Olympics: Elimination anticipation is history

By Lee Manchur Sports Central Columnist

The previous 16 months since the first few players were named to Olympic rosters and four years since the 1998 Olympic Games, anticipation has all led to this -- the next five days which will weed out only the top teams in a series of elimination games to determine worldwide hockey supremacy.

Yes, the round-robin portion of the men's ice hockey event in the XIX Olympic Winter Games from Salt Lake City, Utah, is over and today, the top eight teams will begin playing the most anticipated games -- four quarterfinals, two semifinals, and two medal games -- since the 1998 Olympics.

Today, the No. 1 seed in pool D and the 1994 gold medallists will face-off against fourth-seeded Belarus in Pool C in the first of four quarterfinals. The top seed in Pool C, the host nation USA, will play fourth-seeded Germany from Pool D. Bronze medallists from 1998, Finland, who finished second in Pool C, will play Canada who finished third in Pool D. Canada has not won an Olympic Gold medal in the sport since 1952. Finally, in the final crossover quarterfinal matchup, the No. 2 seeded Czech Republic from Pool D will play third-placed Russia from Pool C in a re-match of the 1998 Olympic gold medal game, which the Czechs won, 1-0.

In the next five days, some of the best hockey games ever will be played. Heck, if a quarterfinal game between Russia and Czech Republic will be exciting, can you imagine a Russia vs. Sweden semifinal or a Canada vs. USA gold medal final?

Going into the playoff round, if you eliminate Germany and Belarus, there is clearly no team that is greater than another. Team Canada played extremely poor in their opening two games, but really came into their own Monday night against the Czech Republic. Until Monday, it was apparent that the Russians had a cakewalk in the round robin, with their only test against the United States. However, surprisingly, they lost their final game against Finland.

That said, Finland is definitely the weakest team out of the "Big Six," and is still weak in goal, with not as much depth as other teams. The United States has home ice advantage, but are not as deep as Sweden, Russia, and Canada. The Czechs have "some guy named Hasek" guarding their net, but it is the Swedish team that has got to be the favorites considering how they have done in their the opening three games.

After blasting Canada in their opener on Friday 5-2, Sweden followed up with a hard-fought 2-1 over the Czechs and embarrassed Germany Monday night. As a result, the Swedes remain the only perfect 3-0 team in the tournament (the United States' record is 2-0-1).

Nevertheless, the Canadians are still favored to win the gold -- in Canada.

If you go to the States, you'll find the Americans are favored to win.

Head overseas, and a poll will turn up 100 percent in favor of the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, or Russia, depending on where you go.

Obviously, there is a common denominator, and only one thing is certain going into the quarterfinals -- you can safely bet that the United States and Sweden, with games against Germany and Belarus, respectively, will have semifinal berths, leaving Canada, Finland, Russia, and the Czechs in a dog-fight for the final two spots.

Meanwhile, NHL participation at the 2006 Torino Games in Italy is not definite yet, and we won't see another World Cup staged until 2004, at the earliest. To date, this will be the best eight games ever played, and possibly ever. So, if you're in America, tune to NBC during these next five days. If you're in Canada, tune to the CBC, and if you're anywhere else in the world, you should be desperately trying to find a broadcast feed for these last eight Olympic ice hockey games.

The elimination anticipation is over, and it's time for the best of the best to shine.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.