SPOILER-FREE GDT: USA vs. Russia

WARNING: This is the TAPE-DELAY thread for today's games. If you're here to discuss games that have already happened head to the live or recap thread.

Boy oh boy is this a big day!

All times are listed in US Eastern.

Game of the Day: United States (1-0-0-0) v. Russia (1-0-0-0), men's prelims - Group A

LIVE: 7:00 am, NBC Sports, again with the pregame.
LIVE: 7:30 am, CBC
TAPE DELAY: 6:00 pm, NBC Sports

Here it is, your first marquee matchup of the men's Games. Two sides with high-powered offenses and some maybe-to-definitely-suspect defense square off to probably decide who comes out as the top team from Group A. Paul Stastny and Phil Kessel were outstanding for the US against Slovakia, while the Russians really didn't see any particular standouts in their game with Slovenia on opening day.

In a game that could come down to goaltending, it's Jonathan Quick against Semyon Varlamov. Over the long term the edge goes to Quick, but in a best of one? Coin flip. Watch this one, you guys, it's gonna be a good one. If you don't I'm calling you Komrade forever.

Sweden (2-0-0-0) v. Latvia (0-0-0-2), men's prelims - Group C

LIVE: 11:45 am, Sportsnet 1
LIVE: 12:00 noon, NBC Sports
TAPE DELAY: 5:00 pm, NBC Sports, but it's only listed for an hour.

Well... who knows what to expect here, really? Latvia's Edgars Masalskis has shown he can come up with a huge game--well, at least a huge 59:51.3--and Sweden ran up against that goal-scoring issue against Switzerland, whom they only managed one squeaky goal against. The Swedes are damaged goods up front, having lost a Sedin, Johan Franzen, and now Henrik Zetterberg to injury. With Gabriel Landeskog on a top line with Alex Steen it's hard not to expect some output eventually, though. Sweden come in the heavy favorites of course but all I'm saying is this one may not be a total blowout.