Hundreds of thousands of Olympic revellers are flocking to Vancouver's downtown, especially Robson Street, seen here, prompting officials to order private liquor stores to close early. (CBC)

Vancouver police are ordering downtown liquor stores to close early on Friday evening in anticipation of the large crowds expected to watch Canada's men take on Slovakia in the Olympic hockey semi-final.

Despite the rain on Friday afternoon, downtown streets and pubs were already filling up by lunchtime as many people arrived to take in the afternoon, semi-final hockey game between the USA and Finland.

More that 100,000 spectators have been flooding into downtown Vancouver each day during the Olympic Games to attend hockey games, visit the free pavilions, and take in live music, or watch the Games on one of the many giant screens around the area.

Police first curbed the sale of alcohol last Saturday after rowdy crowds of Olympic spectators started drinking in the streets the previous night.

The move was not popular with the operators of independent liquor stores, which usually do a brisk business on Friday and Saturday nights. But police said the move helped cut down on public disorder and kept a family friendly atmosphere on the street.

The Canada-Slovakia semi-final game is expected to start at 6:30 p.m. PT, with the gold medal game scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

Critical mass ride also expected

This is also the last Friday in February, meaning the Critical Mass bike ride is expected to file up the streets of downtown Vancouver.

Although it is not clear how the cold and wet weather will affect the turnout, hundreds of riders are expected to meet at the Vancouver Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver for the 6 p.m. ride, which has been blamed for causing traffic gridlock in the past.

A Critical Mass blog indicated the riders might head toward the Lions Gate Bridge.

Vancouver's Critical Mass ride is part of a worldwide phenomenon that takes place on the last Friday of the month in about 300 cities. The riders aim to take over major roads to promote the use of bicycles as a primary mode of transportation and to push for more bike lanes.