Olympic Hockey: Root for Sweden
Should Sweden win by fewer than 6 goals, the US will grab the top overall seed (this also happens if the game goes to OT). This is very important because Canada and Russia will be on the same side of the bracket, the winner of which will play the 2 seed in the medal round. Also, the 1 seed gets the winner of Switzerland-Belarus, as opposed to Slovakia-Norway (i.e. Slovakia).
EDIT: Clarification-if Finland wins without OT, Finland gets the top seed and the US gets the 2 seed. As Canada is the 6 seed and Russia is the 3 seed, we really do not want to be in that bracket.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:21 PM ^
Putting on Hagelin jersey now.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
wouldn't it be better if sweden lost, then? i dont understand your logic.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:30 PM ^
How do you figure? If Finland wins in regulation, we get dropped to #2 - that simple.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
It's a matter of the tie breaker. But if you want the US to be the top seed, all you have to root for is an overtime game between SWE and FIN; that would guarantee that the US is the only team with 9 points.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
thanks for the clarification.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
Should have explained more thoroughly. Dumb omission on my part.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
I always root for Sweden after the US anyway. Always loved the Tre Kronor (literally - the jersey is cool as shit.) Plus they're the Europe branch of the Wings.
And yes, I would very much like to avoid Slovakia and then have Russia/Canada as our reward for getting past them.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
The Finnish blood in my veins won't let me cheer for the Swedish menace. This is a huge rivalry game, only made bigger by the fact that it's a rematch of the '06 gold-medal game.
As for the U.S., hey, if we're gold medal material, we'll get by.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^
I'm a Finn too, let's roll on sweden.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
Finland thinks Sweden is their big rival, where Sweden and Norway think of each other as their big rivals?
February 21st, 2010 at 11:20 PM ^
Norway may consider themselves a big rival of Sweden, but they're minnows. Sweden could bring out its B team and easily beat Norway. Finland, OTOH, can go toe-to-toe with Sweden. It should be a great game tonight.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 AM ^
This somehow feels like Milhouse's Dad and Uncle Zack fighting about their European heritage.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^
Finland used to be a part of Sweden for hundreds of years, so they kind of have a lil brah type deal going on with Swedes, I think.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:02 AM ^
I'm a Finn/Swede split, so I'm conflicted about this game.
Also, I grew up an NMU fan, so I was conflicted at Yost this weekend.
Thank God for USA-CAN, at least I had one game where I had a clear rooting interest.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
Sweden Wins by fewer than six (or scores 8+ goals and wins by fewer than five)
1. USA
8. Switzerland
9. Belarus
4. Finland/Czech Republic
5. Finland/Czech Republic
12. Latvia
2. Sweden (note: Sweden and Finland are interchangeable should Finland win in OT, although Sweden would clinch the four seed)
7. Slovakia
10. Norway
3. Russia
6. Canada
11. Germany
Finland wins w/o OT
1. Finland (note, Sweden and Finland are interchangeable if Sweden wins by 6+, or 5+ w/ at least 8 goals)
8. Switzerland
9. Belarus
4. Sweden/Czech Republic
5. Sweden/Czech Republic
12. Latvia
2. USA
7. Slovakia
10. Norway
3. Russia
6. Canada
11. Germany
February 21st, 2010 at 10:42 PM ^
Børk! Børk! Børk!
February 21st, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
It is easy to root for sweden, since they are pretty much the Red Wings. Bork! Bork! Bork!
February 21st, 2010 at 11:15 PM ^
what did you do to earn your negative mgopoints?
February 21st, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
they would really have a favorable draw to get to the gold medal match.
Ryan Miller is the MVP of the game by far. He has kept USA in the game with brilliant goaltending throughout the game. It's clear that Canada has better skill players than USA but Miller has kept them in the game. USA was the more physical team and they deserve to win this game.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
...may disagree with you.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
Rafalski > Nash
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:06 AM ^
...the number of hits Nash put on us tonight. Canada may not have deserved the win, but they were certainly physical.
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:22 AM ^
Nash should have gotten a penalty near the end there when he rammed Miller into the goal posts.
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:41 AM ^
There were quite a lot of rather blatant interference on both sides that the refs let slide. They kept out of the way and let the game get very physical.
February 21st, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
I think Finland would be the 3 seed if Sweden wins in OT, because their Diff would be +8 to Russia's +7.
Edit: this is in reply to Seth9's brackets.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:30 PM ^
By winning their group, Russia clinched a top 3 seed.
Link for tiebreaking procedures: http://espn.go.com/olympics/winter/2010/sports/_/name/ih/ice-hockey
How the rankings will be determined after the preliminary round (1D - 12D):
• Higher position in the group.
