USA vs. Canada: Round Two to the Canucks, What's Next?

Your local Wikipedia defines a rubber match as "the third fight between two fighters after the first two matches have been split."

It was clear that nothing was going to stop the women of Team Canada from facing Team USA for the gold medal on Thursday at Canada Hockey. It was no surprise, even for the USA fans, that Canada had performed so well at this tournament that it would be nothing a mere formality.

The gold medal favorites long before the first puck dropped, Hayley Wickenheiser and Team Canada completed an undefeated campaign with a 2-0 victory over Angela Ruggiero and the Americans. It was the 15th straight Olympic victory for Team Canada, who have successfully defended their gold for three straight Winter Olympiads. 

The Canadian defense was led by Wickenheiser, Catherine Ward, Tessa Bonhomme and goalie Shannon Szabados. Together, they neutralized Team USA's offensive unit with every shot they dished out. It was a stellar performance off the heels of two Marie-Philip Poulin goals that mesmerized the sellout crowd of 18,810.

As soon as USA showed its inability to get back in the game in the second period,  there was no doubt in my mind that this was going to be Canada's gold.

So now we are all square at one victory apiece, with a possible rubber match slated for this weekend to close out these Games. Canada and the USA, the two North American ice hockey powerhouses, are one victory or defeat from meeting each other once again.

Or it may not happen at all, since the Finns and Slovaks have the skills to derail a finale the fans on both sides of the world's longest undefended border are salivating for.

So what do you think will happen, now that both the United States and Canada have won a hockey game against each other at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games? What's next? Will they both meet for gold? Will they meet from bronze? Or will they not meet at all?

Sound off, and let us know what you think! Keep it clean, and keep it on-topic.