SWEDEN: The best team in the Olympics so far (their top seeding in the medal rounds is proof of that), the team is backstopped by Henrik Lundqvist, who is playing as well as Sweden has hoped. He is undoubtedly the key to any success the team will have, but will need a more consistent push on offense, as they let Slovenia hang around for most of the game in the quarterfinals. That is where Erik Karlsson figures into the equation, as he is the best at jump starting the offense.
FINLAND: Despite not having a great deal of depth at center, largely due to injuries, the Finns are in contention for a medal once again. Like Sweden, they rely heavily on their goaltending, in this case, Tuukka Rask, and they are also the most cohesive team left in the games. They will need to continue to outwork teams if they wish to be contending for gold because they have the least amount of talent of the remaining teams.
CANADA: Against teams like Norway, Finland, and Latvia, Canada has struggled to score goals at the rate they're used to, and now, they will have to play the rest of the Olympics without John Tavares (the Islanders will also be missing him, as he is done for the season). Offense has been an issue, and certainly, they need to figure out how to get around how teams are game planning for them because their defensemen are carrying the yeoman's work when it comes to scoring. The good news? Carey Price has played well, giving Canada a peace of mind in goal.
UNITED STATES: A team that is firing on all cylinders on offense, their defense is an often overlooked part of the game, and much of that begins with Jonathan Quick. He allows the team to play their game, and none more than Phil Kessel has benefited from this. The offense has also seen more than one player contribute, and for the U.S. to make the gold medal game, everyone will need to continue to contribute.
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