United States vs. Canada
United States vs. Canada (-175, 5.5)
For the third time in the last four Olympics, one of hockey?s most heated rivalries will be on display as the Team USA battles Team Canada.
The winner will finish first in their group and earn a first-round bye in the Olympic Tournament. The loser must play an extra game and will likely have a more difficult road to gold.
"It's a game where you want to make a statement against a team that is favored to win the tournament," U.S. forward David Backes told reporters.
Neutralized by the Swiss
The United States leads Group A with six points after victories over the hapless Norweigians and pesky Swiss. The Canadians are also 2-0 but under the new Olympic scoring system, have five points after receiving two of a possible three by defeating the Swiss in a shootout.
"We didn't think we were as good as we're capable of at all," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the game. "We didn't think we moved the puck like we could, we didn't think we were a good five-man unit up and down the rink, we didn't think we attacked their net with relentlessness like we could.
Stars a-line?
According to Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail, the Canadian team is suffering from a lack of chemistry.
MacGregor also points out that any chemistry existing on the Canadian team is ?prepackaged?, referring to Canada?s best line so far, comprised of San Jose Sharks teammates Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
After the game against Switzerland, Babcock told reporters "our San Jose line was our best line tonight?.
Sidney Crosby has been one of Canada?s best players so far, but Crosby and linemate Rick Nash have been unable to develop chemistry with anyone on the right wing. Patrice Bergeron, Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews have all auditioned with limited success.
Cold War over, hot rivalry begins
Team USA seems to be embracing its underdog role.
"We know no one, as Burkie (Team USA GM Brian Burke) says, has bet a nickel on us in Vegas," American forward Chris Drury told reporters.
Canada has dominated the Americans in international play over the last 10 years, the most notable win coming in the gold medal game of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Team USA?s best win was the best-of-three defeat of Canada at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
Culture clash
Sunday?s contrast will feature a contrast in styles - the speed and forecheck of the American team against the physical play of the larger Canadian squad.
"What you're seeing with most U.S. teams now is we want to fore-check and pressure the puck," Team USA coach Ron Wilson told reporters. "You can only really do that if you've got a fast team."
According to Chris Drury, Sunday?s game will likely look more like an NHL game than an international tournament
?It's going to be an NHL game Sunday, I imagine. Getting pucks in deep, getting through the neutral zone, limit turnovers, limit odd-man rushes, just like we do 82 times a year."
Between the pipes
Ryan Miller has played well so far, allowing one goal in each of Team USA?s first two games. To be fair, he has only faced 26 total shots.
Team Canada will likely adjust their style to ensure that Miller faces plenty of pucks.
"I think we're passing up on a lot of shots even though we had that many," Nash told reporters. "A lot of the times, we just kind of skated away from it. We'll try and get more shots on (U.S. goalie Ryan) Miller next game."
Any rumblings of a goaltending controversy after Canada?s win over Switzerland were temporarily put to rest when Mike Babcock announced that Martin Brodeur would start Canada?s game against the United States.
Only four of the twelve games during these Olympics have gone over the total (4-6-2 over/under).
United States vs. Canada (-175, 5.5)
For the third time in the last four Olympics, one of hockey?s most heated rivalries will be on display as the Team USA battles Team Canada.
The winner will finish first in their group and earn a first-round bye in the Olympic Tournament. The loser must play an extra game and will likely have a more difficult road to gold.
"It's a game where you want to make a statement against a team that is favored to win the tournament," U.S. forward David Backes told reporters.
Neutralized by the Swiss
The United States leads Group A with six points after victories over the hapless Norweigians and pesky Swiss. The Canadians are also 2-0 but under the new Olympic scoring system, have five points after receiving two of a possible three by defeating the Swiss in a shootout.
"We didn't think we were as good as we're capable of at all," Team Canada head coach Mike Babcock told reporters after the game. "We didn't think we moved the puck like we could, we didn't think we were a good five-man unit up and down the rink, we didn't think we attacked their net with relentlessness like we could.
Stars a-line?
According to Roy MacGregor of the Globe and Mail, the Canadian team is suffering from a lack of chemistry.
MacGregor also points out that any chemistry existing on the Canadian team is ?prepackaged?, referring to Canada?s best line so far, comprised of San Jose Sharks teammates Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau.
After the game against Switzerland, Babcock told reporters "our San Jose line was our best line tonight?.
Sidney Crosby has been one of Canada?s best players so far, but Crosby and linemate Rick Nash have been unable to develop chemistry with anyone on the right wing. Patrice Bergeron, Jarome Iginla and Jonathan Toews have all auditioned with limited success.
Cold War over, hot rivalry begins
Team USA seems to be embracing its underdog role.
"We know no one, as Burkie (Team USA GM Brian Burke) says, has bet a nickel on us in Vegas," American forward Chris Drury told reporters.
Canada has dominated the Americans in international play over the last 10 years, the most notable win coming in the gold medal game of the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Team USA?s best win was the best-of-three defeat of Canada at the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
Culture clash
Sunday?s contrast will feature a contrast in styles - the speed and forecheck of the American team against the physical play of the larger Canadian squad.
"What you're seeing with most U.S. teams now is we want to fore-check and pressure the puck," Team USA coach Ron Wilson told reporters. "You can only really do that if you've got a fast team."
According to Chris Drury, Sunday?s game will likely look more like an NHL game than an international tournament
?It's going to be an NHL game Sunday, I imagine. Getting pucks in deep, getting through the neutral zone, limit turnovers, limit odd-man rushes, just like we do 82 times a year."
Between the pipes
Ryan Miller has played well so far, allowing one goal in each of Team USA?s first two games. To be fair, he has only faced 26 total shots.
Team Canada will likely adjust their style to ensure that Miller faces plenty of pucks.
"I think we're passing up on a lot of shots even though we had that many," Nash told reporters. "A lot of the times, we just kind of skated away from it. We'll try and get more shots on (U.S. goalie Ryan) Miller next game."
Any rumblings of a goaltending controversy after Canada?s win over Switzerland were temporarily put to rest when Mike Babcock announced that Martin Brodeur would start Canada?s game against the United States.
Only four of the twelve games during these Olympics have gone over the total (4-6-2 over/under).
