2014 Winter Olympic's Ice Hockey Tournament

[Canadian_Rugger]

Use this thread to discuss the Men's Olympic Ice Hockey tournament

The tournament has already begun and almost all the games have been highly competitive affairs, with already one significant upset happening.

I'll use this thread to post updates of the results:

Group A

[TABLE="class: wikitable"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH]Team[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Games played" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GP</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">W</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTW</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTL</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">L</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals for" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GF</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals against" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GA</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goal difference" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GD</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Points" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">Pts</abbr>[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

United States[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]+11[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Russia[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]+3[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Slovenia[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]−5[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Slovakia[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]−9[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]13 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Russia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]5–2
<small>(2–0, 1–2, 2–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Slovenia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,653[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]13 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Slovakia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–7
<small>(0–1, 1–6, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 4,119[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]15 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Slovakia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–3
<small>(0–0, 0–0, 1–3)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Slovenia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 7,438[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]15 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]United States

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]3–2 <small>GWS</small>
<small>(0–0, 1–1, 1–1)
(OT 0–0)
(SO: 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Russia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,678[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]16 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Russia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–0 <small>GWS</small>
<small>(0–0, 0–0, 0–0)
(OT 0–0)
(SO 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Slovakia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,097[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]16 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Slovenia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–5
<small>(0–2, 0–2, 1–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

United States[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 4,892[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Group B

[TABLE="class: wikitable"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH]Team
[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Games played" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GP</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">W</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTW</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTL</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">L</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals for" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GF</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals against" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GA</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goal difference" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GD</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Points" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">Pts</abbr>[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Canada[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]+9[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Finland[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]+8[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Austria[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]−8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Norway[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]−9[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]13 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Finland

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]8–4
<small>(4–2, 2–0, 2–2)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Austria[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 5,664[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]13 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Canada

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]3–1
<small>(0–0, 2–0, 1–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Norway[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 10,261[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]14 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Canada

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]6–0
<small>(2–0, 4–0, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Austria[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 8,969[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]14 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Norway

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–6
<small>(0–3, 0–2, 1–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Finland[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 3,018[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]16 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Austria

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]3–1
<small>(2–0, 0–1, 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Norway[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 6,882[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]16 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Finland

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–2 <small>OT</small>
<small>(0–1, 1–0, 0–0)
(OT 0–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Canada[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,263[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
Group C

[TABLE="class: wikitable"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH]Team[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Games played" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GP</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">W</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime wins" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTW</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Overtime losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">OTL</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Losses" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">L</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals for" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GF</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals against" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GA</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goal difference" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GD</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="width: 40, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Points" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">Pts</abbr>[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Sweden[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]+5[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Switzerland[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]+1[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Czech Republic[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]−1[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD="align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]−5[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]


[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]12 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Czech Republic

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]2–4
<small>(0–2, 2–2, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Sweden[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,419[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]12 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Latvia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]0–1
<small>(0–0, 0–0, 0–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Switzerland[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 5,116[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]14 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Czech Republic

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]4–2
<small>(2–1, 2–1, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 5,831[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]14 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Sweden

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–0
<small>(0–0, 0–0, 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Switzerland[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 7,968[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]15 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Switzerland

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–0
<small>(1–0, 0–0, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Czech Republic[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 10,253[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]15 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Sweden

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]5–3
<small>(1–1, 3–1, 1–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 3,709[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Well today, the past two days have seen the beginning of the the olympic hockey tournament playoff rounds played and we have had a few upsets. Some of the early favorites for medals were put out of the tournament and other nations expected to go quietly punched well above their weight.

Here is the latest results from the playoff round:

Playoff standings

[TABLE="class: infobox bordered"]
<tbody>[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD]Team advanced to Quarterfinals[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]Team must play in Qualification playoffs[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: wikitable sortable jquery-tablesorter"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]Rank[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]Team[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]Group[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Position in the group" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">Pos</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Games played" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GP</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Points" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">Pts</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goal difference" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GD</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Goals scored for" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">GF</abbr>[/TH]
[TH="class: headerSort, bgcolor: #F2F2F2"]<abbr ***le="Position in the 2013 IIHF ranking" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: dotted; cursor: help;">IIHF Rank</abbr>[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD]1D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Sweden[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]+5[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD]2D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

