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The hockey world was shocked on Sunday when the USA knocked off Canada 5-3. The Canadian team, playing in their home country, ranked #1 in the world simply got outplayed in an instant classic. The Canadians will now have to take the long road to the medal round and play an extra game. Lucky for them, they get to play 0-3 Germany.

Team Canada vs. Team Germany

Olympic Hockey odds (*note lines are approximations as they have not been posted at the time of writing)

Spread: Canada -1.5
Over/Under: 6
Money Line: Canada -400, Germany +350

The Canadian team has a stacked line up that should be a terror for the German team. The Germans only have a handful of NHL players and the Canadians only have the best players in the NHL. They’ve been shut out twice have to run the table to get into the medal round.

5dimes review: This game is a lock. The Canadians will be hungry and looking for a whipping boy after losing to the USA. Team Canada led by Sidney Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Martin Brodeur, Mike Richards and another dozen or so more all-stars, have no chance of losing this game. They have already shut out a weak Norway team 8-0. Expect more of the same in this one.

Final: Canada 10 – Germany 0. Take the over and Canada.

Review: USA vs. Canada

In one of the most exciting games I’ve ever watched, the United States defeated Team Canada in Vancouver 5-3. The game was back and forth with amazing acrobatic plays, hard checking, shot-blocking and unlikely heroes. The United States got two goals and an assist from the point from D Brian Rafalski. The Americans took the lead 4-2 on team captain Jamie Langenbrunner’s deflection of a Rafalski shot 7:09 into the 3rd period. The pace was frantic from both sides for the rest of the game with unreal saves from both goaltenders. USA goalie Ryan Miller somehow stopped 42 shots and while standing on his head. With only a few minutes left, a puck took a weird carom and bounced to Rick Nash who put the put it on Sid the Kid’s stick and deflected the puck for a goal as he crashed to the net. In a twist of irony with Martin Brodeur on the bench and a sixth skater on the ice, Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler chased down a puck and flailed his stick around the defenseman and somehow knocked it into the empty net, sealing the victory for the US in Vancouver against the home team.

Olympic hockey is the crown jewel of the Winter Olympics and the reasons have been on display for all to see. Take advantage of the rest of these preliminary round games as there are only a handful of teams that are elite in this tournament. Until the medal round, it is safe to say as long as they are not playing each other, that the USA team, Russian team, Canadian team, Swedish team and Czech teams, should be prohibitive favorites.

Hockey Odds: Take the Canadians and Czechs in their next games. They have inferior opponents (Germany, Latvia).

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