VANCOUVER — Ever the comedian, Team USA head coach Ron Wilson was quickly able to pinpoint Thursday what he liked about his American boys after two victories at the 2010 Olympic men’s hockey tournament.
“I love our goaltending,” said Wilson, referring to Buffalo Sabre stalwart Ryan Miller. “When we do make a mistake, I’m not always personally used to, in the last two years, getting the big save, so to speak. I can breathe and I’m so used to holding my breath. I’m just learning I can breathe on the bench.”
Wilson, of course, coaches the hapless Toronto Maple Leafs in his day job and the Buds have been playing netminding roulette in Wilson’s two seasons there, reeling from Vesa Toskala, Curtis Joseph and Martin Gerber to Jonas Gustavsson and now J.S. Giguere.
Miller was a rock Thursday when he was needed as Team USA thumped Norway 6-1 in a game that was still 3-1 with less than six minutes remaining in the third period. The Americans were a little reckless at times in the neutral zone and did yield a number of odd-man rushes to the plucky Norwegians.
Miller was able to turn them all away with the exception of Marius Holtet’s shorthanded goal midway through the second period, which reduced the Americans’ lead to 3-1. A little more than five minutes later, Miller made a sublime stop on Anders Bastiansen’s re-direct attempt to keep it 3-1.
Next up for the U.S. is Canada in Sunday’s feature 4:30 match. Wilson admitted he was already wondering how his youthful lineup will handle that moment.
“I’ve been in those big games against Canada before in World Cups and the Olympics and you have to maintain your composure,” Wilson said. “You want to be excited but not to the point where you’re dead after the first period, or even after the warmup. We have a lot of young guys who haven’t really played in huge games like Stanley Cup finals. I’m anticipating one of the best atmospheres I’ve been in since probably the third game of the 1996 World Cup.”
The American players seemed almost relieved to have disposed of Switzerland and Norway despite, in their minds, not playing their best. They managed to edge the Swiss only 3-1 but the three late goals Thursday did restore a bit of their swagger.
Ryan Kesler, the Vancouver Canuck connection on Team USA, claimed the lack of offence until late in the Norway game wasn’t a large concern.
“It’s not even a problem because we know the goals are going to come,” Kesler said. “Sure you feel good after you score a couple but I think we got lucky there at the end. We have to play better against Canada. They’ve got a very skilled team and we gave up too many odd man rushes to Norway.
“We have to play the right way against Canada,” added Kesler. “Our whole team is going to have to play smart.”
Kesler may have some new linemates in that game, too, as Wilson broke up Kesler’s checking unit with Dustin Brown and Jamie Langenbrunner and indicated he might put Kesler between young guns Patrick Kane and Bobby Ryan while Langenbrinner skates with New Jersey teammate Zach Parise and Colorado’s Paul Stastny.
“We haven’t played anywhere near our capabilities,” said Parise. “There is still room for improvement. We have some preparation to do for Canada, some areas we need to clean up and we’ll be ready to go. It always fun playing a U.S.-Canada game, especially when it’s up in Canada. We’re really looking forward to it.”
The Americans, who out-shot Norway 39-11, received goals from Phil Kessel and Chris Drury in the first period, Kane in the second and then Ryan Malone and Brian Rafalski, with two, late in the third.
epap@vancouversun.com
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