A Showdown Looms

The United States men’s hockey team defeated Norway 6-1, in a game that was much closer than the score indicated.

Meanwhile, the story of Day 7 at the 21st Winter Olympics was the tilt between the Canadians and the same Switzerland team that the Americans were able to beat 3-1 a couple of days ago. Canada was able to defeat the Swiss 3-2 in a shootout, as Sidney Crosby put home the only goal in eight rounds. The host country outshot Switzerland by a two to one margin, yet Jonas Hiller did everything in his power to keep his country afloat on Thursday night.

What should the Americans take away from the Canadian performance on Thursday night?

Not much. Shots on goal do not always tell the whole story but there is no doubt that Hiller stood on his head and kept his team in the game, almost singlehandedly. The talent discrepancy between the two teams still lingered and Canadian fans still should not panic about where they are at. It will take a mammoth effort from each and every single American, especially Ryan Miller, if they want a chance at defeating the Canadians on Sunday evening.

Questions will come up for the Canadians from now until Sunday. The best way for the co-favorite country to eliminate those questions is to come out on the attack and absolutely blitz the United States at all costs. Once again, this team has the likes of Crosby, Jarome Iginla, Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton, Jonathan Toews, Rick Nash, and Eric Staal (amongst others) on their squad. Even the most casual hockey fan knows who those players are. The defense is still pretty stout with a couple of the best defensemen in the decade in Chris Pronger and Scott Nidermayer, as well as players such as Dan Boyle and Duncan Keith. It will still take a near-flawless effort for the U.S. to come up with three points on Sunday.

Ryan Miller made more big saves today than he would have probably liked, but he was able to somewhat prepare himself for the attack that he will see on Sunday. The Norwegians were only able to muster 11 shots on goal against the United States but several of those shot attempts came on odd-man rushes for Norway. While Canada outshot Switzerland by a two to one margin, the Americans outshot Norway by nearly a four to one margin. But with six minutes left in the contest, the U.S. only held a 3-1 lead over Norway. The Americans prevailed down the stretch but like Canada, questions will linger into Sunday for the USA. There’s no question the depth that the Americans featured over Norway helped propel them to a decisive victory in the closing moments of Thursday afternoon’s game. They will not see that sort of advantage on Sunday and throughout the rest of this tournament.

NBC analyst Mike Milbury commented after the Americans win that he believes the U.S. has much work to do if they even want to be in the same ballpark as the host country. The defensemen and the forwards need to be on the same page on Sunday if they want any chance of upsetting Canada. The U.S. will not be as fortunate against Canada as they were against Norway if the multiple odd-man rushes continue. The chemistry between the forwards appears to be much better than anyone could have possibly expected at this point in the Olympics. But the key to pulling off the upset in Vancouver is for everyone to be on the same page. Oh, and of course Ryan Miller has to be just about as good as Jonas Hiller was today.

Great goaltending will take you very far in this tournament. Miller has the ability to keep his team in the game at any point and time. If the Americans want any shot of dethroning the Canadians and springing the upset, Miller might have to make 40 plus saves on Sunday.

Both the United States and Canada are in great shape at the end of round robin play. The top four teams in round robin play get a free pass into the quarterfinals. The winner of Sunday’s contest will sew up one of the four spots into the quarterfinal round of the tournament. It is certainly conceivable that both the Americans and Canadians could avoid the first round of the tournament altogether, especially if they play into overtime.

The much-anticipated battle between the friendly rivals in North America should answer a plethora of questions that each of these contending teams have, as they move forward.