There's a Difference

VANCOUVER—So Canada-US or Canada-Russia. Which is bigger?

An interesting debate. On the surface, Canada and Russia have been going at it longer, and the '72 Summit Series remains an indelible symbol of our national hockey pride.

But here's why the rivalry with the Americans may be greater.

First, it's growing, and has been growing since the early 1990s.

Second, it exists on more levels.

Canada and U.S. men compete at the NHL level, and obviously, the Olympic level.

Canadian junior teams and American college battle for the affections of the same players.

Our national junior teams are rivals, with the U.S. beating Canada in Saskatoon last month.

Our women's national teams are rivals. In fact, neither has any other.

Our paralympic sledge hockey squads are bitter foes.

And our children of all ages, if they play the game at a competitive level, are well-versed in playing against American competition. On Friday, my daughter and her varsity team from Appleby College in Oakville – coached by national under-22 coach Margot Page, by the way – travelled to Buffalo to play Nichols School in the final game of the best-of-three CISSA championship series.

Delaney, my daughter, figured the previous night's result, with Canada's women beating the U.S. in the Olympic gold medal final, was a good omen. She was right.

Appleby 3, Nichols 2, in overtime.

So our kids know the rivalry with the U.S., as do our paralympians, as do our elite women, as do our juniors, as do our very best players.

Only a few of that number would have played against Russian teams, and only occasionally.

That's the difference.

The Advantages of Losing

VANCOUVER

in the midst of the emotion and the passion of this Olympic competition, we forget there are implications for the NHL, the stretch drive and maybe the playoffs.

And maybe that's why people like it so much. It's a break from the NHL season.

Thankfully, there have been no significant injuries to NHLers so far. But you can bet the NHL teams that own the players eliminated in the qualification round and the quarterfinals won't be shedding any tears today.

The Washington Capitals, for example, will now get Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Fleischmann back without those players having to play two more Olympic hockey games. Instead of arriving back in D.C. on Monday and then trying to get ready for next Wednesday's game at Buffalo, the Caps crew will have a few days off and probably rejoin their NHL club by Saturday or Sunday.

That's a significant difference. All of those players undoubtedly would have been happy if their countries had advanced. That's why they're here. But the rest always helps.

By comparison, the Pittsburgh Penguins may get Evgeny Malkin and Sergei Gonchar back sooner, but Sidney Crosby (Canada) and Brooks Orpik (U.S.) will be going to the bitter end.

Vancouver knows the Olympics are done for the Sedins, but Roberto Luongo still has lots of work to do. The San Jose Sharks know that Douglas Murray and Evgeny Nabokov can now return to focussing on the NHL season, but their entire top line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau is still playing for Canada, as is defenceman Dan Boyle, while centre Joe Pavelski is going hard for the Americans.

The Chicago Blackhawks won't get Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith back until Monday, while Detroit knows its stars Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg now have a few extra days to come down from the high of the Olympics. Again, all these players would rather be playing.

But there's a price to be paid.

Hate To Sound Like Leo Cahill, But. . .

VANCOUVER--Yep, only an act of God can stop Team Canada now.

The older folks among us will surely remember when Leo Cahill uttered those infamous words as head coach of the Argonauts, and then saw it blow up in his face.

But doesn't it apply to this Olympic men's hockey tournament now?

It's not like Slovakia is a bad hockey team or a weak hockey country. But it seems unfathomable that Zdeno Chara, Marian Hossa and Co. will have enough to blunt Canada's charge to the gold medal game.

One second, we were all contemplating an intriguing semi-final in which the Sedin twins would be taking dead aim at Roberto Luongo in the same area in which they all play during the regular season, and the next moment the Swedes were out and Slovakia is a surprise semifinalist.

One moment we were suggesting the U.S. had the easiest road to the gold medal game. Now it looks like Team Canada might.

By putting four pucks past Henrik Lundqvist after no other country had managed even one, the Slovaks earned their stunning 4-3 victory.

That gives them wins over Russia and Sweden in these Olympics, and certainly will add a new dimension to the goaltending controversy in Montreal when Jaroslav Halak returns to the Habs.

So presumably, if they can beat those countries, they can beat Canada, right? Well, it's not the same thing. For starters, Canada plays a very physical, in-your-face style that's produces a very different type of game when they play a country like Slovakia.

Second, Canada is on home ice, and that is proving to be a significant factor.

So assuming Mike Babcock has Canada prepared, and assuming Luongo plays his game, and assuming the team that has scored 15 goals in its last two games has a little ammuntion left, there's a pretty good chance Canadians will have a very big game to watch on Sunday.

