Simply put, that is the best hockey game I have ever watched. And by count, it beats out the 1,654,890 I have seen in my lifetime of youth games, high school contests, college match-ups and pro skates. It had everything. Border rivals. A home-ice advantage unlike any other in history. A clear favorite and underdog on paper. Revenge. Skill. Grace. Beauty. Doc Emrick. The game ebbed and flowed like a true championship affair should. The stronger team built a lead and then the younger, gutsier squad rallied. The best player on the trailing team scored late to tie it. Then, a national hero cemented his legacy to the sport – and his country – at age 22.

Was I angry when Sidney Crosby scored the game-winner seven minutes into overtime? Sure. That anger was spread 95% because of who scored it and 5% because of which team. I could have accepted any other player wearing a Maple Leaf being the hero, just not Sid. While I appreciate his skill and ability, I just don’t root for him. If it was Ryan Getzlaf or Rick Nash and especially Patrice Bergeron destined for a postage stamp, I would be personally happy for them. However, Sidney being the hero takes away that enjoyment and leaves just the memories of the first 67:19 of hockey.

The worst part of this whole thing is that the members of Team USA are not able to really appreciate what they did. Unlike most Winter Olympic sports (except short-track) which are either judged or on time, the gold medal game is winner-take-all. At the end, the silver medalists look over at the team that just beat them. And in a case like Sunday’s game, it literally “just happened.” Something tells me, if Team USA lost that game 2-0 or 5-1, they wouldn’t have been as devastated in the medal ceremony. However, they were so close to pulling the surprise win that second place really did feel like first loser. Now, it will take a while for those young men to understand just how far they exceeded everyone’s expectations and just how much their country was behind them and supported them.

That is unfair. Team USA general manager Brian Burke said all along leading up to the Games that no one was betting a dime on the U.S. in Las Vegas. That is probably true. Most figured they would maybe sneak a bronze and hopefully just win a few games and not lose to a lesser squad. Instead, the Americans had the best record in the tournament, did not trail until the gold medal game and served notice to the world that even though the “greatest generation” of American hockey players is in the past, the next group of U.S. skaters may be even more dangerous. The United States fielded the youngest team in all of the Games and had the best overall tournament. An entire country of Canadians who feel hockey is a birthright almost had their hearts ripped out by its neighboring rival. Those kids, and that is what they are for the most part, should be tremendously proud of how they played against high odds, rather than overly disappointed with a silver medal.

Anyway, here are some quick thoughts on the game. You all watched it and have read about it by now. So I will be brief.

• Is there any position in sports more important than goalie? I say no. Take a look at the games the U.S. played in the Olympics. There is no doubt the Americans went as far as they did because Ryan Miller had the fortnight of his life. Any slippage by him and they do not medal. On the other hand, viewers watched Switzerland’s Jonas Hiller carry a team of glorified men’s leaguers and Hnat Dominichelli to a near upset of Canada and to competitive games against everyone. When the U.S. beat Canada last week, it was in part because Martin Brodeur played like Martin Lawrence. Against Finland in the semifinal game, the U.S. made Miika Kiprusoff look like a Shooter Tutor in goal. Was Team USA really five goals better than Finland? Doubtful, but a mail-in job from Kipper made that point moot.
• While the MVP of the Olympics was obviously Ryan Miller, my favorite player to watch was Ryan Kesler. The center who plays for Vancouver did it all for the United States. He took important faceoffs, played on a defensive line against the other team’s best group, initiated physical contact and was as clutch as they come. He has 54 points this season for the Canucks and his numbers have increased in each of his four full NHL seasons. He is an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent at the end of this season, and a player like him could cause a GM to extend an offer sheet. He is the type of player the Bruins would love Patrice Bergeron to be and would look extremely good in Black and Gold if at all possible.
• Speaking of the Bruins, and not to speak negatively on any member of Team USA, but it was hard not to notice the Where’s Waldo job put forth by Phil Kessel for most of the tournament. He had a goal early in pool play and was a key contributor on the first goal against Finland, but that was about it. No one will ever question Special K’s speed and release. Those are natural talents that very few players posses. However, it was clear that the style of game the gold medal tilt became is not one suited for Kessel. Despite attempts to pressure defensemen on the forecheck with windshield wiper-like swings of the stick, he was never really close to forcing the issue. In a game where players like Patrick Kane, David Backes, Mike Richards, Ryan Getzlaf and others were making defensemen pay for retrieving the puck, Kessel was a welcomed breather. I always liked Kessel when he was with the Bruins and was not a fan of trading him. However, it is certain that Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien knew he was not a player who would be a factor in the moments which define a season. Watching him shy away from the danger areas when the other 45 skaters had no problem entering them was frustrating.
• When Bruins fans sit and wonder why their team is not in the highest echelon of the NHL, all they have to do is point to the rosters in Sunday’s game. The Bruins had Team USA’s backup goalie and Canada’s 23^rd man. Bergeron is a great player to have on an NHL team and he had somewhat of a role for Canada. However, the guys that made the difference on both sides are not found on the Bruins at the moment. There is possibility for that to change, but right now there are no Jonathan Toews’ or Jack Johnson’s wearing the spoked-B. Can Milan Lucic become a power forward who can do it all? That is what the Bruins have invested in. David Krejci can be very Kane-like in his puck possession at times, but now he needs to do so for a whole season. The area the Bruins have the most work to do is defense. Zdeno Chara is a number one defenseman, but after that there is a lot of #4s and #5s. Sometimes, it is all about the luck of the draw. Remember back in the summer of 2006, the B’s had the fifth pick in the draft after a terrible season. They selected Kessel after Team USA’s Erik Johnson went first and Towes went second. The fourth pick that year was Nicklas Backstrom, Sweden’s prolific young center, to Washington. If a ping-pong ball falls Boston’s way in ’06, one of those three marquee, all-world players is a Bruin right now.
• The final word on the Olympics is that the NHL really needs to step up and capitalize on the success of these Games. People were able to watch hockey at its pinnacle and seemed to enjoy it. Will there be radical changes to the NHL game to follow suit with the international game, probably not. The league should adopt the co-touch icing which helped speed up games and keep players safe. However, the other great thing about Olympic hockey is that there were no TV timeouts. A few times a period they would take a short break to clean the snow, but that was it. It kept momentum in the game and didn’t kill any buzz in the arena. The problem with that as owners will see it is that no two-minute TV stoppages hurt concession sales. So, that will never, ever happen. So, instead of focusing on changes to the rules, the NHL needs to market its players everywhere. Sure, the US losing gold may keep Ryan Miller off Letterman and Patrick Kane away from the ESPYs, but these guys – and most of the core stars from the other teams – are young, personable players who are willing to do anything to promote the sport. The NHL needs to force NBC to step up and take ownership of the partnership which sees games on a national network. DirectTV and Versus need to figure their $&@% out and get the weekly games and playoffs on TV across the country. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby need to do SportsCenter commercials and be on PTI. Hell, put someone on Dancing With the Stars or something. The moment the public is able top fully understand hockey players are from top to bottom the most regular, easy-going and personable athletes in the world, they will start to identify with the game. The stretch run and postseason is shaping up to feature the absolute best players in the game in cities like Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles and hopefully Boston. Add in Canadian hotbeds like Ottawa and Vancouver and the possibilities for playoff beauty are endless.

