So who was the SECOND best team?

[Holymakinaw]

What a ridiculous subject to discuss, when it can easily be checked from the standings: Sweden. USA is the 4th best team.

You are correct, of course. To suggest anything else is foolish.

 

[Sher-Wood]

#1 Canada
#2 USA
#3 Finland
#4 Russia
#5 Sweden

Sweden had the easiest way to the gold medal game by far so naming them second best is ridiculous. Sweden didn't have to play their best until Canada and their best showing didn't match that of the other teams.

Yet Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

Russia had an poor tournament. USA was beaten by Canada and did not show up for the bronze medal game.

#1 Canada

#2 Sweden
#3 Finland
#4 USA
#5 Russia

There no way around it but this.

 

[Jtown]

i would have loved to have seen finland play against sweden with Tukka in net. Lehtonen gave up a very weak goal in that game.

 

[moonbal]

Finland.

 

[Blue777]

Sweden got 2nd place without some of their best players. They deserve it.

 

[IceBjoern]

Yet Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

Russia had an poor tournament. USA was beaten by Canada and did not show up for the bronze medal game.

#1 Canada

#2 Sweden
#3 Finland
#4 USA
#5 Russia

There no way around it but this.

Yea.. Finland were lacking their best players. Yet they schooled USA.

 

[TBLightningFan]

Are you kidding me?? They didn't even medal and looked HORRIBLE the last two games, when it mattered most.

Canada, Sweden, Finland........Gold, Silver, Bronze. TRUE hockey nations.

And that's how it SHOULD be.

You were doing ok until you got to this point..... this attitude of elitism does damage to the sport growing as a whole. Until hockey evokes past the "good ole boy elite club" era (this and the NHL O6), it will remain minor vs the rest of world sports.

 

[Holymakinaw]

You were doing ok until you got to this point..... this attitude of elitism does damage to the sport growing as a whole. Until hockey evokes past the "good ole boy elite club" era (this and the NHL O6), it will remain minor vs the rest of world sports.

It's simply the truth, Ruth. Sorry if you don't like to hear it.

And who cares who loves/doesn't love hockey? It's the best sport in the world, and surprise, surprise.....the northern countries are best at it!! None moreso than Canada.

 

[Sher-Wood]

Yea.. Finland were lacking their best players. Yet they schooled USA.

Pretty much yes. USA did not show up and it was an big win from Finland.

However, Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

 

[66871]

Norway.

Never mind any of the results in the tournament -- they just didn't care.

 

[Noutaja]

You are correct, of course. To suggest anything else is foolish.

You didn´t use the emoticon so can´t tell if that was sarcasm.

Anyway, they started strong and earned a place in the medal games, but couldn´t earn better that 4th. Not that it is too bad or somehow terrible, they still were better than Russia (barely), Czechs or Slovaks.

 

[RorschachWJK]

Canada 2 would have been neck and neck for the gold if they were here. More of s contender than the other countries.

Welcome to my ignore list.

 

[Lomez]

Yea.. Finland were lacking their best players. Yet they schooled USA.

That just might be why they have the bronze, do you think?

 

[RorschachWJK]

Pretty much yes. USA did not show up and it was an big win from Finland.

However, Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

Dominated? I don't think so.

 

[Sher-Wood]

i would have loved to have seen finland play against sweden with Tukka in net. Lehtonen gave up a very weak goal in that game.

Or Gustavsson in the swedish net? If Lehtonen gave up a weak goal what do you say about the one goal Lunqvist gave up?

 

[Lomez]

Norway.

Never mind any of the results in the tournament -- they just didn't care.

France cared so little, they didn't even make the tourney! So, they're number two.

 

[Noutaja]

Norway.

Never mind any of the results in the tournament -- they just didn't care.

You know nothing. The best was actually Germany, they just didn´t care enough to even bother to qualify.

Edit: Mondello, you must have been reading my mind!

 

[stakesishigh]

Sweden/Finland.

US had a very good group stage though.

 

[Sher-Wood]

Dominated? I don't think so.

Another one? If your memory deserts you please go back and read the game threads.

 

[Avelanche]

Not enough games to know.

 

[slappipappi]

In games between the final 4 teams:

Canada beat Sweden, Finland and the US (out scoring them 7-1) .

Sweden beat Finland and lost to Canada.

Finland lost to Canada and Sweden and beat the US .

The US lost to Canada and Finland (and getting outscored 0-6).

Not much of an argument that the US were #2.

 

[Lomez]

You didn´t use the emoticon so can´t tell if that was sarcasm.

Anyway, they started strong and earned a place in the medal games, but couldn´t earn better that 4th. Not that it is too bad or somehow terrible, they still were better than Russia (barely), Czechs or Slovaks.

Off-topic: properly executed sarcasm shouldn't need an emoticon. []

 

[Its Alright Ma]

I think the States would have beaten Sweden head to head. Obviously just speculation but thats my gut feeling

 

[name]

Yet Sweden dominated Finland in the semi-finals.

Russia had an poor tournament. USA was beaten by Canada and did not show up for the bronze medal game.

#1 Canada

#2 Sweden
#3 Finland
#4 USA
#5 Russia

There no way around it but this.

How is this even a discussion? Your rankings are accurate and I don't see how they can be debated unless you want to argue that Russia should be ranked ahead of USA given that we were lucky to beat them while Russia did better against Finland then the USA did.

 

[Bexx]

Clear as a day:

1) Canada
2) Sweden
3) Finland
4) USA
5) Russia

Because (pay attention now):

Canada beat USA & Finland & Sweden, who beat Finland, who beat both Russia and USA, who beat Russia.

I rest my case