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Old 02-10-2014, 04:26 PM   #26
Mike P
Jiggin' Leper Lawyer
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Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: 61° 30′ 0″ N, 23° 46′ 0″ E
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Sweden drew the softest group---Czech Republic is their only real competition. The other two are Latvia and Switzerland. They should cruise to the medal round.

US and Russia are in the same group, along with Slovakia and Slovenia.

Canada has Finland as their biggest test in their group. Austria and Norway are jokes.

So you can pencil in most of the medal round right now. US, Russia, Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the Czechs. I'd say Slovakia and Switzerland should be the other two. That's when the real games begin. I could see Sweden beating any of the Big 3, if Lundqvist is on his game. Finland has the best goaltending trio in Rask, Niemi, and Lehtonen, but their chances really went downhill when Koivu and Filpulla had to drop out with injuries.

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