With their team in it.

Sticking to the Debate - Much More Interesting

VANCOUVER

People are funny.

Rather than actually arguing a point, a favourite tactic is often to try and discredit the source. Don't take a persuasive point of view. Just try and accuse those who think differently of some kind of bias.

When I write something critical of the Leafs, some suggest I've only written it because I hate the Leafs. If I write something critical about the Ottawa Senators, I'll get emails saying I've only taken that point of view because I love the Leafs.

Sometimes I think I should introduce these people to each other.

So long ago I stopped worrying when people accuse me of some bias or another. It usually just means they have no intelligent argument to make.

Today, I'm dealing with all kinds of people criticizing a column I wrote that was critical of Mike Babcock's handling of the Team Canada goalie situation by writing - as though I somehow wasn't admitting it - that I'm only taking that point of view because I co-wrote a book with Brodeur four years ago.

To that I have two things to say.

One, if you believe I have a conflict, then why would you possibly care about what I think? There's no way I can argue the point, so I have to accept that some people believe that. That's part of being in this business, and its no more bothersome to me than those who say I write critical columns on the Leafs because I hate the Leafs, etc.

Second, I can make an argument that Brodeur should have continued as Canada's goalie. At the same time, I understand that some believe it's Roberto Luongo's turn. In fact, the majority of writers at these Games take that point of view. I don't agree, but I can certainly accept that point of view. And I never, ever mind being in the minority.

And you'll notice I didn't accuse Babcock of any kind of conflict because he coaches Detroit and Brodeur plays for New Jersey, or that he prefers Luongo because he's in the Western Conference.

I simply disagreed with his decision and the way in which he made it.

That's how it should work folks.

So fill your boots if you want to accuse me of conflict. All it means is you have no argument to make.

I do with Brodeur. I would have stuck with him because he has won three Stanley Cups, multiple Vezina Trophies and an Olympic gold medal, plus the fact he was brilliant against the Swiss and totally saved Canada from what would have been an embarrassing defeat by stoning each and every Swiss in the shootout. If he didn't have a strong game against the U.S., well, this is a Hall of Fame goalie who has proven time and time again his ability to bounce back.

Luongo? He didn't play his way into this start. He was handed it.

And you know what? If he backstops Canada to a gold medal Babcock's decision will have been the correct one.

And you'll read it here first. Then I'll probably get emails from Leaf fans accusing me of being a Canuck lover. . . .

Swedes Looking Good in Olympic Title Defence

VANCOUVER

Someone's going to have to knock out the champs.

Nobody's been able to do it so far, leaving Sweden untied and unbeaten in the men's hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics after capturing the Olympic title four years ago in Italy.

Victories over Germany, Belarus and then Finland on Super Sunday have made the Swedes a solid bet to return, although finishing behind the United States for the first seed after the preliminary round might given them a slightly more difficult schedule.

Like a semifinal date with Russia or Canada.

Right now, the Swedes simply look calmly familiar with each other and the task at hand, as seen in an easy 3-0 triumph over the Finns on Sunday, the same country the Swedes defeated to with the '06 Olympic title in Turin.

Goals from Loui Eriksson, Nicklas Backstrom and Johan Franzen powered the Swedes to their third win on Sunday at a packed Canada Hockey House. Henrik Lundqvist, who took the Belarus game off to do a little TV work, but as solid as ever against Finland, particularly during the second period when the Swedes took four straight penalties and gave the Finns two 5-on-3 powerplays.

Lundqvist has yet to allow a goal in these Games.

It was the least entertaining game of the day which earlier featured Russia's victory over the Czechs and Canada's loss to the United States.

Finland, even in defeat, finished fourth overall and gets a bye to the quarterfinals where it will likely face the Czech Repubic.

The U.S., meanwhile, is suddenly in a very appealing position. They'll play either the Swiss or Belarussians in the quarters, then likely the Czechs or Finns the semifinals. Olympic champions in 1960 and 1980, suddenly the U.S. might have a shot in another year ending with the number zero.

Canada finished sixth and plays Germany in the qualification round on Tuesday. Other matchups in that round are Czechs-Latvia, Switzerland-Belarus and Slovakia-Norway.

A HIt Heard 'Round the Olympics

VANCOUVER—It wasn't like Jaromir Jagr had his head down. He didn't. And still he couldn't avoid being crushed by the Alex Ovechkin Express.

