A primer for the upcoming men's Olympic hockey tournament in Sochi, Russia:


TEAMS
GROUP A
Russia
Coach: Zinetula Bilyaletdinov
NHL players on roster: 14
Vancouver Games finish: 6th
Slovakia
Coach: Vladimir Vujtek
NHL players on roster: 14
Vancouver Games finish: 4th
Slovenia
Coach: Matjaz Kopitar
NHL players on roster: 1
Vancouver Games finish: Did not qualify
United States
Coach: Dan Bylsma
NHL players on roster: 25
Vancouver Games finish: Silver
GROUP B
Austria
Coach: Emanuel Viveiros
NHL players on roster: 3
Vancouver Games finish: Did not qualify
Canada
Coach: Mike Babcock
NHL players on roster: 25
Vancouver Games finish: Gold
Finland
Coach: Erkka Westerlund
NHL players on roster: 16
Vancouver Games finish: Bronze
Norway
Coach: Roy Johansen
NHL players on roster: 1
Vancouver Games finish: 10th
GROUP C
Czech Republic
Coach: Alois Hadamczik
NHL players on roster: 17
Vancouver Games finish: 7th
Latvia
Coach: Ted Nolan
NHL players on roster: 1
Vancouver Games finish: 12th
Sweden
Coach: Par Marts
NHL players on roster: 24
Vancouver Games finish: 5th
Switzerland
Coach: Sean Simpson
NHL players on roster: 8
Vancouver Games finish: 8th

GAMES TO WATCH
Feb. 13: Slovakia vs. United States, 7:30 a.m.
Feb. 15: United States vs. Russia, 7:30 a.m.
Feb. 16: Canada vs. Finland, 7:30 a.m.
Feb. 21: Semifinals, 7 a.m. and noon
Feb. 22: Bronze medal game, 10 a.m.
Feb. 23: Gold medal game, 7 a.m.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sergie Bobrovsky, G, Russia: Bobrovsky was stellar for the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, and appears to be the favorite in goal for the host country.
Alex Ovechkin, F, Russia: The Penguins’ Sydney Crosby might be hockey’s biggest star, but Ovechkin will be the unquestioned star in Sochi.
Zdeno Chara, D, Slovakia: Chara will captain Slovakia, and has big-game Stanley Cup finals experience.
Ryan Miller, G, United States: Miller was the star of the Vancouver Games, but it’s unclear who will man the net for the U.S. Watch for Jonathan Quick to get minutes in the preliminary round games.
Patrick Kane, F, United State: The U.S. has plenty of talent up front, and it starts with Kane, the 2013 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Zach Parise, F, United States: Parise scored the biggest U.S. goal in Vancouver, a last-second tally in the gold medal game against Canada that sent the game to overtime.
Sidney Crosby, F, Canada: The top player in the world will have the pressure of a country on his shoulders to bring home gold again.
Roberto Luongo, G, Canada: Loungo was solid in net for Canada, but he’s could be one bad period away from getting yanked.
Teemu Selanne, F, Finland: This is Selanne’s sixth Winter Games, and he has scored the most points of any Olympic hockey participant.
Henrik Zetterberg, F, Sweden: Don’t count out the Swedes for medal contention, thanks to their leader Zetterberg, who knows a thing or two about big games with the Detroit Red Wings.

PREDICTIONS
Gold: Canada
Silver: Russia
Bronze: United States


- Mark Podolski | @mpodo