Nightmare opponents (Olympics analysis)

Note, this is my view of things.

Sweden. Our nightmare opponent(s) are not Canada or USA. In fact we usually play well against these two nations. Our real nightmare is the Czech Rep and Russia. Sweden usually struggles more against other euro teams than North american teams. (Belarus, never forget :()

Canada. Canada's nightmare opponent must be Czech Rep and Sweden. Canada has a habit to play really well against the US and Russia. The czechs and sometimes the swedes could cause trouble.

Russia The russian akilles heal is simple. It's Canada. They usually struggle against them. Russians thrive playing countries like Sweden and Finland

Czech Rep. The Czechs like playing against Sweden, and they like playing against Finland. their nightmare opponent is Canada, and sometimes Russia.

USA The US has a hard time against Sweden, Canada and
Czechs. However they like playing finland, and sometimes Russia.

Finland Finland is the real joker in the game. They sometimes thrives on Sweden, sometimes not. They can be very dangerous against countries like Czechz and USA. Their nightmare opponent is definitely Canada.


What do you think of my analysis?

Russia dosent like playing the USA both historically and in recent memory. ;)

Thats pretty accurate I would say.

I could be wrong, but I would guess that Sweden and Finland are kinda nightmare opponents just because of the huge rivalry and losing hurts twice as much.

Although losing always hurts, so :dunno:

Sweden's nightmare is any elimination game. Have they ever won one in a "Best on Best" tournament?

Canada's nightmare is an elimination game which is decided by a shootout.

Russia's nightmare is their government pulling them out of the Gold Medal game to make a political statement.

The Czech's nightmare are new rules which will eliminate the Neutral Zone Trap.

The US nightmare is an athlete's village with indestructible furniture.

The Fin's nightmare is Kipper not being able to play. Oops! That one already came true!!

Sweden's nightmare is any elimination game. Have they ever won one in a "Best on Best" tournament?

The US nightmare is an athlete's village with indestructible furniture.



Sweden won in '94 or '92 in the Olympics.

.....Indestructable furniture? I'd like to see that!

Sweden won in '94 or '92 in the Olympics.

.....Indestructable furniture? I'd like to see that!


Sweden won in '94.... '92 was Russia's victory.

I think he means since NHLers were allowed to participate.

Italy (the team) could be a potential nightmare for Canada... if they somehow found a way to beat us. Canadian hockey would be in an instant crisis if that were to happen.

Sweden's nightmare is any elimination game. Have they ever won one in a "Best on Best" tournament?


Sweden defeated USA in the 1984 Canada Cup semi-final.

Finland usually fares better against Canada than against USA, at least on the big ice.

Czech Rep is the team I fear th emost as a Canadian fan. Sweden tends to choke in big games. The last 2 times we played the Czech it was close as hell. 3-3 tie, and a game were the Czech domianted Canada, but ran into Luongo, and we won in O.T.

Czech is a team everyone should fear.

Everyone's nightmare opponent is Canada because their team is toughest to beat.

Sweden defeated USA in the 1984 Canada Cup semi-final.

You're right. Sweden's one and only elimination game victory in a "best on best" tournament was in the 1984 Canada Cup. So throughout the 76, 81, 84, 87, 91 Canada Cups, 96 and 04 World Cups, and 98 and 2002 Olympics, Sweden has won exactly one elimination game.

I hope they win their pool this year, and get a shot at a weaker team from the other pool in the quarter final. Maybe then they will get this monkey off their back!

You're right. Sweden's one and only elimination game victory in a "best on best" tournament was in the 1984 Canada Cup. So throughout the 76, 81, 84, 87, 91 Canada Cups, 96 and 04 World Cups, and 98 and 2002 Olympics, Sweden has won exactly one elimination game.


Well done. Best to spell all that out for them. Swedes seem to think the shootout Olympic victory over Canada means something (see e.g. postage stamp with Forsberg scoring on a hapless Hirsch) ;) .

Note, this is my view of things.

Sweden. Our nightmare opponent(s) are not Canada or USA. In fact we usually play well against these two nations. Our real nightmare is the Czech Rep and Russia. Sweden usually struggles more against other euro teams than North american teams. (Belarus, never forget :()

Canada. Canada's nightmare opponent must be Czech Rep and Sweden. Canada has a habit to play really well against the US and Russia. The czechs and sometimes the swedes could cause trouble.

