Patrick Chan entered the 2014 Winter Olympics as one of the best figure skaters never to win an Olympic medal. Chan won a team silver and now has an individual silver medal. But he still has the taste for gold.
Chan lost to the 19-year-old Japanese phenom Yuzuru Hanyu.
"It wasn't the worst I've ever skated, and that's a positive," from a reflective Chan.
Hanyu and Chan had flawed performances, but Chan's flaws hurt his scoring more.
The medal snapped a brief streak of not winning for Canada. The country is up to 11 medals in a 4-5-2 breakdown.
Canada Women's Hockey schedule
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Live TV |
| February 17 | Sweden vs. U.S. | 7:30 am | CBC/NBCSN |
| February 17 | Switzerland vs. Canada | Noon | CBC/MSNBC |
| February 20 | Bronze medal game | 7 am | TSN/NBCSN |
| February 20 | Gold medal game | Noon | CBC/NBC |
Switzerland hung in tight to shut down Russia 2-0 to advance to the semifinals. Florence Schelling had 41 saves in the win.
Canada beat Switzerland in the round-robin opener 5-0. Schelling had 64 saves that day.
This was the Swiss team's first win in 2014 Olympics play and first time ever in the medal round. And the Swiss has a lot more momentum than in that first game.
The U.S. women caught a break when Sweden scored 4 goals in the 3rd period to upset Finland 4-2. Both the U.S. and Canada wanted to avoid Finnish goalie Noora Raty, but Sweden took care of that.
---
Jeff Carter scored the first natural hat trick in the Olympics since 1988 in Calgary. Carter's three goals combined from a shorter distance than another barnburner from Shea Weber. Canada posted an easy 6-0 win over Austria.
Roberto Luongo got a bit of luck to post the 23-save shutout. One Austrian shot hit the post just past Luongo's outstretched hand.
Patrick Marleau had a natural hat trick for assists, if such a thing exists. Marleau had the primary assist on all 3 of Carter's goals.
Weber and Drew Doughty also scored in Game 1, giving Canada a dual offensive threat from the blue line.
Ryan Getzlaf added a shorthanded goal with a nice backhanded move.
---
A 9-1 margin would normally be dominant, but Canada only has the second-best goal differential in its own Group B, one behind Finland, Canada's Sunday opponent. The U.S. has a 6-goal differential after only 1 game.
Tiebreakers for seeding could easily come down to goal differential, especially the crucial 4th seed.
We talked about the dominance of the Canadian women's hockey team in the 3rd period. In 2 games, the Canadian men have been held scoreless in the 3rd period. That needs to change as the competition gets a lot tougher.
---
How badly does Russia want to win gold in men's hockey? Vladimir Putin stopped by Canada House and wished Canada "good luck, except in hockey." And Putin wasn't talking women's hockey either.
"Let us wish to meet our hockey teams in the final, in hockey," the president said through a translator. "And together we’ll enjoy their heart and their courage."
The Soviet Unified Team won the gold medal in 1992, but Russia hasn't won since. The pressure of home ice certainly invaded Vancouver 4 years ago, so Canadians understand that pressure. Barring an upset, Russia, Sweden, Canada, and the U.S. will be in the hunt. And the extra ice surface will help non-North American teams.
Does Russia has a ruble frozen in the ice?
Comments