|
U.S. must top Canada again for Olympic gold
VANCOUVER (AP) -- One week later, Canada and the United States are here again. It's Sequel Sunday -- and this time, an Olympic gold medal is on the line.
One game between Canada and the United States just wasn't enough at the Vancouver Olympics.
Martin Brodeur, Jarome Iginla and Scott Niedermayer remember winning Olympic gold in 2002.
The North American neighbors played the most competitive game of the Olympic hockey tournament a week ago on a day dubbed Super Sunday. It was a 5-3 U.S. victory, which convinced the Americans they were the best team, and awakened the Canadians to the fact that an Olympic gold medal in their national sport wouldn't be a walkover.
"There were no expectations for us, from the media or the fans, no expectations for us other than ourselves," U.S. defenseman Jack Johnsonsaid. "I think we had higher expectations for ourselves than anyone. Our expectations were to win a gold medal, we've put ourselves in a position to do that and I think we've earned that, absolutely."
Canada is the hockey superpower that always was supposed to play for the gold medal, on home ice, in the very country that claims the game as its own.
The U.S. hasn't won a hockey gold outside of its own borders but has been the best team in the Olympics so far.
Beating Canada once was difficult enough for the U.S., but they'll have to do it again if they don't want to leave with the silver for the second time in three Olympics. Canada also beat them in Salt Lake City eight years ago.
"It's hard to beat a team twice in a tournament like this," U.S. coach Ron Wilson said. "But we've beaten Canada, and we'll play better than we did the last time we played against them."
What we learned: USA-FIN
The United States crushed Finland 6-1 in the semifinal, scoring six goals in the game's first 13 minutes.
Last Sunday's win by the Americans over Canada was the first in the Olympics for 50 years. On Sequel Sunday, the U.S. will try to become Olympic champions on in the 50th anniversary year of their gold medal in Squaw Valley, California, in 1960.
"We all talked, 'Wouldn't it be nice?' and now we have the opportunity," said U.S. goaltender Ryan Miller, who has arguably been the games' best goalie. "We have the talent. We have some youthful excitement, we have the right kind of veteran players."
A decidedly young U.S. team also has a chance for the gold that the now-eliminated Russians, Swedes, Czechs and Finns don't have. The U.S. is the only team to win every game in regulation in Vancouver, and it owns two of the most impressive victories by beating Canada and 2006 silver medalist Finland 6-1 in the semifinals.
The Canadians have been very good since losing to the U.S., blowing out Germany 8-2 and Russia 7-3, but they've also shown some vulnerability. The Americans' speed confounded them, and they barely held on to beat Slovakia 3-2 in the semifinals Friday night as Roberto Luongo gave up two late goals.
"We've got to jump on them early," American forward Ryan Kesler said Saturday. "The Russians and Slovaks sat back and we're not going to do that, we're going to go right after them from the puck drop. We're going to have to get in his (Luongo's) face."
Canada's confidence apparently wasn't shaken by last Sunday's loss. Coach Mike Babcock was half-smiling after the Slovakia game when he said the U.S. should be favored, and defenseman Shea Weber said, "They did beat us, but now it's a whole different game."
Miller might represent the United States' biggest advantage; he has outplayed Luongo, who took over for Martin Brodeur following the loss to the U.S.
"We were too easy on Miller last time," Babcock said. "We won't be this time."
Neither will the crowd, which has kept the pump-up-the-Canadians volume at rock-concert levels game after game.
"The Canadians view this as their game and they view this game as planting a flag on a peak," Burke said.
The player expected to be Canada's best, Sidney Crosby, hasn't scored in two games and his most significant contribution was beating Switzerland in a shootout. He has yet to dominate, but what better time to start than the gold-medal game? When Crosby last faced Miller in the NHL, on Feb. 1, he scored three goals.
"I feel like I've generated a lot of chances," Crosby said. "The puck hasn't gone in as easy for our line the last couple of games, but we've been right there and that's a good sign. Hopefully, this is the time we're going to break out here."
If there is one shared sentiment in the Canadian dressing room, it's this: We're not going to let the United States beat us twice.
"It doesn't matter who we play in the gold-medal game, we want it so bad," forward Jonathan Toews said. "It will feel good to beat the U.S., for sure."
_________________
"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret
|
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
Me too!
Suck it USA 
