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February 10, 2014
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
BUTTING HEADS
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12 CZE VS. SWE Hanzal/Ekman-Larsson (PHX) Krejci/Eriksson (BOS) Rozsival/Kruger, Hjalmarsson, Oduya (CHI) Sobotka/Steen (STL) THURSDAY, FEB. 13 FIN VS. AUT Timonen/Raffl (PHI) SVK VS. USA Hossa, Handzus/Kane (CHI) Jurco, Tatar/Howard (DET) Sekera/Faulk (CAR) Budaj/Pacioretty (MTL) Halak/Shattenkirk, Backes, Oshie (STL) CAN VS. NOR Nash/Zuccarello (NYR) FRIDAY, FEB. 14 SWE VS. SUI Edler, H. Sedin, D. Sedin/Weber (VAN) Silfverberg/Hiller (ANA) CAN VS. AUT Tavares/Grabner, Vanek (NYI) SATURDAY, FEB. 15 USA VS. RUS Howard/Datsyuk (DET) van Riemsdyk, Kessel/Kulemin (TOR) Orpik/Malkin (PIT) Carlson/Ovechkin (WSH) Oshie, Shattenkirk, Backes/Tarasenko (STL) Pacioretty/Emelin, Markov (MTL) Brown, Quick/Voynov (LA) Varlamov/Stastny (COL) SUI VS. CZE Brunner/Elias, Jagr (NJ) Diaz/Plekanec (MTL) Streit/Voracek (PHI) Berra/Smid (CGY) LAT VS. SWE Girgensons/Tallinder, Enroth (BUF) SUNDAY, FEB. 16 RUS VS. SVK Anisimov, Nikitin, Tyutin, Bobrovsky/Gaborik (CLB) Datsyuk/Jurco, Tatar (DET) Tarasenko/Halak (STL) Belov/Marincin (EDM) Emelin, Markov/Budaj (MTL) SLO VS. USA Kopitar/Brown, Quick (LA) CAN VS. FIN Benn/Lehtonen (DAL) Getzlaf, Perry/Selanne, Vatanen (ANA) Crosby, Kunitz/Jokinen, Maatta (PIT) Marleau, Vlasic/Niemi (SJ) Stamkos/Salo, Filppula (DET) Smith/Korpikoski (PHX)…
GOALIES
THE POSITION itself is so difficult to judge and predict, so it should be no surprise goaltending was a tough category to peg for the Olympics. Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images Finland gets the nod, but only by the slightest margin over Team USA. A lot can happen during the short tournament, so depth was a consideration. The most weight was put on the projected starter and with three netminders at each team’s disposal, we’re looking at a 70-25-5 split. So each team needs to have a worst-case scenario that’s not really that bad. With Tuukka Rask, Finland boasts one of the top netminders in the NHL right now and Antti Niemi is no slouch, either. Having Kari Lehtonen – who has been successful with the Lions internationally – is a solid…
PAVING HIS PATH
FERRIS STATE COACH BOB DANIELS HAS known Chris Kunitz for nearly 15 years, which means he’s well aware of the left winger’s competitiveness. Kunitz returns to Big Rapids, Mich., every summer for an alumni event that includes golf and softball, where he chases down fly balls and dives into second base with reckless abandon. “Once he’s in that environment, I don’t think he can help himself,” Daniels says. “Every year I hold my breath, wondering how I’m going to explain to the Pittsburgh Penguins that Chris broke his leg at a charity softball game.” Much has been made about Kunitz’s selection to the Canadian Olympic team. Did he ride the coattails of linemate Sidney Crosby to a spot in Sochi? Fortunately for all involved, conversations about Kunitz held by Canadian management…
WINGERS
BY FAR THE MOST intriguing position at the tournament is on the wing. A plethora of natural centers means some nations will be shifting superstar players to the side just to cram all their talent onto one roster. Canada is the most obvious example, in which a team otherwise blessed with wingers will be supersized as a result of the pivot glut. John Tavares and Steven Stamkos, for example, could end up flanking a very lucky center. But on top of that, the Canucks boast a murderer’s row of big, strong and skilled players such as Corey Perry, Jamie Benn and Rick Nash. While the big ice of the Olympics has been a factor in doubting Canada’s chances at gold in Sochi, Nash has always played well on the larger surface,…
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