The men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament group stage is nearly done, and Team Canada will be paying close attention to Team USA’s game against Germany.
Team Canada went 3-0-0 in the group stage and currently holds the No. 1 seed. However, Team USA can take control of the top seed with a blowout win over Germany, and the No. 1 seed is crucial, as all signs point to the No. 2 seed having to play Sweden in the quarter-finals.
Entering Canada’s game against France, they had a +9 goal differential, and after their 10-2 win, Team Canada finished the tournament with a goal differential of +17. Team USA, meanwhile, has a goal differential of +7.
So, for Canada to hold onto the No. 1 seed in the Olympic tournament, they need Team USA not to beat Germany by 10 or more goals.
Germany has been playing teams close, although they are winless. So, it does seem likely Team Canada will finish as the top seed and avoid Sweden in the quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals are set to take place on Wednesday, February 18.
Olympic Hockey Schedule
The men’s Olympic tournament will continue on Tuesday with the qualifying round.
The schedule is as follows:
Qualifying round, Feb. 16, with the game times as follows:
- 6:10 a.m. ET
- 6:10 a.m. ET
- 10:40 a.m. ET
- 3:10 p.m. ET
Quarterfinals, Feb. 17, with the game times as follows:
- 6:10 a.m. ET
- 8:10 a.m. ET
- 10:40 a.m. ET
- 3:10 p.m. ET
Semifinals, Feb. 20, with the game times as follows:
- 10:40 a.m. ET
- 3:10 p.m. ET
Bronze medal game, Feb. 21
- 2:40 p.m. ET
Gold medal game, Feb. 22
- 8:10 a.m. ET
Team Canada Focused on Winning Gold
Entering the Olympics with NHL players back in action, Team Canada had one goal, which is winning a gold medal.
“We’re focused,” captain Sidney Crosby said before the tournament began. “We respect everyone. I think our biggest thing is just trying to focus on our own game. We know that everyone’s not going to be perfect in Game 1, but at the same time we have to start to form our identity, and we have to understand what that looks like.”
Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper, meanwhile, likes the team that is built and believes they have all the tools to win.
“I hate sitting here and saying going in, ‘This is the way we’re going to play or this is the way it’s going to go,'” Cooper said. “It’s been said the ‘Canadian way.’ Well, what is the Canadian way? I always think the Canadian way is the winning way and that’s how it works.
“But this group of players, to wear their heart on their sleeve, this team will push. You want to have a team that can beat somebody many different ways. Do we have the skill? We do. Do we have the speed? I believe we do. Do we have the goaltending? I believe we have that. If push comes to shove, can we push back? I really think we can do that. So, for us to be an intimidating team both physically and skill-wise, that would be an identity for us.”
Canada has gotten off to a good start as the team is 3-0-0 after their blowout win over France on Sunday.
How Team Canada Can Finish No. 1 Seed & Avoid Sweden in Quarters