A few other notes:

• Looks like Patrice Bergeron tweaked his groin in the gold medal game and he will be out tonight. Hopefully he just needs a day or two off after a busy Olympics and will be back before the B’s head out on the road trip.
• The trade deadline is approaching and anything could happen. The Bruins made a minor deal already, acquiring collegiate defenseman Steve Kampfer from Anaheim for a conditional draft pick. This in no way helps the B’s this year, but does help the depth for next year and beyond. The Bruins have very little defensive help on the horizon and adding bodies helps figure that out. One note about Kampfer, last year he was involved in a horrible incident against Michigan State where a Spartan player attacked him after a clean hit. That followed Kampfer being attacked by a walk-on Michigan football player and having his skull fractured. He is a former fourth-round pick by the Ducks and has 17 points in 37 games for the Wolverines this season.
• A possible defensemen for this season was snapped up by Pittsburgh yesterday when the Penguins added Jordan Leopold to the blue line for a second round pick. Keep an eye on Florida as anyone on that team could be dealt by tomorrow’s deadline.
• The Bruins are back on the ice against Montreal tonight. One way to get the cobwebs of a three-week break out of the system is your hated rival. Hopefully the Bruins can regain the mojo they had on the road before the break against the Habs. The B’s are one point ahead of Montreal at the moment and these may very well be the most important two points of the season tonight.

The Americans blasted Finland, coming out firing in the first period to the tune of six goals before the game was 13 minutes old. Team USA held serve the rest of the game, allowing a late goal on a deflection but still solidifying at least a second-place finish with a thorough 6-1 win.

To consider yourself surprised by anything the U.S. team is doing at this point of the tournament means you haven’t been paying attention. Before the tournament, making the statement that Team USA would have a chance to win gold would have been considered an unwise endeavor. But, after watching the Americans take care of business against Switzerland and Norway in pool play and then come up with the unexpected win over Canada to finish the preliminary round, it was clear this team was better than anyone outside the dressing room expected.

As it stands today, Team USA is the only undefeated team in the tournament. They have never trailed over their five games, scoring early in every game except the quarterfinal against the Swiss. A glance at all of the pre-Olympic stories gave the United States a chance at a bronze medal if Ryan Miller stood on his head and the U.S. got lucky. Those two things have happened, but a funny thing occurred along the way – it became clear that the Red, White and Blue were not just a one-trick, goaltender pony. This team was put together almost perfectly. The top-six forwards bring the skill. At the bottom of the forward depth chart is a collection of bangers and grinders who make life difficult for the opposing team. On defense, the Americans are not the quickest but they do play physical and make sure that Miller has a clear line on almost every shot. The expected script heading into Vancouver was to win close, low-scoring games. Instead, the United States has shown the ability to open it up and in turn is much more dangerous and ready for prime time than anyone expected.

In yesterday’s semifinal against Finland, Team USA made Miikka Kiprusoff look like a junior varsity netminder rather than the usual world-beater that he is. I was texting with two buddies during the game and around the third goal, both of them asked why Kipper was even on the team. I explained that he was one of the best goalies in the NHL and that the performance we were watching was a huge shock. By the time I finished that text, Patrick Kane had scored Team USA’s fourth goal – leading to Kiprusoff pulling himself.

The weird thing about watching that first period was that the U.S. was the ones who made Finland look bad. It wasn’t as if the U.S. was scoring soft goals. They were just pushing the issue and keeping pressure on. The Americans capitalized on power plays, and the skill guys finally came alive. Except for the quarterfinal against the Swiss, Team USA had been relying on timely goals from the third and fourth lines. In yesterday’s semifinal, Zach Parise continued to come alive and then the dormant Patrick Kane scored twice in 2:23 to turn a 3-0 lead into a 5-0 advantage. For the Americans to complete this run they are on, they need Kane to be hot again on Sunday. He is maybe the only forward on Team USA who would get top-guy minutes on Team Canada and needs to play like that guy in the gold medal game.

The best way to describe what happened in the first period yesterday comes via my old roommate Sam. After the U.S. scored their sixth goal, he sent me a text message saying, “Who set the ability level on this game to easy?” That is exactly what it looked like. It was almost like head coach Ron Wilson set the level on a video game to easy and then went out and started lighting the lamp. Not only was the United States skating circles around the Finns in the attack zone, they were keeping a veteran team away from scoring chances in the defensive end. Finland had four shots on goal after one period and 11 after two. I am honestly not sure which is a bigger surprise, Team USA scoring as often as they have or the way they have shutdown opposing teams. The United States has allowed only six goals over five games. Three of those came against Canada last Sunday. That is how you win a hockey tournament.

Compare the relative ease with which Team USA has advanced to the final to the way Canada has found its way. Despite its 5-1 record in the tournament, Canada can be described as a Jekyll and Hyde type team. Three times in the Olympics the Canadians have scored at least seven goals. In the other three games, they have scored three. If the Canadians are able to come out and score a few quick goals, they seem to roll. If they struggle early, either going scoreless for an extended period of time or giving up the first goal things get dicey. It appears as if the key to beating Canada is taking the game to them. Team USA scored early and never seemed phased by the pressure in the game last week. The Swiss team was not afraid and took Canada to a shootout in pool play, taking an important point away from Canada. Last night in the semifinal, even though Canada staked itself to a 3-0 lead, they were a crossbar away from needing overtime against Slovakia.

What to make of this is that Canada needs a cushion to alleviate the pressure on themselves. Everybody from the Prime Minister of Canada to Wayne Gretzky to ice fishermen in Moose Jaw had started celebrating the gold medal when Vancouver was awarded the games. To be a part of the team at these Olympics is a blessing and a curse until the moment Canada wins the gold. As excited as the fans are before a game, they don’t seem to get too into the game until the Canadians score and even then aren’t content until it is 4-0. Expect something similar tomorrow. Leading up to the puck drop, the crazy Canadian fans will be out of their minds. But if those ungrateful Canadian players don’t score three times in the first seven minutes, the tension will mount and the pressure will start to settle on the shoulders of the 23 players on the bench. They do not want to be the team that lets down an entire country. Will that be enough to overcome an apparent team of destiny?

Picture taken by Sammy's dad who was at the game!

On paper, Canada has better players top to bottom. Out last night, a friend of mine had trouble naming which NHL team most of the players on Team USA play for. Besides Chris Drury, there is not one household name on Team USA (at least before the Olympics started). Canada has all the stars and would be the choice to win almost every time the two sides play.

The question is did Team USA use up its “one out of ten” last Sunday? Unlike the 1980 Miracle on Ice where the U.S. didn’t have to play Russia again, this team has the monster back on the schedule. However, that win on Sunday may have been the catalyst to this incarnation of Team USA truly believing they belong in the discussion of best teams in the world. Remember, that win on Sunday was not a fluke. The Americans outplayed Canada early and pounced on the chances afforded. Canada did come back and make it a game and give the U.S. fits late, but the United States did not falter. If the U.S. had squandered that game and was coming in with a bad taste in its mouth and its last memory of playing Canada was a choke job, this game would have all the makings of a blow out. Instead, the U.S. has the momentum and the experience on its side.

As it always does in hockey, the ultimate deciding factor will be goaltending. In the first U.S.-Canada game, the Canadians were done in by Martin Brodeur. He coughed up the puck and gave the U.S. second chances which they capitalized on. Since then, Canada has gone with Roberto Luongo in net. He has won three games in the medal round but has allowed seven goals along the way. The one thing he has not done is give up the easy one and hurt his team. Whether or not the bad luck which has followed goalies playing the U.S. so far hits Luongo remains to be seen. In the other net will be the start of this tournament, Ryan Miller. He has allowed just five goals in five games and has come up with 103 saves. He held off Canada’s potent offense late in the game last week and was just superb. He seems to be enjoying these games as much as anyone on the U.S. team and is thriving off the situation. It would be a huge surprise if he doesn’t come up big tomorrow.

The first goal tomorrow may be the biggest of the Olympics. If the U.S. gets it and opens up the haze of failure over the Canadian side of the arena, they could get another quickly and not look back. An early Canadian goal eases some of the anxiety and could get the much-better Canadian players playing with comfort and ease. My guess is that, just like in 2002, the hometown team is denied.

