Bruins players will battle each other for gold.
November 18, 2013; Raleigh, NC, USA; Boston Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask (40) is congratulated by teammate forward David Krejci (46) after the Boston Bruins victory over the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Center. The Boston Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
The official Olympic schedule has been released and taking a look at it, you’re going to see a few more David vs. Goliath matches this time around. Below is the list of the games being played and their times (all times are Eastern Standard Time) with a brief prediction on how each game should go.
The Bruins have five players playing for five different teams. Patrice Bergeron for Canada (gold medal favorite), Tuukka Rask for Finland (The Finns could surprise everyone and get to the finals.) Loui Eriksson for Sweden. (Another serious shot at a medal.) David Krejci for the Czech Republic.(Not entirely out of the running, and could get a bronze.) Finally, the Bruins captain Zdeno Chara will be playing for Slovakia. (Slovakia finished fourth last time around, and could surprise people again.) The odds of at least one Bruin coming home with an Olympic medal are high, and three different Bruins medaling is quite possible.
WED., FEB. 12TH – PRELIM. GROUP C
Czech Republic vs. Sweden, 12p (Starting off with Krejci vs Eriksson. My money is on a Czech surprise win here.)
Latvia vs. Switzerland, 12p (Unless something goes horribly wrong with the Swiss bus from the Olympic Village to the rink, this should be an easy game for the Swiss.)
THURS., FEB 13TH – PRELIM. GROUP A
Russia vs. Slovenia, 7:30a (This one should be interesting. Slovenia is a scrappy team, but Russia will very likely dominate here.)
USA vs. Slovakia, 7:30a (The US should win this, but they’ve got Big Z. Zdeno Chara is the ultimate force equalizer, and the Slovaks just might surprise everyone.)
THURS., FEB 13TH – PRELIM. GROUP B
Finland vs. Austria, 3:00a (Rask will likely get the start, and we’ll see if Putin will adjust the Russian clocks to ‘Tuukka Time’.)
Canada vs. Norway, 12:00p (I’ll be a little surprised if A.) Norway scores a goal and/or B.) Canada doesn’t run the score into double digits.)
FRI., FEB 14TH – PRELIM. GROUP B
Canada vs. Austria, 12:00p (Austria will have had their hands full with Finland, and then they’ll have to walk into this nightmare.)
Norway vs. Finland 12:00p(Whatever players aren’t in therapy after their match with Canada will have to pull themselves together to take on the best goaltending team at the Olympics.)
FRI., FEB 14TH – PRELIM. GROUP C
Czech Republic vs. Latvia, 3:00a (David Krejci, Jaromir Jagr, and the rest of the Czech team should have an easy one here.)
Sweden vs. Switzerland, 7:30a (This one should be close to an even match, depending on who takes the ice for Sweden. If Sweden scores early, it will turn into a rout.)
SAT., FEB 15TH – PRELIM. GROUP A
Slovakia vs. Slovenia, 3:00a (Big Z and company will do what they can to make it happen here. Slovenia could surprise them though.)
USA vs. Russia, 7:30a (It’s going to be Rocky IV all over again. If the US goaltenders can contain Ovechkin, then they should win here.)
SAT., FEB 15TH – PRELIM. GROUP C
Switzerland vs. Czech Republic, 12:00p (Geneva will have a new way to say ‘cancelled check’ after the shellacking they’ll take from the Czech National Team.)
Sweden vs. Latvia, 12:00p (Sweden should have this one rather handily.)
SUN., FEB 16TH – PRELIM. GROUP A
USA vs. Slovenia, 7:30a (Whichever team loses the US/Russia game will be incensed and looking to unleash a hailstorm of pucks on the other team.)
Russia vs. Slovakia, 7:30a(As above, but Big Z has shut down Ovechkin in the past and could do so again.)
SSUN., FEB 16TH – PRELIM. GROUP B
Austria vs. Norway, 3:00a (This one should just be an enjoyable game with two teams at comparable skill level enjoying (their likely last) game of the Olympics.
Canada vs. Finland, 12:00p (I’d rather not have Tuukka in the net for this one, but if he has a good game, he’ll likely been in the shooting gallery for this one.)
TUES., FEB 18TH – PLAYOFF QUALIFICATIONS
Teams: TBD
Start Times: 3:00a, 7:30a, 12p, 12p
WED., FEB 19TH – QUARTERFINALS
Teams: TBD
Start Times: 3:00a, 7:30a, 12p, 12p
FRI., FEB 21ST – SEMIFINALS
Teams: TBD
Start Times: 7:00a & 12p
SAT., FEB 27TH – FINALS
Teams: TBD
Start Time: 10:00