Russia The russian akilles heal is simple. It's Canada. They usually struggle against them. Russians thrive playing countries like Sweden and Finland

Czech Rep. The Czechs like playing against Sweden, and they like playing against Finland. their nightmare opponent is Canada, and sometimes Russia.

USA The US has a hard time against Sweden, Canada and
Czechs. However they like playing finland, and sometimes Russia.

Finland Finland is the real joker in the game. They sometimes thrives on Sweden, sometimes not. They can be very dangerous against countries like Czechz and USA. Their nightmare opponent is definitely Canada.


What do you think of my analysis?


Slovakia will be your nightmare opponent if you didn't even choose to put them on the list.

Everyone's nightmare opponent is Canada because their team is toughest to beat.

I think the real nightmare would be playing Canada in the quarter finals. I mean fine, the semi-finals, or the finals, at least the losing team still can medal. Lose in the quarter finals, its See-Ya!

I think the real nightmare would be playing Canada in the quarter finals. I mean fine, the semi-finals, or the finals, at least the losing team still can medal. Lose in the quarter finals, its See-Ya!

Yeah especially for a team like Finland. If we win a medal we're happy with it. But I don't know about Sweden, Russia or Czech. I think their only goal is winning the gold.

Yeah especially for a team like Finland. If we win a medal we're happy with it. But I don't know about Sweden, Russia or Czech. I think their only goal is winning the gold.

Finlandd is going to give somebody fits this year. Probably the Swedes.

Slovakia will be your nightmare opponent if you didn't even choose to put them on the list.
Correct ;).

You're right. Sweden's one and only elimination game victory in a "best on best" tournament was in the 1984 Canada Cup. So throughout the 76, 81, 84, 87, 91 Canada Cups, 96 and 04 World Cups, and 98 and 2002 Olympics, Sweden has won exactly one elimination game.

I hope they win their pool this year, and get a shot at a weaker team from the other pool in the quarter final. Maybe then they will get this monkey off their back!

No, we won the quarterfinal vs Finland in World Cup 96. It's still a really weak statistic. I agree. We suck in elimination games.

Note, this is my view of things.

Czech Rep. their nightmare opponent is Canada, and sometimes Russia.


Is this a bad joke?

They NEVER lose against Canada, and they ALWAYS lose against Russia.

Is this a bad joke?

They NEVER lose against Canada, and they ALWAYS lose against Russia.

Are you for real? You lost against Canada in World cup 04. Who count World championchip tournaments? It's a B tournament.

No, we won the quarterfinal vs Finland in World Cup 96. It's still a really weak statistic. I agree. We suck in elimination games.

Sweden didn't play a qf game in '96. We won the group and qualified immediately for the semis. The game against Finland was a game in the group stage.

Are you for real? You lost against Canada in World cup 04. Who count World championchip tournaments? It's a B tournament.

First of all I didn't lose against anybody.

Second of all : hockey is played in 60 minutes. The last 3 meetings between Canada and the Czech Republic in best on best tourneys were ties.

Nagano : 1-1
Salt Lake : 3-3
Toronto : 3-3

Then, we can also get a look at the World Champs :

2004 : Czechs won 6-2.
2005 : Czechs won 3-0.

How can you after that say that Canada is Czech Republic's nigtmare opponent? Sorry, but logic says otherwise.

If this was the '96 World Cup we're talking about then I'd say the USA since they had a good team then. But Canada I think fears playing against the Czechs more than anyone. The reason is simple. the Czechs are the best team at what they do. they play as a unit. Look at '98. On paper that team is hardly the best but they play like a well oiled machine.

Russia hasnt beaten Canada in a best on best tournament since Game one of the '87 Canada Cup finals. USA has only beaten Canada three times in their history, and they all came in '96. Sweden chokes, and the Finns are pesky but never a threat to put us out in an elimination game.

There is still a mystique about Hasek though with Canadians. It started in '98. And we didnt get that monkey off our back until the frist time we beat them again in the '04 Semis. its always a tough game against them. To me they are the favourites to win outside of Canada. I think they will likely meet us somewhere in the playoffs.

The Russian team's offence is a concern given the players available and the fact that Bure is managing the team. I do not think you are going to see much in the way of the trap from that team.

The defence seems a little suspect.

If one of the goalies gets hot (Khabibulin or Nabokov) they could be tough.

Vladimir Krikunov is my kind of coach:

Russia head coach Vladimir Krikunov has acclaimed the virtues of at least three shots of vodka as a remedy for post-game stress.