Prediction: United States 4, Canada 2

MVP: Ryan Miller, duh. He will be called upon to make 35-40 saves and will do so.

Watch Out For: Chris Drury. He has had a shamrock in his jockstrap since Little League. All he does is win and he will do something big in this game. It may not be a goal, but he will block a shot or win a faceoff that seals the win. Another guy to keep an eye on his Brooks Orpik. He may be the only B.C. player I enjoy watching in the world. He is the most physical defenseman the U.S. has and his ability to punish players in the defensive end will be important.

To help get you excited, here are a few videos of past American glory:

Five-year old Josh Sacco doing his Herb Brooks impression:

The Big Bossman Beating The Mountie in the “Jailhouse Match” at SummerSlam:

The United States Defeating Canada at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey:

The U.S. defeating Canada in the 2004 World Juniors when Marc-Andre Fleury scores on himself:

Final words come from South Park:

Let’s get in the 4 Sport Boston time machine and see how I am doing so far …

Russia over Canada for the gold medal: Um, they met in the quarterfinals in a loser leaves town match.

Canada would outplay Team USA in pool play: We can debate which team played the better game, but the Americans capitalized on chances and played much better than I ever anticipated. They won the game and the pool.

Russia would follow Alex Ovechkin’s lead and paste Canada in the quarters: That sound you hear was Evgeni Nabakov screaming in pain from the sunburn he has after the goal light shone down on him all night. Canada with a 7-3 win over the surprisingly listless Russians.

Sweden would go back-to-back with the gold after seeing the medal round matchups: Well, Slovakia came up with a big 4-3 win early this morning to end those hopes.

To recap: I made four predictions. I was 100% wrong every time. I put the whammy down on whoever I backed every time. I guess this explains why I am the world’s worst ESPN: Beat The Streak player. Seriously, every time I see a choice where it is “Who will win the gold medal? Bode Miller or the field”, I take the field. Then that slacker ski bum goes and throws down the run of his life. WTF, dude. So, in honor of the current streak I am riding, here are a few more predictions before we get to yesterday’s games.

1. Jonathan Papelbon shows up as Major League II Rick Vaughn, throwing straight meatballs all season.
2. Georgetown University doesn’t score a point in its first round game of the NCAA tournament.
3. The casts of Saved by the Bell and Dawson’s Creek decide they hate money and don’t want to do reunion shows.

Anyways, the quarterfinals were filled with surprises, the biggest of which was Canada running right over the Red Army. If you had said the score would be 7-3, I would have thought Mother Russia would have the advantage. I guess I overvalued Alex Ovechkin’s singular impact on the game and forgot that the Russkies (Rooskies? I can’t remember what my dad used to call them) had a terrible defense. That would explain why Russia got ambushed in this game like it was Red Dawn. The constancy of Canada’s attack was similar to what they tried to do against the U.S. on Sunday, except this time the defense in the way was inept and the goalie standing as the last line on the blockade was not Ryan Miller.

All credit in the world to Canada for responding to the loss on Sunday with 15 goals in two games. An eight-spot against Germany was not shocking. Rolling a seven against Russia is. The scary thing about Canada is that in addition to the shock and awe offense weaving its way around teams now, the defense is beginning to clamp down as well. Canada held Russia to 31 shots on goal – only three from Alex the Great. Russia’s big artillery – Ovie, Alex Semin, Geno Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk did not come through. Mostly because the Canadian shutdown squad of Mike Richards, Rick Nash and Ryan Getzlaf was at the same time stifling chances and scoring goals of their own. I hate to say it, but the Canadians are the strong favorite at the moment after being down and out four days ago.

One of the main reasons Canada is favored is because of the day’s second surprise – Slovakia downing Sweden. With the Slovakian win, they advance to play Canada in Friday’s semis. The Swedes had been playing the best defense of any team in the tournament, putting up two shutouts in pool play. The defending champs had many players back from the 2006 gold medal squad – including goalie Henrik Lundqvist. He had been back at his top game for the first three games, but was unusually beatable in the second period last night. He allowed two goals in less that 50 seconds – on consecutive shots and Slovakia never looked back. The dagger was a Pavol Demitra goal on the power play in the final minute of the second period, giving Slovakia a 3-2 lead heading into the final stanza. In that second period, Slovakia took four shots and scored three goals. That is efficient shot making.

While the bottom of the bracket had some twists and turns, the top half went as assumed. Finland held off the Czech Republic, 2-0, in a nice – but quiet – game. The Fins will play the surprise of the tournament – Team USA. In what was a dangerous game for the Americans, they dispatched a very game Swiss team, 2-0.

The United States was in control throughout, outshooting the Swiss, 32-8 through two periods. However, there was no score and the game was as tight as possible heading into the third. Team USA was close to taking a 1-0 lead at the end of the second period, but the pinball puck deflected off Swiss keeper Jonas Hiller and in just after the clock reached 0:00. The puck was on the goal line at zeroes, but that wasn’t enough.

AP Photo/Julie Jacobson

Zach Parise put the U.S. on the board early in the third period on the power play – a great sign for Team USA. If they are to succeed ultimately, the squad needs Parise to be scoring, especially on the man advantage. Switzerland was close to tying the game a short while later, but the Swiss’ best chance clanged off the iron and they never got close again. On the ensuing rush after the post, it looked like Team USA scored a second goal, but instead Ryan Kesler was called for a high stick in front of the net. It was a potentially game-altering swing, but the U.S. held on. Parise came up with an empty-netter to seal the win and guarantee the Americans a chance to play for a medal.

The fact that Team USA is the only undefeated team and is a lock for the bronze medal game is surprising. They clearly have taken to head coach Ron Wilson and GM Brian Burke’s approach of appreciating the underdog role and fighting for every win. Most of the games haven’t been pretty, but Team USA has come up with spectacular goaltending and some timely goals from unlikely sources to do what is necessary to stay alive. If you asked any pundit before the games if the U.S. would still be playing while Russia and Sweden are heading back to the NHL, few would have made that wager. However, as it stands, the U.S. is 60 minutes away from a gold medal tilt.

For all you Bruins fans out there, we know that at least one Bruin will return to the Garden on March 2 with a medal. In the Canada-Slovakia matchup, three Bruins will play. So, either Patrice Bergeron from Canada or Zdeno Chara and Miro Satan from Slovakia will bring at least silver back to Boston. Add in Timmy Thomas with the U.S. and the Bruins are likely to have a decent medal haul from the Olympics.

Oh, and as for predictions on Friday’s semifinal games…

Expect good hockey. That is all I am saying.

This week we were joined by Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sports Net for “On the Ice with the 4SportBoston Podcast”.

Joe got to chat with us about his thoughts on Olympic hockey so far and what happened that tore up his pre-games prediction. We also chatted at length about the team he follows from rink to rink, the Bruins. Haggs gives us his thoughts on potential looming trades for the Bruins once the freeze is up. Yes, I said tradeS.

Listen now!

So, when looking for a quote to describe Team USA’s fairly convincing 5-3 win, ignore the legendary Al Michaels and turn instead to Cotton McKnight when he described Average Joe’s stunning upset over Globo Gym…

“Do you believe in unlikelihoods!”

That is all this game was – an unlikely win by a team that played a pretty good game. I am not trying to downplay the win. It was a huge win by the U.S. in a hostile environment. The win catapulted the Americans to the top spot in the tournament after pool play, sending Team USA to the quarterfinals with a bye. Canada, meanwhile is relegated to the qualifying round against Germany. Instead of a bye to the quarters, one of the pre-tournament favorites will need to play an extra game. Then, if they beat Germany on Wednesday, Team Canada plays Russia in the quarters. A game many (including myself) slated to be the gold medal match will be for a spot to even sniff a medal. That is even unlikelier than Brian Rafalski scoring four-straight goals for the U.S.

