Sochi Men’s Hockey: Semi-Finals, Here We Come!
After four exciting hockey games on Wednesday morning and afternoon, we are left with four nations battling for hockey supremacy.
We should be in for a treat on Friday when two heated rivalries get set to do battle in semi-final action. Sweden easily got by Slovenia 5-0, while Finland up-ended the host Russians 3-1. They will re-ignite a fierce rivalry on Friday at 7:00 a.m EST.
It should be a great matchup, especially between the pipes. Tuukka Rask and Henrik Lundqvist will start in goal, so do not expect too many goals in this one. Finland has been shorthanded due to injuries all tournament, but have overcome that by playing a complete team game. In their win over Russia, veteran Teemu Selanne looked like he was back in his prime, contributing at both ends of the ice and tallying a goal and an assist.Mikael Granlund was exceptional on Wednesday as well. For Sweden, they have faced some injuries of their own, but are the only team to win all of their games in regulation in Sochi.
Sweden are the favorites (-155 via Bodog), but with Rask and Lundqivst in each crease, this one could go either way. Did you see what Kristers Gudlevskis did to Canada? Yeah, Rask and ‘King Henrik’ are perfectly capable of carrying their teams to the Gold Medal game.
Brock’s Prediction: Finland wins 2-1.
In the other semi-final we have Canada vs. USA. In Europe I am sure that Sweden vs. Finland is a huge deal, but here in North America, Friday is going to feel like the Gold Medal game. Canada narrowly escaped on Wednesday, 2-1 over Latvia, however they did carry the play for the duration of the contest (outshot Latvia 57-16). USA continued to score at a torrid pace and beat-up the Czech’s 5-2.
On Thursday Canada’s women came back late and beat the Americans 3-2 in OT to take home their fourth straight Olympic gold medal, so the men will look for the sweep over their neighbor on Friday. Canada will have to do it without John Tavares, who will miss the remainder of the NHL season after suffering damage to his to the MCL and meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday vs. Latvia.
The goaltending matchup is just as exciting as the earlier semi-final, Canada will send out Carey Price to face the USA’s Jonathan Quick. Price has not been tested in Sochi, while Quick has been playing with the lead almost all tournament. These teams bring out the best in each other and will enjoy playing North American competition opposed to European teams. It should be a fantastic display of hockey. Bodog has this as a ‘Pick Em’ game, because it is too close to call. Puck-drop is at noon EST.
Brock’s Prediction: I’m Canadian, so Go Canada… Time for Crosby to step up.