"Three shots of vodka after every game. It's a must," Krikunov told the Sovietsky Sport newspaper. "It does the trick for me. Then after three shots if I feel like I want some more, I'll drink more."

I hope they win their pool this year, and get a shot at a weaker team from the other pool in the quarter final. Maybe then they will get this monkey off their back!

Belarus for example? :D

This year's Olys is probably the MOST paritied competition in my lifetime (I am 24) I have ever seen to include the 87 Canada Cup and every Olympics, Canada/World Cup and World Championship I have seen.

Sweden is in business because they finally have a goalie who is not likely to let one in off of his dome or struggle with 50 foot shots to initiate line changes. That said, the game against Canada will be a struggle. Not to sound cliche but Sweden's defensive mobility is great but if they get hunkered down in their zone, Canada's forwards can wear them out. While I agree that the Czechs might be the MOST difficult opponent, I would say USA and also Finland are right there. Sweden-Finland is a game that I am very much looking forward to.

Canada is just going to have to get stellar play from its defense, period, control the puck effectively at the points and no jail breaks going the other way. They have the best variety and most depth at forward although maybe not the most top line talent (that would be Svenska). The Czechs are their toughest matchup also, probably because the Czechs are the next best all around team with Sweden right there with them.


Russia will lose to Finland, I am calling that now, I think the Finns will have a good tourney much like they did in Toronto but no Kipper means no better than bronze IMO.

Czechs are going to have to play with great intensity, watching them in three competitions in the past two years, they had a nice turnout at both World Championships relative to the rest of the field and good enough at the World Cup but only in Austria did they really play cohesively. They are the best team in goal right now, even if you take into account Brodeur's hot play. Hasek and Vokoun are the best 1-2 punch in these games. I dont think they have a problem matching up with anyone, Canada and Sweden are just good teams that could give them trouble. The way Vokoun played in Austria, I think he should make some starts but Hasek is like Jesus over there so he will probably make most starts (anyone heard different?). Vokoun was nice in Toronto but out of his mind in Austria, great show.

US is a joke, they are about as likely to medal as my 8th grade basketball team...in ice hockey. Sad to say but we are at an impasse, really need this bunch of juniors to step up and be big down the line.

Finland is going to need to play with the same passion and grit they did in Toronto; no longer are they a one line team with average goaltending, they have depth and a decent netminder in Nittymaki but they need to really hit on all cylinders and get great defense from their forwards. Guys like Lehtinen are up and down their roster but their blue line is not as solid.

Guys like Lehtinen are up and down their roster but their blue line is not as solid.

Not solid? Pitkänen,Timonen,Salo,Numminen,Lydman? i quite happy with our Defense..

Not solid? Pitkänen,Timonen,Salo,Numminen,Lydman? i quite happy with our Defense..

I agree. Our main problem has always been, and will be again, goalscoring. But what it comes to our goaltending, I'm quite happy with Lehtonen and Niittymäki. I think Lehtonen will be our #1 and actually I think he really can even win this tournament for us if everything goes well.

pitkanen might miss olympics. re-injured today.

pitkanen might miss olympics. re-injured today.

That sucks. :cry:

USA The US has a hard time against Sweden, Canada and
Czechs. However they like playing finland, and sometimes Russia.


What do you think of my analysis?

USA's nightmare will be any team with offensive firepower considering the weak goaltending/defense they will have... By now it's something like every team BUT Swedes and Finns. (and yes, that includes Slovakia)

Not solid? Pitkänen,Timonen,Salo,Numminen,Lydman? i quite happy with our Defense..

not to toot the Flyers' horn, but even when fedotenko was killing philly and pitkanen was quiet during the 04 playoffs, i had faith in pitkanen. he has been great this year and gives Finland a guy who can play in all the big situations and who is as physical as any of those other D for Finland. problem is that he has been out and today he only took two shifts, i am not expecting him to be 100% or maybe even a scratch. Compare that D to Canada and the Czechs, even Sweden I think is a little stronger. My main point was that the Finns are very solid defensively with their forwards.

No, we won the quarterfinal vs Finland in World Cup 96. It's still a really weak statistic. I agree. We suck in elimination games.

The Tre Kronor and the Ottawa Senators have been very similar in this regard. I think both teams are going to do much better in 2006.

