Men's Ice Hockey Tournament at the Winter Olympic Games 2018

[NearPup 4,188]

This is obviously a disapointing performance from Germany. Belarus was able to beat Sweden in regulation, Germany was so weak they required overtime. Sweden is a really easy opponent to play in the quarterfinals when they win their group so really the game should have been a walkover. The fact the game went to overtime is really emblematic of how terrible German sthletes have been during these Olympics.

 

 

More seriously, what is up with Sweden at the Olympics? They won their group in 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018 (first seed iverall after the group phase in every one of those years except 2010 where they where the second seed). It’s strange how Swedish teams seem to gell really quickly then fall apart later.

 

Bold prediction: Canada is going to get at least a silver medal in men’s hockey.

Edited February 21, 2018 by NearPup

[JoshMartini007 2,871]

Sweden comes prepared while the other teams play catch-up. Also doing well early on may make the players a bit arrogant.

[orangeman 2,877]

I think Sweden often has goaltender issues.  

[hckošice 16,640]

4 hours ago, Nate River said:

More seriously, what is up with Sweden at the Olympics? They won their group in 2002, 2010, 2014 and 2018 (first seed iverall after the group phase in every one of those years except 2010 where they where the second seed).

 

 

That 2010.......thanks for the small reminder  

 

Sweden clearly has some troubles with underestimating opponents from non top 6 hockey countries at the Olympics. The biggest shock however may still be the Belarussian one from Salt Lake

[phelps 8,757]

I'm still shocked by the German win over Sweden...

however, it's clear that Swedish players and staff underestimated GER and did play like they were sure to win the game in any moment, even when they were down 3-1 with 10 minutes or so yet to play...

moreover, their goaltending once again has been really questionable...

but I still think that their loss to Belarus in 2002 was definitely a bigger surprise than yesterday's...

 

about the other quarterfinals...

 

RUS, as expected, destroyed Norway, who clearly were already mentally gone before the start and after they got their best result in many years...

 

CAN vs FIN...meh..I expected a lot more from this game, but it was a really boring one, with CAN playing solid defense and FIN unable to create any significant scoring chance, not even late in the 3rd period when they were already down 1-0...

poor show, but with the most deserved winners, imho...

CZE vs USA...another quite disappointing game if we only look at the level of play...

 

the US guys scored first, but they couldn't mantain the lead for very long, despite the Czechs didn't put so much pressure and speed in their game...

and after the Europeans took the lead in the second period, the American answer was quite immediate...

after that, the pace slowed down even more and it became a very tactical game, played as much as the Czechs like the most...their tactical defence slowly forced the OT, where nothing exciting happened...

then it was the Czech goalie to steal the show in the penalty shootout, saving all the 5 US shots and sending his team to the last 4...

 

now I hope that at least the classic rivalry between the Czechs and the Russians in their semfinal clash would finally put some salt and pepper on this tournament, so far very disappointing by the side of neutral fans...

[hckošice 16,640]

First ever Coach challenge   too bad you can challenge only 2 things and the Czechs needed now something totally else

[thepharoah 2,413]

Russia leads 1-0

[heywoodu 16,468]

RIP  

 

[thepharoah 2,413]

2-0 Russia , that was too fast

[Майкл 561]

2-0

 

1 minute ago, thepharoah said:

Russia leads 1-0