Tuesday's Olympic Hockey
By Judd Hall
While nobody wants to see the NHL take an extended break, it gives us more compelling matches to watch in the Winter Olympics. So the pro skaters have all made the trek to Vancouver on Monday to get used to their teammates as they prepare for Olympic glory. During the extent of the festivities in British Columbia, I’ll be giving out some complimentary plays on each game.
We have three contests on Tuesday, so let’s give a little look at each one of them.
United State vs. Switzerland – 3:00 p.m. EST
Switzerland wasn’t expected to do very much in the 2006 Olympiad in Torino. All they ended up doing was upsetting the Czech Republic and Canada in the preliminary round. Sure, the Swiss got killed by eventual champion, Sweden, but they showed they can play on this stage.
A lot of the Swiss’ chances for success this season will rest on how Jonas Hiller performs in goal. The Ducks’ top netminder has won three of his last four starts for his employer, stopping 93 percent of the shots he saw. Switzerland will need him to be at his best since they don’t have anything that looks like an offense.
Offense will not be any problem for the United States. Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel and Ryan Kessler will be the best of the attack for the Red, White and Blue. The Yanks’ defense will be much better than Ryan Miller is used to with his Buffalo teammates.
This game is the perfect opening for a young team like USA has this year. Look for a fairly convincing win for Ron Wilson’s club.
Fearless Selection: United States
Canada vs. Norway – 7:30 p.m. EST
There is always pressure on the Canadian Hockey Team to do well in the Olympics. Add in the fact that they will be playing on home soil and this club is in a fishbowl. It’s a good thing they’ve got a roster full of guys that have all made playoff runs in the NHL…most important being Martin Brodeur in goal and Sidney Crosby (who was left off of the ’06 roster) leading the offensive attack.
So how can you make a team get rid of the jitters of playing in front of self-esteem-challenged hockey zealots? Why you put them against a nation that hasn’t sent a hockey team to the tournament since 1994. That’s when Norway last played in the Olympics, and that’s only because they were the host nation. The defense is how the Norwegians will have to keep close, anchored by minor league blue liner for the Red Wings, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.
I don’t see any way that the Canadians don’t roll away with this game. Only thing we can hope for is a decent value on the puck line cover.
Fearless Selection: Canada on the Puck Line
Russia vs. Latvia – 11:55 p.m. EST
If you know anything about the Kontinental Hockey League, you know that the Dinamo Riga has 16 players on the Latvian Hockey Club. That KHL side is currently in final playoff spot in the Russian pro league Western Conference. That kind of familiarity could overcome the lack of talent most of the field possesses right now.
Russia is definitely not one of those teams without talent. Alex Ovechkin is the unquestioned top gun for the Ruskies in this tournament, having scored eight goals in five games in the last Olympics. Add in the fact that they also have Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Semin (Ovechkin’s teammate in Washington) and Pavel Datsyuk and there is no shortage of lamp lighters. While the lack of defensive depth on this team could pose a problem, it won’t be an issue on Tuesday.
Fearless Selection: Russia on the Puck Line
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Tuesday's Best Olympic Hockey Bets
Canada (-6.5) vs. Norway
Poor Jeff Carter. The young Flyers center flew out to Vancouver as an alternate pick because of a late injury to Ryan Getzlaf.
But Team Canada executive director Steve Yzerman decided Getzlaf was healthy enough for him after the Ducks center tallied four points in a 7-2 win over the Oilers on Sunday.
And center isn't even the position Yzerman should be most worried about.
Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo, the two Canadian netminders expected to compete for the starting job, are both coming into the tournament not at the top of their games.
Most would think that the Canadian team would like to come out strong against a weaker opponent like Norway but in past Olympics the Canuck strategy has revolved around building team chemistry and surviving the first few contests.
Canada will skate away with a comfortable win but 6.5 goals is too much to expect.
Pick: Norway
United States (-2.5) vs. Switzerland
The Americans have one of the youngest rosters in the tournament with an average age of 26.5. But what they lack in experience, they make up for in enthusiasm and confidence.
“I think when teams play us they’ll be thinking they should watch out for us, they’ll be thinking we’re a capable team with some skill,” forward Joe Pavelski told ESPN.com. “But it’s always fun to be an underdog, because everyone in our locker room knows what we’re capable of.”
They can also rely on one of the best goalies in the game with Ryan Miller in net. He holds the second best save percentage (.930) and goals against average (2.16) in the NHL. Behind him are reigning Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas and surprising youngster Jonathan Quick. Opposing teams will have a hard time putting the puck past any of these netminders.
This team may also have an emotional edge, playing for GM Brian Burke who recently lost his son in a tragic car accident, but made the trip to Vancouver nonetheless to support his team.
Switzerland only has two NHL players on its team, defenseman Mark Streit and goalie Jonas Hiller. But the Swiss have played spoiler before, beating Canada in the 2006 Olympics and finishing sixth in front of both Canada and the U.S.
But the Swiss will have their work cut out for them against the talented Americans.
Pick: U.S.A.