You're right. Sweden's one and only elimination game victory in a "best on best" tournament was in the 1984 Canada Cup. So throughout the 76, 81, 84, 87, 91 Canada Cups, 96 and 04 World Cups, and 98 and 2002 Olympics, Sweden has won exactly one elimination game.

I hope they win their pool this year, and get a shot at a weaker team from the other pool in the quarter final. Maybe then they will get this monkey off their back!

I can't see how the Canada Cup have anything to do with the Olympics. Like comparing wrestling with a real sport.

The rest of the teams travel all over the world and play while Canada stays in the same hotell and gets to play on home ice with a canadian ref.

If John Muckler himself was the ref in the Senators games and the Maple Leafs and all other teams had to play Ottawa in Ottawa I am sure Ottawa would have a cup by now.

I agree. Our main problem has always been, and will be again, goalscoring. But what it comes to our goaltending, I'm quite happy with Lehtonen and Niittymäki. I think Lehtonen will be our #1 and actually I think he really can even win this tournament for us if everything goes well.

I agree. You can beat anyteam anytime. You have potential to get great goaltending and solid defense and tremendous work from the forwards. But I just can't see Finland winning three tough games and captureing the gold.

I agree. You can beat anyteam anytime. You have potential to get great goaltending and solid defense and tremendous work from the forwards. But I just can't see Finland winning three tough games and captureing the gold.

people said that about world cup and they advanced further than we did.

I'm not sure if there is any match-up that should be considered a "nightmare." This year's Olympics, at least on paper will be pretty close. I still believe Canada is the clear favorite, especially with Brodeur playing very well right now, but the Czechs and Swedes shouldn't be underestimated. Russia has a lot of firepower up front, but question on defense and in goal. Finland's always tough, but will willpower overcome a lack of scoring punch? Slovakia is Russia junior. That leaves my homeland, the U.S. The biggest issue with the U.S. will be goaltending. If goaltending is solid, I think the U.S. will surprise. Look beyond the names on forward and defense, and some inherant misconceptions/stereotypes, and you'll see a roster that features most playing very well and putting up a fair amount of points.

I'm not sure if there is any match-up that should be considered a "nightmare." This year's Olympics, at least on paper will be pretty close. I still believe Canada is the clear favorite, especially with Brodeur playing very well right now, but the Czechs and Swedes shouldn't be underestimated. Russia has a lot of firepower up front, but question on defense and in goal. Finland's always tough, but will willpower overcome a lack of scoring punch? Slovakia is Russia junior. That leaves my homeland, the U.S. The biggest issue with the U.S. will be goaltending. If goaltending is solid, I think the U.S. will surprise. Look beyond the names on forward and defense, and some inherant misconceptions/stereotypes, and you'll see a roster that features most playing very well and putting up a fair amount of points.

Pretty good analysis but I dont think the Finns will have a hard time scoring and they are a great all around defensive team. Their forwards are the best two way players around and they dont just sit around watching to see if Selanne scores anymore. I think we saw the future of Finnish hockey in 2004 during the World Cup, it is just unfortunate that they wont have Kipper in net. I think Nittymaki or Lehtonen is formidable but to be thinking gold they would definitely need Kipper in top form.

Why isn't Slovakia listed? They have one of the best teams in the tournament and I'd be scared of them regardless of the team I have. They're offense can turn rocks into sand and on the big ice surface, they're deadly.

Gaborik - Demitra - Hossa
Satan - Nagy - Palffy
Bondra - Handzus - Svatos
Zednik - Stumpel - Radiojevic

Chara - Meszaros
Visnovsky - Suchy
Majevsky - Jurcina
Strbak

Budaj
Lasak

If this was the '96 World Cup we're talking about then I'd say the USA since they had a good team then. But Canada I think fears playing against the Czechs more than anyone. The reason is simple. the Czechs are the best team at what they do. they play as a unit. Look at '98. On paper that team is hardly the best but they play like a well oiled machine.

Russia hasnt beaten Canada in a best on best tournament since Game one of the '87 Canada Cup finals. USA has only beaten Canada three times in their history, and they all came in '96. Sweden chokes, and the Finns are pesky but never a threat to put us out in an elimination game.

There is still a mystique about Hasek though with Canadians. It started in '98. And we didnt get that monkey off our back until the frist time we beat them again in the '04 Semis. its always a tough game against them. To me they are the favourites to win outside of Canada. I think they will likely meet us somewhere in the playoffs.

