Team USA Fourth Favourite to Win Olympic Hockey Gold Behind Russia, Canada, Sweden

Four years ago, Team USA was rebuilding its entire hockey program. Few considered them as a favourite to win gold in the 2010 Olympics, let alone a medal of any colour. Their general manager, Brian Burke, even acknowledged that the red, white and blue would be underdogs in Vancouver. We all know what happened next, but as we look ahead to Sochi 2014, Team USA is no longer considered an underdog. In fact, many believe they’re a legitimate gold medal favourite.

They’re currently listed at 6-1 to achieve Olympic glory and many will point to the international ice surface as the primary reason. This surface is slightly larger than the one Team USA dominated on the way to the gold medal game in 2010. The theory is that Americans aren’t accustomed to the international ice so they’ll struggle. And in fact, Team USA has won only three medals in the last 18 tournaments held on international ice. The solution? Americans must get faster and quicker, which is exactly what they’re doing.
Russia — 11/5
Canada — 9/4
Sweden — 4/1
USA – 6/1
Czech Republic — 17/2
Finland — 10/1
Switzerland — 20/1
Slovakia — 25/1
Norway — 200/1
Latvia — 400/1
Austria — 900/1
Slovenia — 900/1
Read more at: http://nesn.com/2013/08/t...ind-russia-canada-sweden/
- Doppleganger

Do you feel stupid?

I know that if I were you I would feel incredibly stupid. In fact, I'd be ashamed of myself.

But they're not the favourites, the Russians are.
- Doppleganger

You must feel really stupid.

But, for right now the smart money is on Russia, and if you're sure you can beat the odds-makers at their own game..............what is stopping you from putting your money where your mouth is...................as it seems to you to be a "sure thing".
- Doppleganger

Once again, what dopplediuche thinks is smart turns out to be moronic.

It WAS player on smaller ice, not NHL sized ice, but two meters wider than NHL and two meters narrower than International sized ice.

But the larger ice is not the one single thing that I've been pointing at, as to why the Canadians are NOT the favourites going into the Sochi games, the Russians are. This is not my opinion, it's the actual Odds generally accepted as the current ranking.


Every link I posted has rated the Russians as the favourites................and NO they're not all betting sites.

I've yet to see one link posted that claims the Canadians are the Favourites.


Clearly playing at home, in front of Russian crowds, on extremely familiar ice to them, give the Russians the edge in the ranking/odds over the Canadians.

Let's see something other than some poster's opinion that says otherwise.


And making pronouncements like "Canada has Sidney freaking Crosby" is not saying much when you consider that since he last won the Hart, as the NHL's MVP way back in 2007, Ovechkin has won it 3 times since 2007, Malkin once and only one Canadian, Perry, since Crosby in 2007.
- Doppleganger

And yet, canada WAS favoured going into the Olympics. And your stupid, stupid statements turn out to be more doppledouche idiocy.

Russia losing to the USA on the large ice was a factor in all of this. Had they won that game they would likely not have had to face a tough Finnish team and may have drawn a more favourable matchup. How is this possible? I thought the ice size was an advantage for these European teams?

Russia losing to the USA on the large ice was a factor in all of this. Had they won that game they would likely not have had to face a tough Finnish team and may have drawn a more favourable matchup. How is this possible? I thought the ice size was an advantage for these European teams?
- daeth

Not sure who told you that. You must be listening to a moron.

Down goes the Russian Juggernaught




Poor coaching, as pointed out by the commentators.

Russia losing to the USA on the large ice was a factor in all of this. Had they won that game they would likely not have had to face a tough Finnish team and may have drawn a more favourable matchup. How is this possible? I thought the ice size was an advantage for these European teams?
- daeth

The USA game was decided in a shootout...........ice size ended up not being a fatcor.

Today's game featured eight Finns who play regularly on International sized ice.

They seemed way more comfortable, and played as a team, not as individuals as the Russians seemed to be, during the whole tournament.


Defence and goal tending are proving to be decisive factors in the tournament being played on International sized ice. It seems the Finns just kept the Russians to outside (where there's lot more of on International sized ice) and protected to slot.

Down goes the Russian Juggernaught




Poor coaching, as pointed out by the commentators.
- Doppleganger

What???? They shut down two weeks early to prepare these guys. How is this possible????

The USA game was decided in a shootout...........ice size ended up not being a fatcor.

Today's game featured eight Finns who play regularly on International sized ice.

They seemed way more comfortable, and played as a team, not as individuals as the Russians seemed to be, during the whole tournament.


