Word: finlandization
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...getting to tonight's battle. The Canadians pitched a shutout in their three preliminary matches, blanking Kazakhstan 7-0, Russia 7-0 and Sweden, the eventual bronze medallists, 11-0. The U.S. gave a similar spanking to the early-round opposition, beating Germany 10-0, China 12-1 and Finland...
...Sure, Finland gave Canada a scare in their semifinal, leading 3-2 before Team Canada woke up and answered with four goals to win. But it will still take "a couple more years of development and improving" before the Finns can threaten for gold, said Canadian star forward Hayley Wickenheiser. Her head coach, Daniele Sauvageau, was diplomatic about the opposition and said women's hockey was going "in the right direction...
...Until 1999, Finland had a perfect record at the world championships in bronze medal matches (it goes without saying that the U.S. and Canada faced off for every gold). But since then, Sweden and Russia have each beaten the Finns for bronze, signaling an improvement in at least two other European women's programs...
...there were real concerns for future of the women's game. "Canada and the United States have put a lot of effort and money into women's hockey," he said. "But each country has to do it. The International Ice Hockey Federation has to see to that. We need Finland, Sweden and Russia. They have improved, but not to the degree we have in North America...
Neither the U.S. nor Canada is coming in off its best hockey. The Canadians gave up their first lead of the tournament when they fell behind 3-2 in the second period against Finland. The United States took nearly the whole first period to get on the board against Sweden...