[HPLovecraft]

So I guess this can fit in an "OOT" style thread instead of individual game threads, since Canada is the home team and all. The American/Swiss game begins soon.

vs - 1:00PM MST

The 2010 Olympic tournament kicks off with one of the most intriguing matchups of the preliminary round. While Team USA will be favored in this game, it is no slam dunk, especially if the Americans can't find their game early. The Swiss team can skate with anybody in this tournament and has pulled off upsets in the past. In fact, Switzerland stunned both the Canadians and Czechs in the preliminary round four years ago.

For the Swiss, it may all come down to goaltending. Four years ago, Martin Gerber stood on his head against the Canadians -- now it is Jonas Hiller, the starting goalie for the Anaheim Ducks, who will try to play giant slayer.

"That's what we will do tomorrow," Hiller said. "We'll try to play a perfect game and then we will have a chance."

http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?i...vid=sb:preview

vs - 9:55PM MST

If there is a Group of Death in this tournament, it is Group B. Russia, the Czech Republic and Slovakia all reside there -- one more traditional power country in this foursome than in either of the other two.

But if there is a game in Group B that figures to be a blowout, it's this one. Of course, that's what Team USA probably thought before Latvia tied it, 3-3, in the opening game of the 2006 Torino Games. Cowbells rang throughout the Italian night after that game. Truth be told, the Latvians would be happy just to minimize the sound of goal horns Monday night.

Karlis Skrastins, the veteran Dallas Stars defenseman, is the only member of the current Latvian team who played in that tournament-rocker in Torino. He’s also one of only two NHL players on the Latvian roster. Suffice to say, that doesn’t figure to frighten a Russian team that will send these first two lines over the boards: Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Semin, Kovalchuk-Malkin-Afinogenov.

"There are no easy games for anybody in this tournament," Russian defenseman Andrei Markov said.

There certainly are no easy ones in the rest of Group B. As for this one? Good luck to the Latvians.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?i...vid=sb:preview