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OLYMPICS: USA/Switzerland, Canada/Norway Preview |
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After month's of speculation, predictions, and previews, the Olympic men's hockey tournament is finally here.
Two big games on day one of the men's ice hockey schedule, as the US takes on Switzerland at 3pm ET/12pm PT. While Canada and Norway will play later on in the day at 7:30pm ET/4:30PM PT.
Switzerland vs. USA Preview
Team USA starts their Olympic journey to gold against a Swiss team that they can not take lightly.
When the IIHF released their pre-Olympic rankings, Switzerland was ranked 7th in the world, behind the Czech Republic and ahead of Belarus.
The Swiss team has been known to surprise in international competition. Just this past January, their junior team made it all the way to the bronze medal game at the World Juniors, eventually finishing in fourth.
Switzerland will be led in net by Anaheim Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller who has been on fire as of late. Before the Olympic break, he won six of his last eight games with Anaheim.
Not only will solid goaltending be the meat and potatoes of this team, but they will also be strong on the blue line.
Switzerland's defensive efforts will be led by Mark Streit of the New York Islanders.
Streit is a great two way defenceman, with 31 points this season on the island. He also possesses a big booming shot that makes him an ideal candidate to quarterback the Swiss power play.
Joining Streit on defence will be Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa, as well as Montreal Canadiens prospect Yannick Weber.
At 6'2", Sbisa brings some size to the Swiss blue line. Meanwhile, Weber much like Streit also has a big powerful slapshot and is a great passer who can make the nice outlet pass to get the offense going.
Offensively, Switzerland is lacking in NHL experience. None of their forwards are currently playing in the NHL.
That does not mean that they are inexperienced however, as Hnat Domnichelli who now plays in Switzerland does have over 200 games of NHL experience. And fellow forwards Martin Pluss and Ivo Ruthemann have over 20 years combined experience in the Swiss-A league.
For Team USA, taking on Switzerland will be a good first test. It is a team that they should beat, but one who will also give them a run for their money. The Swiss will be the best challenge they get until taking on Team Canada on Sunday.
Tuesday's game against Switzerland should answer some questions that people have about Team USA. Questions regarding if their defense is good enough. Or if the youth movement will pay off or if they will get stage fright on the Olympic stage.
Ryan Miller is expected to get the start in net for Team USA.
Miller struggled a bit before coming into the Olympic break, only winning one of his last six games.
He shouldn't be too busy against a Swiss team that will be lacking offensively. It should be interesting to see how exactly that affects him and if his slump continues into the Olympics.
Miller is however Team USA's best option in net, because as rough as things have been in Buffalo for Miller, they've been even worse in Boston for Team USA back-up Tim Thomas.
It was rumoured before the Olympic trade moratorium that the Bruins were actively trying to trade Thomas.
This season, Thomas sports a record of 13-5-2, and he hasn't won a game since January 14th.
Offensively, Team USA has a strong first line with Zach Parise, Paul Stastny, and Patrick Kane. Those three are some of the most talented forwards in the game and this could be one of the most dangerous top lines in the tournament.
The US also boasts an impressive energy line of Jamie Langenbrunner, Dustin Brown, and Ryan Kesler.
That trio should be able to provide Team USA with the spark that it needs by getting a goal or laying a big hit.
Defensively there are lots of question marks regarding this Team USA squad. They will be led by Brian Rafalski and Ryan Suter on the blue line. They have a decent supporting cast of Erik and Jack Johnson and Brooks Orpik. But after them, you start to wonder just how the likes of replacements Tim Gleason and Ryan Whitney will do in Olympic play. And if they will be exposed by some of the top players in the world..
Team USA Projected Lines
Parise - Stastny - Kane
Malone - Pavelski - Kessel
Langenbrunner - Kesler - Brown
Ryan - Drury - Backes
13th Forward - Callahan
Goalies
Miller
Thomas
Canada vs. Norway Preview
It's the moment Canadian hockey fans have been waiting for. The moment that they put on their Canadian apparel and watch their beloved Team Canada take the ice for the very first time on home soil.
For the past year, before the roster was announced, hockey pundits and fans were putting together their ideal Team Canada roster.
Now it's time to see if the actual team is as good as all of Canada is hoping they are.
When looking at the roster, one thing that jumps out at you is that this is a big, powerful team. Only two of Team Canada's forwards are under six feet tall. They are Sidney Crosby and Mike Richards who both stand at 5'11".
Offensively, Team Canada should be one of the strongest teams in the tournament that should have no problem matching up with other hockey powerhouse teams like Sweden and Russia.
The top line of Nash, Crosby, and Bergeron is one that is going to give other team's defensive units nightmares.
When Crosby and Bergeron played together during the 2005 World Juniors, they had incredibly chemistry and produced some big goals for Team Canada. It should be interesting to see if that spark is still there.
On the second line, you find some more chemistry as Anaheim Ducks teammates Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry know what to expect from one another and that should make it easier than playing with someone you've never played alongside before.
On the third line, even more chemistry. It's the Shark line of Marleau, Thornton, and Heatley. All three have been having dynamite years in San Jose. There's no reason to believe why they won't be able to bring some of that San Jose scoring touch to Team Canada.
The fourth line will be a tough line to play against as Jonathan Toews will be joined by Mike Richards and Jarome Iginla. This will be Team Canada's energy line as all three players can light the lamp and get very physical.
On defence, you'll find lots of experience. A combined 63 NHL seasons worth of experience.
Team Canada's blue line will feature the likes of Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger, Dan Boyle, and Shea Weber. All four have plenty of experience playing in the big game and playing on the international level for Team Canada.
Then there is the Chicago Blackhawks defensive pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. They are expected to be kept together on Team Canada, and much like how a lot of the chemistry offensively should help Canada, the familiarity that Keith and Seabrook have from playing together in Chicago for 5 season is going to come in handy.
In net, Roberto Luongo gets the start. This is a surprise as many were expecting Martin Brodeur to get the start for Team Canada. He will have to wait until Thursday when the Canadians take on Switzerland.
Luongo struggled before the Olympic break, losing three of his last five games. He was so bad in a game against Toronto that he was pulled after just the first period.
In his home arena of GM Place, which is now Canada Hockey House, it should be interesting to see if Luongo can turn it around or if the struggles will continue while playing for Team Canada.
Team Canada takes on a Norwegian team that has no current NHL players on it. The one advantage that Norway has over Canada is that they are a national team that has played together for the past five or six years.
Playing Team Canada in Canada is going to be Norway's gold medal game, so expect them to come out of the gate hungry.
Team Canada Projected Lines
Forwards
Nash-Crosby-Bergeron
Staal-Getzlaf-Perry
Marleau-Thornton-Heatley
Toews-Richards-Iginla
13th Forward - Brenden Morrow
Defence
Boyle-Pronger
Keith-Seabrook
Weber-Niedermayer
7th Defence - Drew Doughty
Goalies
Luongo
Brodeur
For up-to-the-minute Olympic news, stats, and updates, be sure to follow Ken Beckett on Twitter @ twitter.com/KenBeckett
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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