"That said, I do think it will come down to the wire. Why I say that is because the United States and Sweden, who I think are the second-most-likely team to top the group, don't play each other until the final day of preliminary round action. Barring any major upsets, the Sweden-United States game on New Year's Eve should decide who tops Group A and who comes second."
"For me, the big X-Factor for the United States this tournament is going to be the goal-scoring. In last year's tournament, the Americans scored twenty-two goals in the preliminary round, which was second-best to Sweden (the two teams play each other in the last of four group-stage encounters). The Swedes will probably end up being the measuring stick for the United States in their home tournament; with Sweden expected to bring an organized and rigid game plan on both sides of the ice,"
Group A includes United States, Sweden, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Germany, with tournament play beginning on Boxing Day featuring four games. The United States enters as repeat gold medallists and favorites to top the group with 11 points projected. Sweden is the most likely challenger and the United States–Sweden preliminary game on New Year's Eve is predicted to decide the group winner. Goal-scoring is the main X-factor for the United States after scoring twenty-two preliminary goals last tournament. Sweden is expected to present an organized, rigid game plan on both ends that will test the American offense.
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