Tried to Capture the Spirit of the thing

Team USA dominated Finland on Friday 6-1, then later that night Canada beat Slovakia. This sets up a rematch for the gold medal that everyone wanted. This is great for the sport because this was the highest watched game in the tournament and the numbers will grow even larger for the gold game. I've watched so many different analysts today and they all said basically the same thing. Canada was going to win, not because they were the better team, but because they had to. They are right about that, because if the boys lose tomorrow I still will be very proud of them from showing everyone that USA hockey isn't something that is on the decline. We're on the rise with even more great stars being developed now. Though for Canada they don't have the same feeling because it is their sport and it's either get the gold or you failed. I think that pressure is going to get to them in this gold medal game.

I think that if the US comes out firing like they did against Norway we could steal this game again. Miller will have a great game, he's been phenomenal, if they would be playing back in ancient times the Greeks would write poetry about him. Though I don't think its going to be Miller that is going to win this game for us. I think it's going to be the defense men blocking the shots in front of Miller who will be the real game changers. I say this because all of them have played great throughout the games and if they don't get into the shooting lanes and keep Miller from being peppered the Canadians are going to score and will win. Also, the US needs to do what they have done all tournament and that's set the tone. Score first, and keep the pressure on Canada. Do what they did last Sunday and score first and take the crowd out of the game. Not to say they weren't loud, but as you saw against Russia, Canada scored first and the place went nuts and Russia could never get momentum. This should be a great game, and I hope it is. As much as I'd love to see the US blow out Canada, I'd much rather see a game that is such a great game that people remember it. Not saying that it will be like the Miracle game, but this is the biggest hockey game of my generation, and I want it to be great. So here's to hoping the game is great and the US comes out on top, haven't gone against them all tournament and they have not let me down yet. The ESPN guys are hoping for a shootout, that would give me a heart attack so I'm gonna hope for 5-4 US. Either way though, this team has played their hearts out and showed that true American spirit in the sense that we won't give up. If we lose and get the silver I'm still gonna chant USA USA USA because these players deserve it.

Skid by.

Well the boys played Switzerland yesterday and one easy way to sum it up is the Zach Parise scored twice. Don't get me wrong this was a very worrisome game where I was pacing for awhile. The almost goal at the end of the 2nd did not help anything where I was jumping up and down cheering, then yelling what the hell at the tv as I see we need .01 seconds more for it to be a goal. I've been high on the Swiss since the beginning when they played the US. They are a damn good team, almost wished they could have been on the other side of the bracket so that game could have been for a medal. It was Hiller vs. Miller all game, it was quite a game. The defense played so well the boys in front did what they've been doing throughout the whole games, block shots. Not going to praise Miller anymore if you've read any of my other blogs you know how much respect I have for that guy. We wouldn't be here without him.

So the US will get to play for a medal. We play Finland tomorrow at 2pm our time. This should be another good game. I look for the boys to be skating very well and make it to the gold medal game where we'll most likely have a rematch of the game last Sunday. Now anything can happen, Finland could give us a run for our money and Canada can be beaten. We've all seen it. So for right now I'll just look for the match against Finland tomorrow. I'm gonna go 4-2 USA. Everyone is saying US is out of the underdog role, but if everyone is saying the Canada is for sure going to win the gold it doesn't look like we're out of the doghouse yet.

It is their sport, we just borrowed it for the night.

I'm going to step back from my original format because well recapping the game will seem redundant. Anyone who cares about the US men's hockey team knows they upset Canada Sunday 5-3. It was a very big win for the boys and I was so excited about the win I had to take some time to let it all soak in. I did not get to watch the third period of the game because of college and the weather. So the whole trip home for me was staring at my phone praying my friend Drew or my mother would not text me that Canada had tied the game up. Sure enough Miller held strong and sent a shock wave through Canada. The reality came that this team could be beaten. I'll be the first to tell you that I had doubts about the US, hell my first draft had me saying that I didn't see a way to match up with that much fire power that Canada had. Though I wrote that blog before I saw the Swiss play their hearts out and almost beat Canada in a shootout but Mr. Canada Sidney Crosby crushed that dream. Which the rules are the rules but I still think its a cheap goal since Crosby got to shots at it. With all of that talent on that team they could have had someone else take that shot is all I'm saying. Any how, after I watched them almost fall to the Swiss it gave me much more confidence that the US could pull it off and that maybe we could match up with them.