Come again? I think an Olympic bronze medal game qualifies as an elimination game (Nagano). Also, I woudn't say that Canada dominated the WCH2004 final. It was a pretty close game.

"Never a threat''...hopefully team Canada will be equally ignorant and arrogant inTurin.

Pretty good analysis but I dont think the Finns will have a hard time scoring and they are a great all around defensive team. Their forwards are the best two way players around and they dont just sit around watching to see if Selanne scores anymore. I think we saw the future of Finnish hockey in 2004 during the World Cup, it is just unfortunate that they wont have Kipper in net. I think Nittymaki or Lehtonen is formidable but to be thinking gold they would definitely need Kipper in top form.


The Finns ALWAYS have a hard time scoring. The differance is they usually keep the opponents from scoring as well and get great goaltending.

Why isn't Slovakia listed? They have one of the best teams in the tournament and I'd be scared of them regardless of the team I have. They're offense can turn rocks into sand and on the big ice surface, they're deadly.

Gaborik - Demitra - Hossa
Satan - Nagy - Palffy
Bondra - Handzus - Svatos
Zednik - Stumpel - Radiojevic

Chara - Meszaros
Visnovsky - Suchy
Majevsky - Jurcina
Strbak

Budaj
Lasak

The D, and even more so the goaltending, are thin. And isn't Palffy retired? Or is he going to play in the Olympics.

Why isn't Slovakia listed? They have one of the best teams in the tournament and I'd be scared of them regardless of the team I have. They're offense can turn rocks into sand and on the big ice surface, they're deadly.

Gaborik - Demitra - Hossa
Satan - Nagy - Palffy
Bondra - Handzus - Svatos
Zednik - Stumpel - Radiojevic

Chara - Meszaros
Visnovsky - Suchy
Majevsky - Jurcina
Strbak

Budaj
Lasak



umm Svatos is from czech rep and Palffy has retired. And no, I don't believe the slovaks will be good enough.

Why isn't Slovakia listed? They have one of the best teams in the tournament and I'd be scared of them regardless of the team I have. They're offense can turn rocks into sand and on the big ice surface, they're deadly.

Gaborik - Demitra - Hossa
Satan - Nagy - Palffy
Bondra - Handzus - Svatos
Zednik - Stumpel - Radiojevic

Chara - Meszaros
Visnovsky - Suchy
Majevsky - Jurcina
Strbak

Budaj
Lasak
We were one of the best offensive teams.

Until we got a defense first head coach for an offense first team. :shakehead:

And they still wont fire him :(.

BTW, Strbak-Visnovsky = a lock for the top pairing,

umm Svatos is from czech rep and Palffy has retired. And no, I don't believe the slovaks will be good enough.
Svatos is Slovak.

Maybe he was just trying to say that all the Slovakian players come from the Czech system :sarcasm:

Just kidding.

Svatos is SLOVAKIAN!

Maybe he was just trying to say that all the Slovakian players come from the Czech system :sarcasm:

Just kidding.

Svatos is SLOVAKIAN!

ah well ESPNs misstake. They listed him as czechloslovakia, lol so I thought czech.

But seriously they dont have the goaltender or D to win.

ah well ESPNs misstake. They listed him as czechloslovakia, lol so I thought czech.

But seriously they dont have the goaltender or D to win.

we'll see ;)

We were one of the best offensive teams.

Until we got a defense first head coach for an offense first team. :shakehead:

And they still wont fire him :(.

BTW, Strbak-Visnovsky = a lock for the top pairing,

Who will Jurcina most likely play with? He has been nothing short of amazing over the past month for the Bruins, and has been solid on both ends of the ice.

I can't see how the Canada Cup have anything to do with the Olympics. Like comparing wrestling with a real sport.

The rest of the teams travel all over the world and play while Canada stays in the same hotell and gets to play on home ice with a canadian ref.

If John Muckler himself was the ref in the Senators games and the Maple Leafs and all other teams had to play Ottawa in Ottawa I am sure Ottawa would have a cup by now.

Well Oola, I guess Sweden isn't wrestling that well either.

Obviously the World Cup rules and format favour the North American teams, and the Olympics favour the Europeans.
In the last World Cup Sweden played three games in Stockholm, and one in Helsinki.
No doubt this hellish travel schedule is what led to their demise!

