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.
Russia favourites by a hair in mouth-watering match up
THIS game between Russia and the Czech Republic, respectively ranked number 2 and 5 to win the tournament outright, will likely be a high-flying and high-scoring affair.
Slovaks may find chink in Russian armour
THE world’s best snipers will be donning their Russian uniforms for their first big test against a legitimate foe in this exciting clash.
Slovakia was the only team to beat the mighty Russians in preliminary play at the 2006 Olympics, and they won by a margin of 5-3. Straight up, the smart money is not on a repeat of that upset, but the experienced Slovaks may just find a chink in the seemingly impenetrable Russian armour.
Odds say Ovy and Co should ensure torrid time for Latvians
TEAM Russia may come into the Olympics with one of the most talented rosters ever seen. The hockey powerhouse thirsts for the Olympic gold medal which the nation has never won before (they won it many times as the USSR before 1991).
So what’s wrong with playing it safe at the 2010 Olympics?
The upcoming Men’s Olympic hockey tournament may offer some exciting long-shot betting opportunities, where smart bettors with good information can make a mint, but that doesn’t mean the smart bettor should ignore the easy money.
Lets face it, there are some games where the outcomes are all but decided. Sure you’re not going to get a huge thousand to one payout like you would backing a long-shot, but you’re taking on practically no risk, so the rewards are logically smaller. Sports betting, in many ways is a lot like the stock market. Your returns are commensurate to your risk, but that doesn’t mean that only risk-crazy lunatics are playing the market.
If Ovechkin, Malkin and Kavalchuck get chemistry right, the gold may go east.
ALTHOUGH Canada remains the favourite to take gold at this year’s Winter Olympics, the odds on Russia turning over the hosts are growing ever shorter, thanks in no small part to the rampaging offensive trio of Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuck.
It’s telling of the new guard in Russian hockey that veteran forward, Alex Kovalev, failed to make the country’s Olympic roster for the 2010 Games. His previous dominance has diminished due to age and the emergence of the three young pretenders to his throne since their first unsuccessful Olympics in Turin in 2006.
