:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28995283/20140221_jla_am8_185.0.jpg)
With the Preliminary Round coming to a close with a defensive display between Canada and Finland, we are now set for the Relegation Rounds of the tournament set to begin on Tuesday this week.
Below is a tableau which will serve to show readers what the playoff format seeding will look like.
| Qualification Round | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Medal Rounds |
| Tuesday, February 18 | Wednesday, February 19 | Friday, February 21 | Weekend, February 22 & 23 |
| Slovenia 4 | Sweden 5 | ||
| Austria 0 | Slovenia 0 | ||
| Gold Medal Game | |||
| Russia 4 | Finland 3 | Sweden 2 | Sweden 0 |
| Norway 0 | Russia 1 | Finland 1 | Canada 3 |
| Czech Rep. 5 | USA 5 | USA 0 | Bronze Medal Game |
| Slovakia 3 | Czech Rep. 2 | Canada 0 | USA 0 |
| Finland 5 | |||
| Switzerland 1 | Canada 2 | ||
| Latvia 3 | Latvia 1 |
Just so we're clear, Olympic hockey is the best hockey. We have narrowed the field from twelve all the way down to the final two who will play for gold Sunday at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. Here's a look at how the Semifinals concluded:
Canada proved just how dominant they were at the 2014 Olympics making short work of Sweden on their way to claiming back-to-back gold medals.
If this is in fact the curtain call for NHL players on the Olympic stage, this Canadian team surely sent us out with a bang.
Congrats to the boys on brining it home.