Official Olympic Predictions

[Elite Sim News (ESN)]

Well the games start tomorrow. Nice of them to allow the Yanks to play early every effing day so I can't see the games! Anyway, here's how I am thinking it goes down. BTW...I HATE the format they are using this year. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

GOLD - Russia
SILVER - Canada
BRONZE - Czech Republic

How they get there...

GROUP A

Canada (3-0-0, 9 PTS)
United States (2-1-0, 6 PTS)
Switzerland (1-2-0, 3 PTS)
Norway (0-3-0, 0 PTS)

GROUP B

Russia (3-0-0, 9 PTS)
Czech Republic (2-1-0, 6 PTS)
Slovakia (1-2-0, 3 PTS)
Latvia (0-3-0, 0 PTS)

GROUP C

Sweden (3-0-0, 8 PTS)
Finland (2-0-1, 7 PTS)
Belarus (1-2-0, 3 PTS)
Germany (0-3-0, 0 PTS)

Seeding...

1) Russia
2) Canada
3) Sweden
4) Finland

Qualification Games...

5) Czech Republic v 12) Norway - Czech Republic advances
6) United States v 11) Latvia - United States advances
7) Slovakia v 10) Germany - Slovakia advances
8) Switzerland v 9) Belarus - Belarus advances

Quarterfinals...

1) Russia v 9) Belarus - Russia advances
2) Canada v 7) Slovakia - Canada advances
3) Sweden v 6) United States - Sweden advances
4) Finland v 5) Czech Republic - Czech Republic advances

Semifinals...

1) Russia v 5) Czech Republic - Russia advances
2) Canada v 3) Sweden - Canada advances

Gold Medal Game...

1) Russia v 2) Canada - Russia wins

Bronze Medal Game...

3) Sweden v 5) Czech Republic - Czech Republic wins

I LOVE international hockey, as you all know. I can't wait to watch these games (when I can anyway). I don't think I have to go into great detail about Russia and Canada. You guys know who is playing for them (for the most part anyway). It is very hard to pick against Canada, especially on home ice, but I think Russia is going to walk away with a hard earned gold medal.

I don't think people are talking enough about the Czech Republic. They don't even have all their available talent and they still have a very dangerous team. Tomas Vokoun is going to have to play at a very high level, which I think he will. Sweden is obviously very talented as well, and the defending gold medal champ. I think the Finns and Americans will battle to the end, but I don't think they have enough. For the Finns, I don't think they have enough natural skill. For the Americans, I don't think they have enough experience. Slovakia is a dangerous team as well, but they have had some injury concerns heading into the games.

All in all it should be fun to watch. Hopefully no one gets injured during these games. Here's to entertaining hockey!

[CalgaryGM]

Roger, I don't disagree with anything you say here. Except, when it comes to the intangibles, the Canadian team has the edge. And that's what will get us the Gold. It's called heart. The rest of the world is getting close to that, but not just yet.

[Detroit Cherni]

GOLD - CANADA
SILVER - USA
BRONZE - RUSSIA

[Anaheim GM]

If Canada does NOT win a gold medal on their own ice with the team that they have assembled I will be COMPLETELY SHOCKED. In my opinion, they cannot and will not lose in this tournament...in ANY game. The Canadian team is absolutely, 100% unbeatable.

Russia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic will be fighting for silver and bronze.

If either the Finnish or the US team win a medal despite the teams that Canada, Russia, and Czech Republic have put together than they need to SERIOUSLY consider it a miracle.

If Latvia or Germany win, expect to see the Good Lord come back shortly following the tournament. Seriously.

[Anaheim GM]

Wow, that totally worked.

[formerDevilsGM]

Great job Mark.