The Canadian men's hockey team is in the scenario that most fans feared the most. First, they will have to play an extra game, against Germany, because they failed to win their pool. After that (assuming a victory), Russia awaits in a quarter-final. If Canada can pull out that game, a match-up against Sweden seems likely in the next round. Should Canada make the finals, it could very well be the United States, if not Finland.
By Eric Koreen, National Post
The Canadian men's hockey team is in the scenario that most fans feared the most.
First, they will have to play an extra game, against Germany, because they failed to win their pool. After that (assuming a victory), Russia awaits in a quarter-final. If Canada can pull out that game, a match-up against Sweden seems likely in the next round. Should Canada make the finals, it could very well be the United States, if not Finland.
It is the toughest road possible, and the team was the author of its own demise, as Canada failed to beat Switzerland in regulation, and lost to the United States on Sunday.
However, there is a positive way to look at the predicament, and Toronto Raptors coach Jay Triano is opting for that perspective. The Niagara Falls, Ont., native actually likes that Canada will have to play Germany on Tuesday night.
"It's perfect. Really," Triano said after his team practised in Toronto on Monday. "This team has to come together, and they get an extra game to do it now. If they're going to be really good, they're going to have to beat all the teams anyway. So give them an extra game. Now they play together a full game more. They're going to be fine."
"If you're first overall, can you afford to lose? No. You've got to win them all. You've got to win them all. Line 'em up. It doesn't matter what order you put them in."
