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Who will win gold?

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Nihiliste said:
Any of the big 7 nations could take it though obviously the odds lie more in favor of Canada/Sweden/USA/Russia.

Canada has put together a great roster but of late has seemed to struggle on the big ice in international tournaments. I'm not sure we picked the best roster we could have for the international surface.

Sweden - great roster despite some strange picks on defense, a lot of players who are familiar with one another, and proven to always buy into the system and play hard on the big ice. Huge threat for gold.

US - Ryan and Yandle omission aside, this is a very fast and very complete roster. Maybe they don't have a big name #1C but their goaltending is incredible and they're built to play a very aggressive game.

Russia - home ice advantage can't be understated, incredible top 6 forwards. Varlamov/Bobrovsky both have the potential to get hot and win games singlehandedly.
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There's really only a Big 5. There's a middle 2, occupied by the Czech Republic, Slovakia - but they are clearly a step below the Big Five.

Switzerland and Norway round out the IIHF top 9. The bottom three are qualifiers, which is how Slovenia (ranked 18) and Austria (15) got in ahead of Germany (11) and Denmark (12).

Looking at the Sochi group round, of the top 5, Sweden has the easiest pool as the 2nd place team in Group C is the Czech Rep. Not that the Czechs are a push over, but Group A has RUS/USA and Group B has Finland/Canada. However Slovakia and Switzerland (Groups A and C) have the potential to be spoilers.

Predictions - my heart is with Canada, but I think Sweden has a really good shot to win it. I don't much like the Russian defense, but they have the home advantage and enough talent to get the job done. Finland and USA are very solid but lack truly elite top end players. The Fins have better goaltending, the US better defense. Rosters all have some interesting decisions - Semin, Giroux, Yandle, Koivu not in the tournament. Gold medal game could come down to Sweden - Canada.
 
LeftCoast said:
There's really only a Big 5. There's a middle 2, occupied by the Czech Republic, Slovakia - but they are clearly a step below the Big Five.

Switzerland and Norway round out the IIHF top 9. The bottom three are qualifiers, which is how Slovenia (ranked 18) and Austria (15) got in ahead of Germany (11) and Denmark (12).

Looking at the Sochi group round, of the top 5, Sweden has the easiest pool as the 2nd place team in Group C is the Czech Rep. Not that the Czechs are a push over, but Group A has RUS/USA and Group B has Finland/Canada. However Slovakia and Switzerland (Groups A and C) have the potential to be spoilers.

Predictions - my heart is with Canada, but I think Sweden has a really good shot to win it. I don't much like the Russian defense, but they have the home advantage and enough talent to get the job done. Finland and USA are very solid but lack truly elite top end players. The Fins have better goaltending, the US better defense. Rosters all have some interesting decisions - Semin, Giroux, Yandle, Koivu not in the tournament. Gold medal game could come down to Sweden - Canada.
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there is no Big5 - it is either BIG7 or you prefer tiers - and then it is:
Tier 1: CAN, SWE
Tier 2: RUS, US
Tier 3: FIN, CZ
Tier 3.5: SK
Tier 4: SUI
But you can still make 7 of this tiers with CAN Swe on top and CZ, FIN, SK on the bottom. Any of this 7 team can win the gold, while SK would be the biggest surprise outof this 7. Medal for SUI would be huge surprise, but it is still possible. Anyone else having medal is hobit-like fantasy.

rest
 
ovechkinfan30 said:
I have a strange and funny feeling Finland will have another shock gold medal just like the recent World Juniors and take it all. On paper Canada has by far the best overall team and should win. The U.S has the best goaltending by far though, and that makes them a serious gold threat, and the rest of the team while not spectacular is very well balanced with few weaknesses, and has good chemistry.

I dont really see Russia as that strong. They have some scoring firepower on the first 2 lines and not much else to them. They are on home ice and badly want the gold so will still be a medal contender, but I dont see them as one of the strongest teams right now. Sweden doesnt look as strong as past years, and the Czech team doesnt look like a real contender anymore. Neither do Slovakia.
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Finland's goaltending is better than the US imo.
 
I think USA, Sweden, CANADA win Group.

Think Russia, Czech, Finland win respective 2nd places.
Latvia is worst team in Tournament

I think Sweden wins Gold
Canada Silver in a dramatic Final game

USA beats Russia for Bronze.

MVP: Henrik Lundqvist
G- Hank
D- Karlsson
F- Crosby
 
Finland will beat Sweden in the finals, Selänne scores the game winning goal. once he receives his gold medal, all of his earthly goals will be complete, and thus he transforms to pure energy and ascends to a higher dimension. Jari Kurri looks on, smiling. And as punishment for his sins against the Finnish national team, Henrik Lundquist is cursed by our lord Selänne, never to win a Stanley Cup.
 
Sweden vs. Canada in finals -- Canada with gold
Russia vs. Finland for Bronze

USA without a medal. Or if USA does make it to a medal they will go up against either Russia or Finland for bronze.
 
Kulleroinen said:
Canada will shock some people, mainly north americans... by finishing out of the top 4.
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Man, one WJC gold really goes to Finland's head. I usually cheer for your guys after Canada. Cut it out. :laugh:

I won't be surprised when any of Canada, Sweden, USA or Russia win gold. If anyone else wins I will be surprised.
 
Holkoun said:
there is no Big5 - it is either BIG7 or you prefer tiers - and then it is:
Tier 1: CAN, SWE
Tier 2: RUS, US
Tier 3: FIN, CZ
Tier 3.5: SK
Tier 4: SUI
But you can still make 7 of this tiers with CAN Swe on top and CZ, FIN, SK on the bottom. Any of this 7 team can win the gold, while SK would be the biggest surprise outof this 7. Medal for SUI would be huge surprise, but it is still possible. Anyone else having medal is hobit-like fantasy.

rest
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cze can't win gold. they have an old roster made for 2002, not 2014. Nedved is on the team, enough said, and pavelec is in net. He is not going to be bringing back anybody memories of hasek. Cze will finish 5-8. How old are some of the guys on the team?
 
hitmen19 said:
cze can't win gold. they have an old roster made for 2002, not 2014. Nedved is on the team, enough said, and pavelec is in net. He is not going to be bringing back anybody memories of hasek. Cze will finish 5-8. How old are some of the guys on the team?
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Any team can win in a short tournament like the olympics.. well mostly any team. I have doubts only about our D (our D is imo *****) but I'm confident about our forwards... especially top 6 plus the checking line Frolik-Sobotka-Palat which will be filthy. And more importantly I think that all three goalies are underrated.. mainly Kovář and Salák. And also Pavelec proved, he can step up on a international stage... but I admit that he might be inconsistent sometimes.
 
It won't be Sweden even though I am rooting for them. Henrik has played like putrid ass this year as a Ranger. I see no reason why that changes in the olympics.

I say USA takes gold.
 
Pine Bluff Variant said:
Finland will beat Sweden in the finals, Selänne scores the game winning goal. once he receives his gold medal, all of his earthly goals will be complete, and thus he transforms to pure energy and ascends to a higher dimension. Jari Kurri looks on, smiling. And as punishment for his sins against the Finnish national team, Henrik Lundquist is cursed by our lord Selänne, never to win a Stanley Cup.
Click to expand...

I have to admit, that would be amazing. You're ALMOST making me root for Finland. :laugh:
 
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