Meltzer: Team Sweden: Tre Kronor Heads to Gold Medal Game

Why did lehtonen start over rask? Is tuuka hurt?

Why did lehtonen start over rask? Is tuuka hurt?
- twotoekenn

Rask was ill with the flu.

It's an absolute joke. They go to the gold-medal round without having to play a single top team. They just got handed a ticket to the gold-medal game. US get stuck having to go through the Russians and now the Canadians in order to advance. there is no validity whatsoever to this tournament.

It's an absolute joke. They go to the gold-medal round without having to play a single top team. They just got handed a ticket to the gold-medal game. US get stuck having to go through the Russians and now the Canadians in order to advance. there is no validity whatsoever to this tournament.
- Q...argh

They beat the Czechs -- who are in decline but have won their share of medals -- and the Finns. It is what it is, and it's not always easy to play as the favorite. Ask the Swiss after getting knocked out by Latvia or ask Canada after the scare the Latvians threw into them.

They beat the Czechs -- who are in decline but have won their share of medals -- and the Finns. It is what it is, and it's not always easy to play as the favorite. Ask the Swiss after getting knocked out by Latvia or ask Canada after the scare the Latvians threw into them.
- bmeltzer

We beat the Czechs, the Slovaks AND the Russians, and NOW we have to beat CANADA? How does THAT make Sweden a legit silver or gold medal winner???

We beat the Czechs, the Slovaks AND the Russians, and NOW we have to beat CANADA? How does THAT make Sweden a legit silver or gold medal winner???
- Q...argh

Ever seen a team get a few favorable matchups en route to the Stanley Cup Finals? You have to beat whoever is in front you, and it doesn't taint the accomplishment. In a single-game elimination format, every medal round game is dangerous.

But I do agree with you that the USA has had a tougher road just to get to the semis.

We beat the Czechs, the Slovaks AND the Russians, and NOW we have to beat CANADA? How does THAT make Sweden a legit silver or gold medal winner???
- Q...argh

The Swedes beat the Finns, which in turn beat the Russians so the Finns were better than Russia. And the Swedes have already beaten the Czechs. At the end of the day, in these kinds of tournaments you sometimes get good matchups (at least on paper) and sometimes not so good. No difference compared to the NHL playoff. Not every team can play every other team in their way to the final.

It's an absolute joke. They go to the gold-medal round without having to play a single top team. They just got handed a ticket to the gold-medal game. US get stuck having to go through the Russians and now the Canadians in order to advance. there is no validity whatsoever to this tournament.
- Q...argh

Getting through Russia isn't a big feat. That team sucked in 2010 and again this time around. If the next Olympics were in Slovakia, that doesn't make them the favourite.

It doesn't matter who you have to go through to get to the final. It matters what you do when you get there. This is like saying the team from the East that makes the final had an easy ride compared to the West that's clearly far better.

It's an absolute joke. They go to the gold-medal round without having to play a single top team. They just got handed a ticket to the gold-medal game. US get stuck having to go through the Russians and now the Canadians in order to advance. there is no validity whatsoever to this tournament.
- Q...argh

They're getting easier match ups because they finished as the top seed. Same way the playoffs are done. Even so, they beat two good teams to get where they are.

Also, didn't USA get an easier matchup last olympics, for the same reason of finishing as a high seed?

Either way, in this tournament, you have to go through good teams to win, no matter where you finish

It's an absolute joke. They go to the gold-medal round without having to play a single top team. They just got handed a ticket to the gold-medal game. US get stuck having to go through the Russians and now the Canadians in order to advance. there is no validity whatsoever to this tournament.
- Q...argh

Yeah, Russia is obviously a much stronger opponent than Finland. Thanks for that piece of twisted logic deluxe.

We beat the Czechs, the Slovaks AND the Russians, and NOW we have to beat CANADA? How does THAT make Sweden a legit silver or gold medal winner???
- Q...argh

Would you rather loose to the Canadians in the final? And if Sweden isn't worthy of the final game, then this is the real final right?

Gold is all that matters. And the team who wins the final is the best the of the tournament. Who cares if you finish 3rd or 2nd?

Euro teams always have an edge on the big ice. In the game today US and Canada played the North American style. It looked a lot different than most of the previous games. US has a tough game tommorrow against the Finns. And Sweden will give Canada its toughest game of the tournament.

Meltzer: Team Sweden: Tre Kronor Heads to Gold Medal Game
- B.Meltzer

Please Sweden, beat Canada. So sick of listening to Canadians about how it's their game. I thought curling was there game?

Please Sweden, beat Canada. So sick of listening to Canadians about how it's their game. I thought curling was there game?
- lakings35

Wonder if Suomi wins with Rask in net, he would have likely stopped the second goal.

Why no ice for OEL?

And is Tim Peel the best ref they could find for this game?
Not a fan at all.

We beat the Czechs, the Slovaks AND the Russians, and NOW we have to beat CANADA? How does THAT make Sweden a legit silver or gold medal winner???
- Q...argh

You would have had to beat Canada to win gold anyway.

Wonder if Suomi wins with Rask in net, he would have likely stopped the second goal.

Why no ice for OEL?

And is Tim Peel the best ref they could find for this game?
Not a fan at all.
- Marc D

Horrible ref in the NHL, no idea why they invited him there.

You would have had to beat Canada to win gold anyway.
- FinAddict

Agreed, and that wouldn't happen. Point being, we should be getting silver for losing to Canada, not having to fight Finland over the lousy bronze. at this point, I rather the team left rather than risk getting someone injured for a medal that means nothing.

Please Sweden, beat Canada. So sick of listening to Canadians about how it's their game. I thought curling was there game?
- lakings35

One thing that's for sure is Basketball is our game....invented right here in good ol Canada!!!

One thing that's for sure is Basketball is our game....invented right here in good ol Canada!!!
- Cooshie

Lacrosse, hockey, basketball, just toss football in there too