Olympic Hockey Betting Previews – USA vs Finland
Youthful USA should go through to gold medal gameTHE surprise number seed heading into the playoffs will be out to prove that they deserved that nod against the Olympics’ best defensive team.
Youthful USA should go through to gold medal game2010 Olympic Hockey Previews – Crunch time for Canada
Time for hosts to claim what is rightfully theirs
THE preliminaries have been played. The seeding has been set. And wow, what a difference a day can make. Canada, previously the hands down favorite to win the gold medal is now ranked sixth going into the playoff rounds after being stunned by the Americans in a 5-3 loss.
Olympic Hockey Betting Previews – Sweden vs Finland
Swedes should – but may not – edge tight game
A REMATCH of the 2006 Gold Medal game, this one will be high intensity from the start.
Olympics Hockey Betting Previews – Finland vs Germany
Scoop a decent payday with the Finns
THE supposedly tame, defensive Finns broke out on Wednesday night in their opener against Belarus. Predictions had team Finland squeaking by opponents and defending their way into the semi-finals until Hagman and Koivu proved everyone wrong by recording five points between them.
Finland, last Olympics Silver Medalists, should not be under estimated and can beat any team in this tournament of any given day.
Olympic Hockey Betting Previews – Finland vs Belarus
Backing the underdogs should prove profitable in this clash
WITH both of these teams entering the Olympics under major question marks, this game may turn out to be the first real treat for fans.
This Finnish national side is unlike any other team in the field because it wants to play defense first. They are confident they can mix it up with any of the powerhouse nations and win games with goaltending.
Bookmakers and bettors reassess injury-cursed Finland and Czech Republics’ Olympic chances
Bookmakers and bettors reassess nations’ prospects as both countries face losing their captains
LONG-SHOT medal contenders Finland and the Czech Republic will be facing even steeper odds at the upcoming 2010 games in Vancouver after injuries to both teams’ captains.
Patrik Elias, captain of the Czech team, was carried off the ice on a stretcher after sustaining an injury during a game with his NHL club the New Jersey Devils. The loss of Elias, who captained the Czechs to bronze in Turin in 2006, will undoubtedly create a leadership void on the Czech team both on the ice and in the locker room. The Czechs who were already long-shots at +1300 or 13/1 will likely face even longer odds in the wake of the injury to Elias.
Ruutu throws down the gauntlet to Olympic opponents
Finnish powerhouse plans to take no prisoners at 2010 Games
OVECHKIN is a careless player, the NHL has lost its grit and Finland has as good a chance as any at taking home gold at the 2010 Olympic Games, according to Finnish forward Jarkko Ruutu.
Considered – in pleasant terms – to be a player of robust style, Ruutu admitted in a recent interview that he is aware of his reputation as being “dirty” but said he would be not be holding back in any way when taking to the ice in Vancouver.
“I would say that I am a defensive player and it’s unpleasant to play against me for others. My task is to complicate the opponents’ life by all means,” he said in an interview with the Russian Sport Express this week.
Calgary’s party boys dropped for 2010 openers
Phaneuf and Kipprusoff pay for hard-living ways
WHEN the cream of international hockey takes to the ice in Vancouver in just a few days time, two of the most exciting young players in the NHL will be riding the pine because of their penchant for partying.
Despite proving a dominant defensive force for the Calgary Flames this season, Dion Phaneuf and Miikka Kipprusoffs’ reputation for hard living has relegated them to the reserves roster.
