Canada Vs. Sweden: Gold Medal Preview!!!!

Last Year's Final!!!!




Canada won the gold last year in a tour de force effort. The Drive For Five is still alive because of guys like Ebbett and Tavares who scored in the 6-5 shootout win over Russia Saturday Night. Everyone remembers the 3-2 OT win last year especially in Canada...the review...the agony...the ecstasy at least for Canada and the obvious crestfallen feelings the Swedes had. They feel they can beat Canada. Sweden feels it is the favorite here and most WJC experts agree. However, this is on Canada soil and Canada has won four straight (last loss : 2004 WJC).

So Team Sweden's Magnus Svensson Paajarvi thinks they can win. I crack up that Canada actually needs to use that as motivation in any way at all. If you really do, something is wrong there. When they drop the puck at 7pm ET/4pm PT....all of that will not matter. You can catch the game on TSN and The NHL Network...or go to justin.tv online.

As for Paajarvi's comments...Bob McKenzie likes it honestly.....

"[Paajarvi] didn't say anything incendiary, he actually gave a pretty thorough analysis of the way this tournament shakes down and how, if you can get Canada back on its heels by scoring a few goals early, they'll be in trouble," said McKenzie.

Personally it is a good way to go. I love the fire in Sweden and you know what Canada can bring to the table. Canada brings winning instinct and that is something that cannot be taught. Keep in mind, the obvious. Sweden has never won a major tournament on Canadian soil. Canada last lost to Sweden in last year's prelims 4-3. Everyone knows that prelims mean absolutely jack squat!

The Tavares and Hedman comparisons will continue but really that seems to phase neither. Tavares has picked up his play in this tournament which again has Drafr Pundits buzzing over his #1 status for this year's draft. Viktor Hedman, on the other hand, has been called out by his own coach. His defensive play has been kind of suspect in this tournament.

John Tavares is a key player for Canada. He has 14 points in the tourney (8 goals, 6 assists) and his scoring has been timely. The effort against the Americans...the shootout goal against the Russians to clinch the win...etc. Tavares is the offensive sparkplug. If he is not going early, Sweden may be able to get a jump. However, if Tavares puts one in the net....the crowd will go wild and it will be a long night for Team Sweden.

The key for Sweden is going to be Jacob Markstrom. Though Canada's Dustin Tokarski has been shaky at times....Markstrom has been more so and Canada's defense is a little better stacked depthwise than Sweden. Markstrom cannot give up long goals like he did against Slovakia and really he has done that throughout the tournament. He has the ability to stand on his head however. Which Markstrom shows up will be key in determining Sweden's fate. If he stands on his head like Jaroslav Janus can for Slovakia then the Swedes have a chance.

Inevitably, we have to predict things and more than likely it may go something like this. Canada has too much team depth and the home crowd on its side not to win this one. Sweden will put up a valiant fight and their "production line" or "son" line as I like to call them may tally but it will not be enough to overcome guys like Tavares, Hickey, Pietrangelo, Subban,Boychuk, Eberle, etc...etc. Sweden has a nice D combo in Karlsson and Hedman but guys like Mattias Tedenby are going to need the ice time to step up and make a splash here. It will likely not be enough this year.

Prediction: Canada defeats Sweden 5-3.

See you tonight for the game.