2010 Winter Olympics: Men's Hockey: Canada-Slovakia Preview and Analysis

Well, for all of you that didn’t think Canada was going to get past Russia, I say, “Ha!” And for the Slovaks making it this far, I give them some props.

The semifinals are here, and many Canadian fans are hoping for redemption against the USA in a possible Gold medal matchup, but they are playing the Finnish Flash, Teemu Selane, and the Finn’s today and will have a tough task.

Canada will still have to get past a gritty team in Slovakia with their behemoth defenseman Zedno Chara, and a surprise to most, aside from perhaps Montreal fans, goal tender Jaroslav Halak.

Halak has been outstanding and was a key factor for the Slovaks in the game against the Russians in the preliminaries, allowing only one goal and stopping a star-studded lineup of snipers in a shootout.

Canada has Roberto Luongo between the pipes, who shone against Russia, and who will have to have to try and repeat his performance, and perhaps be even better.

Canada in that game against Russia in the quarterfinals, from the drop of the puck, looked like a team possessed.

Wave after wave of Canadian players broke in on Russia’s first goalie, Evgeni Nabakov, chasing him from the net.  Canada continued the onslaught against Ilya Bryzgalov.

They also pretty much shut down the numerous star Russian players, such as Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Aleander Semin, and so on.

Canada will be facing a more cohesive group in Slovakia and one of the better defensive teams overall in this tournament, though not without some scoring prowess.

Pavol Demitra, Marian Gaborik, and Marian Hossa will look to continue their success for the Slovaks, and have been good all tournament.

Slovakia will need more than just those guys to hang around with the pre-tournament favorite Canadians if Canada plays the way they did against Russia.

People talk about the gelling of a team in these thrown-together tournaments, and there were questions about Canada after their loss to the US in the preliminaries.

I think all of those questions have been answered.

Sidney Crosby, and whoever ends up on his line, will have to produce.

The line of Eric Stall, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry really stood out against Russia and are another line that should be dangerous along with the Shark line of Joe Thorton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany Heatley, who have been there all tournament.

If you look at Canada’s shot totals and how badly they have outshot every team, it may not have been a question of gelling but the fact of coming up against excellent goaltending.

Slovakia will have to use everything they have and get another stellar performance from Halak if they expect to keep this game close or have a chance to win.

Canada will have to dominate the boards and control the play in the Slovaks zone while getting the big bodies that they have in front of Halak making him fight through screens to pick up pucks that will be coming from every angle.

Prediction: Canada beats Slovakia 5-1