Stretch Run Preview

For the final month-plus of the NHL season, we’re adding the ‘Stretch Run’ feature. It will be posted every morning after the ‘Morning Skate’, looking at key playoff-implication games for that day and current odds of making the postseason. We'll also have daily videos of past playoff moments to get you jacked up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs! Tonight we take an extensive look at how each conference race will play out down the stretch…

Here are the current Eastern Conference standings:
1. Washington… 90 PTS, 62 GP
2. New Jersey… 77 PTS, 61 GP
3. Ottawa… 76 PTS, 63 GP
4. Pittsburgh… 76 PTS, 62 GP
5. Buffalo… 75 PTS, 60 GP
6. Philadelphia… 67 PTS, 60 GP
7. Boston… 65 PTS, 60 GP
8. Montreal… 64 PTS, 63 GP
9. Tampa Bay… 63 PTS, 61 GP
10. NY Rangers… 63 PTS, 62 GP
11. Atlanta… 62 PTS, 60 GP
12. Florida… 58 PTS, 61 GP
13. NY Islanders… 58 PTS, 62 GP
14. Carolina… 55 PTS, 61 GP
15. Toronto… 49 PTS, 61 GP
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1. Washington Capitals
Record: 41-13-8, 90 points
Games Remaining: 20 (12 home, 8 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/20 – 3/30 (at TB, vs. PIT, at CAR, vs. CGY, vs. OTT)
Predicted finish: 14-5-1, 119 points, 1st East

2. New Jersey Devils
Record: 37-21-3, 77 points
Games Remaining: 21 (11 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/10 – 3/17 (vs. NYR, vs. PIT, at NYI, vs. BOS, vs. PIT)
Predicted finish: 13-4-4, 107 points, 2nd East

3. Ottawa Senators
Record: 36-23-4, 76 points
Games Remaining: 19 (7 home, 12 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/18 – 3/26 (at ATL, at DAL, at MTL, vs. PHI, at BUF)
Predicted finish: 10-7-2 points, 5th East

4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 36-22-4, 76 points
Games Remaining: 20 (10 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/17 – 3/24 (at NJ, at BOS, vs. CAR, at DET, at WSH)
Predicted finish: 14-4-2, 106 points, 4th East

5. Buffalo Sabres
Record: 33-18-9, 75 points
Games Remaining: 22 (9 home, 13 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 4/3 – 4/11 (at MTL, vs. NYR, at BOS, at OTT, at NJ)
Predicted finish: 11-7-4, 101 points, 3rd East

6. Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 32-25-3, 67 points
Games Remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/21 – 3/28 (vs. ATL, at OTT, vs. MIN, at PIT, vs. NJ)
Predicted finish: 12-7-3, 94 points, 6th East

7. Boston Bruins
Record: 27-22-11, 65 points
Games Remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/7 – 3/15 (at PIT, at TOR, at PHI, at MTL, at NJ)
Predicted finish: 12-6-3, 92 points, 7th East

8. Montreal Canadiens
Record: 29-28-6, 64 points
Games Remaining: 19 (9 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/25 – 4/3 (vs. FLA, vs. NJ, vs. CAR, at PHI, vs. BUF)
Predicted finish: 10-7-2, 86 points, 10th East

9. Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 26-24-11, 63 points
Games Remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/6 – 3/14 (vs. ATL, at MTL, at TOR, at WSH, vs. PIT)
Predicted finish: 10-8-3, 86 points, 11th East

10. New York Rangers
Record: 28-27-7, 63 points
Games Remaining: 20 (8 home, 12 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/7 – 3/16 (vs. BUF, at NJ, at ATL, vs. PHI, vs. MTL)
Predicted finish: 11-7-2, 87 points, 9th East

11. Atlanta Thrashers
Record: 26-24-10, 62 points
Games Remaining: 22 (14 home, 8 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/23 – 3/30 (vs. BOS, vs. TOR, at CAR, vs. CAR, at TOR)
Predicted finish: 13-8-1, 89 points, 8th East

12. Florida Panthers
Record: 24-27-10, 58 points
Games Remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 away)
Predicted finish: 6-10-5, 75 points, 12th East

13. New York Islanders
Record: 25-29-8, 58 points
Games Remaining: 20 (11 home, 9 away)
Predicted finish: 4-13-3, 69 points, 14th East

14. Carolina Hurricanes
Record: 24-30-7, 55 points
Games Remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 away)
Predicted finish: 6-12-3, 70 points, 13th East

15. Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 19-31-11, 49 points
Games Remaining: 21 (12 home, 9 away)
Predicted finish: 6-12-3, 64 points, 15th East

Predicted final standings:
1. Washington… 119 points
2. New Jersey… 107
3. Buffalo… 101
4. Pittsburgh… 106
5. Ottawa… 98
6. Philadelphia… 94
7. Boston… 92
8. Atlanta… 89
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9. NY Rangers… 87
10. Montreal… 86
11. Tampa Bay… 86
12. Florida… 75
13. Carolina… 70
14. NY Islanders… 69
15. Toronto… 64

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Here are the current Western Conference standings:
1. San Jose… 89 PTS, 62 GP
2. Chicago… 87 PTS, 61 GP
3. Vancouver… 76 PTS, 61 GP
4. Phoenix… 79 PTS, 63 GP
5. Los Angeles… 78 PTS, 61 GP
6. Colorado… 76 PTS, 61 GP
7. Nashville… 71 PTS, 61 GP
8. Calgary… 69 PTS, 62 GP
9. Dallas… 68 PTS, 61 GP
10. Detroit… 68 PTS, 61 GP
11. Anaheim… 67 PTS, 62 GP
12. St. Louis… 65 PTS, 62 GP
13. Minnesota… 64 PTS, 61 GP
14. Columbus… 60 PTS, 63 GP
15. Edmonton… 44 PTS, 61 GP
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1. San Jose Sharks
Record: 40-13-9, 89 points
Games Remaining: 20 (10 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/27 – 4/4 (vs. VAN, vs. COL, at DAL, at MIN, at COL)
Predicted finish: 14-5-1, 118 points, 2nd West

2. Chicago Blackhawks
Record: 41-15-5, 87 points
Games Remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/10 – 3/18 (vs. LA, at PHI, vs. WSH, at ANA, at LA)
Predicted finish: 16-4-1, 120 points, 1st West

3. Vancouver Canucks
Record: 37-22-2, 76 points
Games Remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/24 – 4/2 (vs. ANA, at SJ, vs. PHX, at LA, at ANA)
Predicted finish: 12-7-2, 102 points, 3rd West

4. Phoenix Coyotes
Record: 37-21-5, 79 points
Games Remaining: 19 (8 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/20 – 3/27 (vs. CHI, at DAL, at CHI, at NSH, vs. COL)
Predicted finish: 10-6-3, 102 points, 5th West

5. Los Angeles Kings
Record: 37-20-4, 78 points
Games Remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/30 – 4/8 (at NSH, vs. VAN, vs. ANA, at ANA, vs. PHX)
Predicted finish: 12-5-4, 106 points, 4th West

6. Colorado Avalanche
Record: 35-20-6, 76 points
Games Remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/28 – 4/6 (at SJ, vs. ANA, vs. CGY, vs. SJ, at VAN)
Predicted finish: 10-8-3, 99 points, 6th West

7. Nashville Predators
Record: 33-23-5, 71 points
Games Remaining: 21 (12 home, 9 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/7 – 3/14 (vs. VAN, at ATL, at SJ, at ANA, at LA)
Predicted finish: 10-7-4, 95 points, 8th West

8. Calgary Flames
Record: 30-23-9, 69 points
Games Remaining: 20 (9 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/15 – 3/23 (vs. DET, at COL, vs. SJ, at MIN, vs. ANA)
Predicted finish: 8-8-4, 89 points, 12th West

9. Dallas Stars
Record: 28-21-12, 68 points
Games Remaining: 21 (12 home, 9 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/23 – 3/31 (at NSH, at SJ, at LA, at ANA, vs. SJ)
Predicted finish: 10-9-2, 90 points, 11th West

10. Detroit Red Wings
Record: 28-21-12, 68 points
Games Remaining: 21 (12 home, 9 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/3 – 3/11 (vs. VAN, vs. NSH, at CHI, vs. CGY, vs. MIN)
Predicted finish: 13-6-2, 96 points, 7th West

11. Anaheim Ducks
Record: 30-25-7, 67 points
Games Remaining: 20 (12 home, 8 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/23 – 3/31 (at CGY, at VAN, at EDM, vs. DAL, at COL)
Predicted finish: 12-5-3, 94 points, 9th West

12. St. Louis Blues
Record: 28-25-9, 65 points
Games Remaining: 20 (8 home, 12 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/18 – 3/25 (at NYR, at NJ, vs. NSH, at DET, vs. LA)
Predicted finish: 13-7-0, 91 points, 10th West

13. Minnesota Wild
Record: 30-27-4, 64 points
Games Remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 away)
Key 5-game stretch: 3/21 – 3/29 (vs. CGY, vs. SJ, at PHI, at DET, vs. LA)
Predicted finish: 9-8-4, 86 points, 13th West

14. Columbus Blue Jackets
Record: 25-28-10, 60 points
Games Remaining: 19 (10 home, 9 away)
Predicted finish: 5-11-3, 73 points, 14th West

15. Edmonton Oilers
Record: 19-36-6, 44 points
Games Remaining: 21 (9 home, 12 away)
Predicted finish: 3-14-4, 54 points, 15th West

Predicted final standings:
1. Chicago… 120 points
2. San Jose … 118
3. Vancouver… 102
4. Los Angeles… 106
5. Phoenix… 102
6. Colorado… 99
7. Detroit… 96
8. Nashville… 95
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9. Anaheim… 94
10. St. Louis… 91
11. Dallas… 90
12. Calgary… 89
13. Minnesota… 86
14. Columbus… 73
15. Edmonton… 54

Canada completes quest for Gold in overtime!

