Sunday's Olympic Hockey
By Judd Hall
If you went with my Friday plays in the Olympics, then you had a perfectly non-descript day. A 1-1-1 mark will do that to you. So now we’ve come down to the final day of group play, which includes one of the most anticipated matchups in a while. Let’s bounce back strong before we hit the knockout phase of the tournament.
Russia vs. Czech Republic – 3:30 p.m. EST
You can chalk me up as one of the people that didn’t think that the Russians would lose to Slovakia. I guess that’s why they play the games, right? Russia did learn one important thing in that loss: never think you have the wrapped up. As far goaltending is concerned, Ilya Bryzgalov performed well last Thursday in stopping 31 of 33 shots.
The Czech Republic found itself in the catbird seat for the automatic spot in the quarterfinals after making short work of the Latvians in a 5-2 triumph. There wasn’t much drama in this one after the Czechs found themselves up 3-0 before allowing Latvia to record its first shot on goal.
Both sides have offenses that can make it an entertaining game for casual fans to watch. But what we all knew was a weakness turned into a bright neon sign of issue for the Russians, their defense. Slovakia made them pay on Thursday and the Czech Republic will make them pay on Sunday.
Fearless Selection: Czech Republic on the money line
Canada vs. United State – 7:30 p.m. EST
The first thing I’m going to say about this game is that it is an outright joke that this game is on MSNBC and not on NBC. What do the mental giants that fired Conan O’Brien think is more important to the masses? Ice Dancing. Yeah, I can’t think of anything better to watch than some Nancy boy flitting around on the ice with his gossip girl. I don’t give a damn about women liking the figure skating stuff when a true rivalry game is the better choice overall.
Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I can talk about this game.
Canada almost looked like they went into cruise mode midway through its game against the Swiss. That’s surprising since the Swiss embarrassed them in the 2006 Olympics. But the Canadians giving up two goals in the second period was just shocking. And if it weren’t for Sidney Crosby, they may not have picked up a 3-2 shootout win against Switzerland.
As for the United States, they looked good on the surface with a 6-1 win over the Norwegians. That final score was bloated by a pair of cheap scores by Brian Rafalski late in the third period. Still, the Yanks’ defense played its best game of the tournament. Ryan Miller also looked sharp in giving up one goal on the 11 shots he faced from Norway.
Defense will be the name of the game when these border rivals face off on Sunday night. The Americans were almost always situated in the right spots at every turn against Norway on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Canadians have shown they’ve got a great defense. Plus, we’ve seen both clubs showcase great goaltending. I believe we’re going to see a low score for this one.
Fearless Selection: Under
Sweden vs. Finland – 11:55 p.m. EST
The Swedes won the gold medal in 2006, but were stunned by Belarus earlier in that tournament. It almost looked like we could see the same thing happen on Friday as Sweden held a 3-2 lead with five minutes left in regulation. Daniel Alfredsson drove in the final nail of the coffin for the 4-2 victory.
Finland didn’t show any signs of looking ahead to Sunday’s matchup in its 5-0 win over the Germans. The Finns scored four of those goals on their six power play chances. I wish I could find a flaw in Finland’s win, but there were any that I can really harp on.
We have two great offenses and fairly good blue lines for this contest. I will call it a “push” on both the attack and stopping crews for this game. So who has the better netminder? Henrik Lundqvist has done a lot for the Swedes, but I like Finland’s one-two punch of Miikka Kiprusoff and Nicklas Backstrom.
Fearless Selection: Finland on the money line
vegasinsider.com
Game Of The Day: United States vs. Canada
By ARI BAUM-COHEN
United States vs. Canada (-175, 5.5)
For the third time in the last four Olympics, one of hockey’s most heated rivalries will be on display as the Team USA battles Team Canada.
The winner will finish first in their group and earn a first-round bye in the Olympic Tournament. The loser must play an extra game and will likely have a more difficult road to gold.
"It's a game where you want to make a statement against a team that is favored to win the tournament," U.S. forward David Backes told reporters.
Neutralized by the Swiss
The United States leads Group A with six points after victories over the hapless Norweigians and pesky Swiss. The Canadians are also 2-0 but under the new Olympic scoring system, have five points after receiving two of a possible three by defeating the Swiss in a shootout.
"We didn't think we were as good as we're capable of at all," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the game. "We didn't think we moved the puck like we could, we didn't think we were a good five-man unit up and down the rink, we didn't think we attacked their net with relentlessness like we could.
Stars a-line?
