As I am writing this blog at 11 PM on Thursday, the starting lineups have been announced for the upcoming game between Russia and Slovakia. Per IIHF.com, the five-man units shape up like this:
RUSSIA
Ovechkin - Datsyuk - Semin
Nikulin- Markov
Afinogenov-Malkin-Kovalchuk
Gonchar- Tyutin
Radulov - Fedorov - Kozlov
Volchenkov - Kalinin
Zaripov- Zinoviev - Morozov
Korneyev - Grebeshkov
SLOVAKIA
Zednik - Handzus - Bartecko
Meszaros - Chara
Gaborik - Stumpel - Palffy
Vishnovsky - Strbak
Marian Hossa - Demitra - Marcel Hossa
Sekera - Jurcina
Satan - Kopecky - Radivojevic
Baranka - Cibak
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On tomorrow's Daily Drop at Versus.com, I will take a look at the way the Swiss national team has gained respect through its performances in Turin and Vancouver.
How about the performance turned in by former Flyer Luca Sbisa against Canada? I thought the youngster was nothing short of outstanding, especially in the third period and overtime. One thing I didn't understand was the omission of Mark Streit in the shootout, in favor of Hnat Domenichelli, Romano Lemm, Roman Wick and Martin Pluss. To me, Streit would have the Swiss the best shot at putting one past Martin Brodeur.
Mike Richards played pretty sparingly for Team Canada, especially in the latter stages of the game. Overall, he had two shots on goal and played 10:52. Chris Pronger had an active game, but he got in trouble a couple times on Swiss players going wide on him and he was slated to go off on a delayed penalty on the sequence that led to the Swiss scoring the game-tying goal.
All in all, the Switzerland-Canada game was easily the most dramatic game played in the tournament so far.
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On my Team Sweden Olympic blog for Versus.com tomorrow, I preview the Sweden-Belarus game. There are four Swedish players and six Belarusian players who played in their last Olympic meeting -- Sweden's infamous collapse in the quarterfinals of the 2002 Games.
Tomorrow night at 9 PM, Finland takes on Team Germany.
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • 
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