[arloiginla]

...you picked Slovakia, USA and Finland to make the final 4 in mens hockey. None of those countries have won Olympic gold in this generation.

Russia, Sweden, Czech Republic - who would have guessed none of those countries would have a sniff at a medal?

If there's anything this tournament has taught us since NHL participation in 1998, it's that nothing's a sure thing. A single-knockout tournament in which seeding doesn't matter, in which round robin doesn't matter, and in which rosters on paper don't matter.

One would think that with the best players in the world taking part, the cream would rise to the top and the teams with the very best players, would usually win. It hasn't happened that way.

It also seems momentum doesn't exist/doesn't matter. In 2002, Sweden was the best team in the tournament before losing to Belarus. In 1998, Canada coasted through the tournament before losing to Czech Republic. In 2006, Russia defeated Canada in the quarters and never scored another goal in the tournament.

And here we are. Final four. Canada is the only remaining considered hockey "superpower." This after barely beating Switzerland, losing to USA, and having to play an extra qualification against Germany. A strange and meandering road to gold seems a lot easier now with only Slovakia and Finland/USA in the way.

But if history has taught us anything, it's that nothing is a sure thing anymore.