In the semi-finals, Canada won over the United States, and Sweden won over Finland. In the final, Canada defeated Sweden to win the tournament for the ninth time, and avenged their 1994 gold medal loss. Finland finished with the bronze medal, defeating the US, with captain Teemu Selänne awarded as the MVP of the tournament, scoring twice in the bronze-medal game.[1]
With the gold medal, Canada became the first men's team to successfully defend an Olympic title since the Soviet Union in 1988, the first team to finish the tournament undefeated since 1984 and the first to do both with the full NHL participation.[2][3]
Canada surrendered only three goals in six games, the fewest allowed by a gold medallist since 1928 when Canada shut out the opposition in a three-game tournament. Canada also scored only seventeen goals, the fewest by a gold medal-winning team in Olympic history, although Great Britain averaged fewer goals per game at the 1936 Winter Olympics (nineteen goals in eight games).
In each group, teams were ranked according to the following criteria:[6]
Number of points (three points for a regulation-time win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for an overtime or shootout defeat, no points for a regulation-time defeat);
In case two teams were tied on points, the result of their head-to-head match determined the ranking;
In case three or four teams were tied on points, the following criteria applied (if, after applying a criterion, only two teams remained tied, the result of their head-to-head match determined their ranking):
Points obtained in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
Goal differential in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
Number of goals scored in head-to-head matches between the teams concerned;
If three teams remained tied, result of head-to-head matches between each of the teams concerned and the remaining team in the group (points, goal difference, goals scored);
E. Malkin P. Datsyuk I. Kovalchuk I. Kovalchuk P. Datsyuk I. Kovalchuk P. Datsyuk I. Kovalchuk
12 min
Penalties
10 min
34
Shots
31
A Russian goal scored late in the third period, which would have given the team a 3-2 lead, was disallowed after referees ruled that the net was moved when the goal was scored. The decision resulted in the score remaining 2-2. USA went on to win the game in a shootout, which resulted in Russia playing a playoff qualification game while USA received a bye to the quarterfinals. The decision was criticized by many Russian politicians, TV hosts and commentators. Following the game, protesters led by the Kremlin party's youth group held a demonstration in front of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow to protest the decision. In response to the controversy, Konstantin Komissarov, the referee supervisor of International Ice Hockey Federation, officially confirmed that the decision by the referee was correct, citing the appropriate use of video review in assessing the play.[7][8]
Following the completion of the preliminary round, all teams were ranked 1D through 12D. To determine this ranking, the following criteria were used in the order presented:[6]
The four highest-ranked teams (1D–4D) received byes and were deemed the home team in the quarterfinals as they were seeded to advance, with the remaining eight teams (5D–12D) playing qualification playoff games as follows.
T. Plekanec (D. Krejčí, M. Židlický) (PP) (EN) – 59:21
5–3
2 min
Penalties
10 min
29
Shots
32
Quarterfinals
Teams seeded D1 to D4 were the home teams.
Following the quarterfinal games, the winning teams were re-ranked F1 through F4, with the winner of 1D vs. E4 re-ranked as F1, the winner of 2D vs. E3 re-ranked as F2, the winner of 3D vs. E2 re-ranked as F3, and the winner of 4D vs. E1 re-ranked as F4. The losers of the quarterfinal round games received a final ranking of 5 through 8 based on their preliminary round ranking.
Canada won the game 3–0 with goals from Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, and Chris Kunitz,[9] each scoring their first goal of the tournament.[10] Canada shut Sweden out with an overpowering defense limiting them to 24 shots, and Canada's goaltender Carey Price played well when needed.[11] The Canadian team's executive director Steve Yzerman called the performance in Sochi the finest defensive effort ever for a Canadian team.[12] Canada shut out its opponents in the semifinals and final and allowed only three goals in six games. It was also the first time since 1928 that a Canadian team won all its games.[10]
The win represented Canada's second consecutive men's gold in ice hockey, and the third time in four Olympics that Canada won both men's and women's gold in hockey.[10]
The game was a national phenomenon in Canada, with more than 15 million Canadians watching at least part of the game.[13] Several provinces and cities relaxed their liquor laws to allow bars to open as early as 4 am.[14]
Team Czech Republic was the oldest team in the tournament, averaging 30 years and 7 months. Team USA was the youngest team in the tournament, averaging 27 years and 6 months. Gold medalists team Canada averaged 28 years and 9 months. Tournament average was 28 years and 10 months.[16]
Leading scorers
Rankings based upon points, and sorted by goals.[17]