USA vs. CZE: Team USA faces the Czech Republic in quarterfinal action

Team USA strolled through Group A with an undefeated record, while racking up goals and wowing the world with their dominance in the shootout. 

On Wednesday the much-hyped American men's ice hockey team will face a Czech team that underachieved in the preliminary round but appeared to take some positive steps forward on Tuesday, in a 5-3 win over Slovakia.

The American side have scratched Derek Stepan, Justin Faulk, and third-string goalie Jimmy Howard. 

The Czechs will roll with a lineup similar to the one they used against Slovakia on Tuesday, but will have Patrik Elias, who's returned from illness and will supplant Martin Hanzal in the middle of the Czech third line:

While the Czechs should prove a handful for Team USA in the quarterfinal, they don't match up particularly well against the Americans. The Czechs have a huge disadvantage in net, and lack the type of shutdown pairing that can contain the Joe Pavelski, Phil Kessel, and James van Riemsdyk line that has crushed the opposition so far in Sochi.

The key for the Czech side, then, will be to do damage against the bottom end of the American lineup.