by Kathy K., Managing Editor, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC–In men’s ice hockey opening day action, Group C gets things underway as the Czechs will face the Swedes. At the same time, Latvia and Switzerland will also begin their round robin as a few former Habs, notably recent departure Raphael Diaz, will wear their country’s colours.
| Groups | |||||
| Group A | |||||
| Win | Loss | Points | Next Game | ||
 |
RUS | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Slovenia, 7:30 a.m. EST |
 |
SLO | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Russia, 7:30 a.m. EST |
 |
SVK | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. U.S.A., 7:30 a.m. EST |
 |
USA | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Slovakia, 7:30 a.m. EST |
| Group B | |||||
| Win | Loss | Points | Next Game | ||
 |
AUS | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Finland, 3:00 a.m. EST |
 |
CAN | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Norway, 12:00 p.m. EST |
 |
FIN | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Austria, 3:00 a.m. EST |
 |
NOR | 0 | 0 | 0 | Thursday, February 13th vs. Canada, 12:00 p.m. EST |
| Group C | |||||
| Win | Loss | Points | Next Game | ||
 |
CZE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wednesday, February 12th vs. Sweden, 12:00 p.m. EST |
 |
LAT | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wednesday, February 12th vs. Switzerland, 12:00 p.m. EST |
 |
SWI | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wednesday, February 12th vs. Latvia, 12:00 p.m. EST |
 |
SWE | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wednesday, February 12th vs. Czech Republic, 12:00 p.m. EST |
Game Notes:
- The news item raising a lot of headlines before this game had to do with the Czech Republic’s starting goaltender. It was announced earlier in the week that Ondrej Pavelec of the Winnipeg Jets, who has had his fair share of struggles this season but appeared to be turning a corner, would not even be dressed for this opening game against the Swedes.
- Much has been said about the Swedish blueline. The Karlssons, Ekman-Larssons and company will be participating in their first Olympic games and will prove to be a tough test for several teams.
- Alexander Edler is still serving a suspension from the World Championships. He has two games to go before he is eligible to re-join the lineup.
- Czech captain Plekanec will be playing alongside Roman Cervenka and fellow Kladno native Jaromír Jágr.
| Matchup | ||||
|
Team CZECH REPUBLIC |
2014 Sochi Olympics Feb 12, 12:00 PM ET |
Team SWEDEN |
|
| Projected Line Combinations and Goaltenders (subject to change) | |||
| Forwards | |||
| Roman Cervenka – Tomáš Plekanec – Jaromír Jágr Ondrej Palat – David Krejčí – Jakub Voráček Patrik Eliáš – Petr Nedvěd – Martin Erat Milan Michálek – Jiri Novotný – Michael Frolik |
Gabriel Landeskog- Henrik Zetterberg – Alexander Steen Loui Eriksson – Nicklas Bäckström – Daniel Sedin Gustav Nyquist – Patrik Berglund – Daniel Alfredsson Carl Hagelin – Marcus Krüger – Jimmie Ericsson |
||
| Defensemen | |||
| Marek Židlický – Zbyněk Michálek Tomáš Kaberle – Michal Rozsíval Michal Barinka – Lukáš Krajíček |
Erik Karlsson – Oliver Ekman-Larsson Niklas Kronwall – Jonathan Ericsson Niklas Hjalmarsson – Johnny Oduya |
||
| Goalies | |||
| Jakub Kovář |
Henrik Lundqvist | ||
 |
Record: – GAA: – Sv%: – SO: – Alternate: Alexander Salák |
 |
Record: – GAA: – Sv%: – SO: – Alternate: Jhonas Enroth |
| Scratches | |||
| Radko Gudas, Martin Hanzal, Aleš Hemský, Ladislav Šmíd, Ondřej Pavelec | Jonas Gustavsson, Alexander Edler (suspension) | ||