Defence and goal tending are proving to be decisive factors in the tournament being played on International sized ice. It seems the Finns just kept the Russians to outside (where there's lot more of on International sized ice) and protected to slot.
- Doppleganger

Decided by shootout??? How did that work? Did they meet at Centre ice and decide they were tired, and just skip regulation?

What???? They shut down two weeks early to prepare these guys. How is this possible????
- prock

The Eight players on the Finnish team who ALSO play in the KHL, also had two weeks off.

So it worked out for the Finns.

The Eight players on the Finnish team who ALSO play in the KHL, also had two weeks off.

So it worked out for the Finns.
- Doppleganger

But you said Russia!

The USA game was decided in a shootout...........ice size ended up not being a fatcor.

Today's game featured eight Finns who play regularly on International sized ice.

They seemed way more comfortable, and played as a team, not as individuals as the Russians seemed to be, during the whole tournament.


Defence and goal tending are proving to be decisive factors in the tournament being played on International sized ice. It seems the Finns just kept the Russians to outside (where there's lot more of on International sized ice) and protected to slot.
- Doppleganger

Would it be possible for Canada to perhaps have the best defensemen in the tournament and use this to their advantage?

The USA game was decided in a shootout...........ice size ended up not being a fatcor.

Today's game featured eight Finns who play regularly on International sized ice.

They seemed way more comfortable, and played as a team, not as individuals as the Russians seemed to be, during the whole tournament.


Defence and goal tending are proving to be decisive factors in the tournament being played on International sized ice. It seems the Finns just kept the Russians to outside (where there's lot more of on International sized ice) and protected to slot.
- Doppleganger

What?? only the shootout mattered??? The 65mins previous played on the int sized ice didn't factor in??

If the russians had played better in the int ice maybe they wouldn't have gotten to the shootout.

Would it be possible for Canada to perhaps have the best defensemen in the tournament and use this to their advantage?
- daeth

Yes, I would agree with that.

However, the USA, Sweden and the Finns have the better goal-tending, so if Canada meets the USA, the winner who advances to the gold medal game will meet either Finland or Sweden who will use their familiarity with the style of play on International sized ice to their advantage, an advantage that neither the USA of Canada have.

What?? only the shootout mattered??? The 65mins previous played on the int sized ice didn't factor in??

If the russians had played better in the int ice maybe they wouldn't have gotten to the shootout.
- burn

If the USA Russia game was played on NHL sized ice, it would not have gone to a shootout.

If the USA Russia game was played on NHL sized ice, it would not have gone to a shootout.
- Doppleganger

but you JUST SAID ice size wasn't a factor

but you JUST SAID ice size wasn't a factor
- Morris

If the game was played on NHL sized ice, the USA would have won the game in regulation.




Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??

but you JUST SAID ice size wasn't a factor
- Morris

If the game was played on NHL sized ice, the USA would have won the game in regulation.




Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??
- Doppleganger

double talk. You just got turned inside out by Morris.

If the game was played on NHL sized ice, the USA would have won the game in regulation.




Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??
- Doppleganger

If the ice size is the difference between a game being resolved in regulation and being pushed to overtime, then it's a factor.

So you're talking out of both sides of your mouth.

If the ice size is the difference between a game being resolved in regulation and being pushed to overtime, then it's a factor.

So you're talking out of both sides of your mouth.
- Morris

Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??

If the game was played on NHL sized ice, the USA would have won the game in regulation.




Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??
- Doppleganger

NO, that's what YOU said. YOU said it wasn't a factor. Make up your mind. You've been telling us for close to a year now that Russia is the favourite, NOT Canada, because of the ice size. We've said Canada is, because they have a better team. Now you're backtracking with "yeah, but Canada picked that team with international ice in mind"??????? And now it wasn't a factor?

You failed to answer my earlier question. Do you feel stupid?

NO, that's what YOU said. YOU said it wasn't a factor. Make up your mind. You've been telling us for close to a year now that Russia is the favourite, NOT Canada, because of the ice size. We've said Canada is, because they have a better team. Now you're backtracking with "yeah, but Canada picked that team with international ice in mind"??????? And now it wasn't a factor?

You failed to answer my earlier question. Do you feel stupid?
- prock

Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??

Are you honestly saying the "game" is played EXACTLY the same on both ice sizes??

Did the North American teams pick their teams without taking ice size into account??
- Doppleganger

I'm honestly saying that you're a Borat-style character created by a middle-aged Canadian message-board version of Sascha Baron Cohen.

Because that's the only thing that makes sense