It was everyone’s dream matchup for today’s Gold Medal Game; and it’s safe to say the game lived up to the hype! After the Americans miraculously tied the game at 2 late in regulation, Sidney Crosby sent the whole country of Canada into a frenzy it has probably never seen before. His five-hole goal on Ryan Miller 7:40 into overtime gave the Canadians the much-desired Gold.

The Canadians jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals from Jonathan Toews and Corey Perry. USA rallied back to tie it up, but they couldn’t crack Roberto Luongo a second time until there was just 24 seconds left, when Zach Parise slid home a rebound. After some good chances for Canada in the extra period, Jarome Iginla found Sidney Crosby, who scored from a bad angle to win the game. To me, it didn’t seem like Miller was expecting a shot, as Crosby released it quickly.

As Miller and the rest of the Americans were stunned and devastated, Canada Hockey Place went into absolute pandemonium. This was viewed as the biggest hockey game on Canadian soil – which is saying something! I can’t imagine what it would have been like inside that arena when Crosby scored.

It was an instant classic, and one of the best all-around hockey games I’ve seen. It was played like a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals; tightly contested in each zone without a lot of room to generate quality chances. This will go down in the books as one of the best games in hockey history.

Coming into these Winter Games, Canada had to win Gold… anything less would have been a disappointment. After their loss to USA last weekend, they made the switch to Luongo in net, was great under pressure. The star players finally jelled into their individual roles, and played with a lot of passion and determination. The country definitely deserved to see their team come away victorious.

USA was not given a good chance to medal in this tournament, let alone advance to the Gold Medal Game. They proved (mostly) everyone wrong by taking all of the hockey fans in this nation on a thrilling ride these last two weeks. Miller, who was named the tournament MVP, was sensational between the pipes, and the players in front of him didn’t leave anything on the ice when it was all said and done. As an American, I’m very proud of this team and the effort they displayed at these Games!

Before today’s game, I asked myself if this was ‘the greatest hockey tournament ever’ as people expected it to be. I came to a conclusion that today’s game would decide that. Judging by the results, this was indeed the greatest hockey tournament we’ve ever seen! It was fueled by a pair of epic games between the U.S. and Canada, and had some other great moments along the way.

There’s a chance we’ll never see something like this again. Along with every other hockey fan, I soaked it all in the last couple weeks, and I’m disappointed to see it end. The Winter Olympics only come around every four years… and that’s why this tournament was so special!

Morning Skate: Gold Medal Prediction

Continued from this morning’s ‘Morning Skate’…

Why USA will win:
- The Americans are 5-0 in this tournament, and the #1 seed in the medal round. They have to be the favorites, right?? Not if you ask them. I guarantee you in that locker room they feel like the underdogs with a whole arena and country against them. If they have that mindset, it might help them like it did last week.

- Ryan Miller has undoubtedly been the best goaltender in the Olympics. He stopped 42 shots against Canada in the first meeting, and will need a similar performance. He is in an absolute zone right now, so it’s going to be tough for Canada to rattle him. Do you believe in Millercles?!?

- Two small things that could work in USA's advantage today: One, they've basically been on this schedule for two weeks now, playing their games at noon; this is Canada's first game before 6:30. Two, this will be Canada's fourth game in six days. Will that play a mental and/or physical toll today??

- Lastly, the U.S. has a lot of ‘mojo’ and confidence going for them right now. On Friday, they came out of the gates like gangbusters and blitzed Finland, proving they were zoned in on their opponent. They’ve been the story of the Winter Games, and it almost feels like destiny is on their side.

Why Canada will win:
- Team Canada will have 19,000 strong behind them today… which can either be a good or bad thing. If they get down early, the crowd will become tense and may start to panic. Or they could carry them to victory like they have this week. I think the Canadians will feed off the crowd today.

- This is Roberto Luongo’s time to shine. He has the reputation for not being a ‘big game’ goalie, but can change that with a solid performance (and victory) today. He’s played well since replacing Martin Brodeur as starter, but hasn’t had to make many big saves. If he’s on his A-game today, he could be the difference.

- The depth of Canada has been on display this week. Guys like Jonathan Toews and Brendan Morrow (just to name a few) have really turned it up a notch, and the defense seems to have jelled together.

- Lastly, the Canadians are on a mission to get back at the Americans. Not only do they not want to settle for Silver, but they also don’t want to lose on home-soil to the U.S. twice in this tournament. They’ve publicly stated that this is who they wanted to play. That could be a dangerous proposition for the Americans.

FInal Game Thoughts:
Today marks the last Olympic hockey game until 2014 in Sochi, Russia… and it promises to be one we’ll never forget!! It’s being hyped up as one of the biggest (if not, THE biggest) game in Canada’s history. Tickets are going for upwards of $10,000 apiece!

USA defeated Canada 5-3 last Sunday in thrilling fashion, sending mostly everyone north of the border into a panic. But Mike Babcock’s club has punched everyone in the mouth this week, cruising past Germany and Russia, and then surviving a scare against the Slovaks. They are ready for this! On the Americans’ side, they are having a lot of fun right now, and have their sights set on Gold. If they thought beating this team last week was hard, it’s going to be even tougher this time around. They have to work hard all game long, win the battles, and come up big on special teams.

I hate to have to make a prediction. Canada has to be the favorite to win, but it’s so hard to pick against the U.S. right now. In the end, I think the Canadians will get what they want and claim Gold in a frantic finish. I better be wrong…
Prediction: Canada 4, USA 3

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Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET on Tuesday!

Morning Skate: February 28

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Finland 5, Slovakia 3
Predictions record: 0-1

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Olli Jokinen, FIN (2 Goals)
Jokinen scored 2 huge goals in the 3rd period to carry the Finns to bronze.
2. Pavol Demitra, SVK (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Demitra finished his Olympics strong, and he’s the leader in the clubhouse with 10 points.
3. Kimmo Timonen, FIN (2 Assists)
Timonen had a strong game, and his shot from the point started the Finn’s 3rd period onslaught.
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Today’s Game:
#1 United States vs. #6 Canada
Gold Medal Game
3:00 ET… TV: NBC

Players to watch:
USA- Brian Rafalski
Rafalski has as important a player as anyone else on the U.S. roster not named Ryan Miller. He scored a pair of goals in their first meeting.
CAN- Shea Weber
Weber has arguably been the Canadians’ best defenseman in this tournament. If he comes up big on both ends, I like their chances.

Projected Goaltenders:
USA- Ryan Miller (Olympics stats: 5-0, 1.04 GAA)
CAN- Roberto Luongo (Olympics stats: 4-0, 1.75 GAA)

Keys to the Game:
USA- Weather the storms
Canada is come hard at the U.S. today – early and often. Ryan Miller can’t get rattled, and the defense needs to play smart under siege… just like they did last Sunday.
CAN- Feed off the crowd
Canada Hockey Place is going to be electric… and that’s a huge understatement! The forwards can fuel that energy from the stands to the bench by creating opportunities and making big hits.

Check back later today for my final prediction!!

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET on Tuesday!

Seven observations from the Olympics

Before any medals are handed out, here are a few things that I’ve noticed from the last two weeks of great Olympic hockey.

1. Brian Burke deserves a pat on the back
When the U.S. roster was revealed after the Winter Classic, there was some immediate criticism for Burke’s decisions. Many questioned him for putting the likes of Ryan Callahan, Chris Drury, and Mike Komisarek on the roster, among others (Komisarek was replaced due to injury, and Tim Gleason has been very good). Is there anyone doubting Burke now?? Callahan and Drury have been integral pieces to the Americans’ puzzle, and the chemistry on the team has been terrific. Burke did a tremendous putting together a team with both stars and role players.
2. USA woke up the beast on ‘Super Sunday’
The world almost came to an end last weekend. Why?? Canada lost its preliminary round game to the U.S. As it turned out, though, it triggered a great week of play from the Canadians, who rolled over Germany and Russia, and snuck by the Slovaks in the semis. The loss proved it may be a good thing to lose when you’re still trying to work out chemistry in the prelims. They have turned it on in the ‘win-or-go-home’ games, and have become the most dangerous team to play against. It looks like USA may have done them a favor.
3. The NHL needs to participate in 2014
Gary Bettman has done some good AND bad things as commissioner of the NHL (most will say more bad than good). But if he refuses to stop the NHL season and send players to Sochi, Russia in four years, it would go down as one of his worst decisions ever. We’ve seen just how good this tournament has been with NHLers involved in the last four Olympiads. If it goes back to younger players, hockey at the Olympics would lose interest. Bettman should bite his tongue and give the fans and players what they want… something he rarely does.
4. NBC recovered from its mishaps earlier last week
When the hockey first started in Vancouver last week, NBC and its affiliates drew a lot of criticism from us Americans. No Canada-U.S. on NBC; delayed/interrupted coverage due to curling; untimely commercial breaks, etc. This week during the medal round, though, the Peacock has done an exceptional job in its coverage. We didn’t miss much action, and the analysis from Eddie Olyczk and the gang has been great. I’ve also liked that Al Michaels took over for Bill Patrick on set during the USA games. There’s still things they can fix (ahem, Mike Milbury, ahem), but for the most part, the network has been good after a bad first week.
5. Ryan Miller deserves tournament MVP
One of the big reasons why the U.S. is in the Gold Medal Game is Ryan Miller. Without him, they may not even be playing tonight for Bronze! Win or lose tomorrow vs. Canada, Miller should get the nod as the tournament MVP – without question. In 2006, Antero Niittymaki won it for a Finland team that won Silver, not Gold. Miller has a miniscule 1.04 goals against and a .954 save percentage. There’s really no one else that has been on his level all tournament long.
6. Russia wasn’t who we thought they were
Most of us said ‘Russia is the only team that can beat Canada’. In their matchup on Wednesday, Canada didn’t prove us wrong – Russia did. The Russians were flat-out awful from start to finish. Everything went wrong… the goaltending was shoddy, the defense was pathetic, and the forwards were invisible. Not only were they bad against Canada, but they were very unimpressive against Slovakia in a shootout loss. I predicted that the Russians would win Silver before the Olympics, and Gold before the medal round. I wish I could take those two back!
7. Jagr and Demitra can still play at a high level
Veterans Jaromir Jagr and Pavol Demitra were two players I wanted to watch closely as this tournament started. Jagr played at a level I didn’t think he’d reach. He was the Czech Republic’s best player, and was dominant at times. He’ll definitely get some looks from NHL teams this summer. As for Demitra, he carried the Slovaks throughout the tournament. In wins against Russia and Sweden, he came through in the clutch. Demitra proved he still has something left in the tank after an injury-riddled first half with Vancouver.