Why did the United States win the game last evening? Simply put, goaltending was the difference.

Ryan Miller, wearing shamrocks on his mask in homage to 1980 hero Jim Craig, came up with an Olympian-like performance. He made 42 saves on 45 shots, including what appeared to be 12 in the final two minutes of play. He made big saves and little saves, did a good job directing rebounds away from the front of the net and kept pucks moving to his defensemen when needed. On the flip side, Martin Brodeur was very un-Marty. He came up with just 18 saves on 22 American shots and his misplays led to the first three goals by the Red, White and Blue. Brodeur is often referred to as the best puck-handling goalie of all time, but last night he muffed a clear which led to Brian Rafalski’s opening goal. He made a few similar bad decisions later which also led to U.S. scores. Now, all of Canada is debating whether head coach Mike Babcock should sit Brodeur for the medal round in favor of Roberto Luongo. Brodeur riding the pine with the tournament on the line is even more surprising than the U.S. pulling the upset.

Besides Miller’s stone wall impersonation and Rafalski’s Bobby Orr impression over the past two games, some credit has to go to Chris Drury. The Connecticut native was the most debated selection to the team back in January. He has been injured for the Rangers this year and people had a tough time finding a role for him. It was assumed he would be the veteran presence up front to help the younger players and maybe take a few faceoffs here and there. The fact that in the Olympics you can dress an extra forward, not just sit him in the press box, makes Drury’s inclusion much more understandable. Head coach Ron Wilson used Drury perfectly throughout pool play. He would kill penalties, play in important defensive situations and give the sage advice acquired over his career. However, Drury has done more than serve as a sounding board for the youngsters. He has scored two goals in the tournament – including a big one late in the second period last night to give the U.S. a 3-2 lead.

For anyone to worry about Drury before the tournament now seems foolish. How could anyone doubt a player who has literally won his entire life? From Little League to college and in the NHL, all he has done is win. Compare that to Canada which is counting heavily on San Jose Shark players whose biggest claim to fame in the NHL is choking in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Team USA General Manager Brian Burke said all along that he was building a team, not an all-star team. He recognized that a player like Drury would be called upon in a big situation at some point and made sure there was a roster spot for him.

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Where does Team USA go from here? First, they get a break to practice a bit and prepare for the quarterfinals on Wednesday. As the top seed, the U.S. will play the winner of the 8/9 game – either No. 8 Belarus or No. 9 Switzerland. The Americans defeated the Swiss earlier, but we all saw how Jonas Hiller almost led the “neutral nation” to a win over Canada. Belarus always seems to hang in games and has a solid goalie with proven Olympic mettle as well. The game is in no way easy, but is a much better draw than the Czechs, Slovaks or Canadians as the other three teams with byes are potentially awaiting.

On paper, it appears as if the Americans have the easiest way to the semifinals – and possibly the gold medal game. However, Canada was the on paper darling heading into the tournament and look how well that worked out for them. Rest assured, Burke and Wilson are not letting their team feel too good about themselves. They do not want the effort and results so far go to waste with a loss on Wednesday.

Besides the U.S. game, the other potential quarterfinal games should be barnburners. No. 4 Finland should play No. 5 Czech Republic. The Fins are a potent team and the Czechs could be filled with new life if they advance after a disheartening loss to Russia on Sunday. The two seed, Sweden, could face Slovakia. Sweden has played near flawless hockey so far, allowing just two goals in pool play. However, they haven’t clicked on offense yet, scoring nine times. The Slovakian team pulled a big win in the shootout over Russia and came to life offensively against Latvia. The final potential quarterfinal match-up could be Canada/Russia, aka Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin.

Again, this was the most-mentioned gold medal game and it is going to be a win or go home affair just to play for a medal. If this game materializes, three things are certain. First, Alex Ovechkin will be the most hated man in Canada since Vince McMahon screwed Bret Hart. Secondly, Ovie loves that. He would like nothing more than to play a part in denying Canada a medal in its national sport on home ice. You can practically see the foam frothing in his toothless mouth. Finally, Mike Milburr and Jeremy Roenick may actually kill each other in NBC’s booth. They have been discussing Sid/Ovie all tournament, and when one of those players outplays the other, the jabs will be flying in the studio.

The U.S./Canada game was just the beginning. Expect at least nine more games like that this week. Before the games, I picked Russia to beat Canada for the gold. Obviously, that cannot happen. My restructured choices based on last week’s games and the medal-round bracket? Sweden defeats the U.S. in the gold medal game and Russia takes home the bronze. I have a feeling Sweden will clamp down the defense even more in the medal games, denying the U.S. an improbable gold medal after the Americans breeze to the final. Russia knocks off Canada in OT and then pounds Finland for the bronze.

Three days into the Olympic men’s hockey tournament and we do not know much. Well, we know a few things, but nothing really concrete. As it stands right now, the Unites States team sits atop the overall standings with six points, but that is a flimsy hold because the four teams in Pool C have not played their second game yet. Still, no matter what happens today for Finland and Sweden, the United States controls its own destiny in terms of securing one of the four coveted byes to the quarterfinals. As yesterday showed with Canada squeaking out a shootout win over Switzerland and Russia falling to Slovakia in the skills competition, anything can happen in a single-game setting and it is the best interest of all these teams to need as few games as possible in the medal round to play for the gold.

The best thing about the first two games for Team USA is that the coaches, players and media are all worried that some of the lines aren’t clicking at the pace desired. For the youngest team in the tournament, having to worry about nine goals through two games being under performing is a very good problem to have. Most people were concerned about the United States being in the position Canada and Russia are in – leaving points on the table and needing to win to earn the bye. Also, after watching Jonas Hiller keep the Swiss in the game last night against Canada, only popping in three goals isn’t so bad. The U.S. has two days of practice to work on finding chemistry and mixing lines before the showdown with Canada. Coach Ron Wilson made some changes in the third period against Norway, moving captain Jamie Langenbrunner up to play with Paul Stastny and Zach Parise and dropping Patrick Kane down to skate with Ryan Kesler and Dustin Brown. Those two lines haven’t skated like the other two groups have, and reuniting Langenbrunner with his linemate in New Jersey in Parise is a good idea to help jumpstart the top line before the game they will be needed in most.

In honor of the five Olympic Rings, let’s move on to this week’s “Five Minute Major”