According to Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail, the Canadian team is suffering from a lack of chemistry.
MacGregor also points out that any chemistry existing on the Canadian team is “prepackaged”, referring to Canada’s best line so far, comprised of San Jose Sharks teammates Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
After the game against Switzerland, Babcock told reporters "our San Jose line was our best line tonight”.
Sidney Crosby has been one of Canada’s best players so far, but Crosby and linemate Rick Nash have been unable to develop chemistry with anyone on the right wing. Patrice Bergeron, Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews have all auditioned with limited success.
Cold War over, hot rivalry begins
Team USA seems to be embracing its underdog role.
"We know no one, as Burkie (Team USA GM Brian Burke) says, has bet a nickel on us in Vegas," American forward Chris Drury told reporters.
Canada has dominated the Americans in international play over the last 10 years, the most notable win coming in the gold medal game of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Team USA’s best win was the best-of-three defeat of Canada at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
Culture clash
Sunday’s contrast will feature a contrast in styles - the speed and forecheck of the American team against the physical play of the larger Canadian squad.
"What you're seeing with most U.S. teams now is we want to fore-check and pressure the puck," Team USA coach Ron Wilson told reporters. "You can only really do that if you've got a fast team."
According to Chris Drury, Sunday’s game will likely look more like an NHL game than an international tournament
“It's going to be an NHL game Sunday, I imagine. Getting pucks in deep, getting through the neutral zone, limit turnovers, limit odd-man rushes, just like we do 82 times a year."
Between the pipes
Ryan Miller has played well so far, allowing one goal in each of Team USA’s first two games. To be fair, he has only faced 26 total shots.
Team Canada will likely adjust their style to ensure that Miller faces plenty of pucks.
"I think we're passing up on a lot of shots even though we had that many," Nash told reporters. "A lot of the times, we just kind of skated away from it. We'll try and get more shots on (U.S. goalie Ryan) Miller next game."
Any rumblings of a goaltending controversy after Canada’s win over Switzerland were temporarily put to rest when Mike Babcock announced that Martin Brodeur would start Canada’s game against the United States.
Only four of the twelve games during these Olympics have gone over the total (4-6-2 over/under).
Sunday's Best Olympic Hockey Bets
Russia vs. Czech Republic
This classic international grudge match has many new faces at Vancouver. However, there is one player that has been through more than a few of these border wars.
Former NHL star and current Kontinental Hockey League player Jaromir Jagr is once again representing the Czech Republic, marking the fourth time he has played on the Olympic stage. The 38-year-old is holding his own, scoring the game-winner in each of the Czech’s wins this tournament and sparking talk of a return to North American hockey.
"The NHL is a special league, no question about it," Jagr told the Vancouver Sun. "I played 18 years in the NHL and then I decided to go to Russia and I cannot say anything about my decision because I said I'm not going to look back. I'm just going to finish my contract there and make a decision what I'm going to do next.
"They treat me so well in Russia and it would be tough to leave there but, on the other side, maybe I want to try to come here. I think, after two years in Russia, I'm going to be a better player than I was before I left. I know that."
Jagr is trying to stay focused on getting his country get back to the top of the hockey world. He took the Czech Republic to the gold medal in Nagano in 1998. In the 2006 Games, he scored seven points in eight games and took his team to the semifinals.
"I always had fun, you guys just didn't see it," Jagr told reporters when asked about international competition. "I didn't show it but, inside, I was having fun. The difference is because there was a lot more pressure on me before. Now I let the other guys do it."
Pick: Czech Republic
Sweden vs. Finland
One of international hockey’s lesser-hyped rivalries is perhaps one of its most intense. These neighbors to the North have a historic disdain for one another.
"It's always been a great rivalry, not only in hockey but all sports," Sweden captain Nicklas Lidstrom told reporters. "We've had some tough battles in the past.
"It's something that goes way back."
Sweden and Finland are both off to strong starts, each winning their first two opening games. The Fins have rolled over Germany and Belarus, scoring 10 total goals while allowing just one against. The Swedes had a little tougher time with those two foes, beating Germany 2-0 and Belarus 4-2.
The name of the game for both countries has been goaltending. For Finland, Miikka Kiprusoff turned away 11-of-12 shots in the win over Belarus and Niklas Backstrom made all 24 saves against the Germans.
In net for Sweden, Henrik Lundqvist made 21 stops to blank Germany and Jonas Gustavsson turned away 17-of-19 shots in the win over Belarus.
Pick: Under