United States[/TD]
[TD]A[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]+11[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD]3D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Canada[/TD]
[TD]B[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]+9[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #CCFFCC"]
[TD]4D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Finland[/TD]
[TD]B[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]+8[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]5D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Russia[/TD]
[TD]A[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]+3[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]6D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Switzerland[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]+1[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]7D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Czech Republic[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]−1[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]8D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Slovenia[/TD]
[TD]A[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]−5[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]9D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Austria[/TD]
[TD]B[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]−8[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]10D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Slovakia[/TD]
[TD]A[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]−9[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]11D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]C[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]−5[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="bgcolor: #FFCCCC"]
[TD]12D[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]

Norway[/TD]
[TD]B[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]0[/TD]
[TD]−9[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

[h=3]Qualification playoffs[edit][/h]The top four ranked teams (1D–4D) received byes and were deemed the home team in the quarterfinals as they are seeded to advance, with the remaining eight teams (5D–12D) playing qualification playoff games as follows.
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]18 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Slovenia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]4–0
<small>(2–0, 1–0, 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Austria[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 6,821[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]18 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Russia

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]4–0
<small>(0–0, 2–0, 2–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Norway[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,423[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]18 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Switzerland

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]1–3
<small>(0–2, 1–0, 0–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 7,912[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]18 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Czech Republic

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]5–3
<small>(3–0, 1–1, 1–2)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Slovakia[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 3,628[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[h=3]Quarterfinals[edit][/h]Teams seeded D1 to D4 are the home teams.
Following the quarterfinal games, the winning teams will be re-ranked F1 through F4, with the winner of 1D vs. E4 re-ranked as F1, the winner of 2D vs. E3 re-ranked as F2, the winner of 3D vs. E2 re-ranked as F3, and the winner of 4D vs. E1 re-ranked as F4. The losers of the quarterfinal round games will receive a final ranking of 5 through 8 based on their preliminary round ranking.
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]19 February 2014 v
12:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Sweden

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]5–0
<small>(1–0, 0–0, 4–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Slovenia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 7,325[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]19 February 2014 v
16:30[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Finland

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]3–1
<small>(2–1, 1–0, 0–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Russia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 11,654[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]19 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Canada

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]2–1
<small>(1–1, 0–0, 1–0)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Latvia[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi
Attendance: 9,825[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]19 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]United States

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]5–2
<small>(3–1, 1–0, 1–1)</small>[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Czech Republic[/TD]
[TD]Shayba Arena, Sochi
Attendance: 4,606[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: collapsible collapsed, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TH="colspan: 5, align: center"]

[show]​

Game reference[/TH]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[h=3]Semifinals[edit][/h][TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]21 February 2014 v
16:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]Sweden

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]16:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Finland[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]21 February 2014 v
21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]United States

[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]21:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]

Canada[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[h=3]Bronze medal game[/h][TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]22 February 2014 v
19:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]LSF1[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]19:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]LSF2[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]
[h=3]Gold medal game[/h][TABLE="class: vevent, width: 1360"]
<tbody>[TR="class: summary"]
[TD="align: center"]23 February 2014 v
16:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: right"]WSF1[/TD]
[TD="width: 15%, align: center"]16:00[/TD]
[TD="class: vcard attendee, width: 25%, align: left"]WSF2[/TD]
[TD]Bolshoy Ice Dome, Sochi[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

 

[Rich Taff]

I really worry for the Russian team. Putin is nooooooooot going to be happy!

 

[LittleGuy]

Think Canada is running an experiment about how little effort we need to put into games and still win....don't like our chances against the United States based on form, but saying that we'll probably win 4-2 now that I've knocked our chances.

 

[Rich Taff]

Loved the USA shootout with the one guy taking all the pens.

Canadian ladies putting USA in their place today as well.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

I really worry for the Russian team. Putin is nooooooooot going to be happy!

Vlads face after the loss to Finland is priceless... I don't understand why other countries don't see Finland as more of a threat. They have won a medal at the past five olympics and are a legitimate contender every time they play.

Team I was most disappointed with though was Switzerland, they were my darkhorse team but they **** the bed hard against Latvia. As for some of the Minnow countries, we don't give them nearly enough respect and it bit some of the big boys (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Switzerland) in the ass!

 

[poopiepeople]

what a semi final that was!