Not only was I pumped about the win but everyone is writing this game off as insignificant and that drives me insane. Does it compare to when we beat Russia in '80? No way, but there is a point here. This is the first time we as a country had beaten Canada at hockey in a long time. Their sport, the one they created. Last time we had beat them was the team most sports writers will call the "forgotten miracle" of '60. This was the first time we take down Canada in 50 years of the Winter Olympics. That alone gives it a benchmark it our hockey history, but this sets the boys up for a much easier run for a medal. With the win over Canada gives us the #1 seed in the medal tourney. Another reason why I chose to wait to write this today was because I wanted to see who the US will play tomorrow, and the Swiss get a shot at revenge. I love the way the Swiss play. Seems that they try to match the play of whoever they are playing and try to grind out the win. The US is the only team to beat the Swiss by two goals. So they are a very scrappy team. That said I look for the boys to be running on confidence and play extremely well against the Swiss. I also look for Miller to have another stellar game. Though I hope the boys step up their game like Coach Wilson keeps telling them. Truth is that Miller stole that game from Canada. They should still be very proud of themselves but there is still work to do. I look for the score to be the same as last time 3-1, should be a good one.

Canada plays Germany tonight and they face the win or go home scenario. I look for them to win tonight setting up a huge game against Russia. I read some articles about how the Olympics doesn't really help the NHL as far as bringing in new fans or creating buzz. Though they couldn't predict a Ovechkin vs. Crosby, but anytime those two are matched against each other it is good for the sport. I hope the owners reevaluate their stance because I think these Olympics have been a bridge for people to get into the sport. Just look how much popular curling has gotten (which is crazy). I want to have many more Olympics with NHL players, playing for their countries. Do the right thing owners.

The Song Remains the Same

Puck drops as the boys take on the Norway team. Norway suffered a brutal loss to team Canada Tuesday night (8-0) so I looked for them to come in and play with some intensity. Missed the first few minutes of the period because of a test but as soon as I walked in Kessel had put the US on the board. US was pressing with speed in the first, glad to see that. Period goes on then Drury puts a rebound into the twine to send the boys into the 2nd period with a 2-0 lead.

2nd period showed the same thing the US have had problem with and a that's odd man rushes. Norway had plenty of chances to make this game more interesting, but since Miller has been great, he bailed them out for most of the game. I was thrilled to see Kane get a goal (I called it on Twitter) to make it 3-0 as this looks like it could be a blowout. Norway didn't slow up at all, skated hard and then their effort payed off as they get a 2-on-1 and put them on the board 3-1 and that takes us to the end of the 2nd.

3rd starts and Norway is still getting a few rushes but Miller is still standing tall between the pipes. This leads to the flood gates opening for the US in this period. Starts off with Malone swatting Johnson's rebound to make it 4-1. Ralfalski gets in on the action as he makes it 5-1 from a great pass from Parise. Then he decides to come back for more and scores his second goal off of a face off win to make it 6-1. That took us to the end of the game where the US wins again to make them 2-0 in the Games.

Just like the first game this game could have turned out much differently had Norway hit some of those odd man rushes they got. Miller is good but he's not going to be able to stop 7-8 odd rushes a game. Had the defense been better in both games Miller could have easily had 2 shutouts going into the huge game against Canada. However there were some things about the game that made me very happy. The speed is something that wasn't there in first game but they really picked it up in this game with the high octane offense. It's also great to see some of the lines gain chemistry. As Jeremy Roenick pointed out in today's game, Parise and Kane look to be on the same page and making great passes which lead to both of them getting points today. With those two making plays look for good things to happen in the future. The defense played well just a few mistakes here and there that if they can clean up will make their lives much easier when they play Canada Sunday. Last thing is that very glad Miller is still playing great. He didn't have a ton of shots to stop today but most of them he made them look easy.

This is one of those times when your heart tells you that sure the US can go in and steal a game from Canada, but your brain tells you your an idiot. Would I love to see Canada go down? You bet. Am I going to tell you that there is no way the US can lose? No. This is big game for both teams and with Canada having the team they have, I just don't see how the US can pull it off. They'll have to play damn close to a perfect game to win. Though until the game is over I won't give up on the boys. Blind optimism rules when it comes to the teams you hold dear and even though I've been let down in the past (damn you Rex Grossman), I'll still be chanting USA USA USA, even if I have to do it by myself. Look for the game at 6:40 pm our time. Should be a great one.

And Here We Go..

Got the first look at Team USA today as they took on Switzerland. Right out of the gate the Swiss were bringing the hits and they did not stop throughout the whole game. First period was sloppy but that was to be expected for a team that had just started playing with each other. Bobby Ryan drew first blood and sent the team up 1-0 going into the 2nd.