Finland usually struggles the most against the Czechs imho, in Nagano we lost to them, and then those 2-3 world championships finals we lost to them. Ouch

Russia we actually do well against, Finns get almost as motivated as against Sweden. Our only win in Salt Lake City was against Russia.

Canada we struggle against, we play Canadian style vs Canada and never quite get there. Lost in World Cup (3-2), lost in Salt Lake City (2-1). Recent years include losses in juniors and world championships.

Sweden we do well against, not too long ago there was a good run where we constantly beat Sweden. Now that run has ended and its about 50-50.

USA we usually beat, usually by outmuscling them which they don't seem to be prepared for. In the World Cup we beat them by hitting everything that moved, and Team USA seemed to be surprised about that and never quite got back in the game after losing momentum.

Slovakia we haven't met in major tournaments, eliminated in the World Cup and failing to qualify in the last two Olympics. In the World Championships theyve run as ragged, played an offensive game that we didn't have the tools to respond to. But A vs A, indecisive, not played in ages.


Finland will need success in terms of goals from: Selänne, Jussi Jokinen, Olli Jokinen.

Solid goaltending, a defence that doesn't commit gaffs (at times the mistaked from defenders resulting in goals have been more back breaking than having Hoover as a goaltender). And secondary scoring from others, Lehtinen, Koivu S&M, Timonen etc


Nightmare opponent: Czechs
Ideal opponent for a knock-out game: Russia, USA, Sweden

When we get more hyped up, we can be unbeatable at times.

Why isn't Slovakia listed? They have one of the best teams in the tournament and I'd be scared of them regardless of the team I have. They're offense can turn rocks into sand and on the big ice surface, they're deadly.

Gaborik - Demitra - Hossa
Satan - Nagy - Palffy
Bondra - Handzus - Svatos
Zednik - Stumpel - Radiojevic

Chara - Meszaros
Visnovsky - Suchy
Majevsky - Jurcina
Strbak

Budaj
Lasak

I just don't see Budaj/Lasak outduelling Hasek/Vokoun, Brodeur/Luongo, Lundqvist or Kipper. They have a good shot against the USA, since Ryan Miller may have to watch the games from the stands.


IMO, this is all relative...

If you want to nitpick, the team I'm most scared as a Czech Republic supporter (though I'm not Czech) is Sweden. Russia games will be 50/50, IMO... Tight, low scoring games... Canada's the favourite, but if the Czechs are on their game, they have a good shot at beating them.
The one thing that could end up hurting the Czechs is possibly no Elias there. Good call or not (easy to say wrong in retrospect), he's not gonna play there unless someone gets injured. He is by far their best LWer, and they're gonna miss him and Havlat (both two-way guys, and Havlat was a monster on the PK for the Sens before he got injured). I don't know why they didn't pick Hamrlik, but as good as Malik and F. Kaberle have been, I'd easily pick him on that team. Maybe they thought his injury problems are a bigger concern than it seemed then.

As for Slovakia, they could surprise and win a medal if things fall into place... With the emergence of Meszaros, their D is looking better (though IMO; they'll miss Mezei more than some people think).. But again, goaltending could easily be their downfall.

There is one more goalie in Slovak team, Karol Krizan from MODO, and he's the best goalie in the Sweedish ligue at this moment i think... ;) so don't underestimate us :)

I can't see how the Canada Cup have anything to do with the Olympics. Like comparing wrestling with a real sport.

The rest of the teams travel all over the world and play while Canada stays in the same hotell and gets to play on home ice with a canadian ref.


Not true. The '76, '81, '84 and '87 Canada Cups all had refs and linesmen from different countries. In 1991, I'm not sure.

Not true. The '76, '81, '84 and '87 Canada Cups all had refs and linesmen from different countries. In 1991, I'm not sure.

Yeah right. The russian linesman in the 87' finals sure made up for the work by the canadian refs in that series. Good argument... :shakehead

Finland usually struggles the most against the Czechs imho, in Nagano we lost to them, and then those 2-3 world championships finals we lost to them. Ouch

Russia we actually do well against, Finns get almost as motivated as against Sweden. Our only win in Salt Lake City was against Russia.

Canada we struggle against, we play Canadian style vs Canada and never quite get there. Lost in World Cup (3-2), lost in Salt Lake City (2-1). Recent years include losses in juniors and world championships.

Sweden we do well against, not too long ago there was a good run where we constantly beat Sweden. Now that run has ended and its about 50-50.

