Favourites to win gold in Russia WHC 2016?

[Uncle Scrooge]

Has Sweden ever won a title with a true underdog team?

Not sure but one thing they've done (IIRC) is knock out Canada in the semis multiple times. Don't know what it is, but the Swedes know how to upset them.

Didn't they beat Canada back in 2011 as well ? Koivu and Ruutu were practically our only good NHL players and i remember thinking our roster was on par with the Swedes. It was one of those tournaments where everything went right for us. Semifinal against Russia was basically the only game where we had to manage an upset and that's saying a lot considering we only had 2 NHL players.

Sweden loses to Canada in the semis and we have no chance in the finals.

 

[FiLe]

Semifinal against Russia was basically the only game where we had to manage an upset and that's saying a lot considering we only had 2 NHL players.

In name at least, we had four actually. Lepistö and Salmela played in the NHL that season.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

Not sure but one thing they've done (IIRC) is knock out Canada in the semis multiple times. Don't know what it is, but the Swedes know how to upset them.

Didn't they beat Canada back in 2011 as well ? Koivu and Ruutu were practically our only good NHL players and i remember thinking our roster was on par with the Swedes. It was one of those tournaments where everything went right for us. Semifinal against Russia was basically the only game where we had to manage an upset and that's saying a lot considering we only had 2 NHL players.

Sweden loses to Canada in the semis and we have no chance in the finals.

Sweden beat the Czechs in the SF that year. Canada lost to Russia in the QF (a game they should have won)

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

Sweden beat the Czechs in the SF that year. Canada lost to Russia in the QF (a game they should have won)

Ahh my bad, then it must've been other tournaments when they Swedes bested Canada. I do remember a few when i was like "Canada will stomp them" and then looked at the results like what the hell, Sweden won ?

 

[jj cale]

Not sure but one thing they've done (IIRC) is knock out Canada in the semis multiple times. Don't know what it is, but the Swedes know how to upset them.

Didn't they beat Canada back in 2011 as well ? Koivu and Ruutu were practically our only good NHL players and i remember thinking our roster was on par with the Swedes. It was one of those tournaments where everything went right for us. Semifinal against Russia was basically the only game where we had to manage an upset and that's saying a lot considering we only had 2 NHL players.

Sweden loses to Canada in the semis and we have no chance in the finals.

I don't know about that, Sweden really has not had a very good history against Canada.

We seem to have their number more often then not, I think we are the team they least like to play.

They are getting better against us though, I will give you that.For ages we used to just be physical with them and they pretty much always crumbled, it is only the last 15 years where that tactic does not throw them off anymore but they still lose a lot of games against us.

We are still in their head somewhat IMO.

You could name any of Russia, the US,Finland, swiss,Czechs as teams that have won games against us that maybe it was thought Canada should win.

But those along with the Swedes are all damn good hockey countries, you are not going to beat them all the time and have to accept that you are going to lose your fair share of games against them. Sweden doesn't have any more of a secret to beating Canada then any of those other countries.

 

[JackSlater]

Ahh my bad, then it must've been other tournaments when they Swedes bested Canada. I do remember a few when i was like "Canada will stomp them" and then looked at the results like what the hell, Sweden won ?

I think you are thinking of the 2013 tournament. Canada lost to a Swedish team that it had no business losing to.

 

[Petri1981]

Canada is the only favourite right now, and russia also because of home referees. Finland is a challenger.

 

[Eye of Ra]

I think you are thinking of the 2013 tournament. Canada lost to a Swedish team that it had no business losing to.

also that year when hannula attacked crosby sweden won against a much better canadien team in the semifinal.

 

[JackSlater]

also that year when hannula attacked crosby sweden won against a much better canadien team in the semifinal.

That 2006 Canadian team was terrible, if that is the year you mean. Perhaps the Swedish team was worse somehow, but I doubt it.

 

[Uncle Rotter]

That 2006 Canadian team was terrible, if that is the year you mean. Perhaps the Swedish team was worse somehow, but I doubt it.

I don't think either team had anybody from the Olympics

 

[snipes]

Canada is the only favourite right now, and russia also because of home referees. Finland is a challenger.

I don't know about Canada being the only favourite. It's not like they can just show up and expect to win by being there alone. They have to respect all of their opponents, there's some good teams here.

They have to be prepared and come out hard against every team or they can be beaten. Hopefully the game against Germany was a wake up call. They did not look like the relentless Canadian team we've seen here. If they don't play with a relentless forecheck using wave after wave of lines attacking they can be beaten.

Russia is coming on strong, the Finns look good. Everyone is sleeping on the Czechs but they've looked really good. It'll be a battle to win the Gold for any team.

 

[Canuckistani]

Russia is the clear favorite now.

I predic they cruise from here on in. Canada will crash and burn in the semis.

 

[snipes]

Russia is the clear favorite now.