With Russia leading the Czech Republic 2-1 early in the third period today, Jagr, who had been superb in his country’s first two games, gathered the puck on the right boards by his team's bench and began to weave his way through the neutral zone. As he moved to cross the large green, blue and red inukshuk that adorns centre ice, he shifted to his right and then was caught full on by a gorgeous Ovechkin bodycheck.

You know the kind of perfect, clean hit that in an NHL game would mean the player delivering the hit would immediately have to fight.

Anyway, Ovechkin's left shoulder caught the 38-year-old Jagr squarely in the chest/neck area, driving the veteran star backwards onto the ice. The Russians quickly headed down the ice with Evgeny Malkin finishing off the play with his second goal of the game to make it 3-1 Russia.

Held without a goal by Slovakia and for two periods by the Czechs, it was the kind of play that demonstrated how Ovechkin can be a game-changer even without putting the puck in the net.

Jagr's visor was cracked by the impact but he wasn't hurt, and popped back to his feet. The result of the play, however, was a goal and a change in momentum that made the Czechs temporarily sag.

"Before you ask a question, I know I made a mistake," said Jagr afterwards. "The hit I don't really care about. The mistake I made was turning over the puck and they scored. That hurt me the most."

MIlan Michalek did cut the Russian lead to 3-2 with just over five minutes to play, but the Czechs couldn't complete the comeback. Final score Russia 4, Czechs 2.

The Russians are now 2-1, set to get a bye through to the quarterfinals. Ovechkin's hit on Jagr may prove to be a medal-changing moment.

The Monster's Olympic Debut

VANCOUVER

Given that the opponent for Sweden was Belarus, with all the haunting memories of Tommy Salo's infamous bobble eight years ago in Salt Lake City, it was a bit surprising today when Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson got the start in goal for Tre Kronor.

It was the Maple Leaf goaltender's first Olympic start, and not surprisingly, he was nervous and had several trying moments in a 4-2 triumph for the Swedes to leave them unbeaten and untied after two games.

Gustavsson faced only 19 shots and was staked to a 3-0 lead before the Belarussians made things interesting with two goals by Dmitri Meleshko, one at 14:40 of the second with Gustavsson down in his crease and the other 1:33 into the third.

Soon after that, a shot by Konstantin Zakharov struck Gustavsson in the shoulder and glanced off the crossbar, staying out.

"Of course that's the sound you want to hear," said Gustavsson. "I'm not sure it would have gone in anyway because it hit my shoulder. . .but you don't want to give up that goal."

Sweden's No. 1 goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, started in his country's first game, a 2-0 win over Germany, but today was up in the stands doing colour commentary for Swedish national TV. Stefan Liv dressed as the backup to Gustavsson.

"It's tough to play against a team you're supposed to beat," said Gustavsson. "I don't think we struggled. We were in control."

Gustavsson has no illusions about challenging Lundqvist for the No. 1 role.

"Any role I get is fine," he said.

Vaunted Russian Offence Blunted, Beaten by Slovaks

VANCOUVER--And to think Canada felt bad by winning. Maybe there will be a hockey summit called in Moscow today.

All in all, it was a day that proved just how difficult it will be for any country to capture this Olympic men's hockey tournament.

Even the top teams, it seems, will be life and death to win games against supposed weaker countries.

First, Canada needed a shootout to defeat Switzerland, the sixth ranked hockey nation in the world according to IIHF rankings.

Then, with Canada Hockey Place still buzzing after Sidney Crosby's shootout winner propelled Canada to a 3-2 victory, Russia, ranked No. 1 in the world after winning the last two global titles, was pushed to a shootout by eighth-ranked Slovakia in a low-scoring contest in which the powerful Russian offence was held mostly in check.

In a game that ended 1-1 after regulation, and then OT, it was Slovakia that won a thrilling, seven-round shootout, with Pavol Demitra supplying the winner on his second attempt.

Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, took three attempts, but scored only on his first. Otherwise, Slovakian goalie Jaroslav Halak stopped six Russian attempts, including ones from Alexey Morozov, Pavel Datsyuk, Ilya Kovalchuk and Evgeny Malkin.

In sum, the three finalists for the NHL's Hart Trophy last season - Ovechkin, Datsyuk and Malkin - went a combined 1-5 against Halak as the packed arena rocked with the most exciting game of the tournament so far.

Russia, with its heavy guns only sporadically dangerous all night, led 1-0 until Marian Hossa tied the game off a feed from Demitra at 9:48 of the third. Ovechkin faced 6-foot-9 Zdeno Chara virtually every time he stepped on the ice, and none of the explosive Russian shooters could consistently break down the Slovakian defence.

