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Who will win gold?

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On paper, Canada takes it without a doubt. Tournaments can be strange though. Couple a bad bounces and a team can be eliminated.
 
I don't think any one country stands out to be honest. Not so much weaknesses but slight deficiences. This just might be my NA bias, but I think both Russia and Sweden look underwhelming.
 
I honestly don't know but I predict that Sweden will get knocked out in the 1/4 finals, almost "as usual".
 
I cannot underestimate the home-ice factor for the Russians. That being said, I think it will come down to Canada vs. Russia (I lean towards Canada), but I can also see the Swedes replacing one of the aforementioned.

Finland will likely have to rely on hot goaltending to get them anywhere, while the US, Czech, and Slovakian teams just don't seem strong enough on paper this year.

At the end of the day, the game is played on the ice though, not on paper, so who really knows! Regardless, it is going to be great hockey!
 
I think Sweden will fair well with big ice. I think Canada has some great skaters as well...

Personally I think it will be either Canada or Sweden for 1 and 2. Then Russia and USA for 3 and 4.

But its a quick tournament and a few lucky bounces or unlucky ones can make or break a team.
 
Sweden, Canada or the US are my picks to medal. Russia will have some intense pressure on them to win but I'm not sold on their goaltending.
 
This is what I love about the Olympics, there's simply no telling. I could see how all the "big 6-7" could win it. I like USA's team, feel like their team is very fit for a tournament of this kind. Finland will go strong as usual (they should bring along Kivi!) and end up taking a bronze I think. Canada and Russia are perhaps the biggest "obvious" favorites, it could go either way with them though. I could see how both of them could perform fiasco-like tournaments. Sweden also looks like a "top 3" contender, but man, it's so difficult even speculating about this tournament. Love it!
 
Doubt Sweden will win with Oduya and Ericsson anchoring the defence with top4 minutes. Talk about the biggest coattail riding of all time.
 
I thought Sweden would be the best but not bringing Brodin or Hedman seems to decrease their chances a little.
 
DigDeep said:
I cannot underestimate the home-ice factor for the Russians. That being said, I think it will come down to Canada vs. Russia (I lean towards Canada), but I can also see the Swedes replacing one of the aforementioned.

Finland will likely have to rely on hot goaltending to get them anywhere, while the US, Czech, and Slovakian teams just don't seem strong enough on paper this year.

At the end of the day, the game is played on the ice though, not on paper, so who really knows! Regardless, it is going to be great hockey!
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How can you possibly throw the U.S. in with the Czechs and Slovaks?
 
Lugaid said:
This is what I love about the Olympics, there's simply no telling. I could see how all the "big 6-7" could win it. I like USA's team, feel like their team is very fit for a tournament of this kind. Finland will go strong as usual (they should bring along Kivi!) and end up taking a bronze I think. Canada and Russia are perhaps the biggest "obvious" favorites, it could go either way with them though. I could see how both of them could perform fiasco-like tournaments. Sweden also looks like a "top 3" contender, but man, it's so difficult even speculating about this tournament. Love it!
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It really comes down to such small margins. I remember Sweden's second goal in the U20s this year, how it just slid through so many bodies, or a lucky bounce off the refs skate sets up Iginla and Crosby.... you just never know when all the top four teams are so good, how the bounces will go and when you only need to win three games in a row, it really could be anyone.
 
the sleeper team is Finland, their goaltending is the best in the tourney and we all know a hot G with solid defensive scheme can pull off an upset.

That being said Canada will bend them over and pound them into a 2nd straight gold medal.
 
RarreKZ said:
So, first off, hello! I'm new! :)

Anyways, Roughly a month left till' the Olympics, and I seriously can't wait. Every roster I've seen so far looks pretty good and it will be really fun to watch the teams play. Which teams will go to the gold medal game?

My bet is Sweden vs Canada in the finals, and Canada will win gold. Well, we shall see!
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Hello... Welcome.

cpnfantstk said:
Canada with my heart but Sweden scares me. They are very very tough on international ice.
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International ice is the great equalizer.

Loffer said:
Canada will choke once again when real hockey nations start play for real on international ice. You should have learned it by now. Canada is always so bad tactically and never adjusts.
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Worries me too.

Rabid Ranger said:
I don't think any one country stands out to be honest.
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I think Canada look terrific (on paper).

Rabid Ranger said:
This just might be my NA bias, but I think both Russia and Sweden look underwhelming.
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I agree.

deytookerjaabs said:
Gold: Russia
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Finland
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Could be. On the Big ice, you never know.
 
Obviously we ll have different, somewhat bias, opinions on this topic. I still have to say Canada has the best team and the best chance. I am really underwhelmed by a lot of the selections from some of the other countries. Time will tell though.
 
Finland will overachieve, reach the finals and lose. Then people talk about how they choke, even though they shouldn't have been anywhere near medals :shakehead.
 
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