1. We have to start off with the Canada-Switzerland game. I was keeping an eye on that game while Georgetown staged an almost epic comeback against Syracuse and every time I turned to the hockey game it seemed like Jonas Hiller was making a big save to keep the Swiss in the game. A player like Hiller is why the hockey tournament is better than the basketball one in the Summer Olympics. Sure, Canada vs. Switzerland seems like a mismatch, but the best player on Switzerland is the best player on an NHL team and he plays the position which can win games by itself. Sure, Tony Parker is a great basketball player, but France will never win gold with only him on the team. But, with Hiller play world-class goalie, the Swiss almost defeated Canada on its home ice. As a friend of mine put it on Facebook after the game, “If anybody near the border smells something funny, don’t worry, it’s just Canada’s collective pants-crapping wafting over.” Seriously, if Canada lost that game in regulation or even in overtime/shootout, the entire nation would have gone crazy. Those crazy Canucks don’t expect to lose to Russia, never mind the world’s neutral observers. The fun thing to watch and talk about until Sunday is whether or not this shootout win adds more anxiety to Team Canada or unleashes the fury. Because, now a regulation win by Team USA on Sunday will almost certainly leave Canada in the first round of medal play, having to skate by another possible landmine en route to the gold. Watching the faces of the Canadian players after the win last night, Sidney Crosby was one of the few that looked angry. Most of the rest appeared relieved that they didn’t totally blow it. The question is whether Sidney can translate his mindset to the rest of the team before Sunday. The guess here is that he does and Canada comes out flying.
2. Ron Wilson must be feeling pretty good as the head coach of Team USA this morning. His team has picked up maximum points in its two games while also piling up a decent goal differential which could come into play for seeding. At the same time, he can point to missed chances, bad penalties and slow starts as things to work on before his team gets to the big games. Complacency is not a good thing in a short tournament like this, so hearing from U.S. players that they know there are areas to work on despite a strong start points-wise is a good thing. The Americans realize that this Sunday will be the most hostile environment they have ever seen. However, you get a feeling that this group of American players is excited by what they face. There is a certain attitude about this team, molded after its GM Brian Burke, where they enjoy being overlooked or looked down upon. Much like Curt Schilling stating that there is no better feeling than making 60,000 New Yorkers shut up, one has to assume Burkie, Wilson and players like David Backes want nothing more than to silence the frenzied Canadian crowd on Sunday.
3. Speaking of Backes, he is quickly becoming Team USA’s identity. Playing on the fourth line with Ryan Callahan, Bobby Ryan and Chris Drury (a team can dress 13 forwards in the Olympics, so one of them rotates through – usually Drury) gives Backes a chance to play the crash and bang game he enjoys. He has a goal and an assist so far over the two games. His goal was a thing of beauty, gathering a loose puck off a Ryan Miller save and going end-to-end and deking Hiller in the Switzerland game. Backes and his line will be counted upon to help control Sunday’s game as they most match Canada’s size. Plus, Backes currently has one of the best nicknames in hockey “Inglorious Backes” after the similarly titled Brad Pitt movie.
4. While there are games to be played Friday and Saturday, the three-game slate on Sunday is perhaps the best the Olympics have seen since NHL players began competing. Starting at 3 p.m. EST, there will be rematches of the last three gold medal games. Russia and the Czech Republic (1998 final) meet at 3 p.m. to determine one transfer spot to the quarterfinals. Then at 7:40 p.m. Canada and the U.S. play in a rematch of the 2002 final. Finally, at midnight, Sweden and Finland relive the 2006 gold medal game. Without question, these are the six best hockey teams in the world and they all play each other on one day. To quote T.O., “Get your popcorn ready.” These are all border wars with much on the line in terms of medal round seeding. If these games are close as regulation winds down, it will almost feel like a medal game. Canada needs the win over the U.S. to clinch the top spot. If the Czechs beat Latvia today, Russia will need the regulation win to bypass David Krejci’s team. If both Sweden and Finland win today, they will be tied and whoever gets the win in that game will earn the top spot in that group.
5. Finally, a little Bruins talk. Reports started filtering around yesterday that the Bruins are all but certain to make a trade for a defenseman on March 1, the first day trading is allowed after the Olympics. I haven’t seen any actual names attached to these reports, either coming or going. While reporters like Darren Dreger aren’t exactly rumor monger Eklund in the fairy tales they post as rumors, I would like to see an actual hockey player mentioned. Friend of 4SB, Mark Marino talked on our podcast last week about Florida being a big seller at the moment. The Panthers do have two defensemen who would be interesting gets for the Bruins – Jordan Leopold and Dennis Seidenberg. Another is Nashville’s Dan Hamhuis. The Predators are currently in the playoff chase, so dealing away a player would have to bring back a more significant return than what it would take to deal with Florida. Hamhuis is an unrestricted free agent, however, so his rental rate may not be that big. Names to think about for the Bruins to deal are Vladimir Sobotka and Matt Hunwick along with some of the second or third round picks they have cached. The clear takeaway here is that Peter Chiarelli may like what he sees from his full offensive lineup and is ready to solidify the backend heading into March and April.

What do you guys expect from the US/Canada game on Sunday? On the podcast, I went with Canada by a 3-1 score. I never like moving off predictions, but I think the U.S. has much more of a chance in this game than I originally did. Still going with Canada in the end, though.

As you can tell, most of my Winter Olympic fanaticism surrounds the men’s ice hockey tournament. Besides a brief infatuation with sparkly costumes and triple axels, the hockey portion of the Olympics is what keeps my eyes glued to the screen. Never mind the fact that the addition of the NHL players in ’98 makes this arguably the most star-studded event in either the Summer or Winter Games, I was like this way back when Team USA was filled with the best college players the Bay State had to offer. Following basketball’s lead and bringing together the absolute best in the world at what they do has only upped the fascination.

Think about it. There are 12 teams in the men’s hockey tournament in Vancouver – each with NHL talent on its roster. Sure, some teams like Norway and Latvia are not powerhouses like Canada and Russia, but they feature legitimate world-class players. Unlike the basketball competition at the Summer Games where there is really the United States and then two or three teams behind them competing for silver and bronze, the hockey tournament is wide open. Any of the top six seeds in the tournament could win the gold medal. All six of those teams are filled with either NHL players or the best pros in Europe. Teams like Slovakia (with Bruins Zdeno Chara and Miroslav Satan) and Germany (with Marco Sturm) could win a game and sneak into the medal round where it becomes a series of one-game eliminations.

The pressure in those quarterfinal games will be most heavily laid at the feet of Team Canada. The top seed in the tournament based on the pre-rankings, the Canadians will be looking to win gold on their home ice for the first time. Luckily for them, Alex Bilodeau broke the entire country’s drought with gold in moguls. Now, the Canadian hockey players just have to worry about not letting down the entire country with a lowly silver medal. Seriously, if Team Canada doesn’t win gold, the entire country will be crying in their Molson at Tim Horton’s. Sidney Crosby will be as revered in the Great White North as Bill Buckner used to be at Fenway.

If those crazy Canucks don’t win gold, there are two teams most likely to break Canada’s heart – Russia and Sweden. The Swedes are the defending champions, with 2006 standout goalie Henrik Lundqvist back between the pipes. Russia only has the biggest collection of firepower this side of Red Dawn in Alex Ovechkin, Geno Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk.

All three of those teams are expected to finish pool play at the top and occupy the first three seeds in the quarterfinals. After that, Finland, the Czech Republic and the U.S. should all find themselves in the quarterfinals. The fun part will be figuring out which surprise teams will slide into the final two spots.

You know what else is also great about the men’s hockey games? They are like those first two days of March Madness. Today’s U.S. game is at 3 p.m. They play again on Thursday at 3 p.m. Pretty much every day between now and Feb. 28 has a game at that time. So, fire up an old spreadsheet on your monitor and tune your innerwebs to the game for a little “afternoon delight” puck style. Not sure who you are watching or which squad to cheer for when the Yanks aren’t playing? That’s what your resident hockey guru is here for. Get to know your Olympic hockey squads…

Teams listed in order of pre-Games ranking

1. Canada

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Why they will win: This group could be the best collection of hockey talent ever assembled. Top to bottom, this team on paper is the best in the tournament. In fact, they could have fielded a B team of players left off the roster with guys who have scored 40 goals in the NHL or who lead their team in scoring at the moment. They have arguably the best goaltender in the NHL in Martin Brodeur and two superb goalies behind him in Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury. Coach Mike Babcock has announced that Luongo, who plays his NHL hockey in Vancouver, will start against Norway today and that Brodeur will get the nod against Switzerland. The guess is that whoever plays better will get the go against the U.S. in the final game in Pool A. Add in the fact that there has never been a home-crowd advantage quite like the one waiting for Team Canada, and things are lining up quite nicely for the guys with the Maple Leaf on their chest.

Why they will not win: That home-ice advantage will go only as far as the first deficit the Canadians face. Every person in Canada feels that winning this gold medal is their birth right. If the Norwegians come out and score first today, expect lots of “Take off, you hoser!” and “How aboot a save, eh?” to be rained down from the rafters. Still, it will take a lot of boos to rattle a team loaded with Stanley Cup champions and future Hall of Famers. At the end of the tourney, it will come down to what type of draw Canada receives in the medal rounds. A match-up with Russia in the semifinals will be a tension-filled affair. Babcock would also like one of his two stud goalies to stake claim to the job. Any sense of a goalie controversy will only heighten the media attention and pressure, something Team Canada does not need.

