Feb. 25 Olympic Preview

Today is a big day in Canada with the women's hockey team going for gold against Team USA. The big focus for the Americans will be the nordic combined event. Already with two silvers in both events so far, the team from the USA has a chance to win the first ever American gold in the sport.
The day starts, as it has for most of the Olympics, with cross-country and ends with figure skating.

Cross-Country: Women's 4x5 Relay
After Norway failed to medal in the sprint relay, look for them to enlist Marit Bjoergen to win her fourth medal in Vancouver. Norway's cross-country party has been crashed by Sweden for the whole games and look for the Norwegians to face stiff competition from the Swedes yet again.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Russia
American and Canadian Team in Final
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Norway
Silver: Sweden
Bronze: Russia

Nordic Combined: LH/10km
The combination of ski jumping and cross-country skiing starts with the long hill jump and a 10k cross-country race. The Americans are looking to win their first ever gold in the sport after a silver from Johnny Spillane and then a silver in the team relay. The main competition is Jason Lamy-Chappuis of France along with Felix Gottwald of Austria.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Georg Hettich (Germany)
Top American Hopefuls: Johnny Spillane, Bill DeMong, Todd Lodwick
Top Canadian Hopeful: None
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Johnny Spillane (USA)
Silver: Todd Lodwick (USA)
Bronze: Jason Lamy-Chappuis (France)

Freestyle Skiing: Men's Aerials
Just like the women's event, the men's aerials favorites come from China. The group of former gymnasts that came to the sport have been dominant in the World Cup season and will look to take the gold that eluded the women yesterday.Alexei Grishin and Timofei Slivets of Belarus will be looking to crash the Chinese party.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Xiaopeng Han (China)
Top American Hopefuls: Ryan St. Onge and Jeret "Speedy" Peterson
Top Canadian Hopeful: Kyle Nissen
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Jia Zongyang (China)
Silver: Ryan St. Onge (USA)
Bronze: Alexei Grishin (Belarus)

Figure Skating: Ladies' Free Skate
The premiere event of the figure skating competitions is coming to an end tonight with a group of skaters looking to take down Korea's Kim Yu-Na. That group includes Mao Asada of Japan, Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu of the USA and Canada's Joannie Rochette.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Shizuka Arakawa (Japan)
Top American Hopefuls: Rachael Flatt and Mirai Nagasu
Top Canadian Hopeful: Joannie Rochette
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Kim Yu-Na (Korea)
Silver: Joannie Rochette (Canada)
Bronze: Mao Asada (Japan)

Women's Hockey Medal Games
Continental rivalries are ready for their next editions in today's medal games. Sweden and Finland will fight for bronze and the USA-Canada game is for gold. Canada's team has not been disappointing like their men's team and will look to take gold yet again. Team USA is a clear underdog but has been scoring at will just like the Canadians. The gold medal game will come down to, like most expected shootouts, to defense and goaltending.
2006 Torino Gold Medalist: Canada
Projected Medalists:
Gold: Canada
Silver: USA
Bronze: Sweden