament. Lundqvist, Quick/Miller, Rask are all better than our tandem. When there are so many one shot scorers on other teams, this can be a real issue. Our D can make up for this shortcoming though. As can Price if we plays.

All in all, it won't be easy. We're the favourites on paper because of the names we have but I'm not sure if that will translate in practice. I hope it does.

Oh and if Canada wins, my pick for MVP is Tavares.

Nothing to argue with here, hopefully talent overcomes all the issues outlined on our way to a gold.

[kimmer]

Wow Kessel 1G 2A 5 pts total between Phil/JvR

The Slovaks definitely a weaker team but they don't look like no slouch on paper. Lots of youngsters on that team

[MSP4LYFE]

Gold: USA
Silver: Russia
Bronze: Sweden
Tournament MVP: Jonathan Quick

Canada loses in Semis and the Bronze Medal game

Gold: USA
Silver: Canada
Bronze: Sweden
Tournament MVP: Phil Kessel

[dave1959]

Last two Olympic gold in mens hockey were both in nhl sized rinks (van and salt lake)
I have an eerie feeling we wont win in intl ice (again)

G/Sweden
S/Russia
B/Canada

Salt Lake was larger ice surface kimmer

[kimmer]

Last two Olympic gold in mens hockey were both in nhl sized rinks (van and salt lake)
I have an eerie feeling we wont win in intl ice (again)

G/Sweden
S/Russia
B/Canada

Salt Lake was larger ice surface kimmer

ok then just vancouver dog
ok that explains why for 2002... we had real elite group that won the gold on intl ice no wonder (mario sakic)

[dave1959]

...and Brodeur, Belfour and Joseph in nets



Men's ice hockey team
Ed Belfour Curtis Joseph Owen Nolan
Rob Blake Ed Jovanovski Michael Peca
Eric Brewer Paul Kariya Chris Pronger
Martin Brodeur Mario Lemieux Joe Sakic
Theoren Fleury Eric Lindros Brendan Shanahan
Adam Foote Al MacInnis Ryan Smyth
Simon Gagné Scott Niedermayer Steve Yzerman
Jarome Iginla Joe Nieuwendyk

[kimmer]

boy oh boy Reto Berra for SUI only allowing 1 goal vs the Sweden. So elite... stellar performance.... future is bright for this kid for CGY

[Nick]

Is was a bad rebound he let out though

[kimmer]

shut up

[kimmer]

RETO BERRA | G
Flames' Berra Outstanding In Loss
News: (11:51 am ET) Reto Berra only allowed one goal on 31 shot attempts in Friday's 1-0 loss to Sweden.
Analysis: Reto Berra was brilliant between the pipes against a solid Sweden offense. He didn't yield a goal until into the third period. The Swiss also have Jonas Hiller as an option in net, so they will have a decision to make for Saturday's pivotal matchup with the Czech Republic.

[Shoalzie]

The Slovaks are bad but good for Slovenia on getting their first Olympic win.

Getting jacked up for the big one this morning...big key will be the play of the Russian defense and how they deal with the steady flow of offense from all 4 American lines. The American defense didn't get tested much by the Slovaks but I have more confidence in that group than the Russians. If Quick plays well today, it's gotta be his net for the balance of the tournament.