[browna]

The format, IMO, is the reason these games were close.

First game was a combo of a over confident US team and the Swiss having confidence and "nothing to lose" attitude after winning the night before.

Canada game, same thing...Russians weren't ready after that extra day off, in the first period and Canada benefitted from that blowout yesterday.

Fins were in a tight game..Czechs are old and the two games in two nights caught up with them. Great that Kiprusoff had to play one less game.

Swedes were also not sharp and the Slovaks had the confidence from the night before.

Back to Canada...if they were the ones with the day off after stumbling into the QF's and the Russians would've blown out the Germans (I know, Canada beating the US and/or Swiss wouldn't have meant it was Russia playing the Germans yesterday), Canada may have had a bit of a tougher time trying to find their legs and thier skill.