USA we usually beat, usually by outmuscling them which they don't seem to be prepared for. In the World Cup we beat them by hitting everything that moved, and Team USA seemed to be surprised about that and never quite got back in the game after losing momentum.

Slovakia we haven't met in major tournaments, eliminated in the World Cup and failing to qualify in the last two Olympics. In the World Championships theyve run as ragged, played an offensive game that we didn't have the tools to respond to. But A vs A, indecisive, not played in ages.


Finland will need success in terms of goals from: Selänne, Jussi Jokinen, Olli Jokinen.

Solid goaltending, a defence that doesn't commit gaffs (at times the mistaked from defenders resulting in goals have been more back breaking than having Hoover as a goaltender). And secondary scoring from others, Lehtinen, Koivu S&M, Timonen etc


Nightmare opponent: Czechs
Ideal opponent for a knock-out game: Russia, USA, Sweden

When we get more hyped up, we can be unbeatable at times.


Then there's the 2002 Olympics where the U.S. beat Finland 6-0.....

Yeah right. The russian linesman in the 87' finals sure made up for the work by the canadian refs in that series. Good argument... :shakehead

Actually, there was only one Canadian ref in the '87 Canada Cup -- Don Koharski . There were two from the U.S., a Finn and a Czech. Mike Noeth, an American, officiated the Cda-Czech semifinal. Yeah, I know, Americans like nothing more than to see Canadians win at hockey and thusly cheat to ensure we do.


Koharski did games 1 and 3 of the final and Paul Stewart, another cheating American, did Game 2. I just happened to pull out my tape of the finals and, lo and behold, the Soviets actually requested Koharski for Game 1, according to the announcer. But he's Canadian, so he probably lied. Either that or the Russians were bought off by the cheating Canadian hockey mafioso. The Soviets won that game, by the way, so clearly Koharski didn't do his patriotic, cheating duty and was pulled for Game 2. You get the picture.

Then there's the 2002 Olympics where the U.S. beat Finland 6-0.....

True, but that was an ugly game from us. It was almost a reversal of canada-sweden earlier that day. (Where canada didn't adapt to the differences and got "taught" about it, then Finland proceeded to make all the same mistakes and the US capitalised mercilessly)

I'd just fancy our chances against the US though..

True, but that was an ugly game from us. It was almost a reversal of canada-sweden earlier that day. (Where canada didn't adapt to the differences and got "taught" about it, then Finland proceeded to make all the same mistakes and the US capitalised mercilessly)

I'd just fancy our chances against the US though..

Fair enough. Finland usually finds a way to compete, even with a roster that on paper seem to leave a bit to be desired.

Who will Jurcina most likely play with? He has been nothing short of amazing over the past month for the Bruins, and has been solid on both ends of the ice.
Chara-Meszaros
Strbak-Visnovsky

Leaving Jurcina, Majesky and Suchy. I hope the 3rd pairing is Suchy-Jurcina but I guess (as the coach has had this pairing the 2 last WC's) the pair will be Majesky-Suchy = Jurcina 7th D-man.

Our only win in Salt Lake City was against Russia.


That's not true. We also beat the mighty Belarus 8-1.

The Soviets won that game, by the way, so clearly Koharski didn't do his patriotic, cheating duty and was pulled for Game 2. You get the picture.

So, he corrected his "error " in game 3..

So, he corrected his "error " in game 3..
They lost fair and square pal,too bad for them.They should have played better and then they would'nt have to sook about the refs.

the fact of the matter is simple, CANADA= WORLD HOCKEY DOMINATION

when it gets down to it, canada simply finds a way to win, sure they struggled to find their form a little in salt lake, (especially against the swedes), but the bottom line is that in the medal round when it truly matters, no one wants to play the mighty canucks.

the depth that canadian hockey has is far better than any other country could even dream fof. other countries would kill for a chance to have some of the players left off the canadian roster, or that were on the taxi squad (ie. spezza, staal, mccabe, crosby, dion), and the list goes on and on. and i havent even begun to talk about canadas depth in between the pipes. where other countries have one, maybe two goalies who are very capable of winning the tourney for them, canada has several that werent even named to their roster.

the bottom line is this, when it really counts canada is everyones nightmare opponent, and candas only nightmare would be letting the game go to a shootout like what happened in nagano (which if u ask me was the worst way to possibly lose). knowing that if olympic hockey was played like hockey should be (ie. no shootout) maybe, just maybe salt lake wouldve made it back to back golds