Day 5 of the Men’s Ice Hockey at the Olympics.

Finland beat Germany 2-0. Antero Niitymaki who shutout Canada the day before did not play.

Canada beat the Czech Republic 3-2.
Simon Gagne had one shot on goal.

Slovakia beat Sweden 3-0.
Some controversy before the game with the Sweden coach basically saying Sweden was better off losing the game since they would then face Switzerland in the quarterfinals. Whether they loss on purpose or not I guess it really doesn’t matter now. What I like to know is what about Forsberg? He didn’t register anything in the boxscore. Did he play? If he didn’t play then no, Sweden wasn’t serious about winning that game. Of course the other reason could be is that he is injured and just hasn’t told anyone.

Russian beat USA 5-4.
Robert Esche got his first start in goal for team USA and well, wasn’t that good.
He stopped 16 of 21 shots.
Derian Hatcher had a 2 minute roughing penalty and was minus 1.
Mike Knuble had an assist, 4 shots on goal and a hooking penalty, he was also minus 1.

Now to the serious stuff, Quaterfinal games later today.
Win and advance, lose and go home.
Finland vs USA
Russia vs Canada
Slovakia vs Czech Republic
Switzerland vs Sweden

I know I should pull for the home team, but I think Finland will advance over USA.
Russia does have a good chance of advancing, but I think the Canadians will start to play better and take it.
The Slovakia and Czech Republic should be an interesting game. I remember when they use to be one country Czechoslovakia. I wonder if that plays a factor when they play each other.
Then you got Switzerland and Sweden. Sweden will lose just for the fact of losing yesterday to play them. Also throw in a groin injury for Forsberg.

Day 4 of the Men’¢s Ice Hockey at the Olympics.
Here how the Flyer’s participants did.
Sweden beat USA 2-1.
Derian Hatcher was a minus 1 and Mike Knuble had 4 shots on goal for Team USA. Robert Esche has not seen any game time yet.
For Sweden Peter Forsberg sat. Forsberg says he feels ok, but did not want to play in back to back games. He should play Tuesday against Slovakia.

Canada gets shutout again, this time by Finland 2-0.
Antero Niittymaki gets his second shutout of the Olympics for Finland stopping 24 of 24 shots. He has given up 2 goals in 3 games.
Simon Gagne had 2 shots on goal and took a minor high sticking penalty for Canada.

Day 3 of the men’s Olympic ice hockey.
What is considered the biggest upset so far in men’s Olympic ice hockey at Torino, Switzerland beat Canada 2-0. Flyers Simon Gagne had one shot on goal and was minus 1.

Sweden beat Latvia 6-1. In a move that hasn’t sat well with Flyers fans, Peter Forsberg played his first game this Olympics. Forsberg had 2 assists and 2 shots on goal. So far his groin is holding up. I wasn’t quite happy that he continued to play even after Sweden was up 5-0. I don’t think it was worth the risk after the game was in hand.

Slovakia beat the United States 2-1. Derian Hatcher had one shot on goal. Mike Knuble also had a shot on goal and was minus 1.

Finland beat the Czech Republic 4-2. Antero Niittymaki got the start in goal for Finland. He stop 37 of 39 shots. Niittymaki has given up 2 goals in 2 games.

United States play Sweden and Canada plays Finland tomorrow.

Day 2 of the men’s Olympic ice hockey.
United States beat Kazakhstan 4-1.
Flyers Mike Knuble had one shot on goal. Derian Hatcher had a roughing penaltly and was plus one. Robert Esche did not play.

Canada beat Geryamn 5-1.
Flyers Simon Gagne had one goal, one assist, with one shot on goal. He was a plus two.

Finland beat Italy 6-0.
Antero Niittymaki who played well enough in the first game for a shutout did not play.

Russian beat Sweden 5-0.
Peter Forsberg did not play in the game, but will skate tomorrow to see if he can play on Saturday.
Sweden plays Latvia.

USA tied Latvia 3-3 in men’s ice hockey today.
Flyers Derian Hatcher had one shot on goal and a minor penalty for interference. Flyers Mike Knuble was plus 2. Robert Esche did not play.
I guess any medal hope for the men’s USA hockey team has gone down the crapper.

Flyers goalie Antero Niittymaki records a shutout as Finland beats Switzerland 5-0 today in the Olympics. Preliminary Round in Group A, Niittymaki stopped all 24 shots with 4 penalty kills.

Flyers other goalie Robert Esche is third string for USA and probably wont see much if any play time.

Flyer’s Simon Gagne records an assist, 4 shots on goal and a two minute high sticking penalty in Canada’s first game. Canada won 7-2 over Italy. Gagne assisted on Joe Thornton’s Power Play goal in the 3rd period, the seventh goal for Canada.

Sweden beat Kazakhstan 7-2 in the earlier game. Kim Johnsson and Peter Forsberg were selected to play for Sweden. Johnsson stayed home, Forsberg might play in later games. So really no news in regards to the Flyers. But this does give me the excuse to use this picture.

Thanks to Japers Rink, for the pict.