I honestly can’t believe there are just two games left in these Olympics. Where have these last two weeks gone?! If tomorrow’s USA-Canada rematch for Gold meets the hype, we are going to have one helluva barn-burner!

Trade Deadline Preview: Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks
Needs: None
Trade Bait: James Wisniewski
Cap Room: $3.331 million
Why they WON’T be active:
Last spring GM Bob Murray was busy at the deadline… so I wouldn’t rule out activity. But they don’t seem to be in a position to add on any pieces. The players who could be shipped out (Niedermayer and Selanne) are needed for Anaheim to make the playoffs. They’ve been playing really well, so I expect them to stick with what they got.

Calgary Flames
Needs: Playmaking forward, depth defenseman
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $1.659 million
Ideal Acquisition: Paul Kariya
Why they WILL be active:
Calgary already sent shockwaves through the league with a pair of trades, ridding Phaneuf and Jokinen. The results so far can’t be to Darryl Sutter’s liking, and he has some room to work with under the cap. I don’t think they’re done yet, and need to improve their club if they wish to make the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks
Needs: True #1 goaltender
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $0.571 million
Ideal Acquisition: Tomas Vokoun
Why they WILL be active:
GM Stan Bowman acquired D-man Kim Johnsson from Minnesota before the freeze to boost the blue-line. There’s not many more needs to be filled – outside of the crease. Will the ‘Hawks take a chance at acquiring Vokoun?? I still think it’s a long-shot, but you never know. I think Bowman will do something, even if it’s a minor depth pickup.

Colorado Avalanche
Needs: Depth forward
Trade Bait: Marek Svatos
Cap Room: $7.465 million
Ideal Acquisition: Stephane Yelle
Why they WON’T be active:
The Avalanche have a plan in place, and I don’t see them trading away prospects and/or picks to grab a rental. They are in a good position to make the playoffs, so I expect them to stay tight to the vest and hope what they have is enough.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Raffi Torres, Fredrik Modin
Cap Room: $9.344 million
Why they WILL be active:
Currently, sportsclubstats.com has the Blue Jackets’ chances of making the playoffs at 0.1%. Look for GM Scott Howson to try to pick up some draft picks for rentals like Torres, Modin, and maybe another veteran or two.

Dallas Stars
Needs: Defensemen
Trade Bait: Steve Ott, Fabian Brunnstrom
Cap Room: $8.565 million
Ideal Acquisition: Carlo Colaiacovo
Why they WON’T be active:
The organization has stated that they will be cutting salary in the near future… so I don’t think they’ll add on any salary. If anything, they’d use Ott as a trading chip to help their average defensive core.

Detroit Red Wings
Needs: Depth forward
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $1.562 million
Ideal Acquisition: Colby Armstrong
Why they WILL be active:
GM Ken Holland can’t be happy with the position his team is in – 10th place. They won’t have much wiggle room under the cap after activate Andreas Lilja from LTIR; but if anyone can find a way to make it work, Holland is the guy. Detroit needs help up front to ultimately jump over the teams ahead of them.

Edmonton Oilers
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Ethan Moreau, Andrew Cogliano, Fernando Pisani, Denis Grebeshkov, Sheldon Souray
Cap Room: $0.785 million
Why they WILL be active:
Edmonton is going to conduct a fire-sale over the next few months, and it will probably start now. They have some veterans that will be wanted by contenders. Also, if Souray’s in a position where he can return to the lineup sooner than expected, he may be dealt as well.

Los Angeles Kings
Needs: Top-nine forward
Trade Bait: Alexander Frolov
Cap Room: $5.993 million
Ideal Acquisition: Raffi Torres
Why they WILL be active:
L.A. has a prime opportunity to grab home-ice in the 1st round with the roster they already have. But if they wish to take down a San Jose or Chicago, they have to add another forward – whether it’s a top-six or grit player. GM Dean Lombardi has a lot of assets to make a deal happen.

Minnesota Wild
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Owen Nolan, Petr Sykora, Shane Hnidy
Cap Room: $4.876 million
Why they WON’T be active:
Look for it to be pretty quiet on Minnesota’s front this week. They are not in a position to be buyers, and don’t have many desired rentals beyond Nolan. This is GM Chuck Fletcher’s first deadline, so I expect him to be pretty conservative.

Nashville Predators
Needs: Top-six forward
Trade Bait: Dan Hamhuis
Cap Room: $13.557 million
Ideal Acquisition: Alexei Ponikarovsky
Why they WILL be active:
GM David Poile has stayed the course the last two trade deadlines. While it is possible he does so again, he shouldn’t. Those picks and/or prospects he could have used in previous years could be utilized now. He’ll likely trade Hamhuis for some forward help, or as a set-up deal with another team. Injuries have crushed them in March and April since the lockout, and Poile has to bring in some goal-scoring help.

Phoenix Coyotes
Needs: Top-nine forward, depth defenseman
Trade Bait: Peter Mueller
Cap Room: $16.047 million
Ideal Acquisition: Fredrik Modin
Why they WILL be active:
Phoenix is in good position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2002, so they aren’t ‘desperate’ to get a deal done. But their back end is already good enough to make some noise once they get to the postseason. Adding an inexpensive veteran forward with some playoff experience would certainly help.

San Jose Sharks
Needs: Depth forward
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $1.119 million
Ideal Acquisition: Owen Nolan
Why they WILL be active:
GM Doug Wilson already acquired Niclas Wallin, who is a nice addition to the blue-line. Now with the back end solidified, I expect Wilson to make a solid move up front to add more depth. Wilson is under a lot of pressure to win the Cup this year; and as aggressive as he is, he’s going to find a way to give the Sharks a boost before Wednesday’s deadline.

St. Louis Blues
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Paul Kariya, Keith Tkachuk, Carlo Colaiacovo
Cap Room: $9.111 million
Why they WON’T be active:
Like the Wild, Ducks, and Stars, GM Larry Pleau will likely stand pat. They were in a similar position (standings wise) last spring. Colaiacovo could go, but Pleau may have a hard time finding a suitor for Kariya (contract) and Tkachuk (injury).

Vancouver Canucks
Needs: Top-nine winger
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $0.408 million
Ideal Acquisition: Lee Stempniak
Why they WILL be active:
After the Sharks and ‘Hawks, the West is kind of wide-open. Vancouver, though, has the pieces in place to make a run if they can put fit those pieces in the puzzle. GM Mike Gillis will look to make something happen, and has goalie prospect Cory Schneider as a nice trading chip. Whether it’s major or minor, Gillis will find a way to add some depth.

Morning Skate: February 27

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
USA 6, Finland 1
Canada 3, Slovakia 2
Predictions record: 2-0

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Patrick Kane, USA (2 Goals)
‘Kaner’ scored 2 goals in the first; one by hard work, the other by sheer skill.
2. Zach Parise, USA (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Parise continued his stellar play in these Olympics with 2 points and a lot of dirty work.
3. Ryan Getzlaf, CAN (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
Getzlaf scored the eventual game-winner for Canada, and keeps winning a lot of battles.
Unsung hero of the night:
Brendan Morrow… Morrow has been unsung hero for the Canadians in the tournament, and just keeps getting better. He scored on a nice deflection, which was setup by a lot of hard work on his part. Dallas has to hope he carries this over to March and April…
---

Tonight’s Game:
#4 Finland vs. #7 Slovakia
Bronze Medal Game
10:00 ET… TV: MSNBC

Players to watch:
FIN- Teemu Selanne
Selanne has yet to score, and you know he’s going to give it all in his last Olympic game.
SVK- Michal Handzus
‘Zus has been one of the best all-around Slovaks in this tournament.

