The Olympic semifinals are upon us, and with them come a few things to watch for. Each team has its work cut out for it with a trip to the gold medal game on the line, and Friday’s games will determine who that is. Canada, the United States, Slovakia, and Finland are all playing for something bigger than themselves, and it all comes down to tomorrow, especially with the gold medal game looming.
The hockey world was put on watch on Wednesday when Canada captain Sidney Crosby left the game in the first period and did not return. There has been speculation about his status since the Pittsburgh Penguins veteran left the game, and Thursday morning did little to clear things up.
While head coach Jon Cooper is not ruling out Crosby in Canada’s semifinal matchup against Finland, the 38-year-old did undergo an MRI. The results have not yet been made public, but it’s not looking good with under 24 hours to go until their game against Finland.
Something else to watch for: if Crosby does not return, Canada will have to name a new captain as per IIHF rules. There is an easy choice here in Connor McDavid, who will no doubt be the chosen one should Crosby sit out. That being said, could we be seeing the passing of the torch for Canadian hockey in real time?
For a team that has incredible offensive talent, the defense has been their main attraction up to this point. Not only have they had defensemen like Zach Werenski and Quinn Hughes add their names to the score sheet, but they have also come up big in crucial moments.
Wednesday’s game against Sweden is a perfect example, with Hughes playing hero in overtime to send the U.S. to the semifinals. He has had plenty of time to shine throughout the Olympics and has embraced his role on the team, which is to be fast and contribute offensively.
If the United States blue liners get involved offensively against Slovakia, the team will be difficult to stop. The defensemen have been a force to be reckoned with throughout the Olympics, and if they can play both sides of the puck, Slovakia will have its hands full.
In addition, the U.S. goaltending has been an unsung hero in terms of the number of goals scored against. The team has allowed just six goals through four games in the Olympics, thanks to a combination of elite defense and goaltending. Those two aspects of the game will have to show up during the semifinals and beyond, but the United States is in a good spot going forward.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Slovakia should be immensely proud of itself for getting to the semifinal round, especially since it’s been competing against teams with full-NHL rosters. Their success has truly been a team effort, with outstanding goal scoring leading the way.
Most of the eyes watching Slovakia have drifted towards Juraj Slavkofsky, the Montreal Canadiens star playing in his second Olympic Games. While he has been great with seven points through four games, the team has spread the wealth and found a system that works for them. Slavkofsky is just one of the four players who have multiple goals for Slovakia, with Dalibor Dvorsky, Adam Ruzicka, and Pavol Regenda rounding out the list.
There are a couple of things the team will have to do in order to succeed in the semifinals, but they’re manageable with the way the team has played. Slovakia has to keep the puck moving against a high-powered and skilled U.S. defense, and if they can score early, they can put themselves in a good spot. In addition, the team has to be prepared to be physical for 60 minutes. The U.S. put on a physical clinic against Sweden on Wednesday, and they won’t be afraid to do it again. If Slovakia is able to initiate the physicality, it can control it; if the United States punches first, it could be over for Slovakia.
Finland’s tournament got off to a rough start with a loss against Slovakia, but the team has bounced back in a big way. They will need all hands on deck Friday morning as they take on gold-medal favorites Canada, but the team seems ready for the challenge.
Since their shocking loss to open the Olympics, Finland has won three straight games. They have had a couple of high-scoring games against Sweden and Italy, beating the latter a staggering 11-0 on the 14th. The unknown in which the team has had to navigate through sets them up well in the semifinals, because it seems like they’ll be ready for anything. Preparation is half the battle, and given how close Czechia came to beating Canada, Finland might just be up for the task.
Friday will be a busy and exciting day for hockey fans, with two games left to decide who will compete for a gold medal. Each team will have its work cut out for it heading into the semifinals, but they all have what it takes to come out on top.
With so much on the line, fans have some high-intensity, high-stakes hockey to look forward to. There’s almost nothing better than that, so here’s to hoping the semifinals live up to the hype.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
