General George S. Patton put it best when he addressed the men of his Third Army before their arrival in France on D-Day: “Americans love to fight, the thought of losing is disgusting to an American.” Apparently, the United States Olympic hockey team got the same message.
With a 5-3 win over gold medal favorite and host nation Canada on Sunday, the U.S. earned the top seed in the medal tournament and an extra day off before facing Switzerland Wednesday afternoon.
Coming into Vancouver, no one viewed the U.S. as a favorite to medal, and who could blame them? Compared to the Russians, with two time MVP and perennial NHL goals leader Alexander Ovechkin leading a fierce offensive squad and a perfectly constructed Canadian team backstopped by living legend Martin Broudeur, the Americans looked comparatively overmatched.
Gone are the Mike Modanos and Bill Geurins that dominated the late 90s and early 2000s and in are the likes of baby-faced Patrick Kane and Zach Parise. The average age of the new-look U.S. team is 26.5, so the pundits must have thought that surely these kids were too inexperienced to topple the international hockey powers, the pressure just too great.
The win on Sunday proved that thought wrong. Dead wrong. But can the U.S. ride that momentum to the medal podium? It’s more likely than you think.
What Team USA lacks in marquee names and multiple 30-goal scorers they make up for in speed, and lots of it. Quick forwards like Kane, Parise, Phil Kessel and Ryan Kessler (whose quick skates earned him the back-breaking empty net goal in the third period against Canada) proved to be the advantage against Canada’s big and deep blueline corps.
Any real chance for a U.S. gold rests on the shoulders of Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. Currently second in the NHL in save percentage (.930), Miller is 3-0 in these Olympics with 66 saves and only 5 goals against him. He is set to start every U.S. game, and the team will need him to do so.
As good as this American squad has shown to be, they would be nowhere without Miller between the pipes. Anyone who watched the third period of Sunday’s game can confirm it. Miller faced down an unrelenting Canadian assault in the last five minutes of the game and blocked every shot. That is something that cannot be easily duplicated, especially when both Russia and a possible rematch with Canada still loom. Both team’s lineups own the NHL goals and points standings and Miller will have to stand on his head if he hopes to keep the U.S. in the tournament.
As great as Miller’s play has been, he cannot be forced to bail his team out every time. The Americans have to play smart, limit odd man rushes and keep the puck out of their zone. All these gaffes were themes of Sunday’s game and only Miller’s play prevented a breakdown. The U.S. cannot hope to keep winning if they continue to allow mental mistakes and let lopsided shot totals pile up against them.
The Americans have their work cut out for them the rest of the way. Despite their undefeated record and top seeding, the U.S. are still far from favorites. Perhaps therein lies their biggest advantage. This U.S. team is young, hungry, and has a lot to prove. Like General Patton said, it’s all about the “Blood and Guts” with this team. More than anything, the U.S. will have to show that they deserve to continue winning. But there is one thing they can say. When asked what they did in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, they won’t have to say they shoveled [expletive] in Louisiana.