Jozef Stumpel, on Slovakia's first shootout attempt, was the only other player to beat Ilya Bryzgalov. Demitra's first attempt was foiled as he went way out wide right, then cut across but was poke-checked.

On his winner, the Vancouver Canuck forward swung way to the left, slowed, cut across the front of the crease and then flipped the puck gently off the left post.

Some of the Russian attempts were awful. Kovalchuk and Ovechkin each shot well wide, while Malkin wandered in slowly from the right boards, fumbled the puck and then hit the side of the net with his shot.

For months, the hockey world had marvelled at the offensive talent Russia was assembling for this Olympic tournament, and wondered if any country, including Canada, would be able to slow the juggernaut.

Well, the Slovaks did, largely by cutting off the middle of the ice through the neutral zone and getting a strong performance from Halak and Chara.

Firepower and Lots More

VANCOUVER--For a period, at least, the Russians came exactly as advertised.

Big, fast, skilful and determined to assault the enemy net with four strong lines. Scary talented. That helped them erect an early 3-0 lead over Latvia, traditionally an easy mark for Russia.

After that, the Russians didn't exactly fall apart. They just, well, seemed to get sloppy and lose interest, not in competing but in playing a team game in all three zones.With the Latvians not a threat after that early push, the Russians gave up chances, forcing Evgeny Nabokov to come up with some good stops in the second period, and reverted to either going for long bomb passes or individual rushes.

While Canada in a romp over Norway started slowly then gained momentum, the Russians looked best in the first period, then tailed off.

Even so, a fourth goal by Evgeny Malkin late in the second gave Russia a four-goal bulge that would be more than enough in their opening salvo aimed at collecting Olympic hockey gold for the first time since 1992.

Then, when Latvia's Herberts Vasiljevs put a puck past Nabokov early in the third, the Russians quickly produced three quick goals to grab a 7-1 lead and cruised to the finish, finally winning 8-2.

Reigning NHL Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin, tied with Sidney Crosby with 42 goals at the Olympic break, had a fairly quiet night and still potted two goals. He scored late in the first period off a feed from Washington teammate Alexander Semin and then again early in the third.

Otherwise, he wasn't his usual physical presence while playing much less than he usually does with the Capitals, particularly in powerplay situations.

Clearly, the Russians - with 14 NHL players and nine from the KHL - have more than enough firepower. It's the other parts of their game that will be worth watching as this tournament progresses. When you have a team on which Malkin and Ilya Kovalchuk are second line players, offence isn't going to be a problem.

A Promising American Beginning

VANCOUVER

Not a bad game with which to kick off the 2010 Winter Olympic men's hockey tournament, and not a bad beginning at all for Team USA.

Looking like a club that had been together for a lot longer than one day of practice and a few days in Chicago last August, the U.S. controlled the game from the start and earned a 3-1 victory on goals by Bobby Ryan, David Backes and Ryan Malone while holding the Swiss to only 15 shots on Ryan Miller.

Given the disastrous eighth place finish by Team USA four years ago in Turin in which the Americans won only one game, it was a promising start for a team cobbled together by Brian Burke.

Gone, interestingly, is the chippy, easily irritated style of U.S. teams from the era that included players like Chris Chelios, Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin, among others. Instead, just like the American team that beat Canada in January at the world juniors, the Americans delivered a workmanlike, diligent effort with only two minor penalties.

Maple Leaf winger Phil Kessel, skating on a line for most of the game with centre Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks and Malone, wasn't much of a threat or a factor in his Olympic debut at Canada Hockey House. By the final minutes of the third period, Chris Drury was taking Kessel's place on a few shifts as the Americans sought to protect the lead.

Kessel had no shots in only 11:43 of playing time for Ron Wilson's Americans. It was a chance to see Kessel in a different setting alongside some talented linemates after toiling for much of the season as the lone major scoring threat on the Leafs.

The U.S. looked particularly solid on the back end despite losing Mike Komisarek and Paul Martin to injuries before the Olympics. Their replacements, Tim Gleason and Ryan Whitney, looked solid.

The U.S plays Latvia on Thursday before taking on the host Canadians on Sunday.

Miller seemed unbothered by an IOC ruling that forced him to cover up two sayings on his Olympic helmet. The first read "Miller Time" and the other "Matt Man," a tribute to his late cousin's battle with cancer. For the Swiss game, both were covered up with a large Team USA sticker.

The other two U.S. goalies have also run afoul of Olympic regulations with respect to their masks. Jonathan Quick was told he had to cover his "Support Our Troops" message, while Tim Thomas covered up letters that he said were the initials of his children.