Bruins tie-in: Patrice Bergeron is the only Bruin on Team Canada, but he will be a very visible player. In Monday’s practice, he skated with Sidney Crosby and Rick Nash on what looks to be the top line. Bergeron’s ability to win faceoffs and play the middle can open up the ice for Crosby and Nash to fire away. Bergeron is the only player on this team who didn’t take part in the orientation camp in August, showing how far he has come and how highly he is regarded by the coaching staff. Bergy played with Crosby before in World Junior tournaments and they have chemistry together. If Canada claims gold, Bergeron will have a big part in that. Old friend Joe Thornton is also on the Canadian squad, probably skating with San Jose linemates, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau.

2. Russia

Why they will win: Because goals win hockey games and the Russians have maybe the deadliest firepower in the Games. Two of the three finalists for the Hart Trophy last season are on the Russian team – and they won’t be on the same line. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are two of the best players in the world and they will be giving opposing coaches fits throughout the tournament. Expect Ovie to play with his Washington Capitals teammate Alexander Semin and Detroit Red Wing Pavel Datsyuk. Russia’s second line (more like 1A) will be Malkin with Ilya Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov. To be concise, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk and Semin are three of the top-eight goal scorers in the NHL and that will be difficult to overcome. Any team which takes frequent penalties is in danger of a long night.

Why they will not win: They will probably be public enemy No. 1 in Canada based on the danger they present to the hosts. That probably will not faze Ovechkin who seems to enjoy pissing off opposing fans. However, it could rattle the goaltending. You have to assume Evgeni Nabakov will be the horse for the Russians with Ilya Bryzgalov behind him. Those two have combined for 66 wins so far in the NHL, but Nabakov’s San Jose Sharks are known as much for their playoff flame outs as they are for the awesome Starter jackets they inspired in the mid 1990s.

Bruins tie-in: There are no Bruins on the roster, but ex-Bruin Sergei Gonchar is expected to play on the second defensive pair and feature on the power play.

3. Sweden

Why they will win: They have been there before, winning the gold in two of the last four Olympics – including 2006. The Swedes return 13 players from that team, a lot of experience to bring to an unpredictable tournament. They should have an easy road to the quarterfinals with games against Germany and Belarus before a rematch of the ’06 final against Finland. The Swedes have the most offensive talent outside the Canadians and Russians. Henrik Sedin is second in the NHL in points, forming a dynamic pairing with his brother Daniel. They will be the top line for Sweden, probably with Mattias Weinhandl at center – someone they have played with before. Behind the Sedin twins is Niklas Backstrom, Ovechkin’s running buddy in Washington. He is fourth in the NHL in points and could shine in his role as the second-line option against a team’s second wave of defense. Whoever is on the ice up front for Sweden needs to simply give Henrik Lundqvist a clear view of the puck. He won five games in Torino with a GAA of 2.33. That was his coming out party to the world and he will need to replicate it if the Swedes are to repeat.

Why they will not win: If the defense and goaltending is not as superb as it was in Torino, they will have a tough time keeping up with Russia and Canada. Behind King Henrik in goal is Toronto rookie Jonas Gustavsson and some guy Stefan Liv. The defense has seven of eight playing in the NHL with a mix of veterans and young players, but needs to focus on playing a simple game rather than get too involved. There are some injuries to worry about with Tomas Holmstrom and Peter Forsberg nursing some injuries as the games begin.

Bruins tie-in: None. P.J. Axelsson was not named to the team after winning gold in 2006, depriving Bruins fans a chance to watch him play shutdown defense in the slumber-inducing yet ridiculously effective way he used to for the B’s.

4. Finland

Why they will win: This is another team with a lot of experience. 15 players who played in the gold medal game in 2006 will be back for the Fins. The goaltending trio is formidable, led by Miikka Kiprusoff. He will be making his first Olympic appearance, but is rolling in with a 2.18 GAA.

Why they will not win: There just isn’t enough firepower. Mikko Koivu has the most points of any player on the team with 56. His brother Saku is a capable player and veterans like Teemu Selanne and Jere Lehtinen give the Fins poise and leadership. However, there is no real game-breaker up front like the teams in front of them have. The defense is solid, and Philadelphia Flyer Kimmo Timonen is fun to watch and a player who could create offense from the blueline. Still, it is hard to rank them as a favorite in their quarterfinal game and they will need Kipper to steal games for them to seriously challenge for the gold.

Bruins tie-in: None. There were thoughts Tuukka Rask may sneak onto the team as the third goalie. He lost that spot to Antero Nittymaki of Tampa Bay. Hard to imagine that Rask, who leads the NHL in GAA and is third in Save Percentage couldn’t find a spot on this team, but his time will come in 2014 if the NHL sends its players.

5. Czech Republic

Why they will win: They picked up the bronze in 2006 and won gold in 1998, medaling in two of three games featuring NHL players. This team is not as loaded as those squads and does not feature Dominik Hasek in goal. However, there is some interesting possibilities up front. Jaromir Jagr is the face of Czech hockey and will be counted on to lead the team. He has done that before and could do it again. Patrik Elias of the Devils is another scoring threat. Tomas Fleischmann of the Capitals has some big numbers, but will have to prove it isn’t all Ovie’s doing. If the Czechs are to medal, they will need to receive offensive support from their defensemen. Two of the top 10 Czech-born scorers in the NHL this season are defensemen – Tomas Kaberle and Pavel Kubina. They get the majority of their points by making passes and getting shots on net for players to pounce on.

Why they will not win: The goaltending leaves a lot to be desired. Tomas Vokun and Ondrej Pavelec are the two NHL goalies, but neither has a winning record. Vokun should be the starter, but his name doesn’t strike fear in any team.

Bruins tie-in: David Krejci will suit up in his first Olympics for the Czech Republic. He will center either the second or third line and should see action on the penalty kill as well. His point numbers are down this season like every other Bruin, but he has stated his dream has always been to play in the Olympics ever since watching the 1998 games. Expect his play to improve, just as it has been for the B’s of late.

6. United States

Why they will win: Because it is an Olympics ending in 0. The last two Olympics to come at the start of a decade have seen the U.S. win gold (1960, 1980) and the Americans are due. This is a very inexperienced team Olympic-wise, with only three players having previously played in an Olympics. That may play into their favor, however. While the Russians may be the biggest recipient of aggression at the Games, the U.S. team will also need to overcome some vitriol and they have the ignorance of youth to help with that. Hockey people know that goaltending is the key to winning any tournament usually, and the Americans are strong in net. Ryan Miller is expected to start every game and enters the Olympics with an NHL-best 2.16 GAA. His backup, Jonathan Quick, has the most wins of any NHL keeper with 35. If Miller plays like he has for the Sabres most of the season, the Americans will be a tough out. Don’t count out a win over Canada on Sunday propelling them all the way to the gold, either.

Why they will not win: Can they score enough? That is the big question. Team USA needs to come out against Switzerland and get some confidence on offense. While Miller can and probably will steal a game at some point, that can’t be counted on. Players like Phil Kessel, Zach Parise, Patrick Kane and Paul Stastny need to announce themselves on the big stage quickly or they could be back preparing for the NHL season before the medal round. Team USA wants to win tight, grind ‘em out games but those could be to gutwrenching for such a young team.

