1.   As the host country, the U.S. received an automatic bid into the medal round.

2.   A goal with three seconds left powered Croatia past Russia, clinching a spot in the medal round and Switzerland beat the winless Americans.

3.   A round-robin tournament is held to determine the top four teams, which then compete in the medal round.

4.   After a round-robin in each pool, the top teams advance to the medal round.

5.   After the preliminary round games, three referees and nine linesmen from the IIHF group will be chosen to work with the NHL officials in the medal round.

6.   All eight teams advance to the medal round, a single-elimination tournament beginning with quarterfinal games.

7.   All four Cuban fighters advanced to the gold medal round, including the heavyweight Felix Savon, who won by a walkover.

8.   All eight advance to the medal round, a single-elimination tournament.

9.   But the most significant difference might be in the penalty-shot competition that decides tie games in the medal round.

10.   But when he made that choice he forfeited the right to bellyache about being unfairly excluded from the gold medal round.