2010 Olympic Hockey Overview

Coach Dutton's Picks:

1. Russia
The Russkies are seriously stacked with Olympic Gods. Ovechkin, Semin, Federov, Kovalchuk, Malkin, Kozlov, Afinogenov, Datsyuk...are you kidding me? If these guys don't win then I think Vegas had a hand in it. They have top NHL goal scorers, outstanding defense and even a couple goaltenders that can stand on their heads. I just hope Varley gets some play. Also, if you haven't noticed, Russia has the most Washington Capitals.

2. USA

Yeah I said it. The youngest team in the Olympics this year has nothing to lose. With only a couple of veterans in their 30's, USA has the the tenacity to beat out America Jr this Olympic season. Ryan Miller is one of the sickest goalies I have ever seen when on top of his game. He is by far the best goalie in this tournament. We all know the Caps can light him up but hopefully, with the power of the stars and stripes, pride will take him places he has never been before...go USA!

3. Canada

Third place for Canada hockey is like a losing season for the Yankees, it doesn't happen. It just wont be enough to get a bronze medal. They have the deepest bench this year and will accept nothing less than the gold in the Olympic games. They will play hard and fight to the finish but I just do not believe in my heart they can get past Miller enough times to win. Holding off Crosby, Staal and Iginla will be close to impossible so team USA's young guns will need to find a way past Brodeur...more than a few times to take the win.


MEN'S 2010 OLYMPIC HOCKEY SCHEDULE

All games are played at Canada Hockey Place (aka General Motors Place) unless otherwise specified
Eastern Standard Time

PRELIMINARY ROUND:

Tuesday, February 16

* 3:00 pm USA vs. SWITZERLAND
* 7:30 pm CANADA vs. NORWAY
* 12:00 am RUSSIA vs. LATVIA

Wednesday, February 17

* 3:00 pm FINLAND vs. BELARUS
* 7:30 pm SWEDEN vs. GERMANY
* 12:00 am CZECH REPUBLIC vs. SLOVAKIA

Thursday, February 18

* 3:00 pm USA vs. NORWAY
* 7:30 pm SWITZERLAND vs. CANADA
* 12:00 am SLOVAKIA vs. RUSSIA

Friday, February 19
# 3:00 pm BELARUS vs. SWEDEN
# 7:30 pm CZECH REPUBLIC vs. LATVIA
# 12:00 am FINLAND vs. GERMANY

Saturday, February 20
# 3:00 pm NORWAY vs. SWITZERLAND
# 7:30 pm LATVIA vs. SLOVAKIA
# 12:00 am GERMANY vs. BELARUS

Sunday, February 21
# 3:00 pm RUSSIA vs. CZECH REPUBLIC
# 7:45 pm CANADA vs. USA
# 12:00 am SWEDEN vs. FINLAND

QUALIFICATION PLAYOFF FORMAT:

At the conclusion of the Preliminary Round, all 12 teams are ranked 1-to-12 in Group "D".

The top four teams (1D, 2D, 3D, 4D) advance directly to the Quarter-finals.

The remaining eight teams play the Qualification Playoff with the following match-ups:
5D - 12D (Winner becomes E1)
6D - 11D (Winner becomes E2)
7D - 10D (Winner becomes E3)
8D - 9D (Winner becomes E4)

QUALIFICATION PLAYOFF SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, February 23
# 3:00 pm QUALIFICATION 1
# 7:30 pm QUALIFICATION 2
# 10:00 pm QUALIFICATION 3 (at UBC Thunderbird Arena)
# 12:00 am QUALIFICATION 4

(if qualified, USA game will be scheduled for 3:00)
(if qualified, Canada game will be scheduled for 7:30)

QUARTER-FINALS FORMAT:

At the conclusion of the Qualification Playoff, teams play the Quarter-finals with the following match-ups:
1D - E4 (Winner becomes F1)
2D - E3 (Winner becomes F2)
3D - E2 (Winner becomes F3)
4D - E1 (Winner becomes F4)

QUARTER-FINALS SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, February 24
# 3:00 pm QUARTERFINAL 1
# 7:30 pm QUARTERFINAL 2
# 10:00 pm QUARTERFINAL 3 (at UBC Thunderbird Arena)
# 12:00 am QUARTERFINAL 4

(if qualified, USA game will be scheduled for 3:00)
(if qualified, Canada game will be scheduled for 7:30)

SEMI-FINALS SCHEDULE:
Friday, February 26
# 3:00 pm Semifinal 1 (F1 vs. F4)
# 9:30 pm Semifinal 2 (F2 vs. F3)

(if qualified, USA game will be scheduled for 3:00)
(if qualified, Canada game will be scheduled for 9:30)

BRONZE MEDAL GAME:
Saturday, February 27
# 10:00 pm (Semifinal losers)

GOLD MEDAL GAME:
Sunday, February 28
# 3:15 pm (Semifinal losers)

My medal pick rosters:

Russia:
G Ilya Bryzgalov , Phoenix Coyotes, NHL
G Evgeni Nabokov , San Jose Sharks, NHL
G Semyon Varlamov , Washington Capitals, NHL

