The Gold Medal Game is in the US Men's Hockey Team's sites. In the way is a semifinals date with well-established Team Finland.
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The Men’s Olympic Hockey tournament has boiled down to four teams, and the United States is the top dog. The #1 seeded USA Team will take on Team Finland in the Semifinals 6.5 hours before Team Canada (most likely) dismantles a low-voltage Team Slovakia on the other side of the bracket.
Team USA vs Team Finland: Friday, February 26th, 12:00 pm PST
Team Canada vs Team Slovakia: Friday, February 26th, 6:30 pm PST
Team USA is both the only team that has gone undefeated and the youngest team in the tournament. They represent a sea change in US Olympic hockey, and to say that these young Americans have exceeded expectations would be a gross understatement.
With an average age of 26.5, Team USA has outworked, outskated & outscored their opponents in the regimented tradition of old Northeastern United States hockey. They have taken full advantage of the NHL ice in use for the 2010 Olympics by bringing the game to the corners & boards and then just winning battles for the puck.
Meanwhile, the next batter to step up to the rampaging Americans is undoubtedly the old man on the block. Team Finland is returning 15 players from their silver medal winning 2006 squad. Not coincidentally, 15 of Finland’s 23 players were born in the 1970’s, and the average age of the roster is 30.7 years old. They are the oldest team in the tournament, and they execute a smart, veteran game plan.
Unfortunately for the Finns, the Americans have some wicked speed to go with a stellar team passing ethos. Unless Teemu Selanne can muster his (much) younger self and shake off five years of injuries for a night, Finland is in for a long, low-scoring evening.
The USA will continue to play the disciplined team defense that Coach Ron Wilson instilled as responsibility #1, and US Goalie Ryan Miller just bested the hottest ‘tender at the tourney in Switzerland’s Jonas Hiller. The United State’s greatest asset is their common understanding of a basic but effective system of defending their zone and fore-checking into the opponent’s zone.
From there, the name of the game is control and constant movement of both the puck and attacking forwards. The team’s best offensive element is its tenacity and they know it.
While Finland’s experience on the International Stage gives them a considerable advantage, I believe that the US Men are playing well beyond their years. Part of that equation has certainly been Wilson.  Just as important was the strength of character that General Manager Brian Burke favored over raw skill in his selection of the team’s core players.
That’s why the Americans blocked almost 30 shots off Swiss sticks on Wednesday.
And that’s why, no matter how well Finland brings their game to the Americans this Friday afternoon, Team USA will throw themselves bodily at the task at hand; a rematch with Team Canada for the Gold Medal.
