Canada (-4.5) vs. Germany
This is the fourth time NHL players are participating in the Winter Olympics and Canada is in danger of falling short of the gold for a third time.
Two bad goals, an inability to win face offs in the attacking zone and too many bad giveaways led to a 5-3 win for the U.S. over the pre-tournament gold medal favourites.
Now the Canucks have to win a play-in game against Germany to make it to the quarterfinals.
“It is probably not what we wanted coming in,” Sidney Crosby told the Globe and Mail after the setback, “but that’s where we are. When you get to this point in the tournament, it’s not going to be easy. The fact that we have to play an extra game isn’t a terrible thing. We’ll be ready for it.”
Whispers are whirling that Roberto Luongo will get the start in net after sub-par performances from Martin Brodeur. Whether it's Luongo or Brodeur, you can be certain Team Canada will do a better job defensively.
Germany was shutout in its first two games and has just three goals on 85 shots this tourney.
Pick: Canada
Czech Republic (-3.5) vs. Latvia
Could one check have destroyed the Czechs? Alexander Ovechkin’s hit on Jaromir Jagr was clean, forceful and immediately led to a score and a two-goal Russia lead.
Jagr was struggling to get space with the puck for much of the game but he made a nifty move in the neutral zone and was gaining speed and leading an attack. Ovechkin was there waiting for the rush and lowered the boom while Jagr was skating with his head down.
Jagr’s inability to shine in the tourney illustrates the Czechs’ problem – they’re not the same team they used to be. This squad used to be a top world power when Jagr was younger and Dominik Hasek was standing on his head between the pipes.
Latvia owns the worst power play so far in the tournament but goals shouldn’t be hard to come by if Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun continues his shaky play.
Pick: Latvia