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Weekend Preview: This Is Not A Test


This weekend's soundtrack: This Is Not A Test by She & Him -- because Super Sunday has so many seeding/bye permutations that it's nearly must-win for every team involved. That, and I totally have a crush on Zooey Deschanel.

Norway at Switzerland, Saturday at 3 PM EST (MSNBC, Sportsnet)
Latvia at Slovakia, Saturday at 7:30 PM EST (MSNBC, Sportsnet)
Germany at Belarus, Saturday at 11:55 PM EST (MSNBC, TSN)

With all due respect to those teams (especially Slovakia, Switzerland, and Germany), all eyes will be on the Sunday games. These games will affect the very bottom of the seedings and the next round, but the heavy hitters come out on Sunday. Because of Russia's loss and Canada's overtime win, a ton of possible seeding/byes are out there. Hope you cleared your schedule off.

Russia at Czech Republic, Sunday at 3 PM EST (NBC, TSN)
This is a rematch of the 1998 gold medal game, but since then, the Czechs have grown into an international power. Dominik Hasek may no longer be with the squad, but Jaromir Jagr has looked capable of doing some serious damage. The Russians are coming off a stunning loss to Slovakia; in fact, they played so badly that their coach publicly called them out. The Russians will be mad. How will the Czechs respond?

Canada at USA, Sunday at 7:45 PM EST (MSNBC, CTV)
This is a rematch of the 2002 gold medal game, but since then, the Americans have dropped off the talent radar and begun to rebuild. Did the Swiss expose a weakness in Team Canada by attacking with a speedy hit-everything-that-moves forecheck? If that's the case, the Americans might have a way to thwart their rivals. However, they'll have to clean up some messy defensive zone play, as Canada is bound to convert on those odd-man rushes.

Sweden at Finland, Sunday at 11:55 PM EST (MSNBC, CTV)
This is a rematch of the 2006 gold medal game, but since then...oh hell, not that much has changed. Henrik Lundqvist and Miikka Kiprusoff are still in net. Peter Forsberg and Teemu Selanne are still around. Mats Sundin is gone (though I'm sure he'd be willing to listen to offers), and some of the support players have changed, but this regional rivalry will be nasty, physical, and intense. In other words, a great way to cap off what will surely be an amazing day of hockey.

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actually, Kiprusoff wasn’t even in the team in 2006. Niittymäki handeled that tournament :)

I don't remember you looking any better. But then again, I don't remember you.

by sleza on Feb 20, 2010 7:25 AM CST reply actions  

You know, I was re-reading this on my Google Reader and that exact thought just popped into my head. Whoops.

by Mike Chen on Feb 20, 2010 10:56 AM CST up reply actions  


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