Americans spoil Canada's coming out party!
By: Turner Sports Desk
As I asked in a
previous blog what happens when you take the best players in the world give them home ice, a home crowd and the biggest stage in the Olympics? They get out hustled, out worked and out smarted by those pesky Americans that did not seem the least bit phased by Canada's assembled firepower.
So what happened to the Canadian hockey dream team? Did they read their own press clippings and decide that they were too awesome to lose? I doubt that. I think the Americans are a pretty good team in their own right. Many of these guys play on the same team in the NHL so the Canadian advantage is only one of perception.
Despite all of the external factors surrounding the Olympics the game of hockey does not change. The Americans used speed, patience, and hustle to beat a more talented team. That happens just about every night in arenas everywhere within the NHL. The Americans were the better team last night and they earned that win. The Canadians can rebound and win the gold but they need to remember that no one is going to hand the gold to them.
The Americans served notice that they are back. They are still not the favorites to win but they proved that team hockey beats a bunch of talented guys almost every time.