Projected Goaltenders:
FIN- Miikka Kiprusoff (Olympics stats: 2-2, 2.52 GAA)
SVK- Jaroslav Halak (Olympics stats: 3-2, 2.14 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
For these two, it was a tale of two games yesterday. The Finns were blown away in the 1st period by the Americans, while Slovakia’s rally came up short as they lost to Canada. There won’t be any lack of determination on either side, as both teams possess a lot of veterans who could be in their last Olympiad. Earlier in the week, I had the Slovaks winning Bronze, and I’m sticking by it. These guys have never medaled, but they’re going to rebound from last night and finally get on the board.
Prediction: Slovakia 3, Finland 2

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USA blows by Finland, 6-1

If you missed the first 12 minutes of this game, you missed all you needed to see! Patrick Kane and the Americans made it look much easier than expected, beating Finland 6-1. The U.S. advances to the Gold Medal Game, where they’ll meet the winner of the Canada-Slovakia semifinal.

The Finns started the first couple minutes well; but it all went downhill after Miikka Kiprusoff’s major brain cramp. ‘Kipper’ came way out of his net to play the puck, but passed the puck to Ryan Malone, who scored on the yawning net. It didn’t take long for the Americans to continue the onslaught, and their fourth goal, scored by Kane, forced ‘Kipper’ to pull himself out of the game at the 10:08 mark. Niklas Backstrom quickly felt his pain, surrendering two goals in a 15-second span. USA carried a 6-0 lead into the 1st intermission, and out-shot Finland 13-4.

In the 2nd and 3rd periods, even though there was only one goal, there was a lot of hard work and chippy play from both sides. Antti Miettinen scored the lone goal for Finland, which came on the power play against Tim Thomas, who was saw some action for the first time in the tournament. It was a game where Ron Wilson’s club sent a message early and often, making them the ‘team to beat’ in Sunday’s final.

Kane was finally able to produce to his potential. He came into today’s game with only one goal, which was scored against Norway. His hard work finally paid off, scoring two 1st period goals. On his first goal, Kane didn’t let up, grabbed his own rebound, and back-handed the puck past a sprawling Kiprusoff. His second goal was a nice pinpoint wrister on Backstrom’s blocker side. If he can have this same success Sunday, it would pay huge dividends for the U.S.!

As much criticism as Evgeni Nabokov faced for Russia’s loss to Canada, ‘Kipper’ was equally bad (or worse) for the Finns. His bone-head pass to Malone was the start of a long day for his team. He looked bad on the third and fourth goals by the Americans, as well. Finland pegged their Gold Medal hopes on ‘Kipper’, and he let his country down today – along with the 18 others wearing white. The whole team played a poor 1st period. Kiprusoff’s final stat-line was 3 saves on 7 shots.

Whoever the U.S. faces on Sunday, they are riding in with tons of momentum and a certain swagger we haven’t seen from USA Hockey in a while. Ryan Miller remains a brick-wall between the pipes, and everyone is playing their role to their potential. They have surpassed everyone’s pre-Olympic expectations by guaranteeing they can’t do any worse than Silver. Rematch or not, Sunday’s game is going to be a landmark day for hockey in this country… win or lose.

Trade Deadline Preview: Eastern Conference

Atlanta Thrashers
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Slava Kozlov, Colby Armstrong
Cap Room: $9.944 million
Why they WILL be active:
If you believe GM Don Waddell’s words, he’s going to do whatever he can to get the Thrashers in the playoffs; they’re only 2 points out of the top eight right now. They have rentals that other teams would be interested in, so he’ll want roster players in return. It’ll be interesting to see what they do come March 3rd.

Boston Bruins
Needs: Goal-scoring forward, defenseman
Trade Bait: Michael Ryder
Cap Room: $1.570 million
Ideal Acquisition: Ray Whitney
Why they WILL be active:
They have to be. GM Peter Chiarelli can’t afford to see his team go from first to the draft lottery in just one year. Chiarelli will be looking for an offensive-minded forward and defenseman, as the B’s are currently last in the league in goals scored.

Buffalo Sabres
Needs: Top-nine forward/defenseman
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $1.828 million
Ideal Acquisition: Fredrik Modin
Why they WILL be active:
The Sabres are in a position where they can win the division and make a run in the playoffs thanks to Ryan Miller… but they are going to need some more help up front to do so. I see them adding a veteran forward with playoff experience, and possibly a depth defenseman.

Carolina Hurricanes
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Ray Whitney, Joe Corvo, Stephane Yelle, Aaron Ward
Cap Room: $2.281 million
Why they WILL be active:
GM Jim Rutherford is in a great position, as he’ll likely get a good return for Whitney and maybe Corvo. If I were him, I’d even think about making Joni Pitkanen available for the right price. The ‘Canes are looking mighty fine for next season and beyond…

Florida Panthers
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Anyone not named Booth, Horton, Frolik, or Weiss
Cap Room: $3.661 million
Why they WILL be active:
GM Randy Sexton has basically waved the white flag on the season already, meaning he’s open for business before 3 PM on Wednesday. I’m sure Cory Stillman and Jordan Leopold will get a lot of looks. What about Tomas Vokoun? There are rumors (with legs) out there that say Chicago is interested. He’d be stupid to unload the likes of Booth and Weiss when trying to rebuild, but this is Florida we’re talking about!

Montreal Canadiens
Needs: Playmaking forward
Trade Bait: Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak
Cap Room: $2.358 million
Ideal Acquisition: Paul Kariya
Why they WILL be active:
Either at the deadline or the draft, new GM Pierre Gauthier will make his mark on this team. You know he’ll try to before Wednesday, as the Habs have had injury problems all year. I doubt you’ll see Halak or Price dealt, but nothing would surprise me coming out of Montreal.

New Jersey Devils
Needs: Defenseman, depth forward
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $2.069 million
Ideal Acquisition: Carlo Colaiacovo
Why they WILL be active:
With the acquisition of Ilya Kovalchuk, it means the Devils are going for the Cup this season. I doubt GM Lou Lamoriello is done, and would like to grab a D-man before Wednesday’s deadline. Also, don’t be surprised if he adds another forward for depth purposes.

New York Islanders
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Doug Weight, Martin Biron, Andy Sutton, Richard Park
Cap Room: $17.982 million
Why they WILL be active:
The Islanders are probably in selling mode, and have some UFA’s to ship out. Weight and Biron are the most likely to go, and Sutton will be valued with the slim pickings for D-men.

New York Rangers
Needs: A new GM
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $0.459 million
Why they WON’T be active:
We usually see GM Glen Sather be pretty active at the deadline. But since they already traded for Olli Jokinen and are against the cap, I don’t see them making more deals… even though Sather needs to.

Ottawa Senators
Needs: Defenseman
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $1.720 million
Ideal Acquisition: James Wisniewski
Why they WILL be active:
The Sens brought in Matt Cullen before the roster freeze, and I full expect them to pick up a defenseman, too. They are neck-and-neck with Buffalo for the Northeast, and a 2-seed isn’t out of the question. Look for GM Bryan Murray to be working the phones, as always…

Philadelphia Flyers
Needs: Depth defenseman, goaltender
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $2.550 million
Ideal Acquisition: Dennis Seidenberg
Why they WILL be active:
With Mike Rathje on LTIR, the Flyers have some room to do something. But what are they going to give up?? They don’t have a 1st-rounder because of the Pronger deal, and most of their top players have no-movement clauses. GM Paul Holmgren wants to improve his team, but he shouldn’t deal away anymore important assets.

Pittsburgh Penguins
Needs: Top-six winger
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $0.933 million
Ideal Acquisition: Alexei Ponikarovsky
Why they WILL be active:
Just like the last two years, I expect GM Ray Shero to try to bring in a forward to help Sid and ‘Geno. There are some decent wingers available, but he doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room to work with. He shouldn’t give up a 1st-rounder or a top prospect, but a veteran pickup for a conditional draft pick (a la Guerin) would be smart.

Tampa Bay Lightning
Needs: Offensive defenseman
Trade Bait: Alex Tanguay, Jeff Halpern
Cap Room: $9.522 million
Ideal Acquisition: Joe Corvo
Why they WON’T be active:
With the current ownership problems, I don’t expect the Lightning to be very active come Wednesday. A smaller deal to help depth wouldn’t surprise me, but don’t look for anything near significant.

Toronto Maple Leafs
Needs: None
Trade Bait: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Lee Stempniak, Garnet Exelby, Wayne Primeau
Cap Room: $2.883 million
Why they WILL be active:
Even though he made two big trades to bring in Phaneuf and Giguere, GM Brian Burke isn’t done here. There are still rentals to be had, and he’s surely looking to add more draft picks to the cupboard.

Washington Capitals
Needs: Defenseman
Trade Bait: None
Cap Room: $4.469 million
Ideal Acquisition: Dan Hamhuis
Why they WILL be active:
GM George McPhee and owner Ted Leonsis have to feel the Caps are more-than-ready to make a run for Lord Stanley. They already have a talented team, but have a lot of room under the cap to make something happen. McPhee needs to acquire a defenseman to help solidify the blue-line.