 

[Shaggy]

Well done Canada ... good luck against the Sweds

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

<header class="postHeader" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: nyt-cheltenham, georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; font-size: 16px;">[h=1]Sweden Beats Finland, 2-1, to Advance to Hockey Final[/h]<address class="byline author vcard" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 0.6875rem; line-height: 0.75rem; font-weight: 700; font-family: nyt-cheltenham-sh, georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; margin: 0px 0px 25px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By THE NEW YORK TIMES</address></header>

For the second time in three Olympics, Sweden will be playing for the gold medal in men’s hockey. Sweden, the 2006 gold medalist, defeated its longtime rival Finland, 2-1, Thursday.
Defenseman Erik Karlsson scored the game-winning goal on a power play late in the second period. It was his 8th point of the Games, tying for the tournament lead with Phil Kessel of the United States.
The day started with bad news for Finland. Goaltender Tuuka Rask, the Boston Bruins star who had been so strong so far in the Olympics, particularly against Russia in the quarterfinals, was sick and could not play.
He was replaced by Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars, who was sharp at the start of the game. Finland took the lead early in the second period, but Sweden rallied on goals by Loui Eriksson and Karlsson. Finland failed to convert on five power-play opportunities, including one with about nine minutes left.
In the end, Henrik Lundqvist was the stalwart for Sweden again, making 25 saves. He has given up only six goals in the tournament.

​

​

​

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

[h=1]Canada Defeats U.S. in Men's Hockey Semifinal[/h]By JOHN BRANCH<time class="dateline" datetime="2014-02-21" style="font-size: 0.6875rem; line-height: 0.75rem; font-family: nyt-cheltenham, georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-left: 12px;">FEB. 21, 2014 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/22/sports/olympics/canada-defeats-us-in-mens-hockey-semifinal.html</time>

SOCHI, Russia — Canada is headed to the men's hockey final, where it will seek its ninth Olympic gold medal in the event, after a relatively easy 1-0 victory over the United States on Friday night at the Sochi Games.
Canada will play Sweden, a 2-1 victor over Finland in the other semifinal, on Sunday for the gold medal. The loser will be awarded silver. The United States and Finland will play for the bronze on Saturday.
Canada scored the lone goal early in the second period when Jamie Benn redirected a shot by Jay Bouwmeester. Benn had flipped the puck back to his teammate atop the face-off circle, then wandered toward the net and made the deflection, past the American goaltender Jonathan Quick. The United States has not won a gold medal in men's hockey since the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y.It was the 18th Olympic matchup between the countries, more than any other rivals. Canada has won 12 of the games, including the gold medal game at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Canada won that game in overtime on Sidney Crosby's goal. Canada also beat the United States in the final of the 2002 Salt Lake Games.
Canada and the United States were each 4-0 in the Olympic tournament before the game. The United States had outscored its opponents, 20-6, while Canada had outscored its opponents, 13-3.
In the quarterfinals, the Canadians struggled to beat Latvia, 2-1, while the United States zipped past the Czech Republic, 5-2.

 

[Rich Taff]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Man, I really didn't realise that is was a canada usa semi, just presumed they'd be in the final. Is it worth a watch? I've already seen the scoreline.
Haven't been following the hockey massively (just the highlights), but always like watching the final.

 

[LittleGuy]

I'd pass Olly, I just watched my tape(succesfully avoided the scoreline by a miracle) and it was tense but not really an exciting game in the play other than how close it was, if you know the result it's not really worth watching.

Analysis......Holy crap can our forwards please learn how to SCORE!!! Defence and goaltending deserve platinum medals, our forwards mess up chances on an empty net.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Not gonna lie... I've been thoroughly disappointed by the hockey.

Pretty boring sport in all honesty. A shame as I really want to like it.

 

[LittleGuy]

Not gonna lie... I've been thoroughly disappointed by the hockey.

Pretty boring sport in all honesty. A shame as I really want to like it.

No it's not, this has just been a boring tournament. It would be the same as me judging soccer by World Cups(which are usually highly defensive and boring) compared with the EPL where teams really try to go forward and create.

Edit: It's also the timing, this event is in the middle of the NHL and KHL seasons and the players look exactly like their exhausted by the long haul of a season. Ice Hockey needs to have a World Cup in September, the old Canada/World Cups were thrilling international Ice Hockey when they were played at that time.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Nah, it's the sport itself... just does nothing for me.

 

[LittleGuy]

Nah, it's the sport itself... just does nothing for me.

Well different strokes for different folks I guess.

Though I must say that the game even for me isn't as exciting as it was when I was a young kid, the goaltenders are way too padded now and the defensive structures are more stifling than they were a couple of decades ago. That is more an issue of the governing bodies getting off their asses and making tweaks to the game like Rugby and Gridiron have done.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

No it's not, this has just been a boring tournament. It would be the same as me judging soccer by World Cups(which are usually highly defensive and boring) compared with the EPL where teams really try to go forward and create.

Edit: It's also the timing, this event is in the middle of the NHL and KHL seasons and the players look exactly like their exhausted by the long haul of a season. Ice Hockey needs to have a World Cup in September, the old Canada/World Cups were thrilling international Ice Hockey when they were played at that time.