I predic they cruise from here on in. Canada will crash and burn in the semis.

Of course I want us to beat the Finns, but it might be good for us to get a kick in the *** to come out motivated and fired up for the knockout and medal rounds.

If these guys play inspired and pissed off, they will be very difficult for any team to deal with, especially our forwards. Play angry, fast, and relentless (this doesn't mean gooning it up, stick checks and stripping the puck is just as effective and keeps us out of the box).

When our forwards get rolling wave after wave, they can break any D core in this tournament. 3 periods of onslaught is hard to handle. Eventually opposing Dmen will make mistakes or panic with the puck.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

Canada and Finland, though Russia, the Czech Republic or Sweden could end up beating those teams too.

 

[canswetoxic]

its really wild open.

Canada is favorite on papers, but has weak defense and goalie
Finland always plays with hearts.
Russia home based and referees probably want them to win.
The Swedes and Czechia probably the dark horses on this tournament.

Russia probably win it.

 

[BlitzSnipe]

its really wild open.

Canada is favorite on papers, but has weak defense and goalie
Finland always plays with hearts.
Russia home based and referees probably want them to win.
The Swedes and Czechia probably the dark horses on this tournament.

Russia probably win it.

Nah, so far the refereeing has been relatively neutral.

 

[Bruce Granville]

Nah, so far the refereeing has been relatively neutral.

Wait and see.
No need to threaten or pay the refs already.

For Finland it's like
Finland >> Russia >> Canada >> Finland
and
Finland >> Sweden >> Czechs >> Finland.

And of course Finland could easily lose to the US, because they already won the first game.

 

[Booster*]

If Laine plays LW, Finland has got this. Not because of best names, rather because good names+hard work+heart.

 

[JackSlater]

I don't see why so many believe that the refs will favour Russia. Almost certainly the refs will be incompetent, as we are talking about an IIHF tournament, but there doesn't seem to be any actual evidence of favouritism.

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

its really wild open.

Canada is favorite on papers, but has weak defense and goalie

Except they have the best defense in the whole tournament.

 

[Urbanskog]

I don't see why so many believe that the refs will favour Russia. Almost certainly the refs will be incompetent, as we are talking about an IIHF tournament, but there doesn't seem to be any actual evidence of favouritism.

There is actual evidence that referees do favor home teams unwittingly.

 

[JackSlater]

There is actual evidence that referees do favor home teams unwittingly.

Sure, to a small degree. Multiple people have mentioned this potential issue as a big factor in Russia's favour though. I'm just not seeing it as a big issue yet.

 

[Scotty B]

I think you are thinking of the 2013 tournament. Canada lost to a Swedish team that it had no business losing to.

If memory serves Swede lineup was bolstered by some late additions, most probably the Sedins + someone else. Again IIRC that game went to OT and Canada lost ( to the eventual gold medalists less we forget ) in a SO.

The other thing notable about that tourney, is that the QF's were played between teams in the same pool....dont think that had ever happened before or since...

On second thought...Not sure if I'm recalling this right or not? ...But the way , I remember it, was that Swiss=silver and Swedes = gold were in Canada's pool. Canada lost to Swiss in OT, but beat Sweden in round robin

I do recall that TEAM Canada never lost a game in that tourney...if you don't count the skills competition/SO

 

[Scotty B]

I don't see why so many believe that the refs will favour Russia. Almost certainly the refs will be incompetent, as we are talking about an IIHF tournament, but there doesn't seem to be any actual evidence of favouritism.

To me, IIHF ref's have improved quite a lot in recent years...BUT not that long ago they were brutal...Back when they were big on ' zero tolerance', I remember a World Jr game in Vancouver 2006 btwn Canada and Norway ( think it was ) where there was a continuous parade to the penalty box for both teams...made the game a joke/unwatchable

Many Canucks and others were furious...but to their credit,IIHF head of officials issued a directive which brought the worst offending zebras back down to earth tout suite, and the rest of the tourney was fine...

 

[JackSlater]

If memory serves Swede lineup was bolstered by some late additions, most probably the Sedins + someone else. Again IIRC that game went to OT and Canada lost ( to the eventual gold medalists less we forget ) in a SO.

The other thing notable about that tourney, is that the QF's were played between teams in the same pool....dont think that had ever happened before or since...

On second thought...Not sure if I'm recalling this right or not? ...But the way , I remember it, was that Swiss=silver and Swedes = gold were in Canada's pool. Canada lost to Swiss in OT, but beat Sweden in round robin

I do recall that TEAM Canada never lost a game in that tourney...if you don't count the skills competition/SO

Sure, but they had no business losing to a team that was basically just the Sedins and Loui Eriksson under any circumstances. That is frequently the way for Canada at this tournament though. Send talented young forwards, underwhelming defence and goaltending, and lose to a team that isn't overwhelming by any stretch. I expect nothing different this year.