*All cap room numbers are courtesy of nhlnumbers.com

Top 5 Hart Trophy Candidates

During this two-week break from the NHL, we’ve broken down the major awards that will be given out in June. Today, we finish off with the Hart…

1. Alex Ovechkin, WSH
During Washington’s 14-game win streak, Ovechkin rose to the top of this race – if he wasn’t here already! ‘Ovie’ continues to dazzle as he’s currently on track for a third consecutive Hart Trophy. During that win streak, he racked up 30 points and had 5 games with 3 points or more. That’s not even fair! A bad month of November (due to injury) seemed to slow him a bit in his hunt for MVP. That’s all in the rear-view mirror now as the game’s most exciting player leads the Capitals to what should be the top seed in the East.
2. Ryan Miller, BUF
Miller has been terrific for the Sabres all season long, pushing himself towards the ‘elite’ level among NHL goaltenders. It’s safe to say his offensive support isn’t there on a consistent basis. He’s had to stand on his head in a good handful of games just to give the Sabres a chance to win that night. He sits in the top five in goals against, save percentage, and shutouts. Some people believe goalies should only be considered for the Vezina, but there’s no way you can keep him out of this discussion. Buffalo may not be in the playoffs without him.
3. Sidney Crosby, PIT
Crosby has added something to his repertoire that we’ve been waiting for: goal scoring. Really, he started scoring goals on a more-frequent basis last year in the playoffs. Coming into the season, his previous high was 39 in his rookie campaign. But we all knew he was capable of more. He is tied with Ovechkin for the league lead (42) and should easily top 50; heck, 60 isn’t out of the question! With Malkin having the quietest 65-point season you could imagine, Crosby has stepped to the fore-front and delivered for the defending champs.
4. Henrik Sedin, VAN
There was a point in January when you could have made an argument that Henrik was the favorite for this award. He tallied a combined 50 points in December and January, and recorded at least a point in 25 of those 28 games. But Vancouver’s road trip has put his success to a halt, along with a suspected back injury as well. When brother Daniel and goaltender Roberto Luongo were either injured or off their game, Henrik carried the Canucks back into the division hunt.
5. Anze Kopitar, LA
You can’t talk about the Kings’ success this season without mentioning the NHL’s lone Slovenian! Kopitar has raised his game to another level, and is a reason why L.A. is battling for home-ice in the first round. Putting up 64 points at this point is saying something for him, considering he’s been without line-mates Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth for separate considerable amounts of time. I don’t think he’ll end up winning it, and may not end up in the final three; but Kopitar can’t be forgotten when talking about the Hart.

Morning Skate: February 26

Today’s Semifinals Slate:
#1 United States vs. #4 Finland, 3:00 ET
#6 Canada vs. #7 Slovakia, 9:30

Today’s Games:
#1 United States vs. #4 Finland
3:00 ET… TV: NBC

Players to watch:
USA- Jamie Langenbrunner
The captain has led all forwards in ice-time, and played a very solid two-way game the last two weeks.
FIN- Niklas Hagman
Hagman has been the Finn’s best offensive player thus far, with 3 goals and 5 points.

Projected Goaltenders:
USA- Ryan Miller (Olympics stats: 4-0, 1.25 GAA)
FIN- Miikka Kiprusoff (Olympics stats: 2-1, 1.33 GAA)

Keys to the Game:
USA- Avoid turnovers
They fixed the problem against the Swiss, but Finland is a good fore-checking team.
FIN- Get traffic in front
Their forwards need to get to the top of the crease and wreak havoc on Miller.

Game Thoughts:
This should be a dynamite goaltending duel between Miller and Kiprusoff. I almost feel like who blinks first will cost his team. 2 goals just may be enough to win this game. For the Americans, Patrick Kane has to get out of his funk. He’s not playing poorly, but he just has to become the playmaker we’re used to seeing. Finland is a very sound defensive team, so the U.S. has to capitalize on the few opportunities they get. I think this one goes down to the wire, with Miller making more big saves than ‘Kipper’.
Prediction: USA 2, Finland 1
---
#6 Canada vs. #7 Slovakia
9:30 ET… TV: CNBC

Players to watch:
CAN- Rick Nash
Nash has shown a physical presence we’re not used to seeing from him.
SVK- Richard Zednik
Zednik has had a solid tournament, and is capable of scoring a big goal when the Slovaks need it.

Projected Goaltenders:
CAN- Roberto Luongo (Olympics stats: 3-0, 1.67 GAA)
SVK- Jaroslav Halak (Olympics stats: 3-1, 1.97 GAA)

Keys to the Game:
CAN- Stay out of the box
Slovakia has had the best power play thus far. Canada must limit their opportunities.
SVK- Get a lead early
To pull the upset, the Slovaks have to start like the U.S. did on ‘Super Sunday’.

Game Thoughts:
This game is going to be better than people think. A good chunk of Slovakia’s team is playing in the Olympics for the last time, so you know they won’t leave anything on the table. Halak is going to have to play the game of his life (and then some) for Slovakia to win. Canada has a lot of momentum riding into this one after taking Russia behind the woodshed. But it would be a huge mistake if they overlooked Slovakia. They are an unappreciated bunch playing with a lot of determination; they will make this interesting. In the end, though, I see Canada’s depth being too much as the game goes along.
Prediction: Canada 4, Slovakia 2

You can follow the Red Light District on Twitter @RLDhockey!
Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET next Tuesday!

Thursday's Links

[Yahoo! Puck Daddy] Sean Leahy has his view (and the video) of Mike Milbury's 'Euro Trash' quote after the Canada/Russia game last night. It was interesting to see everybody's comments on Twitter after he said this. He could have avoided criticism by dropping 'Euro' from that statement.

[Puck the Media] Steve Lepore offers his opinion on the same issue!

[PredsOnTheGlass] Buddy has a great interview with Pekka Rinne about his contract extension. Check it out!

[The Program] Chris once again has his turkeys of the week... Olympics style! Can't disagree with these selections here.

[Yahoo! Puck Daddy] Greg Wyshynski blogs about Jonathan Toews' success, and Patrick Kane's disappointment at the Olympics...

[CNNSI] Michael Farber writes a good USA post-game piece, centered around Zach Parise's play.

[View From My Seats] Matt Reitz has some really good stuff on the upcoming Trade Deadline... go check it all out!

[Crash the Crease] Anthony Curatolo, who will join us next Tuesday on 'RLD Hockey Talk' as co-host, gives his 'State of the Union' for the Flyers.

[The Hockey Writers] It's a couple days old, but here is Christopher Ralph's view of Team Canada after their loss to USA on Sunday. Good read...

[Inside Hockey] Tab Bamford debates whether the 'Hawks to shake things up in net, and touches on the recent Vokoun and Halak rumors.

Russia embarrassed, run over by Canada

Last night’s much-anticipated quarterfinal bout between the Canadians and Russians was billed as ‘the game’ of these Olympics. It was supposed to be just as good a game as the U.S.-Canada classic on Sunday. That’s why they play the games. Team Russia failed to show up for this one, and was dominated from start to finish by a hungrier, more determined, and flat-out better Canadian team. In reality, though, it will go down as one of the most embarrassing performances in the country’s history.

You can’t put the blame on Evgeni Nabokov for this loss (even though he had a terrible night in net). The defense in front of him was like watching wood go right into a wood-chipper. As a result, ‘Nabby’ was pulled after six goals. But it shouldn’t have even gotten to that point. After Canada’s second, third, and fourth goals, I told my father ‘they have to pull Nabokov!’

You could feel the game slipping away, and Nabokov looked rattled from the get-go (his attempt to stop Rick Nash on his breakaway goal told the whole story for him). If I can sense that through the tube, how can Coach Bykov not realize that from the bench? In an elimination game like this, there is absolutely no room for error and no tomorrow. Why not give Ilya Bryzgalov a chance to salvage or spark something when the game could still be had?? Or why not put him in to start the 2nd period after Nabokov gave up a ‘Charmin-soft’ fourth goal to Brendan Morrow?? Instead, ‘Bryz’ was thrown into the fire after the game was already lost.

Also, the star power the Russians possess was invisible. Alex Ovechkin was nowhere to be seen on the stat sheet in one of the biggest games of his career; Shea Weber had to something to do with that! Ovechkin even heard Canada Hockey Place serenade him (‘Oovie … Oovie’) in the 3rd period. Besides Ovechkin, fellow stars like Malkin, Semin, Datsyuk, and Kovalchuk also constructed their own disappearing acts.

It was a forgettable performance for Russia. Not so for Canada.

It’s safe to say Mike Babcock’s club has discovered their ‘mojo’. They looked very good against a formidable foe (or previously thought). I could go all day talking about how well certain individuals played. The fact is, the whole team has upped their game in the medal round… which is a scary proposition for the other three teams remaining in this tournament. Between the pipes, Roberto Luongo has looked solid – though not great – proving Babcock’s decision to change things up was a good one through two games.

Canada will face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday night in what should be a doozie. They’ll have a lot of momentum going into that game, thanks to a pair of blowout victories over the Germans and Russians. It appears the Americans woke up the beast. Could a rematch be in store?? Let’s just take it one game at a time.

Morning Skate: February 25

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
USA 2, Switzerland 0
Canada 7, Russia 3
Finland 2, Czech Republic 0
Slovakia 4, Sweden 3
Predictions record: 2-2

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Miikka Kiprusoff, FIN (31 Saves, Shutout)
‘Kipper’ was fantastic against the Czechs, winning the great duel between him and Vokoun.
2. Pavol Demitra, SVK (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Demitra continues to be one of the better players in the Olympics; he scored the 3rd goal and created the 4th goal.
3. Jonas Hiller, SUI (42 Saves)
Hiller once again stole the spotlight in a losing effort. He kept the Swiss in it all game long.

Women's Gold Medal Game Prediction:
United States 4, Canada 3

Russia vs. Canada: our dream… quarterfinal?