I wouldn't call the tournament boring, the games have all been very close because at this level the hockey is just that good. Honestly between the following teams:

Canada
Sweden
Finland
USA
Russia
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Switzerland

It's a toss up who will win any given game and this is down to the parity on display between the teams and the neutralizing effects of certain game styles (i.e. Switzerland/Finland having a stifling defence).

Even the lower ranked teams, i.e.

Latvia
Austria
Norway
Slovenia

have given a good account of themselves and can hang with the big boys on any given day. This is due to the fact that every player in this tournament on every single team is a paid professional hockey player. If only rugby could claim similar parity between it's haves and have nots.

ratsapprentice

Not gonna lie... I've been thoroughly disappointed by the hockey.

Pretty boring sport in all honesty. A shame as I really want to like it.​

Cool story bro, luckily many people disagree with you. If you don't find the athleticism on display in the following video exciting or at least get an appreciation of the skill then I don't know what you would possibly excite you.

 

[LittleGuy]

I wouldn't call the tournament boring, the games have all been very close because at this level the hockey is just that good. Honestly between the following teams:

Canada
Sweden
Finland
USA
Russia
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Switzerland

It's a toss up who will win any given game and this is down to the parity on display between the teams and the neutralizing effects of certain game styles (i.e. Switzerland/Finland having a stifling defence).

Even the lower ranked teams, i.e.

Latvia
Austria
Norway
Slovenia

have given a good account of themselves and can hang with the big boys on any given day. This is due to the fact that every player in this tournament on every single team is a paid professional hockey player. If only rugby could claim similar parity between it's haves and have nots.



Cool story bro, luckily many people disagree with you. If you don't find the athleticism on display in the following video exciting or at least get an appreciation of the skill then I don't know what you would possibly excite you.

Yeah I might be being harsh by sort of overplaying the really bad games and not taking into account the half decent ones.

I definately agree that there has been a huge rise in play from the lower ranked sides, Norway, Slovenia, Latvia and Austria impressed me, I was expecting much worse from all four of those teams but in at least a couple of games they played very well. In fact how awesome was it to see Latvia bossing us around physically for the first half of that QF, (until they became exhausted).

That also dosen't even include, Germany and Belarus two decent sides who didn't qualify, add in Kazakhstan and Denmark and you have a 16 team World Cup we could easily hold which would provide compelling matchups. The NHL needs to get on this **** with the KHL(and drop some of those ludicrous IIHF rules)

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Yeah I might be being harsh by sort of overplaying the really bad games and not taking into account the half decent ones.

I definately agree that there has been a huge rise in play from the lower ranked sides, Norway, Slovenia, Latvia and Austria impressed me, I was expecting much worse from all four of those teams but in at least a couple of games they played very well. In fact how awesome was it to see Latvia bossing us around physically for the first half of that QF, (until they became exhausted).

That also dosen't even include, Germany and Belarus two decent sides who didn't qualify, add in Kazakhstan and Denmark and you have a 16 team World Cup we could easily hold which would provide compelling matchups. The NHL needs to get on this **** with the KHL(and drop some of those ludicrous IIHF rules)

Funny enough, what wasn't talked about was the qualifying leading up to this tournament. In all honesty, Germany should have been in this tournament but the German national team really **** the bed and lost out to Austria. Ice Hockey is one of the most popular sports in Germany and the German Elite League is one of the best leagues in Europe so it's a shame they didn't make it as I think the addition of the 8 to 10 NHL'ers they have would have made them very competitive. This speaks to the increasing parity of teams internationally. The Slovenian win against Slovakia was huge IMO and the fact they finished the tournament ranked 8th overall is really good for the game, considering they were ranked 17th in the world coming into the tournament and weren't expected to compete at all.

I think the reason we are so shocked to see some of the teams playing well is the lack of exposure North Americans get to European hockey. I was listening to the CBC and they were commenting that Alex Radulov was Russia's best player and how their NHLer's really **** the bed so to speak. They acted as if because Radulov played in the KHL that he was an inferior player which was laughable because Radulov was one of the best players in the NHL when he played for Nashville and simply left because he wanted to play at home and got paid a bucket load of money to head to the KHL.

I was watching the Spengler Cup this past Christmas and Rochester had entered the tournament as an AHL representative. They got hammered every game and the games weren't even close. Geneve-Surette of the Swiss League beat them 6-0 and Davos hammered them 7-1 or something like that. It demonstrated to me that European Hockey is clearly a notch above the AHL and that the top teams in Europe are closer to NHL calibre then we think they are.