2nd period was the same as the first, USA skated well but there were some careless passes that led to some odd man rushes. Switzerland didn't give up and had some really good looks this could have easily been a 3-3 game if they would have capitalized on some of the chances they got. Backes had the goal of the game as he brings it from the USA zone all the way down to make it 2-0 USA. Then the Swiss get called for a penalty. A shot is taken and stays out in from on the Swiss goalie and then Malone just powers the puck into the back of the net making it 3-0 as the 2nd comes to an end.

3rd period starts and the Swiss come out firing on all cylinders. They get a bunch of shots but Miller is holding strong. Swiss get their first goal, on a goal Miller should have had, but just rolled down his stick and deflected off his pads past the goal line. The US really picked up the hitting in the 3rd and I was really impressed because you could tell as the period was almost over the Swiss looked tired. The score would remain 3-1 as the US get their first win of the 2010 campaign. I tip my hat the the Swiss because they skated well and hit the young team the whole game. My prediction of 4-1 was pretty close and that makes me feel better about this team.

I was hoping that the US would come out of the gates strong and get the win. They did do that, but there are some parts of their game that they're going to have to fix if they don't want to get buried by Team Canada this Sunday. As I said earlier that they need to clean up the passes to keep the odd man rushes because if that happens against the Canada, Thornton and Heatley will bury those chances all game. Overall though, the defense was solid in front of the net. The defensemen blocked a good number of shots and Miller played well. Miller did however get a bunch of help from the Swiss not putting the pucks in net when they had the shots. So he'll get better as they play more and get more time on the ice.

Next up 11th ranked Norway. This should be another win for the US. What I want to see is this young team mesh together and show their true potential. They did play well but the big line with Zach Parise and Patrick Kane was held scoreless. It's that line that needs to set the tempo of the games and put points on the board. Norway should be less of a test than Switzerland but it is a good draw because it gives the US time to get use to playing with each other. I'm gonna go 5-2 and then that will bring up the big match versus home team Canada.

USA, USA, USA

Anyone who knows me, know my alliance is to the Chicago Blackhawks. This is because well over the past few years I've fell in love with the team and the tradition that the franchise brings into the NHL. Yet, since I decided to start this blog on a time when the NHL will cease play to allow the best players in the world to play for their home countries. So this means I will shift my focus from the Blackhawks to Team USA.

Now I know going into the Olympics not many people are giving the US a shot for gold, odds have the US bidding for a bronze. Canada with that star studded lineup is the favorite, plus on home ice gives them an emotional advantage. However, I'm not counting the US out yet. It is true that we don't have the lineup that Canada has, but I think with the group of guys Coach Wilson (head coach of the Maple Leafs) has put together will put up a fight for any team. This is a very young team (26.5 average age), not quite as young as the MIRACLE team (21 average age) but still young. There still are some young stars on this team:

We have arguably the best netkeeper going into the games. Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres is playing out of his mind. Even with the team slipping in the past 10 games (2-8), Miller is still at the top of the stats charts. Miller has posted a 2.19 GAA (Goal Against Average), .930 SV%, and 29 wins. If Miller is playing like he has all season there could be a chance for the boys to get some upsets and make a run for the gold.

A fellow Blackhawk Patrick Kane should make some contribution in the games. Kane has put up 67 points (25 goals and 42 assists) this season for the 'Hawks, that's 9th highest in the NHL. Kane has talent but is still very young and will look for these Olympics to be a learning curve. Team USA will be looking for him to do what he does best, pass and shoot.

I'm gonna lump the two New Jersey Devils together. First up Zach Parise the Devils left-winger is a big reason why the Devils are so good this season, coming off of a career year last year he's put up 61 points (28 goals and 33 assists) coming into the break. Parise will be an alternative captain in the games. Jamie Langenbrunner, who is Captain American for this Olympic stint, is a big apart of team because he has a ton of experience. This is his 15th year in the NHL and he is one of only three team US players who actually have Olympic experience. With that leadership he should be able to fire up the boys and keep them on track for a good run.

Those are not all of the best players, those are just a few that jump out at me when I look at the list. I could go through all of the roster and breakdown each player and bore you to death with stats but I don't have that kind of time. USA hockey is on the rise and we have a lot of great players that will show America what they can do tomorrow versus Switzerland. I'm sure Switzerland is no slouch in hockey but the national team hasn't medaled in the winter games since 1953. Their one NHL player comes from the Anaheim Ducks, Jonas Hiller. So this is a good test for team USA to see how they will really stack up against the competition. The game starts at 2 p.m. Central time on USA network. I am optimistic so I'm gonna go 4-1 and the USA rolls onto Norway on Thursday. I'll continue to track the progress of the boys and give you breakdowns of how the games play out.

Oh and watch the womens USA team too. They're looking very good after destroying China yesterday 12-1. The face Russia tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. on MSNBC.

-Corey Ranes