Olympic hockey: American know-how stuns Canada

VANCOUVER - Border skirmishes. Bragging rights. Teammate against teammate, for the love of the flag.

Because of its physical nature and territorial origins, there is nothing quite like Olympic hockey. Throw in three straight matchups between neighboring nations and the inherent political tensions that accompany them, and you have yesterday in Vancouver.

Even before Alex Ovechkin nearly decapitated Jaromir Jagr with a full-speed, midice hit in the opener between Russia and Czech Republic - sure you want to come back to the NHL, Jags? - there was that buzz, that feeling you were amid something uniquely intense.

Russia vs. Czech Republic. The United States against Canada. Finland-Sweden in the nightcap.

The games mattered marginally in the Olympics' big picture - the U.S. team earned a bye into the quarterfinals with its thrilling, 5-3 victory while Canada must play its way in to the medal round tomorrow.

But the intensity with which the game was contested obscured that. Ancient American Chris Drury slid in front of Rick Nash's shot to preserve a one-goal lead in the third period. Ryan Kesler scored the final goal by diving around Canada's Corey Perry and sweeping the puck off his stick. Brian Rafalski, the oldest U.S. player at 36, had two goals and an assist, shooting against the goaltender he stood in front of for years as a Devil, Martin Brodeur.

Chemistry was a big topic entering this tournament. The team that found it faster would find itself on the top part of the podium, Chris Pronger said. After last night's game, there was a keen sense that the Americans had found theirs first.

"We're not clicking right now," Canada's Scott Niedermayer said. "We're dominating play at times and getting nothing for it."

"I hate to say it, but maybe we need to play more games," said Brodeur. "It's do-or-die now, so we're going to do everything we can to gel and get our game together and be successful. Hopefully that extra game will provide that option."

The question is, will the most prolific goaltender of our era be in the net? Brodeur's play entering the Olympics was not his best work, and Roberto Luongo, who plays for the Canucks, registered a shutout in his only action. Both Brodeur and Niedermayer spoke about improving communication in the defensive zone, which directly or indirectly led to all but the last U.S. goal.

"We have to work on that," Niedermayer said.

One great example: Rafalski's second goal came when he intercepted an attempted clearing pass by Brodeur inside Canada's blue line, walked in, and fired it past his former teammate.

"As soon as I saw him wind up, I knew he wasn't looking for a wall," Rafalski said. "I've seen him do that before.

"He's caught me in the ear, in the nose with that. So, yeah, familiarity helped there."

The U.S. team has exhibited no such chemistry problems. It also might have the tournament's best goalie in Buffalo's Ryan Miller, or at least the one playing the best now. Team Canada outshot Team USA by 19-6 in the first period, yet the U.S. team led, 2-1. Rafalski got the Americans on top 41 seconds into the game, stunning the mostly pro-Canada, very raucous crowd at Canada Hockey Place.

Team USA never trailed in the game, although Canada tied it twice. The Americans scored the winner by jamming the net, and at least on this night made the more memorable hustle plays that define wanting it more.

Good goaltending has that affect. It's also a catalyst in that tricky chemistry experiment that defines success and failure in this burst of a tournament. Beyond a third-period slumber that made their opener against Switzerland more interesting than it should have been, the Americans have played like the energetic, role-oriented squad that general manager Brian Burke imagined when the somewhat controversial team selections were announced at Fenway Park on New Year's Day.

They also seem more familiar with each other. While Team Canada has been seeking dance partners to make Sidney Crosby's line click - Mike Richards was tried there last night - the United States has settled into its lines. Team Canada also made excessive trips to the penalty box, a few times when it seemed it had built momentum. More chemistry issues, perhaps.

But really, who cares about them? Pronger and Richards will have plenty of time to get over it, should the latest can't-miss hockey team from Canada fail to find its collective soul over the next few days.

"Oh, they'll be fine," said Zach Parise. "We just won a hockey game today, not a medal."

Just a hockey game. Yeah, maybe. But, boy, it felt like more.

"We didn't win any medals tonight," said U.S. defenseman Jack Johnson. "But it's always great to beat Canada in Canada."

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