It’s another chapter in the Ovechkin vs. Crosby rivalry... possibly the only one to ever be written in the Olympics. It’s a chance for Canada to avenge their recent World Championship losses to the Russians. It’s Russia’s opportunity to keep the ‘home team’ from claiming Gold. It’s a dream matchup that many have been anticipating since well before these Winter Games began. It’s the two best teams (talent wise).

It sounds like and has the feeling of a game for all the marbles… but we’re not talking about the Gold Medal Game here. With the Canadian’s loss to the U.S. on Sunday, it has caused an unexpected – yet riveting – draw in the quarterfinal. The Russians and Canadians meet tonight in what should be an electrifying matchup. One of these teams is leaving Vancouver tonight without a chance to medal.

In what promises to be almost or just as good a day of hockey as we witnessed on ‘Super Sunday’, Canada vs. Russia is the premiere event, with the opening puck-drop slated for just after 7:30 eastern. In the States, the game will be shown on CNBC – and hopefully won’t be overlapped by curling!

Canada trounced the Germans 8-2 last night, and showed some confidence and cohesion that was missing in the last couple games. But then again, it was Germany. The real test will occur tonight. Russia came into the tournament as ‘the one team could beat the Canadians’.

With that being said, Canada’s chances of keeping their Gold Medal hopes alive may be determined by Russia. Vyacheslav Bykov’s club has had a tendency of being Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde during past and present Olympics. If Ovechkin and company come out of the gates on fire, I think they’ll be tough to beat. If they struggle to carry over their success from Sunday, Canada should move on.

Russia knocked out Canada in this same scenario back in 2006. They shut them out 2-0 in the quarters, but followed it up with a pair of their own shutout losses, and failed to medal. One part of me can’t see Canada losing this one, as they seemingly cannot letdown an entire nation with a second straight Olympic exit before the semis. On the other hand, you know Ovechkin is going to do anything he can to win. We’ve seen the best of him when he goes up against Crosby, and was a force against the Czechs this weekend. Also, this goes way beyond just Crosby vs. Ovechkin; there is infinite talent on both sides.

It’s going to be a fantastic game, and may come somewhat close to matching Sunday’s Canada-USA game. It’s a game that has everything you could ask for: star power, great goaltending, intensity, edge-of-your-seat drama, and an atmosphere that will be special. It’s Gold Medal-potential in the quarterfinals.

Top 5 Vezina Trophy Candidates

During this two-week break from the NHL, I’m going to break down the major awards that will be given out in June. Today, we continue with the Vezina…

1. Ryan Miller, BUF
The United States’ star goaltender has been lights-out for the Sabres all season long, pushing himself towards the ‘elite’ level among NHL net-minders. His offensive support is pretty inconsistent, and has had to stand on his head in a good handful of games just to give the Sabres a chance to win that night. He sits in the top five in goals against, save percentage, and shutouts; and the only reason why he isn’t leading those categories is his recent dry-spell. If he can turn it on again, he may run away with the Vezina.
2. Ilya Bryzgalov, PHX
If it weren’t for Miller, we’d be talking about Bryzgalov leading this race a lot more. He’s arguably been the best goalie in the Western Conference thus far, and is near the top of the league with 6 shutouts. He and coach Dave Tippett are the two biggest pieces contributing to the Coyotes’ unexpected great success. Bryzgalov has finally proved that he is an upper-echelon starting goalie in this league after previous inconsistent seasons in Phoenix.
3. Miikka Kiprusoff, CGY
Without Kiprusoff, the Flames and Oilers would be jostling for 14th in the West… seriously! ‘Kipper’ has had to steal so many games for Calgary, and is posting better numbers than he has over the last few years. Over a 30-game span from October 31st to January 11th, he gave up more than 2 goals in a game just 6 times (and they went 0-6). Also, for the 5th straight season, Kiprusoff is on pace to start more than 70 games. He doesn’t get talked about as much as those top two to win the Vezina – but he deserves to be.
4. Evgeni Nabokov, SJ
After the first month or two, I don’t think many people really considered ‘Nabby’ as a legit contender for the Vezina. But in November, December, and January, Nabokov carried the Sharks to a 23-4-8 mark, posting a 2.08 goals against and .933 save percentage. His consistency over much of the season is a big reason why San Jose is looking down at the rest of the West. ‘Nabby’ is still seeking his first Vezina, but will have to play like he did in those three aforementioned months if he wishes to unseat the three ahead of him.
5. Tomas Vokoun, FLA
I don’t think any goalie does more with less than Vokoun. He’s gets so little support from his teammates on both ends of the ice, that even one of his defensemen wacked him across head after letting in a goal! Vokoun shares the league-lead in shutouts, and is tops in save percentage. In games where he has played 60 minutes (all but two), he’s faced over 34 shots on average. He’s been so valuable on many nights that he usually deserves one of the ‘three stars’ in losing efforts. I wouldn’t blame him if he wants to leave Florida at the deadline… because he gets little to no help compared to other goalies in this league.

Morning Skate: February 24

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Switzerland 3, Belarus 2 (SO)
Canada 8, Germany 2
Czech Republic 3, Latvia 2 (OT)
Slovakia 4, Norway 3
Predictions record: 3-1

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Edgars Masalskis, LAT (47 Saves)
There’s no way Latvia forces overtime without Masalskis playing the way he did when the game was 2-0 Czechs. He was tremendous most of the game…
2. David Krejci, CZE (1 Goal, 1 Assist)
In that same game, Krejci beat Masalskis to win it in OT, saving the Czechs of humiliation. He played a really strong game.
3. Jarome Iginla, CAN (2 Goals)
Iginla’s pair of 2nd period goals helped Canada pull away from Germany quickly.
---

Today’s Quarterfinals Slate:
#1 United States vs. #8 Switzerland, 3:00 ET
#3 Russia vs. #6 Canada, 7:30
#4 Finland vs. #5 Czech Republic, 10:00
#2 Sweden vs. #7 Slovakia, 11:55

Tonight’s Premier Game:
#3 Russia vs. #6 Canada
7:30 ET… TV: CNBC

Players to watch:
RUS- Pavel Datsyuk
For the Russians to win, I believe Datsyuk has to have a strong two-way game.
CAN- Jonathan Toews
Toews has quietly been one of Canada’s best players… 5 assists, plus-7 (team-highs).

Projected Goaltenders:
RUS- Evgeni Nabokov (Olympics stats: 2-0, 2.00 GAA)
CAN- Roberto Luongo (Olympics stats: 2-0, 1.00 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
I’ll have a more extensive view of this game later on; but man is this going to be a barn-burner or what?!? This is a gold medal-caliber game being played in the quarterfinals, and it has everything you want. Russia handled the Czechs on Sunday, while Canada crushed Germany 8-2 last night without expending a lot of energy. It’s going to be a high-intensity, physical affair… much like the U.S.-Canada game! It’s a toss-up if you ask me, but I’m going to favor the Russians here. I’ll even go out on a limb and say Kovalchuk scores the OT winner.
Prediction: Russia 4, Canada 3 (OT)
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Today’s other games:
#1 United States vs. #8 Switzerland, 3:00, NBC

Players to watch:
USA- Brian Rafalski
SUI- Roman Wick

Projected Goaltenders:
USA- Ryan Miller (Olympics stats: 3-0, 1.67 GAA)
SUI- Jonas Hiller (Olympics stats: 2-2, 2.80 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
I think this game will be close throughout, as the Swiss will give it their all to try to pull the upset. Ron Wilson’s club absolutely can’t overlook this team! In the end, I think the rested Americans will move on to the semis!
Prediction: USA 4, Switzerland 2
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#4 Finland vs. #5 Czech Republic, 10:00, CNBC

Players to watch:
FIN- Mikko Koivu
CZE- Martin Havlat

Projected Goaltenders:
FIN- Miikka Kiprusoff (Olympics stats: 1-1, 2.00 GAA)
CZE- Tomas Vokoun (Olympics stats: 3-1, 1.96 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
This should be a real interesting game, one I have no clue what will happen! The Finns and Czechs haven’t been impressive in recent outings. Since I picked them to win this on Monday, might as well go with Vokoun and company.
Prediction: Czech Republic 3, Finland 2
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#2 Sweden vs. #7 Slovakia, 11:55, CNBC

Players to watch:
SWE- Nicklas Backstrom
SVK- Marian Hossa

Projected Goaltenders:
SWE- Henrik Lundqvist (Olympics stats: 2-0, 0.00 GAA)
SVK- Jaroslav Halak (Olympics stats: 2-1, 1.71 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
I can guarantee you this will be the stiffest test Sweden has faced thus far in these Olympics. On the contrary, Slovakia has faced a lot of pressure moments. I picked this upset a couple days, and I’m sticking to it!
Prediction: Slovakia 2, Sweden 1 (SO)

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'RLD Hockey Talk' - Episode 2 Outline

You can listen to today's show here!

12:00 CT
- Show Introduction
- Welcome in Chris Wassel
- Recap the first week of the Olympics
- Medal round breakdown & predictions

12:25 CT (roughly)
- Welcome in guest John Jaeckel
- Best playoff atmosphere you’ve ever been apart of?
- Reasons why the ‘Hawks franchise has turned it around
- Strengths & weaknesses of this year’s team
- Rapid fire: 3/4 NHL season Awards (Hart, Vezina, Norris, Jack Adams, Calder

- A few shout-outs
- Show closing

If you'd like to call-in today, 347-884-9455 is the number to call!

Morning Skate: February 23

Don’t forget about our radio show at 1:00 ET TODAY!