• Higher number of points.
• Better goal differential.
• Higher number of goals scored.
• Better 2009 IIHF world ranking.
February 21st, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^
Born & raised to be proud of my Swedish ancestry, I'm rooting for Sweden to win by 6+ goals and grab the number 1 overall seed! This is, of course, wildly unrealistic, because Finland is a very good team, and Sweden hasn't exactly been rolling people thus far. Still, anytime you put Nick Lidstrom, Johan Franzen, & company on the ice, you've got a good chance to win. Heja Sverige!
February 21st, 2010 at 11:57 PM ^
Listen, man, I've been suffering with a hideous, unpronouncable, weird Finnish last name for almost TWENTY-EIGHT years! I'll be damned if I don't cheer for the Fins to beat the Swedes. If that's all I get out of having this monstrosity in all of my signatures, it'll have to be good enough.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 AM ^
Eriksson on the PP. 1-0 Sweden.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 AM ^
Heja Sverige! Keep it rolling!
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:31 AM ^
Hagman just got KRONWALLED! :)
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:01 AM ^
Backstrom makes it 2-0.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:28 AM ^
Sweden killed off a 5-on-3, Finland 0-fer on PP.
Not too long after, Eriksson gets his 2nd PP goal. 3-0.
Edit: Finns frustrated, Pitkanen throws an elbow to the head, 5min major, game misconduct.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:41 AM ^
bit nervous here. I didn't think there was anyway Sweden would win by more than five. Finland needs a goal.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:50 AM ^
Well, hopefully killing off that major will give them some momentum.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:56 AM ^
Feeling better now. Thank god Kiprusoff came to play at least.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^
which is unprecedented before the Olympics started.
The Bracket would look like this:
1. USA
8. Switzerland
9. Belarus
4. Czech Republic
5. Finland
12. Latvia
2. Sweden
7. Slovakia
10. Norway
3. Russia
6. Canada
11. Germany
USA have a very favorable draw and should advance to the semifinal. I think that they can get to the gold medal game.
Russia/Canada game is going to be EPIC with Ovechkin matching up against Crosby.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:22 AM ^
Or do the semifinal losers just drop down into the bronze medal match?
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:01 AM ^
not sure about this. Someone can chime in regarding your question.
The other side of the bracket is brutal with Sweden, Canada and Russia fighting for a medal chance. One of the three will be left out without a medal. Tough for them since three of them are projected to medal in that event.
Czech and Finland as well as USA have to be salivating at the possibility of getting a chance to play in the gold medal match where there's a possible upset.
It could not have turn out better for USA. All they need to do is take care of business and ride Ryan Miller towards the championship game.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:43 AM ^
http://www.ontheforecheck.com/2010/2/21/1320874/olympic-hockey-bracket-…
This article shows the bracket and how all the games are laid out.
Regardless of how all the chips fall, this next week of hockey is going to be amazing to watch. It would be even more amazing if the USA was on that podium with gold next Sunday.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^
Yay, only 3-0!
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:39 AM ^
Seriously, I would love for Zetterberg, Franzen, Eriksson, Lidstrom and Kronwall to get ousted early and get some rest. We need fresh legs for a late push to the playoffs.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:05 PM ^
Franzen doesn't need rest, he needs to play.
And don't discount how a medal could energize the players.
February 22nd, 2010 at 2:40 AM ^
Finland is in a much better position than Sweden as a result of losing this game. Both teams have to face dangerous, yet inferior teams in the Czech Republic and Slovakia (presumably in both cases) to get into the medal round, but Sweden will have to play the winner of Canada-Russia, while the worst Finland could get is the US.
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:28 AM ^
It looks like the schedule is finalized: I have EST game times listed as well.
FIRST ROUND: Tuesday
Switzerland v Belarus, 3:00 (USA Network)
Canada v Germany, 7:30 (CNBC)
Czech Republic v Latvia, 10:00 (CNBC)
Slovakia v Norway, midnight (CNBC)
QUARTERFINALS: Wednesday
United States v SUI/BLR winner, 3:00 (NBC)
Russia v CAN/GER winner, 7:30 (CNBC)
Finland v CZE/LAT winner, 10:00 (CNBC)
Sweden v SVK/NOR winner, midnight (CNBC)
SEMIFINALS: Friday
USA winner v FIN winner, 3:00 (NBC)
RUS winner v SWE winner, 9:30 (CNBC)
MEDAL GAMES
Semifinal losers, Saturday 10:00 (MSNBC)
Semifinal winners, Sunday 3:15 (NBC)