D Sergei Gonchar , Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL
D Denis Grebeshkov , Edmonton Oilers, NHL
D Dmitri Kalinin , Salavat Yulayev Ufa
D Konstantin Korneyev , CSKA Moscow
D Andrei Markov , Montreal Canadiens, NHL
D Ilya Nikulin , Ak Bars Kazan
D Fedor Tyutin , Columbus Blue Jackets, NHL
D Anton Volchenkov , Ottawa Senators, NHL

F Maxim Afinogenov , Atlanta Thrashers, NHL
F Pavel Datsyuk , Detroit Red Wings, NHL
F Sergei Fedorov , Metallurg Magnitogorsk
F Ilya Kovalchuk , Atlanta Thrashers, NHL
F Viktor Kozlov , Salavat Yulayev Ufa
F Evgeni Malkin , Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL
F Alexei Morozov , Ak Bars Kazan
F Alexander Ovechkin , Washington Capitals, NHL
F Alexander Radulov , Salavat Yulayev Ufa
F Alexander Semin , Washington Capitals, NHL
F Danis Zaripov , Ak Bars Kazan
F Sergei Zinoviev , Salavat Yulayev Ufa

The USA Olympic hockey team looks a lot younger in 2010, as the old guard of Chelios, Weight, Modano, et al give way to the next generation.

Here's the team as it was named on January 1 by general manager Brian Burke.

Keep in mind that rosters are not final until 24 hours before the Games begin. Players injured before then can be replaced.

USA:

Goaltenders

* Tim Thomas, 35 (Boston Bruins)
* Ryan Miller, 29 (Buffalo Sabres)
* Jonathan Quick, 24 (Los Angeles Kings)

Alternate Candidate:
- Craig Anderson (Colorado)

Defense

* Brian Rafalski, 36 (Detroit Red Wings)
* Ryan Suter, 25 (Nashville Predators)
* Paul Martin 28 (New Jersey Devils) - withdrawn due to injury
* Mike Komisarek, 28 (Toronto Maple Leafs) - withdrawn due to injury
* Erik Johnson, 21 (St. Louis Blues)
* Brooks Orpik, 29 (Pittsburgh Pittsburgh)
* Jack Johnson, 23 (Los Angeles Kings)
* Ryan Whitney, 26 (Anaheim Ducks) - injury call-up
* Tim Gleason, 27 (Carolina Hurricanes) - injury call-up

Alternate Candidates:
- Matt Niskanen (Dallas)
- Ron Hainsey (Atlanta)
- Alex Goligoski (Pittsburgh)
- Matt Carle (Philadelphia)
- Rob Scuderi (Los Angeles)

Forwards

* Zach Parise, 25 (New Jersey Devils)
* Chris Drury, 32 (New York Rangers)
* Dustin Brown, 25 (Los Angeles Kings)
* Jamie Langenbrunner, 34 (New Jersey Devils)
* Paul Stastny, 24 (Colorado Avalanche)
* David Backes, 25 (St. Louis Blues)
* Patrick Kane, 21 (Chicago Blackhawks)
* Phil Kessel, 22 (Toronto Maple Leafs)
* Ryan Kesler, 25 (Vancouver Canucks)
* Bobby Ryan, 22 (Anaheim Ducks)
* Joe Pavelski, 25 (San Jose Sharks)
* Ryan Malone, 31 (Tampa Bay Lightning)
* Ryan Callahan, 24 (New York Rangers)

Alternate Candidates:
- Jason Pominville (Sabres)
- David Booth (Panthers)
- Scott Gomez (Canadiens)
- T.J. Oshie (Blues)
- Brian Gionta (Canadiens)

Canada:

Goaltenders

* Martin Brodeur, 37 (New Jersey Devils)
* Roberto Luongo, 30 (Vancouver Canucks)
* Marc-Andre Fleury, 25 (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Defense

* Scott Niedermayer, 36 (Anaheim Ducks)
* Chris Pronger, 35 (Philadelphia Flyers)
* Shea Weber, 24 (Nashville Predators)
* Drew Doughty, 20 (Los Angeles Kings)
* Duncan Keith 26 (Chicago Blackhawks)
* Dan Boyle, 33 (San Jose Sharks)
* Brent Seabrook, 24 (Chicago Blackhawks)

Forwards

* Sidney Crosby, 21 (Pittsburgh Penguins)
* Rick Nash, 25 (Columbus Blue Jackets)
* Jarome Iginla, 32 (Calgary Flames)
* Mike Richards, 25 (Philadelphia Flyers)
* Joe Thornton, 30 (San Jose Sharks)
* Patrick Marleau, 30 (San Jose Sharks)
* Ryan Getzlaf, 24 (Anaheim Ducks)
* Brenden Morrow, 31 (Dallas Stars)
* Corey Perry, 24 (Anaheim Ducks)
* Dany Heatley, 29 (San Jose Sharks)
* Eric Staal, 25 (Carolina Hurricanes)
* Patrice Bergeron, 25 (Boston Bruins)
* Jonathan Toews, 21 (Chicago Blackhawks)

Caps to watch:

Sweden:
F Nicklas Bäckström , Washington Capitals, NHL

Czech Republic:
F Tomas Fleischmann , Washington Capitals, NHL

*Information stolen from about.com