The Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi, RUS

[North Star]

I can't say I'm interested in just about anything apart from the ice hockey, but surely they deserve a thread!

[Brahmsian]

I can't say I'm interested in just about anything apart from the ice hockey, but surely they deserve a thread!

I love the winter olympics, and can watch pretty much all of the sports.  Certainly, the men's ice hockey tournament will be extremely competitive. 

The short-track speed skating is an exciting event to watch.

[Karl Henning]

An old schoolmate of mine has become a curling enthusiast . . . .

[Brahmsian]

An old schoolmate of mine has become a curling enthusiast . . . .

So am I.  Well, I play the sport too! Did not make the Olympic team, though. 

[North Star]

I don't have anything against curling...



Yes, the short-track speed skating is exciting indeed.
I'll probably watch a good deal of the cross-country skiing. Not quite the same after 2001. 

[springrite]

Curling
Luge
Bobsled
Hockey

Being not from a hockey nation, I still prefer club hockey to internationals.

[The Six]

Canadia doesn't have a chance.

[Brahmsian]

Canadia doesn't have a chance.

You may be right.  I think USA has a great chance for the Gold this Olympics.

[North Star]

You may be right.  I think USA has a great chance for the Gold this Olympics.

Nah, the Finnish Lions will get the Gold this year.   

The US team sure has lots of great names and stellar goalkeeping, but how will they do in the big rink? Lots of KHL players in Russian, Finnish, Czech & Slovakian teams, and the NHL players from these countries (and the Swedes) know the big rinks like the backs of their hands, too.  USA and Canada will face each other in the bronze game, and it will be the adult Finns time to teach Swedes another lesson in the gold game, after the junior WC final
I sure hope Mikko Koivu will be in top shape.

[Brahmsian]

Nah, the Finnish Lions will get the Gold this year.   

The US team sure has lots of great names and stellar goalkeeping, but how will they do in the big rink? Lots of KHL players in Russian, Finnish, Czech & Slovakian teams, and the NHL players from these countries (and the Swedes) know the big rinks like the backs of their hands, too.  USA and Canada will face each other in the bronze game, and it will be the adult Finns time to teach Swedes another lesson in the gold game, after the junior WC final
I sure hope Mikko Koivu will be in top shape.

You can pretty much roll the dice to see who may face who in the Gold medal game.

Yes, the big ice surface will be a huge factor, and one that can play against the Canadian and American teams.

With Finland, Sweden, Russia, Czech Repulic, Slovakia, USA, Canada and don't forget the incredibly tough Switzerland team, it should be a dandy tournament.

Goaltending, defence and special teams play will be the factors, and who can peak their games going into the elimination rounds.

[Karl Henning]

Contests, that what it should be about!

[North Star]

You can pretty much roll the dice to see who may face who in the Gold medal game.

Yes, the big ice surface will be a huge factor, and one that can play against the Canadian and American teams.

With Finland, Sweden, Russia, Czech Repulic, Slovakia, USA, Canada and don't forget the incredibly tough Switzerland team, it should be a dandy tournament.

Goaltending, defence and special teams play will be the factors, and who can peak their games going into the elimination rounds.

Yep, completely impossible to know now which two teams are in the Gold medal game, of course.

Yes, hopefully the Swiss, Austrians, Norwegians, and Latvians will play well too.

Finland should do well in goaltending with Rask, Lehtonen & Niemi, but then Smith & Quick are no slouches, either. The defense is a bit thin, though, as always.

[Brahmsian]

Yep, completely impossible to know now which two teams are in the Gold medal game, of course.

Yes, hopefully the Swiss, Austrians, Norwegians, and Latvians will play well too.

Finland should do well in goaltending with Rask, Lehtonen & Niemi, but then Smith & Quick are no slouches, either. The defense is a bit thin, though, as always.

The defense is probrably Canada's strongest part of their line up.  The forwards are pretty good too.

Goaltending could be a question mark.  If Luongo and Price can play at the level they are capable of, that will make a huge difference.  They will need stellar goaltending to make it past the quarter-finals.

Russia's goaltending may be their question mark.

[North Star]

The defense is probrably Canada's strongest part of their line up.  The forwards are pretty good too.

Goaltending could be a question mark.  If Luongo and Price can play at the level they are capable of, that will make a huge difference.  They will need stellar goaltending to make it past the quarter-finals.

Russia's goaltending may be their question mark.

Russia usually has trouble with having a bunch of star players instead of a team.
Any team will of course need stellar goaltending and defense to make it past the quarter-finals.

[Brahmsian]

Russia usually has trouble with having a bunch of star players instead of a team.
Any team will of course need stellar goaltending and defense to make it past the quarter-finals.

Have the pools been determined yet?

[North Star]

Have the pools been determined yet?

Yes.

A: USA, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia
B: Finland, Canada, Austria, Norway
C: Sweden, Czech RP, Latvia, Switzerland

Following the completion of the preliminary round, all teams will be ranked 1D through 12D. To determine this ranking, the following criteria will be used in the order presented:
higher position in the group
higher number of points
better goal difference
higher number of goals scored for
better 2013 IIHF World Ranking.

[mn dave]

How's the food?

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

If they had a gold metal for pure, undiluted corruption it would be a close race between Putin and the IOC.

[kishnevi]

Yes.

A: USA, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia
B: Finland, Canada, Austria, Norway
C: Sweden, Czech RP, Latvia, Switzerland

Well, GMG can safely root for USA in Pool A (no Slovaks or Slovenes here, right?) unless Velimir and Sadko object,  and for the Czechs in Pool C (there are no Swedes, Latvians, or Swiss here, correct?).    But Pool B will produce a slam bang round robin fight among ChamberNut, Erato,and North Star

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Well, GMG can safely root for USA in Pool A (no Slovaks or Slovenes here, right?) unless Velimir and Sadko object, 

Hey, why would I object? I'm as American as apple pie!