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The eyes of the hockey world are watching Sweden and Canada. The greatest hockey tournament in the world has come down to two final combatants.
In the Bolshoy Ice Dome, the greatest prize in sport is on the line. Just 60 minutes – or more, if we’re particularly lucky – separates either Sweden or Canada from both a gold medal and Olympic immortality.
A replay of the 1994 Lillehammer gold medal Game, for many players on both teams it will be their second shot at a Gold medal, and perhaps their last, if rumours about the lack of future NHL involvement in Olympic hockey come to fruition.
While there will be no shortage of despair among the legions of fans in Russia because Ovechkin and co aren’t there – indeed, the host nation didn’t even make the semi-final stage, falling to Finland in something of a quarter-final boil over – this promises to be a memorable contest between two very evenly-matched teams, backstopped by two of the best goaltenders in the world, Henrik Lundqvist and Carey Price.
There are similarities between these two teams. They both overcame great rivals in riveting semi-final contests to be in the Gold medal playoff.
The Swedes recorded a 2-1 victory in a tight, grinding contest against giant-killing Finland, thanks to a second-period tally from the hulking defenceman Erik Karlsson, and the big-hitting Ottawa Senators star figures to be key figure as the Swedes try for their second gold medal in three Olympics; they triumphed behind Henrik Lundqvist in Torino back in 2006.
Surely the Swedes are the first-ever top-ranked underdog. No one gave them much of a chance after the group stage, for their injuries were – and are – piling up, but their appearance in the Gold medal decider is proof positive how far you can go with a good goaltender, solid defence and timely offence.
Yes, Henrik Zetterberg and Henrik Sedin are missing, two players who are automatic selections for the Swedes, but, others are stepping up, including New York Rangers young gun Carl Hagelin (two goals in the quarter final) and veterans like Nicklas Kronwall (he of the ‘Kronwalled’ hit) know how to get things done in Olympic tournaments.
Daniel Sedin is still there, and though he is arguably less potent without his twin brother alongside, there’s few players more skilled in the world today.
Even minus some of their big stars, the Swedes have gotten this far with relative ease – perhaps the easiest path to a gold medal Game since the NHL started sending players to the Olympics back in 1998 – and although that might be their downfall this tournament, you would still be loath to take them lightly when the ultimate triumph is so close.
The same could be said about their opponents. While it’s fair to say the Canadians haven’t looked all that good for the most part, they found enough to beat the Americans in the semi-final – and stifled a pretty good offensive unit at the same time.
Kane was quiet, Pavelski barely a factor, and even Phil Kessel was limited – thanks to Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn, whose timely redirect of a shot-pass from Jay Bouwmeester skittered past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick for the only marker of the game.
It will not be any easier for the Canadians against Henrik Lundqvist and his disciplined defensive corps, many of whom know what it takes to win a Gold medal. Perhaps that is the greatest difference between the Swedes and the Americans.
Of the two goaltenders, you’d take Lundqvist over Price on either’s best day. That’s not a slight on the Montreal Canadiens net-minder, merely a stick-tap to the man known as King Henrik.
Though he didn’t score against America – and hasn’t scored yet this tournament – Sidney Crosby, universally recognised as the best player in the game, was a threatening presence on just about every shift in the game, and surely he must be poised for a break-out game on the biggest stage there is in hockey?
Not that it matters too much, for the Canadians are stacked offensively (and defensively, for that matter) and so Crosby is not the be-all-end-all of attack for the team in red and white.
If it’s not Crosby, then it could be Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Marleau, Jeff Carter, Rick Nash or semi-final hero Benn, or even defenceman Drew Doughty, whose habit of scoring timely goals from the blue line this tournament has been oft-discussed.
Even rising Colorado Avalanche star Matt Duchene, replacing injured John Tavares, has the ability to break a game open. The Canadians are stacked at every position. Their scoring could come from anywhere at a moment’s notice. The Swedes will be wary of that.
So, who wins?
Well, My heart says Sweden – I’m a giant New York Rangers fan, and I’d love to see Lundqvist (and Hagelin) win another gold, because I honestly don’t know when the Rangers will next win a Stanley Cup – but my head says Canada all the way.
They’ve overcome bad games, beaten arguably their fiercest rival and seem more battle-tested than the Swedes. This might be Carey Price’s big moment to shine.
Fearless Prediction: Canada 3-2.
Join our live blog of the men’s gold medal Game from about 11.00pm on Sunday, AEDT.