Bruins tie-in: Tim Thomas is the feel-good story of Team USA, earning a spot after a vagabond career. However, where he was once a possible No. 1 goalie, he is most likely No. 3 at the moment as he has lost his starting job with the Bruins. While he wants to play as much as possible, it is unlikely he will see any time. Still, if another miracle does happen, there will be no one more excited. Also, how will Bruins fans cheer for Phil Kessel? He is considered persona non grata in Boston when the Leafs come in, but what if a medal is on his stick in a week? He does have a knack for big goals at big times, will he do it again?

7. Switzerland

Why they will win: Every other country repays them for years of chocolate, watches and neutrality. The Swiss haven’t medaled since 1948, and aren’t likely to do so here. Jonas Hiller is a very good goalie for Anaheim and should give them a win over Norway and keep them in the game against the U.S.

Why they will not win: Because they do not have a forward on the team good enough to play in the NHL. Seems like something you would want in a tournament like this. When your best player is arguably a 19-year old defenseman playing junior (Luca Sbisa) you are in trouble.

Bruins tie-in: None.

8. Slovakia

Why they will win: If the Slovaks win the gold, it will be thanks to the Super Marian Brothers – Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa. That is a big ‘if’ though. Gaborik, who has 35 goals this season is injured and is questionable to go in the first game against the Czechs. Hossa missed a lot of time this season as well. Pavol Demitra is a proven NHL player who has only skated in 11 games this season due to injury as well. If their games are on right now, they could give the Czechs and Russians some trouble in the toughest group of pool play. The defense should help keep games close, led by Zdeno Chara and Andrej Meszaros. Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak should play the majority of games in goal and is having a decent season.

Why they will not win: There is not a lot of scoring on this squad after the three injured guys. Even Miro Satan will be hindered by his sliced hand suffered in the Bruins’ game in Tampa last week. They could be out of it by Thursday as they play the Czechs and Russians on back-to-back days.

Bruins tie-in: Chara and Satan are going to be focal points of the team. Hopefully a good tournament from Chara is something he carries over to the stretch run for the Bruins.

9. Belarus

Why they will win: Um…Because….Well…Not gonna happen. However, they were fifth in 1998 and fourth in 2002, the last two times they qualified. So, they are a lock for the bronze, right?

Why they will not win: Because their best players are the evil mobster Kostitsyn brothers who play for Montreal. If they win, it’s because the games are fixed.

Bruins tie-in: Hating the Kostitsyn brothers.

10. Germany

Why they will win: The other 11 teams are overcome by the awesome power of the STURM FACE.

Why they will not win: There are only six NHL players on the team. Besides Marco Sturm, Jochen Hecht and Marcel Goc are forwards who will be counted on to score. The defense from Christian Ehrhoff and Dennis Seidenberg has to be top-notch to keep pucks away from three goalies who don’t give you much confidence.

Bruins tie-in: Marco Sturm is the leader of this team and will be the heartbeat of the Germans. He is without question a passionate player and should thrive on the excitement of the Olympics – his third Games.

11. Latvia

Why they will win: Familiarity. No team in the Olympics can say it has 16 players who play on the same team during the regular season. They all skate for Dinamo Riga. Not exactly the Detroit Red Wings, but they should have no trouble playing as a team.

Why they will not win: Because they won’t defeat any of the three teams in their group. Makes it difficult to advance.

Bruins tie-in: Martins Karsums was a Bruins prospect before he was traded to Tampa Bay as part of the Mark Recchi deal last March. Thanks Marty!

12. Norway

Why they will win: They also have some chemistry on their side. 21 of the 23 players on the roster played at the World Championships in 2009. They also helped win the qualifying tournament that gave Norway its first berth in the Olympics since 1994 – when they qualified as host.

Why they will not win: Only one NHL player – Detroit’s Ole-Kristian Tollefson and another who plays in Russia’s superleague, the KHL. They have a tough go against Canada and the U.S. and should look to the game against Switzerland as their chance for an Olympic Moment.

Bruins tie-in: None.

So, there is the quick info on the 12 teams set to chase after the gold medal. My predictions are as follows:

Gold Medal: Russia. Too much firepower and nothing to lose helps Ovie finally break Sidney Crosby’s heart.
Silver Medal: Canada. A country weeps as the Canadian anthem is silenced.
Bronze Medal: Sweden. Henrik Lundqvist plays out of his mind again, but the Swedes can’t match goals with the two teams above them.
United States: Fourth Place. A great run by the U.S. falls just short of a medal.

What do you think is going to happen? Any surprises? Which Bruin has the best tournament?

Of course, it always comes down to “National Pride” in the Olympics as the USA fights to bring home the most medals when all is said and done. There are a lot of favorite events that occur in the Winter Games. Of course, men’s and women’s hockey (especially with the Games being held in Canada this year) will reign supreme, curling has become very popular over the last couple Games, personally I have been considering the biathlon… because I can, and all of those skiing and snowboarding events never disappoint.

But specifically, what (who) do we as individuals have to cheer for? Well, that’s where I come in. Here is a full list of all of the Team USA athletes that reign from New England. Find a few that are from your area that maybe you didn’t know about (or did) and cheer on your fellow chowdah lovers.

New England based athletes on Team USA

Getty Images

US Ski and Snowboard

- MA -

-Emily Cook Belmont, MA - Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Dylan Ferguson Amesbury, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

Michelle Gorgone Boston, MA – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Tyler Jewell Boston, MA – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Michael Morse Duxbury, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

- NH -

Nick Alexander Lebanon, NH - Olympic Participation – 2010

Jimmy Cochran Keene, NH – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Nicholas Fairall Andover, NH – Olympic Participation – 2010

Scotty Lago Seabrook, NH – Olympic Participation – 2010

Bode Miller Franconia, NH – Olympic Participation -1998, 2002, 2006, 2010

Leanne Smith Conway, NH – Olympic Participation – 2010

- RI -

Kelly Clark Newport, RI – Olympic Participation – 2002, 2006, 2010

- VT -

Lindsey Jacobellis Stratton Mountain, VT – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Nolan Kasper Warren, VT – Olympic Participation – 2010

Hannah Kearney Norwich, VT – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Andy Newell Shaftsbury, VT – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Ross Powers Okemo Mountain, VT – Olympic Participation – 1998, 2002, 2010

Liz Stephen E Montpelier, VT – Olympic Participation – 2010

Hannah Teter Belmont, VT – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

USA Hockey

Womens hockey

Kacey Bellamy Westfield, MA- Olympic Participation -2010

Meghan Duggan Danvers, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

Erika Lawler Fitchburg, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010 (Read Chas’ interview with Erika Lawler)

Molly Schaus Natick, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

- CT -

Caitlin Cahow New Haven, CT – Olympic Participation – 2006, 2010

Julie Chu Fairfield, CT – Olympic Participation – 2002, 2006, 2010

- NH -

Hilary Knight Hanover, NH – Olympic Participation – 2010

Mens hockey

Jonathan Quick Milford, CT – Olympic Participation – 2010 (LA Kings)

Getty Images

USA LUGE

Julia Clukey Augusta, ME – Olympic Participation – 2010

Megan Sweeney Suffield, CT – Olympic Participation – 2010

Bengt Walden Westborough, MA – Olympic Participation – 2002, 2010

Getty Images

USA BOBSLED & SKELETON FEDERATION

Erin Pac Farmington, CT - Olympic Participation – 2010

Steve Langton Melrose, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

NBC Image

US BIATHLON

Laura Spector Lenox, MA – Olympic Participation – 2010

The 23-year old from Fitchburg, MA has just about done it all so far in her hockey career. After a standout career at Cushing Academy where she was thrice named the top female athlete in her class she enrolled at the University of Wisconsin. While in a Badger sweater, all she did was win three NCAA championships and lead the country in assists as a senior. In each of the past three years, she has represented the United States at the World Championships, winning two gold medals and a silver. She has donned the red, white and blue nine times in international competition.

