IHWC: Quarterfinals

So, that's the quarterfinals over with.

Switzerland - Germany

We didn't see this one, but we did think it was particularly ingenious of Switzerland's top scorer, Martin Plüss, to spear a German player in the crotch in the first period and be thrown out of the game. Also, ouch. We're glad to see Germany back in international hockey after a rubbish couple of years, and nothing would make us happier than a German medal.

Sweden - Denmark

The upsets are over, and Denmark finished in eighth place. It was a memorable tournament, though, and we hope to see Denmark in the quarterfinals again. When they're on their game, they can beat anybody.

Canada - Russia

Grapes only made a passing reference to the world champs on Coach's Corner, which isn't surprising; any tournament Canada doesn't win doesn't really count, whether it's the world champs or the Olympics. Sure, they're banging on about the Olympics now, but did anyone as much as mention the Olympics for years after Torino? No. Anyway, Ron said Steven Stamkos was "on a mission" in this game. We agree, if he means a mission to take the stupidest penalties possible. At the end of the first period, Canada was on a power play until Stamkos took a boarding penalty at 20:00 to take Canada off the man advantage. He seemed to go berserk several times in the game for no reason at all.

Come to think of it, that describes the whole team fairly well. Canada played awful, like they did all tournament. In a truly pathetic showing, they lost every game they played against a team in the top 10 of the world ranking, including Switzerland. They ran up the score against the likes of Italy and Norway, and were totally unable to score against anyone else. Unsurprisingly, a fairly pedestrian effort by the Russians sent the Canadians packing, and good riddance to them. This is the Canada we're used to seeing in international play: arrogant, easily frustrated, dirty.

Of course, the Canadians have their excuses ready. With Canada, there's always an excuse. This time, they're parroting it over and over again: the Russians had 13 Olympic players, Canada only had one, and besides, only the Olympics count. Funny, after Torino nobody said only the Olympics count. And anyway, is having only one Olympic player your excuse for losing to Switzerland? The bottom line is that Canada played horribly, and they deserved to drop out of the tournament here.

Finland - Czech Republic

It was a miracle this thing went as far as the shootout, given how horribly Finland played. The Finnish D was constantly in trouble with the Czech offense, and the biggest single reason the game went past regulation was the Czechs' monomaniacal insistence on taking easy shots the goalie could see all the way. The single Czech goal in regulation was a deflection off a Finnish forward's stick. Finland had a power play in overtime, and despite a full two minutes against a confused Czech PK, they did not manage a single shot on goal. That really sums up the Finnish game. The better team won, no question.

**

So, semifinals.

Sweden - Czech Republic

The Swedish press says they got a free pass to the final when the second round ended, with Denmark and the Czechs. Given that Finland had recently beat the Czechs at Vancouver and destroyed them on the Euro Hockey Tour, I think the Finns thought that, too. It would be salutary to remember that the Czechs beat Sweden quite decisively in the initial round of this tournament, and there's no reason they can't repeat the performance. It's especially likely if the Swedes are already planning the party at Sergels torg in their heads.

Russia - Germany

Seriously.

**

If the Swedes do end up in the bronze medal game, I expect them to lose it. They took on Finland for the bronze at the world champs in Canada, and barely showed up at all. They played horribly and failed to score a single goal. The disappointment of missing "their" gold medal party will be so terrible for the Swedes they'll throw the bronze medal game like they did that year. So, this is my guess:

1. Russia
2. Czech Republic
3. Germany
4. Sweden