Olympic Hockey Update: Swedes, Swiss & Canadian Women’s Team All Winners
By Mark Huss
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports
Today the Olympic men’s hockey tournament started, but first it was the most anticipated women’s game of the tournament – Canada vs USA. Canada and the United States have led the way in women’s hockey every since it became an Olympic sport, and during this Olympics nothing has changed. Each team trains all year just to face one another, and of course to come out on top with gold around their neck.
Puck drop was at 4:30 local Sochi time, 7:30 AM EST. The first period ended with the teams tied at zero, and that score remained the same through most of the second period. Late in the second period Hilary Knight opened up the scoring for Team USA, and they took a 1-0 lead into the third period. The Canadians answered back in the third period though with three goals; two from Meghan Augusta and one from Hayley Wickenheiser. Anne Schleper scored one late for the Americans but it wasn’t enough. Both teams move on to the Semi-Finals.
Two games opened up the men’s hockey tournament today, both from Group C…
Sweden vs Czech Republic, puck drop was at 9:00 PM local Sochi time, noon EST. The Swedes jumped on the Czechs early in this game, scoring two goals in the first period, and then two goals in the second period to take a 4-0 lead. The Czech Republic started a comeback, but weren’t able to finish it off – Sweden won by a score of 4-2. Erik Karlsson had two goals, Patrik Bergland and Henrik Zetterburg added the other two – Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves in the victory. Marek Zidlicky and Jaromir Jagr were the goal scorers or the Czechs.
Switzerland vs Latvia, puck drop was at 9:00 PM local Sochi time, noon EST. This game was a nail biter all the way through the match-up. Switzerland was the favorites in the game, as they have had more success in the Olympics in the past, and their roster has quite a few NHL stars, including goaltender Jonas Hiller. The game was tied up until the final seconds when Swiss forward Simon Moser, who has played three games with the Nashville Predators, scored with 7 seconds left on the clock. The Swiss out-shot the Latvians heavily, 39-21, but the 33 year old Latvian goaltender, Edgars Masalskis, kept them in the game.
The Czech Republic will face Latvia on February 14th at noon local Sochi time, 3:00 AM EST. Sweden vs Switzerland will also take place on February the 14th, puck drop is scheduled for 4:30 PM local Sochi time, 7:30 AM EST.