The 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia are underway. The Tampa Bay region will be well represented at the games. Several players from the Tampa Bay Lightning will represent their countries at the games. USF St. Petersburg will have a representative in Sochi with Felicia Zhang competing in the pairs figure skating.
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Zhang will compete in the pairs figure skating, which will begin on Tuesday with the Short Program and finishing on Wednesday with the Free Skate (or Long Program). Both events will be live on NBC Channel 8 in the Bay area. Tuesday will begin at 10 a.m. and Wednesday’s competition will begin at 10:45. Viewers unable to watch the event live will be able to tune into NBC’s primetime coverage which will replay the event without giving anything away.
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Bolts’ captain Martin St. Louis was originally a snub from the Canadian men’s hockey team. But with the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos unable to participate because of his broken leg suffered on Nov. 11, St. Louis will make another appearance, like the last for the 38-year-old from Quebec. Don’t expect St. Louis to replace Stamkos in the lineup and play the same role, that will most likely be Chicago’s Patrick Sharp, but St. Louis is still a dynamic player who can play a big role for the Canadians. Canada will play in Group B with Norway, Austria and Finland. Here is Canada’s preliminary schedule:
Thursday, Feb. 13 vs. Norway, noon
Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Austria, noon
Sunday, Feb. 16 vs. Finland, noon -
Lightning rookies Radko Gudas and Ondrej Palat will suit up for the Czech Republic in Sochi. Palat scored twice for the Bolts in their last game before the Olympic break. Palat has the chance to boost an average Czech offensive that features NHL legend Jaromir Jagr and Boston’s David Krejci. Gudas who is third in the NHL in penalty minutes will add some physicality to a weak Czech defense core that boasts five players from the NHL. The Czech’s aren’t expected to medal coming out of Group C. Here is the Czech Republic’s schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 12 vs. Sweden, noon
Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Latvia, 3 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. Switzerland, noon -
Lightning veteran defenseman will make his third appearance at the Olympics for Finland. In 2010, the Finns took home bronze and won silver in 2006. Salo will be a Top-4 defenseman in the tournament. His fellow defenseman will be aided by having Boston’s Tuukka Rask, one of the best goalies in the world, in goal. Finland is expected to make it out of Group B but not medal, but that’s what analysts say every time about Finland. Here is Finland’s schedule:
Thursday, Feb. 13 vs. Austria, 3 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Norway, noon
Sunday, Feb. 16 vs. Canada, noon -
Forward Richard Panik will suit up for Slovakia in Sochi. In 39 games this season for the Bolts, Panik has 2 goals and 9 assists. Slovakia will play in a tough Group A with the United States, host Russia and Slovenia. Here is Slovakia’s schedule:
Thursday, Feb. 13 vs. United States, 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. Slovenia, 3 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 16 vs, Russia, 7:30 a.m. -
The last Tampa Bay Lightning player in Sochi hasn’t even played a game yet for the Bolts. Latvia has tapped goaltender Syracuse Crunch and Bolts’ prospect Kristers Gudlevskis to play goalie in the tournament. Latvia won’t be a contender, but it will be an opportunity for fans to see a future player. Here is Latvia’s schedule:
Wednesday, Feb. 12 vs. Switzerland, noon
Friday, Feb. 14 vs. Czech Republic, 3 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15 vs. Sweden, noon
