OT: Women's Olympic Hockey Bracket Question

[HailtoPitt]

So I'm looking that the playoff bracket for the women and I'm confused. Both Canada and Switzerland finished 3-0 in the preliminaries. The US finished 2-1. However, Both the US and Canada automatically made the semis, while Switzerland has to play a quarter final game, and when they win they have to play against Canada instead of the US? What's going on with that?

 

[gopitt10]

They put the top 4 teams in pool A and the bottom 4 teams in pool B. They automatically placed Canada and USA in the semis before it started. From what I understand they wanted the pool play games to be more competitive and that’s why they split the pools that way.

 

[HailtoPitt]

They put the top 4 teams in pool A and the bottom 4 teams in pool B. They automatically placed Canada and USA in the semis before it started. From what I understand they wanted the pool play games to be more competitive and that’s why they split the pools that way.

Ok. Makes sense now.

 

[JD1976]

Ok. Makes sense now.

I was confused as well, but heard the explanation watching the US/Canada game. Those two are so far ahead of everyone else, I suppose that makes sense. Hopefully the parity will improve like it has in international women's soccer, but right now the U.S. and Canada are on another hockey planet.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It would be a shame for US/Canada to play anything before a Gold Medal round. They are far and away the two top teams.