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.
