CAN 3, SWE 0: Steve Yzerman's machine proves flawless in golden repeat

The Hockey Canada brain trust led by general manager Steve Yzerman built a machine for the Olympics. It was a hockey machine designed to own the puck and grind down opponents, overwhelm all comers with speed, size, and physical play. 

Like an alchemist's dream machine: built to produce gold. 

The machine whizzed and occasionally sputtered over the past 10 days. But ultimately it functioned almost flawlessly in Sochi.

The Canadian hockey machine was designed with the cycle in mind. It's not a coincidence that every single skater in Canada's lineup on Sunday played on their strong side. 

The attention to detail seemed almost obsessive - as craftsmen are known to be. 

Yzerman brought four right-shooting defensemen and four left-shooting defensemen to the tournament.  Up front, even, Canada had all left-handed shots on the left wing on Sunday (Chris Kunitz, Jamie Benn, Patrick Marleau, and Rick Nash), and all right-handed shots on the right wing (Patrice Bergeron, Corey Perry, Jeff Carter, and Patrick Sharp).

The Canadian machine fulfilled its purpose against Sweden in the gold medal game, laying waste to their final opponents in Sochi.

The celebrations on the Canadian side were jubilant - as you might expect:

[Courtesy CBC]

[Courtesy CBC]

The Swedish reaction? A study in juxtaposition:

The famed Sochi bear made its final, spectacular, Where's Waldo-like appearance in the crowd:

Sidney Crosby scored his first of the tournament in the gold medal game, and was critical in extending Canadian hockey's golden age:

[Courtesy CBC]

[Courtesy CBC]