Olympic hockey preview

Medal favorites in men's hockey

Tim Sassone breaks down the top teams competing for medals at the Vancouver Olympics:

Canada Strength: Where do you start? How about with Martin Brodeur and Roberto Luongo in goal, a mobile and big defense led by Chris Pronger, Duncan Keith, Dan Boyle Scott Niedermayer and a group of forwards that include Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Dany Heatley and Ryan Getzlaf? Weakness: The pressure to win the gold medal in their home country will be intense. The quote: "It's important we find some chemistry right away and play for one another and play as a team because the best team wins that tournament," Canadian defenseman Duncan Keith said.Russia Strength: Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Ilya Kovalchuk and Pavel Datsyuk up front. Are you serious? Weakness: Questionable defense, particularly from a physical standpoint, and has goalie Evgeni Nabokov ever won when it matters? The quote: "They're the No. 1-ranked team in the world. They're the favorite going into this tournament," Team Canada general manager Steve Yzerman said.Sweden Strength: The defending gold medalists are dripping with talent at both ends with Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Backstrom, Nicklas Lidstrom and Peter Forsberg. Weakness: Can goalie Henrik Lundqvist shake off the so-so year he's having with the Rangers and come up big? The quote: "The expectation in Sweden is gold," Steve Yzerman said.United States Strength: Ryan Miller in goal and a bunch of kids who have nothing to lose. Weakness: Size and an iffy defense that will be short-handed without the injured Paul Martin and Mike Komisarek. The quote: "In a tournament like this we feel we have the best goaltending and sometimes goaltending wins these things," U.S. winger Patrick Kane said.Finland Strength: Goalies Miikka Kiprusoff and Niklas Backstrom.Weakness: A lack of goal scorers to match tournament powers Canada, Russia and Sweden. The quote: "You can't count Finland out with their goaltending," Steve Yzerman said.Czech Republic Strength: Tomas Kaberle on defense and some solid forwards such as Jaromir Jagr, Martin Havlat, Tomas Plekanec, David Krejci and Tomas Fleischmann. Weakness: If goalie Tomas Vokoun is off his game, the Czechs don't have a chance to pull off the upset. The quote: "The Canadian guys are No. 1, no question. Our coach took a lot of young guys for the future and that's how it should be," Jaromir Jagr said.Slovakia Strength: NHL stars Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara and Marian Gaborik. Weakness: Goalies Jaroslav Halak and Peter Bufaj don't have much big-game experience, plus Gaborik comes into the tournament in questionable heath with a leg laceration. The quote: "We have a pretty solid team on paper, but maybe we don't have the same depth like maybe Russia or Canada," Marian Hossa said.False20001333Czech Republic forward Jaromir Jagr takes a break during men's ice hockey practice at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday. The Czech Republic will play Slovakia Wednesday, Feb. 17 in a preliminary round game.Associated PressFalse