Only 4 more countries remain in the ice hockey tournament that is currently underway in Vancouver. From all over the world eyes will be looking-in to see which team can be the last one standing in Western Canada. When Wednesday began in Vancouver, there was 8 teams left and after the games played on Wednesday, the field got a lot smaller. There was a couple of shocking games on Wednesday and none were bigger than what Canada did to the mighty Russian team.

The men’s hockey team representing the host country of Canada was ready to play on Wednesday. The young sensation Sidney Crosby led his team from Canada to a blowout against the men’s team from Russia. The score was 4 to 1 in Canada’s favor after the first period was over. I don’t think the team from Russia knew what hit them; when they took to the ice on Wednesday. Canada has a loaded roster and they finally came out of their shell and showed what they was capable of doing. The final score was 7 to 3 and this win puts Canada one game away from the gold medal game. Russia’s talented team that was made up of players like Alexander Ovechikin and Ilya Kovalchuk will have to pack their bags now as their 2010 Olympic Dreams are now over with in Vancouver.

Russia wasn’t the only team that suffered a devastating defeat on Wednesday. The team from Sweden came in as one of the best teams in the tournament and they got beat by the men’s team from Slovakia.

This was a close game all the way through. It seemed Slovakia took control when they scored their 4th goal of the game and took a 4 to 2 lead in the 4th period. Sweden wasn’t going to be that easy to beat as they quickly came back and added their 3rd goal of the game within 1 minute of the Slovakian 4th period goal. There was still plenty of time left for Sweden to tie this one up, but Slovakia managed to hold on for the rest of the game. The last minute of this game was played in the Slovakia’s end of the defensive ice as Sweden sent everything they had. The extra skater for Sweden got a lot of ice time; when Sweden pulled their goalie for the extra skater. A lot of good opportunities were there, but Sweden couldn’t manage to get the puck pass the Slovakian goaltender.

Slovakia’s win over Sweden is good news for Canada. They now get to play a team that doesn’t have the same talent level as the men’s team from Sweden. The match up between Canada and Slovakia will take place Friday night in Vancouver. Expect a big Canadian crowd for this event and the home ice advantage is going to be tough for the team from Slovakia to handle. No one gave Slovakia much of a chance to beat Sweden, so they might be happy as the underdogs, when they face the talented Canadian team Friday night.

Before Canada and Slovakia face off on Friday night, the other half of the bracket will play in the afternoon game. This should be a very close game as Finland and the United States square off.

The men’s USA team wasn’t given much of a chance to beat Canada on Sunday night and now hockey experts are wondering if anyone can beat the U.S. team. The strength of the USA team is in their defense. It all starts with the play of goaltender Ryan Miller. He has played very well in the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. No team is going to have an easy time scoring goals against the Americans. The only team left in the Vancouver Olympics that uses defense to win games is the American team. Their focus on defense has got them in position to win a medal in Vancouver. If the US can beat Finland on Friday afternoon, they will be the first team to be placed in the Gold medal game. We won’t know who their opponent will be until we see who wins the match up between Slovakia and Canada.

Does Finland have a chance to beat the U.S. ice hockey team? Yes, Finland comes in with a very strong team of NHL players and seeing them left as one of the 4 teams remaining is not shocking at all. A lot of people saw the team from Finland as one of the final teams to be playing in Vancouver. Finland is now only 1 win away from the gold medal game and expect their stars to lay it all out in Vancouver on Friday afternoon. Their main star is probably Teemu Selanne from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (NHL Team). He’s fast and knows how to put the puck in the net. He will be a focus for the American defense to contend with and this should allow their other stars from the NHL to have a chance to shine in Vancouver. The game between the USA and Finland should be a close one as both teams will be fighting for a chance to play in the gold medal game in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Game 1

USA .vs. Finland

Game 2

Canada .vs. Slovakia

Those are the 4 teams left in the men’s ice hockey tournament in Vancouver. It has been fun watching all the teams compete in this year’s Winter Olympics. The hockey games are the thing I like best about the Winter Olympics. No other event compares to the talent level of these athletes and it’s a great team sport to watch in the Olympic events. It wasn’t always like this, but since the NHL guys get to participate now, it’s become the main attraction for the Olympic Games that gets played every 4 years. Congratulations to the 4 teams left in the ice hockey tournament and it should be fun seeing who wins the gold medal in Vancouver.