Today’s Slate:
#8 Switzerland vs. #9 Belarus, 3:00 ET
#6 Canada vs. #11 Germany, 7:30
#5 Czech Republic vs. #12 Latvia, 10:00
#7 Slovakia vs. #10 Norway, 11:55

Game of the Day:
#6 Canada vs. #11 Germany
Qualification Round… 7:30 ET… TV: CNBC

Players to watch:
CAN- Sidney Crosby
Crosby has arguably been their best player, and will turn it up a notch in this must-win scenario.
GER- John Tripp
In the limited time I’ve seen Germany, I like the way Tripp plays – a lot of speed and grit.

Projected Goaltenders:
CAN- Roberto Luongo (Olympics stats: 1-0, 0.00 GAA)
GER- Thomas Greiss (Olympics stats: 0-2, 3.53 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
This probably won’t be the best game of the day, but it’s the one that everyone has their eyes on. How will Mike Babcock and company react to Sunday’s loss to the U.S.?? They’ve already made the change to Luongo in net. Whether the aforementioned loss was Brodeur’s fault or not, I think Babcock made the right move, trying to spark something before the medal round begins. I feel sorry for the Germans… because the Canadians are going to come out like gangbusters after Sunday’s disappointment.
Prediction: Canada 6, Germany 0

The rest of today’s predictions:
Belarus over Switzerland
Czech Republic over Latvia
Slovakia over Norway

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Medal Round Breakdown & Predictions

After a great week of hockey in Vancouver, it’s time to look-ahead to the medal round! This is what makes the Olympics so special and unpredictable. The single-elimination bracket can bring out the best and worst in players, and we’ll definitely have memorable moments this week.

Breakdown:
1) USA
The Americans had a great showing in pool play, including last night’s win over Canada. Can they keep it going through the medal round?? They know they haven’t won anything yet, but since this is a young team, I wouldn’t rule out a letdown. Ryan Miller will have to continue his stellar play if they wish to claim Gold.
2) Sweden
I wasn’t overly impressed with the defending Gold Medal winners. Peter Forsberg, Henrik Zetterberg, and Nicklas Lidstrom were surprisingly held off the score-sheet during the prelims. Either they need more scoring/production from them, or Henrik Lundqvist will have to stand on his head against an elite team.
3) Russia
After a disappointing showing against Slovakia, Alex Ovechkin and Russia really took their game to another gear Sunday. They really limited the Czechs’ opportunities, and received timely scoring from Malkin. They got a tough draw, likely having to play Canada in the quarters. If Russia gets past them, they have as good a shot as anyone to win Gold this weekend.
4) Finland
The Finns were dealt a big blow today when Joni Pitkanen was suspended for their quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday for his vicious elbow on Patric Hornqvist. They had decisive wins against Belarus and Germany, but were virtually nonexistent against rival Sweden. Miikka Kiprusoff will have to be the goalie this week for them to medal.
5) Czech Republic
Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias have played very well thus far, even though they were contained against Russia. Jagr has shown glimpses of his old self, looking like he’s on a mission. If guys like Martin Havlat and Martin Erat step it up here in the medal round, the Czechs will be a very dangerous foe.
6) Canada
The world hasn’t come to an end north of the border – yet. A switch to Roberto Luongo may spark the team, but they are going to have to find chemistry both up front and on the back end if they want to get past Russia in the quarters. They can still win Gold, but losing to the U.S. yesterday put a dent in those hopes, as they’ll have to win 4 games in 6 days.
7) Slovakia
As an American, I was happy that the USA ended with the top seed because of this team. The Slovaks are a dangerous bunch when they’re rolling, which they are right now. Miller and company probably would have had to play these guys in the quarters before they could even think about facing Russia or Canada. Slovakia has a shot to make a run this week…
8) Switzerland
The Swiss gave Canada a run for their money, but looked like a different team in their other two preliminary games. They struggled to put away Norway, and Jonas Hiller gave up 4 goals. Also, they were never really in the game against the U.S. in the opener. They are a tough, competitive team, but will have to play to their potential against someone other than Canada.
9) Belarus
I was mildly surprised by their play this past week. They have some talented forwards, including Alexei Kaluzhny and Sergei Kostitsyn. Belarus is capable of beating Switzerland in the qualification matchup, but would have a tough time against the Americans. But they can pull the upset if they get overlooked.
10) Norway
Norway showed flashes against the U.S. and Canada, but it wasn’t enough to make them sweat. Pal Grotnes didn’t play all that bad… he just didn’t get much help. This team isn’t good enough to compete with the big boys, and it would be a minor miracle if they beat Slovakia.
11) Germany
I was disappointed by the Germans’ play. They had to keep their style vanilla against Finland and Sweden, but it resulted in no goals scored. Some offense showed up against Belarus, but it wasn’t enough. I feel sorry for them, actually… because they are walking into a buzz-saw tomorrow in Vancouver!
12) Latvia
There’s no denying that the Latvians competed in the prelims, but they are really really bad. The team defense is atrocious, leaving Edgars Masalskis out to dry more times than not. Latvia could be better in four years, but not now. I’d be surprised if they stayed close with the Czechs tomorrow.

Medal Round Predictions:
Qualification-
#5 Czech Republic 6, #12 Latvia 1
#6 Canada 6, #11 Germany 0
#7 Slovakia 4, #10 Norway 1
#9 Belarus 3, #8 Switzerland 2
Quarterfinals-
#1 USA 5, #9 Belarus 2
#7 Slovakia 3, #2 Sweden 2 (SO)
#3 Russia 4, #6 Canada 3 (OT)
#5 Czech Republic 2, #4 Finland 0
Semifinals-
#1 USA 3, #5 Czech Republic 2
#3 Russia 5, #7 Slovakia 2
Bronze Medal-
#7 Slovakia 4, #5 Czech Republic 2
Gold Medal-
#3 Russia 4, #1 USA 2

Tournament MVP: Alex Ovechkin

30 years ago today...

Top 5 Norris Trophy Candidates

During this two-week break from the NHL, I’m going to break down the major awards that will be given out in June. Today, we continue with the Norris…

1. Duncan Keith, CHI
The Canadian Olympian is in the middle of his best season with the Blackhawks, as he already has a career-high total in goals, assists, and points. Keith is the first half of the monster defensive pairing with Brent Seabrook. Keith possesses a very solid two-way game, and has been getting better and better over the last few seasons. Having said that, I still think he’s a bit underrated. That wouldn’t be the case if he ends up winning the Norris, which he should be the favorite for at this point in the season.
2. Mike Green, WSH
Green, along with Capitals fans, probably feels like he was robbed of last year’s Norris by Zdeno Chara. He was also snubbed from Team Canada, which was highly debated by many. The problem he’s going to have in this race is the widely-known perception he has of only being an offensive-minded defenseman. I don’t what would change it, other than performing well in the playoffs. Either way, if Keith keeps it up, Green will have trouble topping him because he doesn’t have the great two-way presence Keith has.
3. Drew Doughty, LA
When I watch Doughty, I see a defenseman that isn’t a sophomore in the NHL. The 2nd overall pick from 2008 plays well beyond his years, and is so smart on both ends of the ice. Doughty leads the Kings in ice-time (by 2 minutes) and is second on the team in points. He has also been clutch for Los Angeles, contributing four game-winners thus far. I don’t think he’ll win this trophy this year, but with a stellar stretch run he could get some first place votes. One thing is for sure – he has many Norris Trophies in his future.
4. Dan Boyle, SJ
After those first three, it’s tough to find legit contenders for the Norris who could actually win it. I don’t think Boyle will win it, but he has been good enough this year to be mentioned. He’s having one of his best seasons in the NHL, on pace for his second-most point total. Boyle is also logging big minutes – more than last year – on the back end for the Sharks. Boyle is certainly one of the better D-men in the league, but I don’t see him topping those top three.
5. Chris Pronger, PHI
The big off-season addition for the Flyers is having a solid campaign with his new team. Pronger is in the top five of plus/minus (+22) and assists (34) among defensemen. He started off on fire, cooled off, but has since regained his form. He’s having one of his best seasons, point production wise, and is one of the reasons why the Flyers were able to turn it around in December. Like Boyle, I don’t think Pronger will win this trophy, but should be in the conversation.

Morning Skate: February 22

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Russia 4, Czech Republic 2
USA 5, Canada 3
Sweden 3, Finland 0
Predictions record: 0-3

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Ryan Miller, USA (42 Saves, 3 GA)
It was certainly ‘Miller Time’ last night, as the U.S.’s net-minder turned in a great performance against Canada.
2. Evgeni Malkin, RUS (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
‘Geno scored two huge goals for the Russians, including the eventual game-winner in the 3rd.
3. Brian Rafalski, USA (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Rafalski netted a pair of momentum-shifting goals in the 1st period, and had another shot deflected in.
Unsung hero of the night:
USA’s grinders… One thing that really stood out in yesterday’s 5-3 USA win over Canada was the play of the sandpaper players. Drury scored a huge goal, and Callahan, Kesler, and Backes provided great grit and heart (amongst others). I don’t think they beat the Canadians without these unsung heroes.

Medal Round Pairings:
Byes-
1) USA
2) Sweden
3) Russia
4) Finland
Qualification Matchups-
5) Czech Republic vs. 12) Latvia
6) Canada vs. 11) Germany
7) Slovakia vs. 10) Norway
8) Switzerland vs. 9) Belarus

'The hit heard 'round Vancouver'

Hungry Americans stun Canada, 5-3!

