Team USA is the top-overall seed entering the quarterfinal round, going 4-0 in Group A in the preliminary round and outscoring opponents 20-1. Sweden also went through the round undefeated, but had a goal differential of plus-16 in Group B, in wins over Japan, France, Germany and Italy.
Every Group A team advanced despite Finland having zero points (USA, Canada, Czechia, Switzerland) and Germany and Italy join Sweden form Group B. The Olympics used tiered grouping for the Games, putting the top-five ranked teams in Group A with a guarantee of advancement into the quarterfinals, with the top three teams out of Group B qualifying on merit.
The matchups and schedule will not be known until Canada faces Finland in the last preliminary-round game Thursday, which was postponed due to illness.
My take: I get the tiered system, as the Olympics tried to eliminate 12-0 blowouts and maybe get a few non-traditional teams into the quarters, but it's still the usual suspects advancing, with perhaps the host nation a slight surprise.
THE ASYLUM
Women's hockey quarterfinalists
Team USA is the top-overall seed entering the quarterfinal round, going 4-0 in Group A in the preliminary round and outscoring opponents 20-1. Sweden also went through the round undefeated, but had a goal differential of plus-16 in Group B, in wins over Japan, France, Germany and Italy.
Every Group A team advanced despite Finland having zero points (USA, Canada, Czechia, Switzerland) and Germany and Italy join Sweden form Group B. The Olympics used tiered grouping for the Games, putting the top-five ranked teams in Group A with a guarantee of advancement into the quarterfinals, with the top three teams out of Group B qualifying on merit.
The matchups and schedule will not be known until Canada faces Finland in the last preliminary-round game Thursday, which was postponed due to illness.
My take: I get the tiered system, as the Olympics tried to eliminate 12-0 blowouts and maybe get a few non-traditional teams into the quarters, but it's still the usual suspects advancing, with perhaps the host nation a slight surprise.
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