The 2006 Olympic Winter Games concluded on Sunday after some of the best ice hockey the world has seen in some time.
The larger Olympic rink required each country to play a finesse game. Having said that, what better countries to play in the finals but Finland and Sweden? The long-time rivals squared off Sunday morning in the gold medal game.
Finland had been undefeated in Olympic competition, shutting out the powerful Russians 4-0 in the semifinals to reach the finals, but the Finlanders could not withstand the Swedish triple-threat of Philadelphia's Peter Forsberg, the Toronto Maple Leafs' Mats Sundin and the Detroit Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom. The three combined for the game-winning goal just 10 seconds into the third period to lead the Swedes over Finland, 3-2. Swedish goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers also recorded 25 saves in the contest.
The conclusion of Olympic hockey allows America to reflect on the type of game it witnessed for two weeks. If you missed it, here's a recap: the level of play was stellar. The pace alone was enough to keep viewers riveted. The larger rink allowed for more open ice skating, which contributed to superb puck movement and more open shots than in the NHL.
Although the Olympics ended on Sunday, the NHL resumed its schedule this past Tuesday. Many Olympic teammates squared off this week or continued their national connection for the same teams.
Tuesday night pitted former Russian teammates Maxim Afinogenov of the Buffalo Sabres and Viktor Kozlov of the Atlanta Thrashers against each other. Meanwhile, Swedish teammates Henrik Zetterberg, Lidstrom and Tomas Holmstrom returned to Detroit, combining for two goals and three assists to shutout Finland's Teemu Selanne and the Anaheim Ducks.
With the NHL back in action, the playoff race has officially begun. Despite strong first halves of the year, the Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators are not the league's dominant teams as of late.
At this stage, the Carolina Hurricanes are playing the best hockey. During the Olympic Games, Switzerland's hockey team made an impressive showing in the preliminaries, beating both Canada and the Czechs. It was ranked second in Group A behind Finland going into the medal round. However, a glance at the Swiss roster reveals neither dominant players nor even recognizable ones. This team rode the strength of Carolina's goaltender Martin Gerber, who shutout the Canadian powerhouse on February 18.
Carolina beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Wednesday night to boost its record to a league-leading 40-14-4. The Panthers are the top contenders in the Eastern Conference and are looking for a repeat of the success they enjoyed several years ago. Carolina has won only one playoff series since moving from Hartford in 1998.