Tomorrow is the 30th anniversary of the ‘Miracle on Ice’ in 1980. Tonight’s victory over Canada comes NOWHERE near the significance as that game meant to the entire nation, but it helps them immensely in their quest for Gold. Their 5-3 win tonight stunned everyone north of the border, and showed why heart overcomes talent on some occasions.

The U.S. made a statement early, scoring just 41 seconds into the game on Brian Rafalski’s slapshot, which was deflected in by Sidney Crosby. Canada had an answer, as Eric Staal tipped in a shot from the blue-line to make it 1-1. But just 22 seconds later, Rafalski scored again as he slipped another shot from the point past a sprawling Martin Brodeur. Taking a 2-1 lead into the 2nd period, you knew the Canadians would respond – and Dany Heatley did just that, jamming home a rebound early in the period.

With the score tied at 2 apiece, someone from USA had to step up and make a play. Canada was bringing the pressure, and if they would have gotten the go-ahead third goal, the game’s result may have been different. David Backes caused havoc in front of Brodeur, causing the future Hall of Famer to get antsy in his crease, and resulting in Chris Drury scoring on a loose puck to give the Americans a 3-2 edge. It was undoubtedly a huge goal before the end of the period, and gave them the momentum going into the intermission.

The 3rd period was ‘Miller Time’ for the U.S.! Ryan Miller, who ended up with 42 saves and was the game’s first star, faced 14 shots in the final frame. But it seemed like much more than that as Canada threw everything towards him, and even had a few shots go just wide. After Jamie Langenbrunner’s power play goal, Miller was extremely clutch in the waning minutes, and did not panic when Crosby scored to make it 4-3. Ryan Kesler finally finished it off with a great effort-goal, reaching around Corey Perry to whack the puck into the empty net.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the thing that kept popping into my head was the great decisions GM Brian Burke made while constructing this team. Remember how everyone (not myself) doubted him, saying certain players should have been selected over guys like Drury, Callahan and Malone (just to name a few)?? It’s those guys who made a difference and helped pull off this upset.

How can Mike Babcock convince someone like Jonathan Toews or Jarome Iginla to play a fourth-line role? They are great talents, for sure, but they are also first-line scorers on their NHL teams. Patrice Bergeron is the closest to being a ‘grinder’ for Canada, and they hardly use him. Callahan, Drury, and Backes all play similar roles for the Americans as they do for their respective NHL clubs. Their compete-level has been through the roof in these first few games. Everybody knows, accepts, and is familiar with the roles they play on this USA team, and that’s why they are going to be one of the top two seeds in the medal round bracket (not to take anything away from Miller).

And isn’t it ironic that the U.S. has the youngest roster in these Olympics, yet four of the five goals were scored by veterans – Rafalski (2), Drury, and Langenbrunner. Those three played outstanding, and were key in the big moments. Their youthful exuberance paid off tonight as well, and they dealt with the hostile environment much better than I expected them to.

This team hasn’t won anything meaningful just yet; well, unless you count the Group A ‘title’! It’s a huge accomplishment to beat Canada and get a bye to the quarterfinals; but now they have to go out play just as well in the medal round – which shouldn’t be hard to do considering they’ll feed off of tonight’s great win. This was one of the best games I’ve ever watched, and far exceeded the hype. It truly felt like a Game 7 in the finals or a Gold Medal Game. It was a game of epic proportions. Boy, am I proud to be an American!?

How the U.S. can beat Canada

When the Americans step on to the ice tonight in Vancouver, it just may be the most hostile environment they’ll ever experience – unless they face Canada in the medal round. This is the most anticipated game of the pool play, one that everyone has been looking forward to since the schedule was released. As a part of ‘Super Sunday’, USA and Canada will do battle tonight at Canada Hockey Place. The U.S. is the clear underdogs, but here are three reasons why they can pull the upset:

1. Zero pressure
Canada, who is considered the heavy favorite in this game, is under a boatload of pressure to win. They need to win to not only win the group, but to claim a bye as well. A loss, whether it’s in overtime or regulation, would cost them the all-important bye, and make the task of winning Gold more difficult. The Americans feel they have nothing to lose today… no one in the arena believes they will win – unless you’re the 20 players wearing red, white, and blue. Nothing would be sweeter for them than beating the Canadians on their own ice.
2. Ryan Miller
This is the game that could change the way people think about Miller in this country. All hockey fans know just how good he is, but he has yet to win on the big stage in his career. By beating Canada today, Miller would become a household name to sports fans around the country. In my mind, he’d go from being a great goalie to elite. He’s capable of doing so, but may need to play the game of his life. He can certainly make a statement today by beating the most decorated goalie of all-time on the other end of the ice.
3. Speed & tenacity
One thing the Americans have that Canada lacks is a lot of grit and tenacity. In this category, the U.S. is led by the likes of David Backes, Ryan Callahan, and Ryan Kesler. These three need to get under Canada’s skin, and hit everything and everyone in sight. While Switzerland had a lot of grit on Thursday against Canada, they lacked the necessary skill to eventually get the win. The U.S. has that on its top two lines. If they can combine their speed and skill with the grit they’ve shown this week, they can definitely pull off the upset.

Ultimately, though, the U.S. has to limit their turnovers defensively. They had way too many against Norway, which could be a good thing. You’d rather make those mistakes against Norway than Canada, right? Ron Wilson’s club also needs to play a disciplined game. They can’t afford to give Canada a lot of power play opportunities, because they will capitalize. Enjoy the game, everyone… this should be a good one!

Morning Skate: February 21

The Morning After:
Yesterday’s scores:
Switzerland 5, Norway 4 (OT)
Slovakia 6, Latvia 0
Belarus 5, Germany 3
Predictions record: 3-0

My 3 stars from yesterday:
1. Alexei Kalyuzhny, BEL (2 Goals, 1 Assist)
Kalyuzhny scored 2 huge goals in the Belarus win over Germany.
2. Tore Vikingstad, NOR (3 Goals)
Vikingstad’s hat trick helped Norway get a much-needed point.
3. Jozef Stumpel, SVK (1 Goal, 2 Assists)
Stumpel was one of many contributors in Slovakia’s blowout victory.
---

Today’s Slate:
Russia vs. Czech Republic, 3:00 ET
Canada vs. USA, 7:30
Sweden vs. Finland, 11:55

Games of the Day:
Russia vs. Czech Republic
Group B… 3:00 ET… TV: NBC

Players to watch:
RUS- Sergei Gonchar
He is pointless through two, and the power play is just 1/13. It’s safe to say Gonchar has to break out of his ‘slump’ today.
CZE- Jaromir Jagr
Jagr has arguably been the Czechs’ best player thus far, picking up 3 points and showing glimpses of his old self.

Projected Goaltenders:
RUS- Evgeni Nabokov (Tuesday vs. LAT: 18 Saves, 2 GA)
CZE- Tomas Vokoun (Olympics stats: 2-0, 1.50 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
After a disappointing shootout loss to the Slovaks, how will Alex Ovechkin and Russia respond?? They’re going up a very potent Czech Republic team that is looking medal-caliber thus far. The Russians are mixing up the lines to try to find some chemistry. But if it doesn’t work, the Czechs could roll over them. This will be a very interesting game to say the least, and I’m going with the team that has looked more solid in the first couple games.
Prediction: Czech Republic 3, Russia 2
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Canada vs. United States
Group A… 7:30 ET… TV: MSNBC

Players to watch:
CAN- Dany Heatley
Heatley and the rest of his Sharks line-mates have been effective through 2 games. With the other lines trying to find consistency, ‘Heater’ needs to be a force tonight.
USA- David Backes
We saw him take on every Canadian Olympian possible last month. Now he has to bring that same grit and tenacity – just like the first two games.

Projected Goaltenders:
CAN- Martin Brodeur (Thursday vs. SUI: 21 Saves, 2 GA)
USA- Ryan Miller (Olympics stats: 2-0, 1.00 GAA)

Game Thoughts:
This is the game everyone is anticipating today! Canada vs. USA is always an entertaining game, no matter at what level… but this is the big stage in prime-time! The Americans are the obvious underdogs coming in, though playing well this week, and will have a chip on their shoulder. The Canadians, fresh off their relieving win over the Swiss, needs to win to claim a bye; the winner wins the group and an automatic bye. I think the U.S. will keep this close throughout, but Thursday’s close win will help Canada here.
Prediction: Canada 4, USA 2
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Sweden vs. Finland
Group C… 11:55 ET… TV: MSNBC

Players to watch:
SWE- Henrik Zetterberg
Zetterberg, along with line-mates Forsberg and Hornqvist, must play better today. They’ve been held off the score-sheet, but are too talented to keep this going.
FIN- Teemu Selanne
The ‘Finnish Flash’ will need to step up offensively. He does not have a goal, and has 13 shots already. He’s due…

Projected Goaltenders:
SWE- Henrik Lundqvist (Wednesday vs. GER: 21 Saves, 0 GA)
FIN- Miikka Kiprusoff (Wednesday vs. BEL: 11 Saves, 1 GA)

Game Thoughts:
Finland has been waiting for this game since this time 4 years ago. It was then when the Swedes beat the Finns 3-2 in the Gold Medal Game in Torino. Both teams are 2-0 coming into this game, but Selanne and company have been more impressive. Sweden needs to find more offense, something the Finns found very quickly in Vancouver. If they get their power play going like Friday vs. Belarus, they have to be the favorites to win. This has the potential to be the best game of the day… and I like Finland.
Prediction: Finland 3, Sweden 2 (SO)

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