Canada waits for final fling

Vancouver's relationship with the Olympics has been a tumultuous, brightly-burning, love affair. Sure it's had a couple of rocky moments along the way but it's also had life-defining highs and as the closing moments draw ther closer it's clear that the city's already feeling that ache at the loss of something good.

Residents of the city know they only have two more days in the world's spotlight, though, so they're planning to make the post of it, and it's pretty clear that their athletes are in the mood to go out on a high too - with a day of successes seeing the hosts jump to the top of the gold medals charts.

    USA romp to the finals against Finland. Picture: Martin Boyle

The day started with a little bit of a warm-up for the evening's main event as I headed to Canada Hockey Place's Media Centre for USA's emphatic 6-1 win over Finland. For such an important match the atmosphere, and the media centre, were fairly subdued.

Indeed, it was clear that most people were waiting for the main event - Canada's 3-2 win over Slovakia, which sets up the dream North American final on Sunday.

Canada's Vancouver-based Roberto Luongo guides the hosts to the final. Picture: Martin Boyle

The reality is that just two things dominate the news agenda in Canada - gold medals for the hosts, and ice hockey.

And there's no doubt that the one thing the hosts want more than anything else, the one thing that will seal the deal and allow them to put a big red tick in the 'successful Olympics' box, is men's hockey gold.

However, with the USA on top form - they scored six goals in 12 minutes today - there may yet be one last real heartbreak to come in Canada's love affair with the 21st Winter Olympiad.