Hockey Poll Results and Analysis
Well the public has spoken and they are crazy! Well really, you never know what will happen in the Olympic tournament so I should keep my mouth shut but ...
Besides Canada (who i never pick against), I suggest that the Czechs are the team to beat. Two top goalies, forwards on fire and a better crop of defensemen than in years past. Further, the Czechs play great as a team with a patient style which can explode at any minute for a couple of quick goals.
Russia (winners of this poll shown below) (oops, i accidentally thought the Russians, who were ahead through most of the poll, had won, sorry - Russia finished 2nd, Czechs third - see below for full details) are somewhat enigmatic darkhorses - they are disorganized like usual and don't always play with heart for their country (the old guard are resentful of the young players' money and lifestyle and vice versa). That being said, with a crop of young guns taking over from the venerable stars, you could see some exciting performances if not a medal.
Finland has been strong in recent years playing an uptempo, emotional style. With a few questions in goal (their top couple goiales dropped out) and a bit wee in general, they will be in tough but their leadership will pulll them along for a respectable finish (no pun intended).
The USA (winner of this poll) thave brought along a crop of oldsters and a few unproven younglings. This time, they have nothing to lose and a lot to prove (make the world stop talking about the Nagano debacle), but even with the motivation, in my view USA doesn't have the horses to compete with the younger, faster teams.
Sweden wants a good result more than any other team, period. After the national lambasting they suffered after blowing the Belarus game (let's face it, it is not *all* Tommy Salo's fault (though the goal was ridiculous), super-star-laden Sweden should've been waaay ahead by then. This will be harder for them without Naslund, and likely Forsberg, but they have fresh goaltending and a great defense corps.
Slovakia made up for their situation at SLC (playing shorthanded in Pool B without their NHL'ers) with a win at the World Championships to regain some pride. They still think it unfair that Czech Repulic inheritied the Czechoslavakian hockey legacy when the country "divorced." Slovakia has great forwards but thin out behind there depsite the towering presence of Zdeno Chara and offensive jugernaut Lubomir Vishnovsky on defense. Jan Lasak will probably go in goal again.
Germany lost all hope when the dynamic Marco Sturm pulled out but Olie Kolzig may steal a upset game and Philly D-man, Dennis Seidenberg will bring his big shot from the point.
Latvia, the fans will cheer even when they lose but they'll will win at least one for Sergei (trust me) with super-battler Arturs Irbe in net.
Italy - thanks for hosting the games, unless they can get Todd Bertuzzi to play, they are a goner and may not score a goal.
How do i stack them up? Well without really looking at the groups and schedules, here is me on a limb:
Gold; Canada
Silver: Czech
Bronze: Sweden
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Aluminum: Finland
Pewter: USA
Tin: Slovakia
OK, time to post your predictions before the tourney gets underway!