Still, it is a fair statement to say none of those accomplishments compare to what awaits in Vancouver over the next two weeks.

“I am so thrilled to be a part of this team,” she said from Colorado Springs, CO where the team was practicing while finishing up the Qwest Tour – a series of games against colleges and national teams to prepare for the Olympics. “Not only are you representing your country but everyone who ever helped you along the way – your high school, college, family, friends, coaches.”

Anyone who has ever pulled a Team USA uniform over their head echoes those same sentiments when talking about what the honor of playing for one’s country represents. Lawler also understands that there is a specific group of people she is also representing. The selection process for the Games began with 40 players in the hunt for a spot of the roster. After a week-long camp in August, that number was trimmed to 23. Recently, two more players were released from the team bringing the final roster to 21. Many of those players Lawler beat out for a place on the squad are life-long friends and teammates, so she knows she owes it to them to play her best.

“There are definitely bittersweet feelings,” she said. “As excited as I am to make the team, watching some of my really good friends miss out on this was sad.”

Having to deal with close friends’ disappointment has helped Lawler begin to fully understand the ramifications of this hockey tournament unlike any other.

“The funny thing is, it hadn’t really hit me until people started saying ‘How does it feel to be one of the top 12 forwards in the country?’” she said. “Statements like that cause me to take a step back and appreciate the situation. As a group, we realize that we are all really fortunate and we want to make the best of every day out here.”

While the men who have skated their way to Vancouver are world-famous millionaires, the women who will compete for gold do not have an NHL to showcase their skills. For players like Lawler, the Olympic Games are the pinnacle of the sport and the best way to put their skills on display.

“We all know that we are not only showcasing ourselves and the team,” said the three-time NCAA champ, “But promoting the sport of women’s hockey.”

Women’s hockey as a viable option for young girls was not a popular one until after the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan where the United States won the inaugural gold in a dominating performance. While Lawler was still too young to be outright influenced by that team – she did mention seeing them on a Wheaties box after the win – a breakout performance on the global stage showed that women’s hockey had a rightful place alongside soccer, basketball and softball as options for young women.

The accepted path for most young female players until that point was to play alongside the boys for a while until the physical size discrepancy became too much. If a girl wanted to play high school hockey, maybe she could skate on a lower-tiered boys’ team or at one of the few private schools that offered an all-girls program. The number of colleges fielding a women’s team was small and relegated mostly to New England and the Ivy League. However, with the success of the 1998 team, more and more programs began to sprout up around the country. Youth teams began fielding all-female teams and that led to more high schools adding programs. Women’s college hockey is a growing sport as well, with powerhouse teams on the east coast and in the Midwest fighting for the national title every year. The 2010 roster for the Olympics has players from 11 states – including Alaska, California, Washington and Ohio in addition to traditional hockey hotbeds like Massachusetts and Minnesota. Every single member of Team USA played collegiate hockey.

Photo courtesy of USA Hockey

So, with women’s hockey now on the table, Lawler watched the 2002 team pick up a silver medal at the Salt Lake City games and decided that playing in the Olympics was now a goal of hers. For the 15-year old, that meant more commitment from herself and family.

The life of a hockey family can be somewhat of a nomadic one, packing the car and driving all over for weekend tournaments. Young players in Canada can sometimes move away from home as early as 13 years of age to chase the dream. In America, it is not uncommon for the best players to head off to boarding school to play against the best competition. Lawler did just that, making her way to Cushing Academy where she compiled 395 career points. It took a big step from her family to allow her to move away for high school, a commitment Lawler appreciates.

“My family is so supportive of me,” she said. “Family is such a big part of everyone’s lives and they have been just as much a part of me making the Olympic team as I have. The willingness to bring me to practice and to go to Cushing and Wisconsin was so important. They believed and made sacrifices for me. This whole trip will be just as rewarding for them. It is overwhelming how excited they are about this.”

The second big step the Lawler family made was when Erika decided to play college hockey at Wisconsin. With options like Boston College, Harvard and Northeastern locally to play, going across the country was a risky move. It paid off in spades, however, with the three national titles and the ability to train under Mark Johnson.

Coach Johnson was a member of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team that won gold in Lake Placid and is the head coach of Team USA this Olympics. He has molded the Wisconsin program into the elite squad it is over his seven years behind the bench in Madison as the Badgers have reached the NCAA finals the last four seasons. Lawler feels that it is no coincidence that seven current or former Badgers are on Team USA in Vancouver. Not because Johnson is playing favorites, but because Johnson and his staff recruit players most likely to peak at such a high level.

“We obviously have great coaching out at Wisconsin,” Lawler said. “When a player gets to Wisconsin, we all seem to develop into the player we can be due to the resources – athletic trainers, strength coaches and skating coaches. The WCHA is so competitive and that helps us develop as well.”

It must be hard for Lawler to pick a highlight memory from a college career that includes three Frozen Four championships. However, the final championship may be the one that trumps them all. That title came in her own backyard at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.

“It was funny, because I played at Wisconsin for four years and never got to play in Boston until the Frozen Four,” Lawler said. “People kept calling it a fairy tale ending for me because my final collegiate games were in Boston in front of my home crowds. You can’t cap your career much better than that.”

In the national championship game against Mercyhurst, Lawler did what she does best – dish the puck to a waiting teammate. Lawler had three assists in the title tilt and was named to the All-Tournament team.

Deft passing and the ability to create scoring chances are the hallmarks of Lawler’s game. She dialed up 119 assists in her four years in Madison. She also potted 55 goals, giving her 174 points in 163 career games. Standing just five feet tall, Lawler knows that she has to work harder than everyone around her to keep the puck on her stick and beat taller defenders.

“I tend to use my energy,” she said. “Everyone always says I look like I have so much energy. I am just so excited to play. Being small, you have to be quicker and faster to maneuver around opponents.”

Hard work in practice is what she points to as a reason for her success.

“I am always fine tuning my technique on my strides, starts and stops with power skating,” she said. “Skating and puck handling. When I can lose people with my quickness, I am at my best. I need to use my speed to create scoring chances.”

Lawler’s best this next fortnight may result in a place atop the medal stand in Canada. After coming back from the past two Olympiads with a silver and a bronze, Team USA is looking to reclaim the top spot. Lawler feels that the team is of the right mindset heading into the Games.

“We are so excited,” she said, her rising voice reaffirming her claim. “We are in a really good place confidence-wise right now.

Still, the Olympic rookie knows that she needs to pace herself.

“I am not sure what to expect when I get there as it’s my first Olympics,” she said with the poise of a veteran. “It will be important to stay focused and not get carried away with what is going on around me with other events. At the same time, I want to soak in the experience at the village and the rink with the team.”

Despite not wanting to get too far ahead of herself, she did allow one brief moment of drifting forward.

“We have been working our whole lives for the 60 minutes of the gold medal game,” she said. “The thought of playing in that game gives me goose bumps.”

To get there, Team USA will have to navigate pool play against China, Russia and Finland. The much anticipated game against Canada will not come until the medal round, hopefully for hockey fans in the gold medal game. Lawler knows that advancing that far will be difficult but shows excitement at that possibility as well.

“Playing in front of the Canadian fans is amazing,” she said. “Playing in front of 16,000 fans is such a rush. Whether they are cheering for you or against you it doesn’t matter. The energy in the building is so immense and gets us 100 percent into the game. There is so much passion in every shift in that situation. US-Canada is the best rivalry that I have every played in. That is what we thrive off of and strive for – that pressure. We are all big game players and so are they. It will be a great battle.”

While that potential game is not a certainty, it is no doubt the match-up hockey fans want to see. If that game takes place Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m. it is a safe bet that the city of Fitchburg will be quiet as it cheers on its favorite daughter playing for the gold.

Photo courtesy of USA Hockey/Jeff Vinnick