Olympic Hockey OOT: Feburary 21th Rivalry Sunday

[Jesse834]

vs 1:00 PM MT TSN

Two traditional rivals who play some of the most highly-skilled hockey in the world will take the ice for the first of three scintillating Sunday matchups. This one has all of the history, geopolitical trappings and personal connections to make for great theater.

Neither team's top players have erupted -- unless you count 38-year-old Czech winger Jaromir Jagr, who entered these Olympics as more of a sideshow than leading man. But both teams' stars have produced moments of brilliance. And, given the setting and the emotions, this one should not be missed.

The winner takes the Group B title and earns an automatic berth in the quarterfinals, which begin Wednesday. The Czechs could earn the fourth pass to the quarters if they lose -- particularly if they do it in overtime or in a shootout. But the Russians would be relegated to one of four dangerous "qualifying" games on Tuesday that will determine the four lower seeded teams for the eight-team quarters.

Will Jagr continue to turn back the clock? Will Alexander Ovechkin explode? Will Tomas Vokoun continue to be solid in the Czech net? Will Evgeni Nabokov come through or make critics wonder why Ilya Bryzgalov wasn’t tabbed to start this game?

http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009090016

vs 10:00 PM MT CTV

First place in Pool C and an automatic bye into the quarterfinals is on the line in the nightcap of what could be one of the greatest hockey days of all time. This one just happens to be a rematch of the 2006 gold medal game, too.

"For us this rivalry is bigger than Canada and U.S., and of course for the North Americans their rivalry is bigger," Henrik Zetterberg said. "So we are looking forward to this game and we know we've got our country behind us."

The goalies -- Sweden's Henrik Lundqvist and Finland's Miikka Kiprusoff -- are elite, so no advantage swing there. Sweden may have more recognizable names up front in Peter Forsberg, Zetterberg, Nicklas Backstrom, Johan Franzen, etc. However, the Finns boast some high-end talent, too, including two of the great Olympic players of all time in Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu.

Nicklas Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall lead the Swede D, but it's not as if the Finland blue line can't keep up. Kimmo Timonen, Sami Salo and Joni Pitkanen can definitely hold their own.

This one should be fun.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2009090018

[Henry Fool]

Finland's lines as far as we know:

T.Ruutu-M.Koivu-Filppula
Lehtinen-Koivu-Selänne
Jokinen-Immonen-Hagman
Peltonen-Kapanen-J.Ruutu

Interesting that some Flames fans said that Jokinen should play wing, and now he's there as Antti Mittens, the receiver of great hits, and one of my favourites in the NHL, is demoted to 13th forward.

Olli has been getting some fairly positive reviews so far. He hasn't impressed on the national team before, but seems to fit in this year. He said that there had been some talk of him being a selfish player before, but he learned a lot about defense and team play in Calgary.

Hagman would get a lot of points if he played with Mikko Koivu, but the coach likes Filppula there better for now.

[HPLovecraft]

Super excited for today!

[Jesse834]

Let's Go Czech Republic!

[HPLovecraft]

That Tide Olympics commercial is great.

[HPLovecraft]

Time for Jagr to show Ovechkin what the master is like.

[Texas Blueliner]

Lots of energy to start this one. Should be a great game.

[HPLovecraft]

Kovalchuk flopping around on the ice again.

[jd456]

Wow... what a terrible call. Jagr couldn't do a thing about that.

[Diet Water]

Malkin

1-0 Russia

[jd456]

1-0 Russia. Goal by Malkin on the powerplay.

[Jesse834]

Evgeni Malkin. 1-0 Russia.

[OILFAN #81]

Going for Russia in this one. A Russian win followed by a Canadian win means at worst we get the #2 seed.

[HPLovecraft]

Fleischmann! So close! They need to score on those types of chances, yeesh.

[HPLovecraft]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

Going for Russia in this one. A Russian win followed by a Canadian win means at worst we get the #2 seed.

You could never get me to cheer for the Russians, no matter what the situation. I don't think any seed in the top 4 matters in the long run besides the #1, anyway, as far as advantages go.

[Diet Water]

Well that was impressive.

[Jesse834]

Tomáš Plekanec with a beauty of a goal. 1-1.

[CheckRaise]

1-1 Plekanec

[jd456]

1-1 Plekanec

[HPLovecraft]

What a sweet goal! 1-1!