Olympic Hockey Preview: Norway vs. Canada

Team Canada will get their Olympic hockey tournament underway Thursday with what will really amount to an exhibition game against Norway.  This is one of many David vs Goliath matchups that will take place in the early days of the tournament, really right up to the quarterfinals.

NORWAY vs. CANADA

12 noon EST

TV:  CBC

Feb 11, 2014; Sochi, RUSSIA; Canada team members pose for a team photo during an ice hockey training session for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Bolshoy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s how the two teams match up:

GOALTENDING:  Carey Price gets the not to open the tournament in net for Canada, as Roberto Luongo will get the start in game 2 against Austria.  KHL goalie Lars Haugen will likely get the call for Norway

EDGE:  Canada

DEFENSE: Matching player for player on the blueline simply wouldn’t be fair.  Canada boasts Norris Trophy winners, nominees and candidates, such as Duncan Keith, Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and P.K. Subban. Norway has Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, who recorded 12 points in 163 career NHL games with Columbus and Philadelphia and Jonas Holos, who played 36 games with the Avalanche as their lone NHL experience defensemen

EDGE: Canada

FORWARDS:  Again, this isn’t a fair fight.  Superstars like Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Corey Perry and John Tavares are at the top of the NHL game, while Mats Zuccarello and Patrick Thoresen are the lone forwards with NHL experience among them

EDGE:  Canada

This will be a good opportunity to work on their systems in a live game experience without having to worry too much about making early mistakes.  However, you can’t take Norway too lightly, as the took Switzerland to overtime and put Slovakia on their heels in Vancouver.

PREDICTION:  This will be a solid win for Canada, and whatever the margin of victory ends up being you probably won’t get a smile from Mike Babcock.  Canada 7-1.