Can't A Da?

The path to the gold-medal game for Canada's men's Olympic hockey team is suddenly littered with obstacles.

Next up: Germany on Tuesday in a qualification-round game, a victory needed just to qualify for the quarter-finals.

After that: A probable match-up with formidable Russia, the team that eliminated them from medal contention in the quarter-finals of the 2006 Olympics in Turin and appears to be getting better every game.

Canada lost its first game of the men's tournament Sunday, but it came at a critical time. The Vancouver Canucks' Ryan Kesler, normally a home-town hero in these parts, sealed a 5-3 victory for the United States by scoring an empty-net goal with 45 seconds remaining. Kesler's goal put an end to a furious last-gasp push by the Canadian team for the tying goal - and put a punctuation mark on an entertaining, but ultimately frustrating loss in a wild, giddy and tense arena, Canada Hockey Place.

In the glass-half-full version of events, Canada did many things well. They swarmed the net around U.S. goaltender Ryan Miller, who held a decisive edge over his Canadian counterpart, Martin Brodeur. They held their own in the speed department against an American team that had been trumpeting its edge there.

Physically, they punished the U.S. team, with Rick Nash leading the way in dishing out major open-ice hits.

The only problem was that their work in the face-off circle wasn't good - the Americans were better by a two-to-one margin in the first two periods; and the goals - so hard to come by four years ago in Turin - seem to be a struggle again.

That 19-6 edge in first-period shots for Canada was indicative of the play, but as all the players know, engineering a scoring chance is one thing, finishing them off is something else again.

Against the Americans, Canada managed three goals - by Eric Staal, on a tip-in; by Dany Heatley, on a jam from the side of the net; and then a final tally by Sidney Crosby with just 3:09 to go to draw the Canadians within a goal and provide them with a little hope.

On their next shift, Crosby's line absolutely hemmed the Americans in the zone and did everything but punch in the tying goal. But in the same way Jonas Hiller had a magical outing for the Swiss a couple of nights ago, it was Miller's time yesterday.

He stopped 42 out of 45 shots that he faced, and held the team in there at different moments when the ice seemed tilted Canada's way.

Even the U.S. coach Ron Wilson acknowledged afterwards how well his goaltender played - and much of a difference he made to the outcome.

"In fairness, Canada out-chanced us two-to-one for most of the game and our goalie played excellent," said Wilson. "We've still got a long ways to go here. There are some great teams out there. Personally, I think Canada is the best team - and Russia is right behind them with all the skill they have up front."

If that's correct and if Canada can avoid a stumble against the Germans, they may get a chance to test out Wilson's hypothesis.

Miller was gracious in the aftermath of his exceptional performance. Asked about winning the goaltending battle, he answered: "I'm just trying to build my resume. Marty's the best."

But Marty might be on the bench for Tuesday's game. Mike Babcock, the Canadian coach, said he wouldn't make a decision on his starter in goal until he reviewed the tape of yesterday's loss.

"We've chosen a longer route to where we want to go," said Babcock. "I thought we played real well at times. I thought Miller was excellent for them. In the end, we didn't have enough to get it done."

Brian Rafalski, who plays for Babcock in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings, was the dominant offensive player in the game. In addition to scoring twice, Rafalski set up the eventual game winner, a deflection by former New Jersey Devils' teammate Jamie Langenbrunner that skipped past Brodeur.

It was the first power-play goal surrendered by Canada in the tournament and it came at the end of a seven-minute sequence in which Eric Staal, Crosby and Cory Perry took consecutive penalties. Eventually, the slip in their discipline cost them.

Crosby had a curious night of it. He finished the game minus-3, but had some great moments along the way.

"It is probably not what we wanted coming in," said Crosby, of having to play an extra game in the qualifying round, "but that's where we are. When you get to this point in the tournament, it's not going to be easy. The fact that we have to play an extra game isn't a terrible thing. We'll be ready for it."

With the victory, the U.S. clinched top spot in Group A with a 3-0-0 record and pending the outcome of the Sweden-Finland game, will either be seeded No. 1 or 2 for the playoff round.

"Emotionally, we need to make sure we don't get too high," said Miller. "We want to keep battling, keep playing, and there's going to be some tough teams ahead. We might even have these guys again."

A rematch between Canada and the U.S. would not happen until the semi-finals at the earliest. It was a litany repeated in every corner of the mixed zone and by both coaches over and over. From here on in, every game is an elimination game; the margin of error has disappeared.

"Just like every team in the tournament, we're playing for survival," said Babcock. "We understand what we're up against."

 

SOURCE: http://www.ctvolympics.ca/