With no disrespect intended to Latvia, Belarus, Germany, Norway and Switzerland, the 12-team Olympic hockey tournament is really a seven-country competition. With less than a month before the puck drops in Vancouver, this is how the "Big Seven" stack up: Canada: The favourites to win it all, but certainly not a certainty. The hosts are loaded with skill at every position and boast far more depth than any other competing country. The three-headed netminding monster of presumed starter Martin Brodeur, the probable backup Roberto Luongo and the No 3 Marc-André Fleury is especially intimidating. The defence corps are not overly physical, but make up for it with superior mobility, positioning and passing. Up front is the class of Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. Anything less than gold on home ice will be a national disappointment.
Russia: If one country can trump Canada offensively, it is the Russians. Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Semin are huge talents. Plus, the team will be motivated by the fact the 2014 Olympics are in Sochi, Russia. The NHL has not agreed to participate yet, but the pressure to do so will be enormous if Russia win in Vancouver. Russia are not as strong at the back; if their defenceman Sergei Gonchar is injured or has a bad tournament it would be disastrous.
Sweden: The Olympic champions will be in the mix again, even without Mats Sundin (retired), and a 2010 version of Peter Forsberg that is not nearly as productive as the 2006 model. With Henrik Lundqvist in net and Nicklas Lidstrom on the blueline, the Swedes can never be counted out. Up front, the Sedin twins - Daniel and Henrik - take over the reins, with support from the young guns Nicklas Backstrom and Loui Eriksson. Sweden do not have overwhelming top-to-bottom depth, but they have several elite players and can beat any country at any time.
United States: While Sweden are in transition from one era to the next, Team USA opted for a wholesale change. The US side is inexperienced at the international level - but then again, that is what they said in 1980 when they took the gold and who can forget the "Miracle On Ice"? Ryan Miller has been the best goalie in the NHL this season; the defencemen are capable in all three zones; and game-breakers such as Zach Parise, Patrick Kane and Phil Kessel headline the forwards. The underdog Americans? If the skate fits -
Finland: If the Finns make it on to the podium, it will surely be because of their goaltending. Miikka Kiprusoff is the likely starter, backed up by Niklas Backstrom and Anterro Nittymaki. The blueline does not intimidate, although Kimmo Timonen and Joni Pitkanen are capable of playing big-time minutes. Look for Finland's forwards to take a committee approach behind Mikko Koivu. Czech Republic: The gold medallists when the NHL first participated in the Olympics in 1998, the Czechs have not kept pace. They will be competitive as long as Tomas Vokoun plays well in goal, and it will be fun to see Jaromir Jagr back in North America. But a medal? That would be a big surprise.
Slovakia: With Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa, the Slovaks are always a threat to score. But unless Zdeno Chara stays out on the ice for a full 60 minutes, they are going to give up a lot of goals, too. The perennial seventh-best team in hockey's "Big Seven" are unlikely to move up the order in Vancouver. @Email:sports@thenational.ae
