Oh, Olympic hockey. There's no better time to be a hockey fan. As this is probably the last time we will see NHLers on the Olympic stage, I recommend everyone enjoy every last second of Olympic hockey - despite most of the games starting well before any of us get up.
Here's a quick run down of how, in this writers opinion, it will shape up this winter in Sochi.
Preliminary Round:
Czech Republic vs. Sweden
Czech Republic's aging roster can't keep up with Sweden's excellent mix of youth and experience. Lundqvist shines in first game of the tournament.
Winner: Sweden
Latvia vs. Switzerland
Battle of two of the tournament's worst teams. Even battle is won solely on the pads of Anaheim Duck's goaltender Jonas Hiller.
Winner: Switzerland
Finland vs. Austria
Fins start the games by shutting out an Austrian team with a serious lack of offensive depth. Tukka Rask with the shutout.
Winner: Finland
Russia vs. Slovenia
Russia dominates a Slovenia team that has no business being in the these games - with the exception of Anze Kopitar. Semyon Varlamov gets the nod for the Russians and is just ok in his first game - a bit concerning considering Slovenia's lack of offensive power.
Winner: Russia
Slovakia vs. United States
A tough, experienced Slovekia squad puts up a great fight but can't keep up a youthful United State's roster. Both Jaroslav Halak and Ryan Miller put up great games.
Winner: Unites States
Canada vs. Norway
Norway puts up a surprisingly strong fight considering their lack of big game experience but can't defeat a Canadian team with just too much firepower. Cary Price gets start but struggles heavily in Canada's first game.
Winner: Canada
Czech Republic vs. Latvia
The experience of the Czech's shows up where it didn't in their first game as they trump a weak Latvian squad. Ondrej Pavelec struggles for a second straight game.
Winner: Czech Republic
Sweden vs. Switzerland
Great goaltending duel between Hiller and Lundqvist but the depth of the Swedish roster for a Switzerland squad that is seriously lacking in skill is too much for them to handle.
Winner: Sweden
Canada vs. Austria
Austrian duo of Grabner and Vanek shine but the rest of the Austrian roster can't keep up with the Canadian squad. Price bounces back with a solid game.
Winner: Canada
Norway vs. Finland
Fins win again in another impressive fashion. Rask follows up his great first game with another stellar performance.
Winner: Finland
Slovakia vs. Slovenia
A surprisingly close game but the Slovakes come away with the victory in the end. Hossa brothers shine in win.
Winer: Slovakia
United States vs. Russia
The best of the preliminary games is exactly what was advertised. An offensive explosion from both teams leave them questioning their goaltending choices...but it is Russia who comes away with the victory in the end. Both teams pull and switch goaltenders at some point in the game.
Winner: Russia
Switzerland vs. Czech Republic
Hiller's magic finally runs out and the Czech's cruise to an easy victory.
Winner: Czech Republic
Sweden vs. Latvia
Sweden continues their domination of the worst pool in the tournament. The King is looking like the early favorite for the tournament MVP.
Winner: Sweden
Austria vs. Norway
A relatively unknown Norway team takes down the Austrians in the closest fought battle of the games up to this point. Vanek and Grabner no where to be seen.
Winner: Norway
Russia vs. Slovakia
Russia continues their strong offensive performance up to this point with another strong effort. The switch to Sergei Bobrovsky after the US game proves to be the smart move as he shines against a pretty strong strong offensive Slovakian team.
Winner: Russia
Slovenia vs. United States
Unites States bounces back from the loss against the Russian team to crush the worst team in the tournament. US sticks with Ryan Miller and it proves to be the right choice as he posts a shut out.
Winner: United States
Finland vs. Canada
The Fins pull the quintessential upset of the tournament and take down the Canadians in a close battle. Tukka Rask steals the win as Carey Price falters.
Winner: Finland
Playoff Round One:
Slovakia vs. Switzerland
Jonas Hiller single handily knocks the Slovakes out of the games posting the performance tournament up till this point.
Winner: Switzerland
United States vs. Slovenia
The U.S. get an easy draw for the first playoff round and move swiftly by the worst team in the games. Ryan Miller sensational again after being pulled during the Russian game.
Winner: United States
Czech Republic vs. Latvia
Czech's crush the Latvian squad and move into the next round on sheer offensive talent.
Winner: Czech Republic
Norway vs. Austria
The Austrians......lose again to the Norway team who have no business going into the second round. After his performance in the games no one is going to want to pick up Vanek at the trade deadline. Grabner still a huge defensive liability.
Winner: Norway
Playoff Round Two:
Russia vs. Switzerland
Switzerland's surprising victory against the Slovakians does not translate over to their game against the Russians. Bobrovsky great again.
Winner: Russia
Canada vs. United States
Oh. Oh my. The rematch of the 2010 Gold Medal game.......ends up very similarly to the previous game, except this time the US comes out on top in a low scoring, defensive slug fest. The rematch between Miller vs. Luongo, who replaces Price after a lack luster preliminary round, is the highlight of the tournament.
Winner: United States
Sweden vs. Czech Republic
The Czechs who under performed up till this point finally show up with a full team effort against the Swedes. Lundqvist finally falters a bit at the worst possible time and his team who stood on his shoulders the whole tournament can't pick up the slack.
Winner: Czech Republic
Finland vs. Norway
Norway can't even begin to solve the strongest defensive team in the games. Finland cruses to victory behind Rask.
Winner: Finland
Playoff Round Three:
Russia vs. United States
Following up their strong defensive play against the Canadian team - the US squad is able to shut down the Russian offense; exposing that, once again, they were only a one denominational team. Bobrovsky very strong despite loss. Miller sensational once again.
Winner: United States
Czech Republic vs. Finland
A great match up on paper turns out to be a blowout. The Fins shut down the Czechs offensively and an aging core of Czech forwards can't match Finland's mix of youth and experience. Tukka Rask looking like the clear choice for MVP.
Winner: Finland
Bronze Medal Game:
Russia vs. Czech Republic
The Russian's won't go home without a medal. They crush the Czech's by sheer force of will. The Czech's play well but they can't stop the Russian's high octane offensive.
Winner: Russia
Gold Medal Game:
United States vs. Finland
The gold medal game is a defensive struggle. The top two defensive teams meet as well as the top two goalies. In the end it's United States offensive depth that pushes them slightly over edge as well as pushing them into the record books as the winners of the gold medal in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Winner: United States
MVP: Tukka Rask
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