USA Looking for Olympic Gold in Hockey
Craig Custance - SportingNews.com
Feb 11, 2010
Team USA general manager Brian Burke has played up the underdog status of the Americans so long that it appears people are really buying into it. Never mind that U.S. goalie Ryan Miller has been the NHL's top netminder for most of the season. Forget that the Americans have two of the NHL's best young scorers in Patrick Kane and Zach Parise.
Burke has told everybody so many times that not a penny will be bet on the Americans, we almost believe it.
"We're going to be underdogs and that's fine with us," Burke recently told Sporting News. "The money is going to be on Canada, Russia and, to a lesser extent, Sweden."
But here's the thing. The players on the team know better. They're realists and understand this roster doesn't boast the sheer star power of some of the other countries, but they're going to Vancouver to win this tournament.
"Obviously, we're in an underdog situation but it's something we can challenge ourselves with," Kane said. "You never know when you put the right group together, and have good chemistry -- especially when you get to the playoff round."
Just the facts
Group A
First game: Feb. 16 vs. Switzerland, 3 p.m.
Previous Olympic Results
2006: 8th
2002: Silver
1998: T-5th
Three burning questions
1. Should Team USA be concerned with Ryan Miller's recent struggles?
All season long, Miller has been the immovable force American hockey fans pointed to as the No. 1 reason USA could win gold. But lately, things haven't gone so well for the former Michigan State star. Buffalo's shootout loss to Boston on Tuesday was Miller's fourth consecutive loss, although his .941 save percentage in that game excludes him from any blame.
But entering Thursday's games, Miller hadn't won since Jan. 29 and struggled in losses to Carolina and Pittsburgh. Hopefully for Team USA fans, Sidney Crosby's three-goal performance on Miller in early February wasn't an Olympic preview.
Recent performances aside, the goaltending trio of Miller, Tim Thomas and Jonathan Quick should be a strength for the Americans.
"I think in goal, this team is as strong as any team in the tournament," said Jim Craig, who led Team USA to its Miracle on Ice gold in 1980.
2. Can the American defense keep up with Russia, Canada and Sweden?
There was already a question about the strength of the Team USA blue line before Paul Martin and Mike Komisarek withdrew because of injuries. Now the defense, led by Brian Rafalski and Ryan Suter, is thinner than ever. There's an interesting mix of youth and experience, and it's tough to predict what to expect from talented but green players like Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson and Suter. But the defense just doesn't stack up with some of the other countries.
"On paper we don't," Burke said. "But what we're counting on is we have a team we think is versatile ... we're content with our group and spent a lot of time putting this group together."
3. Can the Olympic team ride the momentum of other USA Hockey success?
It's been a good run lately for American hockey teams competing internationally. Team USA won the 2010 World Junior Championship along with the gold medal in the 2009 men's Under-18 Championship.
Those accomplishments made their way to the NHL locker rooms, and the current U.S. Olympians would love to build on that buzz.
"Some of the guys on this Olympic team played on the last junior team (in 2004) that won the gold medal," points out USA hockey executive director Dave Ogrean. "We've got a lot of youth and confidence on our team. We don't have guys who wonder if they can win. We know we can win, and we just have to go out and do it."
The breakdown
Don't overlook this player: After a slow start this season, forward David Backes has been playing well -- especially after the American Olympic team was announced. Since Team USA was unveiled on Jan. 1, Backes has 15 points in 17 games (not to mention fights with Team Canada players Corey Perry, Jonathan Toews and Rick Nash).
What will prevent a medal: This team isn't strong down the middle. It's small. It's inexperienced. And there's a question about the defense. Other than that. ...
The Americans win gold if…: They get timely scoring from Parise (who missed Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury), Kane and Phil Kessel. And if Ryan Miller is dominant.
Predicted finish: 4th place. USA Hockey is on the upswing, and the reality may be that this team is a few years away from serious medal contention. But there's a quiet confidence surrounding Team USA that can't be ignored.
Craig Custance is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at ccustance@sportingnews.com.
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